All You Jim Crow Fascists!—Musical presentation by Dr. Will Kaufman

Peterborough, New Hampshire - On Friday, September 14 at 7 pm the Mariposa Museum will host All You Jim Crow Fascists! presented by Woody Guthrie scholar, Dr. Will Kaufman in the barn at Four Winds Farm in Peterborough.  Will Kaufman’s new musical presentation explores Woody Guthrie’s anti-racist songs and activism. Conventionally known for championing unions and poor white Dust Bowl migrants, Guthrie also left an extensive body of songs condemning Jim Crow segregation, race hatred and racial fascism. Most of these songs were never recorded, but remain a legacy of Guthrie’s personal transformation into a committed civil rights activist, working and singing with the likes of Lead Belly, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Paul Robeson in the 1940s and 50s. Along with Guthrie’s lifetime body of work, it is a heartening and uplifting legacy.

Dr. Will Kaufman is Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of Central Lancashire in England and the author of Woody Guthrie: American Radical (University of Illinois Press).

Admission is $15, Members $12.  Reservations recommended by email: admin@mariposamuseum.org or telephone: 603.924.4555.

All You Jim Crow Fascists! is part the Museum’s ongoing exhibition This World is Your World—Woody Guthrie and the Art of Change. (Aug 1-Oct 31)

The Mariposa gratefully thanks Duffy and Rick Monahon for hosting the event at their barn at Four Winds Farm.  Directions are on the Museum’s website (www.mariposamuseum.org).

Film & discussion: 1913 Massacre-Inspired by a Woody Guthrie Song, Filmmakers Ken Ross & Louis Galdieri

Peterborough, New Hampshire - On Saturday, September 22nd at 7pm, filmmakers Ken Ross and Louis V. Galdieri will present and discuss their film, 1913 Massacre. This new documentary accompanies singer/songwriter Arlo Guthrie to Calumet, Mich., a once-thriving mining town still haunted by the tragic events that inspired Woody Guthrie's famous ballad, 1913 Massacre.

On Christmas Eve, 1913, the striking Italian miners of Calumet gathered with their wives and children for a holiday party at Italian Hall. After the festivities began, someone — to this day no one knows who — yelled “Fire!” The miners, their wives, and children made a mad rush for the stairs, but found the door locked.  In the ensuing chaos, 74 people were crushed and suffocated to death, 59 of them children. There was no fire.

In the version of events that found its way into Woody's song, the "copper-boss thug-men" had plotted to yell “Fire!” while holding the door of Italian Hall shut, preventing escape. The town itself is still divided over exactly what happened. And no one can explain why Italian Hall was torn down in 1984.

1913 Massacre includes interviews with the last living witnesses of the tragedy and reconstructs Calumet's past from individual memories, family legends, and songs, tracing the event's legacy to the present day, as the town -- out of work, out of money, out of luck — struggles to come to terms with this painful episode from its past.

The film and discussion with filmmakers is part of the Mariposa's 3-month series, This World is Your World: Woody Guthrie and the Art of Change. The series also includes a panel exhibition Strokes of Electiricity; The Visual Artworks and Lyrics of Woody Guthrie open through October 31st, as well as numerous films and performances. Check the Mariposa website www.mariposamuseum.org for a full calendar of events.

Admission $10; Members $7.

The Mariposa is wheelchair accessible

Colonial hosts Bluegrass Double Bill

Bethlehem, New Hampshire - The Colonial Theatre will host a double bill of award-winning New England bluegrass favorites, Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plow Boys and The Bluegrass Gospel Project, for the 2nd Annual Bent on Bluegrass extravaganza Saturday, September 8.

Since the 1970s, Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys have consistently delivered some of the finest, most dynamic and most original bluegrass music ever heard in this corner of the country. With countless performances under their belts and an extensive catalog of acclaimed recordings, the Plowboys have developed strong name recognition, a large fan base, and a reputation as top-notch entertainers. It's a reputation built on soulful lead singing, spot-on harmonies, fiery picking and a stage show full of energy, variety and humor.

The Bluegrass Gospel Project has been impressing audiences with expertly rendered performances since its inception in 2001. The group has been called "one of New England's premier concert acts" (Casey Rea, Seven Days, 2005). The BGP brings together top-tier vocalists and instrumentalists ("Just try and find a better group of singers" --Robert Resnik, 2009, host of Vermont Public Radio's 'All the Traditions') to interpret a wide range of material, from southern spirituals and Appalachian gems to contemporary songs by Brett Dennen and U2. The BGP is truly unique in that it presents a repertoire of music with a spiritual sensibility but without any religious agenda.

