ARTS 28 +
ENTERTAINMENT
Week of September 8 – September 14, 2017
Grant Cottage Designated New York’s 24th Literary Landmark MOREAU — U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site has been named the 24th New York State Literary Landmark by United for Libraries and the Empire State Center for the Book. Literary Landmark status is granted to community locations associated with a literary figure, author, or his or her work. Ulysses S. Grant completed the second
volume of his memoirs at cottage, just days before his death in 1885. The Friends of Grant Cottage will hold a public Literary Landmark Plaque Dedication Ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Grant Cottage, featuring keynote speaker David S. Nolen, Assistant Editor at Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and contributor to
the annotated edition of The Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant. Early-release copies of the annotated memoirs will be available for purchase and signing by Nolen. Other speakers will include Rocco Staino, Director of Empire State Center for the Book and Alane Ball-Chinian, Saratoga-Capital Regional Director of the New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. U.S. Grant (portrayed by Steve Trimm) and Mark Twain (portrayed by Kevin O’Brien will be in attendance and available for tin-type photographs by Glens Falls Art (weather permitting). U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site is the final home of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War
Commanding General of the U.S. Army, and 18th U.S. President. Impoverished by a Ponzi-style swindle and dying of throat cancer, he moved to the Cottage on June 16, 1885. With the love and support of his family, his publisher Mark Twain, and the nation at large, he completed “Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant” days before his death on July 23.
Park Playhouse 30th Anniversary Season to Feature “Always, Patsy Cline” ALBANY — Park Playhouse, the Capital Region’s free summer theatre and arts education entity, will expand their programming in their 30th Anniversary Season by offering a year-round slate of seven fully-realized productions.
Producing Artistic Director Owen M. Smith, joined by Playhouse Board Vice President Benita Zahn, announced the titles for the seven productions, to be hosted between October 2017 and August 2018 at the Washington Park Lakehouse and the historic Cohoes Music Hall.
A series of four productions at the Cohoes Music Hall will kick off the season. “Always, Patsy Cline,” featuring Benita Zahn and Molly Rose McGrath, will be presented in October, followed by a holiday production of “The
Home Made Theater Seeks Volunteers SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater, Saratoga’s resident theater company, is seeking volunteers in all departments for their upcoming 201718 season. All interested volunteers are invited to attend the volunteer meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11 at the Spa Little Theater in Saratoga Spa State Park.
HMT’s volunteers work alongside trained professionals, learning the behind the scenes technical aspects of theater such as lighting, set construction, running crew, and sound. Others may choose to work as ushers, greeters, concession stand operators, and office or publicity assistants. Whatever your availability and experience, HMT has a place for everyone to volunteer.
Some jobs require only a few hours’ time for a couple of hands, while others require a large number of hours with many people. Home Made Theater’s staff and seasoned volunteers are happy to teach you anything you need to know. For more information, call 518-587-4427 or email info@homemadetheater.org. You may fill out an online volunteer form at www.homemadetheater.org.
Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical in December,” featuring students from the Park Playhouse Kids program. A professional cast will be engaged for the hit Broadway comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,”
in March, and students from the Park Playhouse II program will present “Little Shop of Horrors” in April. For more information about season subscriptions and show tickets go to: at www.parkplayhouse. com, or call 518- 434-2035 x110.
iLuminate at Proctors: A Unique Dance-in-the-Dark Event SCHENECTADY — After dazzling sold-out audiences around the world with its “mesmerizing” (Good Morning America), “eyepopping” (Time Out) and “stunning” (Broadway.com) displays of visual and musical amazement, iLuminate—named the “Best new act in America” by America’s Got Talent—comes to Proctors, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 14–15. Music, art and the technological magic of iLuminate bring a story of adventure and romance told through dance styles ranging from contemporary, hip-hop, Latin and breaking; all using the power of light. With a mash-up of dazzling wizardry, spectacular dance moves, fun audienceinteractive games and high-tech
effects, iLuminate delivers a unique dance-in-the-dark event. iLuminate is an entertainment technology company that combines state-of-the-art technology with electrifying entertainers who perform in the dark to create the ultimate performing arts experience. Since launching in 2009, iLuminate’s patented technology has been used in numerous performances by Grammy winning superstars such as Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, The Black-Eyed Peas and David Guetta, among others. Tickets are $20-$45, are available at the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady; by phone at 518-346-6204; and online at proctors.org.