Sunday, January 27, 2008

Mountain Dancing at the Sherman

The Sherman Theatre* (www.shermantheatre.com) in Stroudsburg, PA hosted The PA Dance Vision, Inc. (PADV) presentation of their annual Mountain Dance Concert featuring Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, and Modern dance from a variety of dance companies residing in the tri-state areas and beyond on Saturday January 26th. It was a great afternoon filled with the movements that inspire the soul to explore the boundaries of the human form. Richard Berkowitz*, Cheryl Yost*, (both of the Sherman) were there along with Arline M. Smeltz*. The next show at The Sherman Theatre* will be Invinciblefest featuring Liferuiner, Ambush, Double XL, Addisen, To Outlive the Beginning, Neveragainforyou, and As life ends as part of their Independent Rock Series on Saturday February 2nd. Please contact at The Sherman Theatre* at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Mountain Dancing at the Sherman Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Winterfest 08 at the Sherman

The Sherman Theatre* (www.shermantheatre.com) in Stroudsburg, PA made their contribution to The Winterfest 08 (www.Poconobluegrass.org) activities which features Bluegrass music throughout The Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg areas on Saturday January 26th. It was a great evening filled with lots of toe tapping and foot stomping music filling the sizable audience with enough joy to inspire some dancing at their tables. The bands performing at The Sherman were Louie Setzer and the Appalachian Mountain Boys*, Remington Ryde (www.RemingtonRyde.com), The Lost Ramblers*, Marc Silver (www.marcsilvermusic.com), and (host/emcee) Texas Rose (www.texrosemusic.com). Richard Berkowitz*, Cheryl Yost*, and Bill Kelly* (all of the Sherman) were there along with Arline M. Smeltz* and Gary Lambert*. The next show at The Sherman Theatre* will The Mountain Dance Concert on Sunday January 27th. Please contact at The Sherman Theatre* at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Winterfest 08 at the Sherman Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Broadway at the Sherman

The Sherman Theatre* (www.shermantheatre.com) in Stroudsburg, PA hosted The Cavalier Voices presentation of Broadway at the Sherman featuring local performers singing a variety of musical numbers from Broadway shows at a fundraising concert for the J. T. Lambert Intermediate School's Cavalier Voices on Friday January 25th. The event was well attended and the variety of the pieces was only matched by the variety of those who performed them. Richard Berkowitz*, and Theresa Woehrel* (both of the Sherman) were there along with Arline M. Smeltz*. The next show at The Sherman Theatre* will be their contribution to The Winterfest activities featuring Bluegrass music throughout The Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg areas on Saturday January 26th. Please contact at The Sherman Theatre* at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Broadway at the Sherman Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Theatrical Review: Lips Together, Teeth Apart

LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART
Written by: Terrence McNally
Directed by: Rob Ramos*
Theatrical Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz

The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presented The Worthington Players production of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” by Terrence McNally. The performance which this review is based upon was a special presentation of a public dress rehearsal brought about by the originally scheduled dress rehearsal being canceled due to inclement weather. Therefore, as with many productions, this presentation was not without numerous flaws. However, it was evident many of these flaws would dissipate once the production begins it’s normal run so to focus a review on them would be grossly unfair to everyone involved and prove a disservice to those who are considering attending the theatrical event.

The play is essentially about two married couples spending the 4th of July at a Fire Island beach house left to a woman by her brother who has died of AIDS. While the play could have simply been about dealing with the death of a loved one who had died from the disease and dealing with the heterosexual diss-ease of confronting an environment embracing the gay lifestyle, it could have been almost about any topic. The play is really about the even more evasive disease of isolationism which is demonstrated through the meaningful and revealing moments containing monologues delivered to the audience while other characters in the play are frozen in tableau. These monologues not only reveal what each character is going through at any given moment or how they perceive their reality, they also entreat the audience to examine their thoughts and perceptions as well.

In spite of the flubbed and dropped lines, lapses in the plays pacing, and lack of stability in some of the tableaus, it was an enjoyable evening once one realized it was a dress rehearsal typical of other theatrical endeavors and the speculation of how brilliant the gems inherent in the show would shine once they were polished. The discovery of these gems were made by simply watching the quality performances by those familiar actors who have gained a reputation for their considerable skills along with unfamiliar actors to those who attend the shows at The Shawnee Playhouse* who deserve the same reputation. These actors are Denise Crawn* who portrayed Chloe Haddock, Patrick Turner who portrayed John Haddock, Amy Cramer* who portrayed Sally Truman and serves as the Shawnee Playhouse* publicist, and Rob Ramos* who portrayed Sam Truman and directed the work.