General Admission tickets for the 8 PM performance are $23 or $20 for Colonial, Catamount Arts or Kingdom County Productions members and $10 for children 12 & under. Tickets are available on-line (BethlehemColonial.org or catamountarts.org), or in advance at Maia Papaya, Bethlehem, The Littleton Food Coop or Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury. (Front & Center Reserved seats are available on-line only.) For more information about this or upcoming movies and other live and special events at The Colonial call 603-869-3422, find The Colonial on Facebook, or visit the Colonial on line at www.BethlehemColonial.org. Bent on Bluegrass is generously supported by the Connecticut River Bank with additional support from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

Marisnick Heats Up in 9-3 Loss

Outfielder extends hit streak to four games with two more hits 

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Jake Marisnick continued to show he's becoming more comfortable in Double-A, picking up two more hits for the Fisher Cats (59-77) on Tuesday night against the Portland Sea Dogs. Marisnick was 2-6 with an RBI triple, but Portland (66-69) had the last laugh, scoring six runs in the 12th inning to pull out a 9-3 win. The victory evens the series at one win each while simultaneously ending the Fisher Cats nine-game home winning streak.

The first of Marisnick's hits came with his team trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the second. With Gabe Jacobo at first, Marisnick drilled a triple into the left field corner to even the score at 2-2. Ryan Goins followed with an RBI single to plate Marisnick for a 3-2 lead.

After Portland tied the game at three in the third, pitching became the name of the game. Ryan Tepera completed five innings, allowing just two earned runs for the Fisher Cats. Michael Dubee, Joel Carreno, and Trystan Magnuson followed with a combined six scoreless innings of relief.

Portland starter Allen Webster didn't allow a run over his final two innings - four total innings - before turning the ball over to former Fisher Cat Mike MacDonald (3-2). MacDonald worked seven shutout innings of relief to keep the game tied at 3-3.

The game stayed tied into the 12th when Portland scored six runs against John Stilson (2-4). New Hampshire was retired three in a row in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Marisnick has hit in a Double-A best four straight games. Goins finished with two hits while Ryan Schimpf added two hits and an RBI.

The teams now meet up for game three of the series on Wednesday night at 6:35 PM. The game features Atlas Fireworks and USA Subs Baseball Bingo. To purchase tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com, stop by the Fisher Cats ticket office, or call 603-641-2005.

Wednesday's pitching match-up features RHP Yohan Pino (9-7, 3.43) against Portland RHP Brandon Workman (3-0. 1.50). Radio coverage begins at 6:15 PM with Tom Gauthier and Bob Lipman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and www.nhfishercats.com.

DEAD RIVER COMPANY'S 'SCORE 4 FOR HUNGER' RAISES NEARLY $14,000 FOR NH FOOD BANK AT FISHER CATS HOME GAMES

Proceeds part of $45,000 donation to NH Food Bank by Dead River

Manchester, New Hampshire - The bats of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats connected this season for $13,600 in donations from Dead River Company to the New Hampshire Food Bank. The donation is the culmination of "Score 4 for Hunger," a season-long promotion that gave fans even more reason to root for the home team. For each home game where the Fisher Cats scored four or more runs, Dead River Company donated $400, up to $14,000, to the New Hampshire Food Bank. Through August 27, the Fisher Cats had scored four or more runs 34 times, generating $13,600 for the NH Food Bank.

At tonight's game against the Portland Sea Dogs, CEO Bob Moore presented a check to the New Hampshire Food Bank for $45,000. That amount included the $13,600 for "Score 4 for Hunger," plus an additional donation of $31,400. Earlier this year, Dead River Company donated $5,000 to the New Hampshire Food Bank to deploy its Mobile Food Pantry for a day in Somersworth. In total, Dead River donated $50,000 to the New Hampshire Food Bank.

"Dead River Company has made a commitment to focus our philanthropy on food and fuel assistance in ways that will make a difference in the lives of people in the communities we serve," said Moore. "We're excited that the Fisher Cats eagerly joined us in this effort to support the vital work of the New Hampshire Food Bank. Families across New Hampshire rely on their support."

"We continually strive to partner with organizations and companies that find ways to enhance our local communities," said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner.  "The 'Score 4 for Hunger' program and this donation highlight the generosity of Dead River Company and its employees, and we are proud to partner with them on such an important and impactful initiative."

"Thanks to the generosity of Dead River Company the NH Food Bank will be able to help more Granite Staters in need," said Mel Gosselin, Executive Director of the NH Food Bank. "Right now, one in nine men, women and children go hungry every day in our state. The need continues to grow, and partners like Dead River work hand in hand with us to meet that need."

The New Hampshire Food Bank is the only food bank in the Granite State, distributing more than 7.8 million pounds of donated and surplus food to more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care centers, and senior centers.

