Our Pottstown Arts and Cultural Alliance blog is now located here, at the PACA website!
You can still come to this location to view our previous posts in the archive.
The musical production Songs For A New World will usher in the 2010-2011 season at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center. The show will run for ONE WEEKEND ONLY, Thursday September 16th through Sunday the 19th. It’s all about the music, as each song transports us through different stories, humorous and moving – of our community and isolation, our desire for the immaterial in a material world, and the moments of decision that define our journey. It reflects a broad range of musical styles and genres including pop, gospel, jazz, and classical music.
This unique musical is the brainchild of Tony-Award winning lyricist and composer, Jason Robert Brown, hailed as “one of Broadway’s smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and “a leading member of a new generation of composers who embody high hopes for the American musical” (The New York Times). The Chicago Tribune calls this work “extraordinary, jubilant theater.”
Director Deborah Stimson-Snow has served as the Artistic Director for Village Productions (the Tri-County Performing Arts Center) since the organization’s inception in 2001 and has a Masters Degree in Music from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She has directed opera and Broadway musicals, was Music Director for the Tri-PAC’s highly acclaimed production of Ragtime in June 2010, and will be the Director for next June’s Peter Pan at the Tri-PAC.
Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at www.tripac.org. At this website you’ll also find more information on upcoming shows and classes. This is going to be a great season, so we’ll see you at the Tri-PAC!
Saturday Sept. 11th
Tentative Schedule of Events:
11 a.m. Opening ceremonies at Smith Plaza, 100 block of High Street Entertainment by the Pottstown Middle School Jazz Band- followed by honoring of police, firemen, EMTs and military
Entertainment at Smith Plaza throughout the day until 3:00pm
11:30am to 3:00pm Downtown Open House * Pottsgrove Manor * Art Gallery- 16 High Street * Pottstown Public Library * Tri-PAC * Pottstown Historic Society * Ballroom on High featuring Swing Kat Dancers- Pottstown Library * Montgomery County Community College * Smith Plaza * Gallery On High * High Street Music Company * Pottstown Carousel
3:00pm to 6:00pm Pottstown High School Campus Open House
3:15pm Opening Ceremonies- Featuring singing by Edgewood Elementary Principal Dr. Angela Tuck * Classic Car Display * Military Vehicle Display * Emergency Vehicle Display * Over 40 community group information tables * Moon Bounce- Dunking Tank- Games and Activities * Entertainment provided by local church choral and dance groups
7:00pm Pottstown High School Grigg Memorial Stadium- Home Varsity Football Game- Pottstown vs. Upper Moreland (Admission to the game will be charged)
FREE Trolley transportation will be provided throughout the day. Do not miss out on free entertainment, free trolley transportation, free food, giveaways, displays, tours, demonstrations, games, and activities for youngsters, moon bounce and more!
Matt Spitko
Join us in Pottstown on September 11th for our Downtown open house! Here are our musical performers for the day:
11:30 – 12:15 – Matt Spitko
http://www.myspace.com/mattspitkomusic
Matt is a local singer songwriter with a contemporary sound. He has performed at venues in the area including The Tin Angel in Philadelphia.
12:25 - 1:10 – Maggie Spike
http://www.myspace.com/spikemaggie
Singer – Song writing husband and wife team from Oley. They perform a wide range of original songs including folk, Americana, Celtic, Reggae and Pop.
Mona Rodriquez, “Assorted Women Show”, WDIY 88.1 FM “Maggie Spike has found a very enjoyable, very entertaining way to bring a world of music styles and genres to Any-town USA. Good music from good people, take the journey for yourself to discover one of PA’s musical treasures”
1:20 – 2:05 – Christine and Chad
Christine and Chad
http://www.myspace.com/christineandchad
Christine & Chad formed in late 2008, after a chance meeting at a coffee shop in Pottstown. Both had performed in other bands and separately for years prior, but their combination created a unique sound and synergy that neither one had experienced before. Partners in the best sense, Christine & Chad are intent on crafting songs with both quiet depth and great joy. We hope you enjoy listening to what they have to say.
