Kingston, ON, Nov 23, 2011 — Theatre Kingston has welcomed its new Artistic Producer on board this season. Brett Christopher has been an active member of the Canadian theater community for more than a decade. Most recently he was Artistic Associate at the Thousand Islands Playhouse. Christopher is perhaps best known for his performance in I Am My Own Wife in 2009. Founded in 1990, Theatre Kingston is Kingston, Ontario's professional theater company. Todd Moe spoke with Christopher about his goals, which include collaboration and community connections to keep local theater vibrant.  Go to full article

Sackets Harbor, NY, Nov 15, 2011 — Over the last few months, a new music and dance club at Sackets Harbor High School has grown from a few students to more than 30. The Glee Club focuses mostly on music, but there's an anti-bullying message, too.

Joanne Heaslip is the leader of Sackets Harbor's Parent Teacher Organization and manager of the Glee Club. She's hoping the arts and music will build self-confidence in students. The TV show Glee has made the club popular and even students from other districts have joined.

Heaslip told Todd Moe that Thursday night rehearsals are fun, but she wants the experience to help students who sometimes feel bullied in school to build self-respect and confidence. For more information about Sackets Harbor's Glee Club: slips824@yahoo.com  Go to full article

Nov 11, 2011 — There are support groups for service members and spouses, but what about the children of 10th Mountain Division soldiers sent overseas? Last spring, a theater class at Indian River High School teamed up with a local playwright to produce a very personal look at how teens respond to their parents' deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. In response to positive reaction, the play, In My Shoes, will be performed again tonight in Sackets Harbor and Saturday night in Clayton. Todd Moe met the students and creative team last June.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Oct 27, 2011 — The American Shakespeare Center on Tour troupe is at St. Lawrence University this week. The group, based in Virginia, performs Shakespeare with the house lights on, shattering the "fourth wall" between actors and audience.

Their "Almost Blasphemy Tour" continues this weekend in Canton. Two cast members, Bridget Rue and Patrick Earl, along with tour manager Glenn Schudel, brought their brand of the Bard into the NCPR studio this morning.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Oct 26, 2011 — The Grasse River Players fall production opens Thursday night (7:30) in Canton and includes a cast of more than a dozen youngsters from three area school districts. There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom is based on Louis Sachar's book that's found on many middle school reading lists. The plot involves Bradley, a troubled fifth grader; his school counselor, Carla and classmate Jeff, and how they tackle some of the mysteries of growing up: friendship, self-esteem and respect for others.

Todd Moe spoke with three young actors and their director, Karen Wells, who says that although the cast is mostly tweens, the play has a message for adults, too.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Oct 24, 2011 — A locally-produced film gets its premiere tonight in Potsdam as part of the weekly "Cinema 10" series at the Roxy Theater (7:15 pm). Dissection of an Olive was written, filmed and produced in the Potsdam area and includes a cast and crew composed of local residents and students, faculty and staff at the four local colleges.

Todd Moe talks with writer/director Summer Dorr, who says Dissection of an Olive is a quirky film about a young screenwriter and the protagonist in her story. In the film, characters struggle with issues like intimacy, stability and grieving. Dorr says the film is only remotely autobiographical.  Go to full article

Lake George, NY, Sep 27, 2011 — Todd Moe talks with one of the actors in the Lake George Dinner Theater's regional premiere of Skin Deep - a show that explores physical beauty, self-acceptance, dating and family connections. Emily Mikesell, who plays the central character, "Maureen", calls the play "funny and sweet".  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Sep 21, 2011 — Vermont Stage Company has a new leader as it opens it's 18th season with Photograph 51 on October 5th at the FlynnSpace in Burlington. The new season also includes The Clean House, Shirley Valentine, As You Like It, and Winter Tales. Todd Moe spoke with newly hired producing artistic director Cristina Alicea about her debut season with Burlington's longest-standing, professional theatre company. Alicea succeeds Mark Nash at the theatre's helm. They talked about some of the challenges and opportunities under the theme "Reinvention".  Go to full article

Upper Jay, NY, Sep 13, 2011 — The crew and actors of "Agnes of God" will donate all the proceeds from two performances this week to the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay. The library was one of many cultural venues that suffered flood damage in the aftermath of tropical storm Irene last month. "Agnes of God" will be performed Wednesday and Thursday nights (7 pm) at the Whallonsburg Grange and the cast includes local actors Kathleen Recchia, Leslie Dame and Clare Paulson. Todd Moe spoke with the show's producer, Karen Lewis, about the benefit performances this week.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Sep 01, 2011 — A visiting theater group returns to Saranac Lake on Saturday night to put a new twist on a classic Shakespeare play. Acted out as if being performed by a traveling band of gypsies, Theater Group Dzieci's performance of "Makbet" includes words, gestures, chants and dance-like movement. Organizer Jason Brill told Todd Moe that three actors will play all the characters and the "stage" is the Union Depot train station. For ticket reservations, email Jason Brill: jbrillslk@gmail.com  Go to full article