Gearing up for another standout summer!
The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake is set to offer up another summer full of entertaining experiences.
This creative gem is housed in the heart of Blue Mountain Lake. It's a neat building that brings together a gallery and consignment shop that are both filled with the work of local, regional, and national artists, as well as a theater space where productions directed and performed by professional actors come to life.
ON the Road
The Arts Center has made it their mission, however, to also take the performance art they create beyond the walls of their Blue Mountain Lake building. They have established an "out of the building" style by taking their productions on the road across the Adirondack Park. As noted on their website, "Although the Park's wilderness setting is breathtaking, residents face geographic isolation and economic challenges. By taking art "out of the building," the Arts Center provides programming in over 2,000 square miles of the Adirondack Park and enhances the quality of life in all of the communities we serve. The Arts Center's programs serve all ages and all abilities, and provide the kind of unique, shared experiences that build strong communities."
Each summer a director, musical director, and a wide-range of actors and actresses come from New York City to spend the summer in the area to bring the selected performances to life. According to the Arts Center's Executive Director, Sarah Reynolds, this summer's line-up is sure to be a hit.
Summer Programming
The first show on the schedule is Rodger's and Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing. This musical performance is family-friendly and brings together the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II, with songs from hits like Carousel, Oklahoma!, The King and I, and South Pacific, along with lesser-known works such as Allegro, State Fair, and Flower Drum Song. The show runs from July 8-12 in various locations, including its opening show at the Arts Center on July 8 at 7 p.m.
The next performance is titled Love Labors Lost, which offers the Art Center's take on Shakespeare's classic comedy.The show runs from July 25-August 4 across the Park including opening day performances at Arrowhead Park in Inlet at 2 p.m. and at Prospect Point in Blue Mountain Lake at 7 p.m. On July 26 you can catch the show at the Long Lake Pavilion at 7 p.m., and on July 29 and 30 you can trek to Byron Park in Indian Lake for 7 p.m. performances. The final chance to catch the show in Hamilton County is on August 1 at 1 p.m. at Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake. This humorous piece showcases the challenges presented when love and desire face off against logic and reason as a group of high school boys swear off the distraction and temptation of the opposite sex.
Next up is the musical Urinetown, which plays from August 6-August 11 in a variety of locations including its opening night at the Arts Center beginning at 7 p.m. On August 8 and 9 the show will take place at the Indian Lake Central School at 7 p.m. and on August 12 it will be performed at 7 p.m. at the Long Lake Town Hall. This three-time Tony award winning musical satirizes some of the major issues our society deals with today with an honest and humorous tone, as it is set in a world where water is scarce and corporations control the plumbing.
The final show of the summer series is The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World. This performance only has one site location and that is at the Raquette Lake Camp on August 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. This performance tells the entirely true story of sideshow freak Julia Pastrana and is performed in complete darkness. The Raquette Lake Camp site location will absolutely add to this production's allure, as the actors will use sound, scent, and touch to tell this tragic tale. In addition to a fine performance, on August 21 there will be a 6 p.m. champagne reception and meet and greet with the actors, prior to the event's start.
"It's an opportunity to see an amazing performance in a unique location," said Reynolds.
Reynolds just began her job at the Arts Center on June 1 and is really looking forward to the work ahead of her. She is from the Rochester area and brings a wealth of theater, management, and acting experience to the Arts Center. She actually began her career as a professional actress at the age of 10.
When asked what she saw as the Art Center's top goals, she noted, "I think the overarching goal is for us to deliver high caliber performances to the Adirondack community. As far as the Arts Center itself, we'd love to see it grow. We'd like to bring a nice mix of high quality gallery visual artists from across the Northeast and we'd love to showcase the local talents of our Adirondack artists as well."
In addition to the many performances they offer, the Arts Center also offers workshops for adults and children, yoga classes, and other community-centered events. Check out their website to find a workshop and activities schedule of events, and details on how to participate, as well as more details about the performances noted above.