2:15 - 3:00 – Tom Post and Mike Holliday
http://www.myspace.com/tompostjr
http://www.myspace.com/mikeholliday
Tom Post and Mike Holliday are local Singer-Songwriters who have performed separately for many years. In 2009 they shared a show at the Half Moon Café in Oley. Since then they have shared the stage many times and enjoy working on each other’s songs. They perform a wide range of original and traditional songs with a contemporary folk flare.
Greetings!
As part of the Pottstown community’s remembrance of 9/11, the Gallery School is participating in a day long community event, marking this period in our country’s history. We need your help in creating a very special exhibit for that day.
What you can do to help. . .
We are asking our customers, artists, instructors, and students to help us in a very simple way. Write a one page description of 9/11/01. Tell us what you were doing, where you were, how you felt, during and after the unprecedented attacks on our country.
Anyone can participate. All it takes is for you to email your letter to us. We will print the letter out and have your letter hanging in our Gallery on 9/11 for the day of remembrance.
Thank you for your participation.
Cathy Paretti Director, Gallery on High 254 High St. Pottstown, PA 19464 www.galleryonhigh.org
Water Dreams by Molly Light
“Ever since childhood, I have taken particular delight in observing the natural phenomena around me. Different places can inspire a variety of emotions and associations, from pleasure and comfort, to drama and conflict. It is at once humbling and inspiring, challenging and exhilarating to convey these impressions through my images.
I enjoy the freedom of having options on how to express my artistic vision through several different mediums. Each circumstance evokes a particular kind of response, from impressionistic landscape, to abstract painting and mixed media, to nature photography. I’m constantly experimenting with how to capture the essence of a place…to convey what it feels like to be there…rather than just the fleeting surface appearance. When nature gives me an “aha!” moment, I can’t help but try to share it with others.
Never one to stay stuck in one way of doing things, for me the creative process is a joyous path of discovery and pushing beyond the boundaries of the familiar. I have found that abstract content has facilitated the most uninhibited exploration of each medium’s unique qualities, whether it be watercolors, pastels or acrylics. The abstract explorations have translated back into freer techniques with my impressionistic landscapes. This is why I continue to exhibit both abstracts and landscapes…they are all fun to paint!”
–Molly Light
Molly will be sharing her love of art and abstract expression at the Gallery School of Pottstown this fall, teaching Free and Fearless Painting for adults and Artistic Portraits for teens. For more information, please visit the School’s website.
Saturday Sept. 11th
Tentative Schedule of Events:
11 a.m. Opening ceremonies at Smith Plaza, 100 block of High Street
Entertainment by the Pottstown Middle School Jazz Band- followed by honoring of police, firemen, EMTs and military
Entertainment at Smith Plaza throughout the day until 3:00pm
11:30am to 3:00pm Downtown Open House
3:00pm to 6:00pm Pottstown High School Campus Open House
3:15pm Opening Ceremonies- Featuring singing by Edgewood Elementary Principal Dr. Angela Tuck
7:00pm Pottstown High School Grigg Memorial Stadium- Home Varsity Football Game- Pottstown vs. Upper Moreland (Admission to the game will be charged)
FREE Trolley transportation will be provided throughout the day. Do not miss out on free entertainment, free trolley transportation, free food, giveaways, displays, tours, demonstrations, games, and activities for youngsters, moon bounce and more!
One of Karen's watercolors.
After working for numerous years in the business world as a graphic designer for a magazine publisher, retail furniture companies and a social stationary store I decided to resume my first love as a “watercolor artist”. The style and subject matter of my work portrays a realistic and traditional approach to watercolor painting. My collection of paintings portrays a vast selection of subject matter and styles of painting.
I am presently operating my own home business called “Creative Watercolors”. This consists of creating and selling my original watercolors to numerous clients as well as exhibiting at local art galleries and businesses. My most recent shows in this area have been at Gracefully Framed in Boyertown , Java Brewin in Limerick, Wyndcroft School Holiday Bazaar and Spring Auction in Pottstown, PNC Bank in Royersford, and The Gallery on High Summer Membership Show. Along with exhibiting, I’m also teaching my passion for watercolor painting to adults and children in the area. I have also created a second division to my business that includes “Hand Painted Greeting Cards”. All designs are original watercolors by the artist.”