Rob Ramos‘* directorial duties were shared by Assistant Director Lillian Ramirez Gonzalez* who (along with Mary Horn and Kasey Mesko) also served as a member of the box office staff and Second Assistant Director John Cusumano*. The Production was Stage Managed by Irene Garner* while the scenic and lighting design was created by Kayla Goble. The Executive Director of The Shawnee Playhouse* is Midge McClosky* while the producers are Ginny and Charlie Kirkwood.

This production of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” by Terrence McNally will continue its run at The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA until January 27th and is recommended for those who would value the opportunity to reexamine their thoughts and perceptions in order to seek a cure of their own isolationistic tendencies. The next Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presentation will be The Worthington Players production of “Love Letter” will be February 8th - 17th. Those who enjoy the Passionate Art Lover level of membership in The Forwardian Arts Society are offered a $2.00 discount off the admission fee. Please contact The Shawnee Playhouse* at 570-421-5093 for more information and to reserve your ticket.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Buddha Times at Kirkridge

The Kirkridge Retreat Center* (www.kirkridge.org) in Bangor, PA held their January Potluck Dinner which featured a short talk about Thich Nhat Hanh who was a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Monk, a showing of the Film, “Little Buddha,” and a discussion of the film over the varied cuisine numerous people brought to the table on Sunday January 13th. The evening was filled with fun, film, fellowship, and enlightened conversation. Jean Richardson* and Nancy Scheirer* (both of Kirkridge) were there alone with Arline M. Smeltz, Mark Lichty*, and Don and Jan Slepian*. The next event at The Kirkridge Retreat Center* will be a fireside poetry reading accompanied by a Potluck Dinner on Sunday March 2nd. Please contact The Kirkridge Retreat Center* at 610-588-1793 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Buddha Times at Kirkridge Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Hard Core Rocks The Sherman

The Sherman Theatre* (www.shermantheatre.com) in Stroudsburg, PA presented Methodical along with Crushpile, The Vivid Twisted, For Valor or Vengeance, Bound By Blood, and More as a continuing part of their Independent Rock Series on Friday January 11th. The bands were met by an exuberant audience of young people who frequently attends the hard core extravaganzas the Sherman is known for to their generation. Richard Berkowitz*, Cheryl Yost*, and Bill Kelly* (all of the Sherman) were there along with Arline M. Smeltz*. The next show at The Sherman Theatre* will continues their Independent Rock Series featuring Murphy's Law, The Air I Breathe, Wetwork Agenda, Big Attack, Jerk Reactions, and My Ghost My Vengeance on Friday January 18th. Please contact at The Sherman Theatre* at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Hard Core Rocks The Sherman Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

A Show for Healing at The Sherman

The Sherman Theatre* (www.shermantheatre.com) in Stroudsburg, PA presented Artimus Pyle and The Street Survivors who paid tribute to The Lynyrd Skynyrd Band for whom Artimus Pyle played drums for on Friday January 4th. The performance of Artimus Pyle and The Street Survivors was preceded by two local bands (Bootleg and Dealer in wares) which complimented the evening. Proceeds of the event were placed into a trust fund to benefit two year old Sean Vanluvender whose father (Lee Vanluvender of Bartonsville, PA) was found dead after being shot several times while hunting close to the state game lands near Chestnuthill and Tunkhannock townships in PA. The audience consisted of friends and members of the Vanluvender family who paid their respects and shared the grief of their loss. However, the life affirming music brought a great deal of comfort to those who attended. Richard Berkowitz*, Cheryl Yost*, and Bill Kelly* (all of the Sherman) were there along with Arline M. Smeltz*. The next show at The Sherman Theatre* will a concert which is a continuing part of their Independent Rock Series featuring Methodical along with Crushpile, The Vivid Twisted, For Valor or Vengeance, Bound By Blood and More on Friday January 11th. Please contact at The Sherman Theatre* at 570-420-2808 for more information. You’ll find numeerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society A Show for Healing at The Sherman Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.