–Karen Brennan
Karen will be teaching two classes at the Gallery School of Pottstown starting at the end of September: Card Design in Watercolors and Exploring the World of Watercolors. For more information on Karen’s classes, and to register, please visit the Gallery School’s website.
Ballroom on High, 310 E. High Street, 2nd Floor, Pottstown
Wednesday Sep 1
Open Mic at the Bally Hotel Open Mic hosted by Phil Stahl. It gets started at 8:00. http://www.myspace.com/philstahlandthestillfallband
Thursday Sep 2
Russ Ferrara will be at Juan Carlos – 7:00 to 9:00 http://jcmexicanfood.com/default.aspx
Friday Sep 3
Tom Post hosts the Open Mic at Adam2 in Kutztown – starts at 7:00 This is a wonderful Open Mic. Friendly atmosphere and the food is heavenly. http://www.adam2.net/media/Cafe%20Menu.pdf
Mike Holliday will be out on the Streets of Phoenixville from 6:00 to 8:00 The fun is finding him.
Live music at St Peter’s Bakery in St Peter’s Village from 6:30 to 8:30. Weather permitting; it’ll be out on the deck. This is Gourmet Pizza Night (BYOB) and the decks are open. http://www.saintpetersbakery.com/
Live music at The Hard Bean Café Boyertown– starts at 8:00 http://www.hardbeanboyertown.blogspot.com/
John Gwinn is having a show at The Great Frame-Up Gallery in Wayne – 5:00-8:00 PM – 302 Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087 610-687-3060 I know it’s not music, but John is a wonderful artist with his studio in Pottstown. http://www.johngwinn.com/
Saturday Sep 4
First Saturday Celebration – Smith Plaza – 100 block of High St in Pottstown – 1:00 to 2:00 – Featuring Dina Hall from 12:00 to 2:00 and Men in Spikes fundraiser http://www.potstownarts.org
Russ Ferrara will be at Juan Carlos – 7:00 to 9:00 http://jcmexicanfood.com/default.aspx
Live music at The Hard Bean Café Boyertown– starts at 8:00 http://www.hardbeanboyertown.blogspot.com/
Sunday Sep 5
Dave Antonio will be back at St Peter’s Bakery next Sunday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – out on the lower deck with morning meditation music (wood flute, sitar, …). This is new at the Bakery. Get your coffee or tea and come out on the lower deck and get into the sounds of the water rushing through the rocks and the birds singing in the trees and listen to how Dave weaves his music with the sounds of nature. http://www.saintpetersbakery.com/
No Open Mic at Godfrey Daniels tonight – The new Season will kick off on Sep 19 with Guest Host, Mike Holliday.
Save the dates:
September 11 – Community Day – Smith Plaza – High Street, Pottstown 11:00 to 3:00 Music, Dance and more with at positive community focus on the anniversary of 9/11 http://www.potstownarts.org
September 12 – Sunday in the Park Music Series – in Riverfront Park – 2:00 to 4:00 Music by Bill Haley Jr. and the Satellites. http://www.potstownarts.org
September 12, 3-4 pm Mike and Paula Play the Main Stage at the Hay Creek Festival at Johanna Furnace in Morgantown – just before the antique tractor parade http://www.meadowoodmusic.com/Photos.cfm?CollectionID=20100706191831&msg=a1
September 18, 6 – 9 pm Meadowood Music Open Mic (Last one of the summer – call early to get on the list) http://www.meadowoodmusic.com/Photos.cfm?CollectionID=20100706191831&msg=a1
September 26 – Carousel of Flavor – 100 block of High Street in Pottstown – 12 to 4:00 – Featuring music by 2nd Childhood http://www.potstownarts.org
October 9 – Schuylkill River Festival – in Riverfront Park from 11:00 to 4:00 – Music by, Monica McIntyre, Pat Wictor, John Flynn, Hope Machine and Neighbor Poem. http://www.potstownarts.org
October 9 – Frecon Farms – 4th Annual PickFest – Harvest Bluegrass Festival http://www.freconfarms.com/