New exhibit: "Made in the Shade: The Design of Summer Vacation" opens at the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design on September 16, 2012

Waitsfield, Vermont - This fall, summer lives on at the Madsonian Museum in Waitsfield, VT.  The museum will be exhibiting the fabulous products that vacationers have used over the years.  These products of recreation are beautiful examples of design excellence, ranging from swimsuits to sunglasses, fishing gear to surfboards, and more.  

It all kicks off with a one day opening event on Sunday, September 16 from noon to 6pm, featuring classic boats and significant travel trailers, as well as live entertainment.

The exhibit runs from September 16 to November 16 at the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design, located at 45 Bridge Street, Waitsfield, VT.

The non profit museum was founded by Warren, VT architect David Sellers, and features those manufactured products that show beauty, ingenuity, and care in construction.  Its mission is to educate visitors in the importance of design excellence.  By making the everyday well designed, and by recognizing and valuing that effort, we can reduce our throw-away culture and become one that surrounds ourselves with beauty, thoughtfulness and art.  

Admission to the museum is a suggested donation of $1 to $5.  

Hours and visiting information can be found on our website at www.madsonian.org.

Labor Day Weekend Wraps Up Summer & Kicks Off Fall in New Hampshire

Concord, New Hampshire - The Labor Day Weekend in New Hampshire will be a busy one as many visitors and residents look to get one last beach or boating trip in before summer ends.  Visitation and spending are forecasted to be up this year over last year.

According to a report by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies, about 540,000 visitors will come from out-of-state, up by 1.5 percent over last year and are anticipated to spend about $76.5 million, up by 2 percent over last year.

“New Hampshire will be bustling with activities, from craft fairs and fireworks to farmer’s markets and concerts,” said Lori Harnois, Director of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism.  “The Labor Day Weekend is our second busiest holiday weekend of the year after the 4th of July,” she added.

Most of the visitors for Labor Day weekend will be from traditionally important markets in New England, New York State, and eastern Canada.  Canadians will continue to visit New Hampshire at higher levels than last year due to tax-free shopping and new higher duty-free limits on purchases made in the United States.

ABOUT THE DIVISION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The Division of Travel and Tourism Development, as part of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, works with the state’s seven travel regions to increase visitation, travel and visitor expenditures in order to expand business activity and employment throughout the state. The division is responsible for domestic and international advertising and public relations, literature publication and distribution, www.visitnh.gov administration, grant administration and research to monitor and measure the impact of travel and tourism to the state. For more information about New Hampshire tourism, call 603-271-2665 or visit www.visitnh.gov.

Aoife O’Donovan Band at Chandler September 8th

Randolph, Vermont - Aoife O’Donovan, a rising star on the Americana scene, brings her prodigious talents and her band to Chandler Music Hall in Randolph on Saturday September 8 at 7:30 PM.

When USA Today predicted that Aoife O’Donovan would soon become “the newest darling of the Americana set”, it had already been true for quite some time. Aoife is renowned for her ability to breathe magic into anything she sings. Chandler audiences discovered this when she performed with Crooked Still in 2006. She appears in September with her band: Ryan Scott on guitar, Robin MacMillan on drums and Jacob Silver on bass.

O’Donovan grew up in a musical family, immersed in folk music. She studied contemporary improvisation at the New England Conservatory of Music in her hometown of Boston. Since her first professional engagement singing lead for the folk group The Wayfaring Strangers, she has maintained a wide variety of side projects and collaborations, working with numerous other artists including Ollabelle, Sometymes Why, Karan Casey and Seamus Egan, Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Darol Anger, Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins, Christina Courtin, Noam Pikelny and Chris Thile (The Punch Brothers). Most recently she has recorded and performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan and Chris Thile as a guest vocalist on The Goat Rodeo Sessions.

For the past decade, Aoife has been fronting the alt-bluegrass/string band Crooked Still, which she formed when she was 18. Despite her young age, Aoife has toured in ten different countries, performed with the Boston Pops and the Utah Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared on countless radio and television programs.

Her natural talent for songwriting recently came to the attention of Alison Krauss, who recorded Aoife’s song Lay My Burden Down, which is included on Alison’s album Paper Airplane (2011 Rounder Records) and can also be heard in the film Get Low (2010 Sony Pictures). Aoife’s crystalline voice has also been heard on True Blood (HBO) and Private Practice (ABC).

In June 2010, Aoife released her first solo recording in the form of a limited edition 7” vinyl.  Featuring two original tracks, it garnered rave reviews from audiophiles worldwide.

Advance discounted tickets can be ordered online at www.chandler-arts.org or by calling the box office between 3 and 6 PM weekdays at 802-728-6464. This performance has generous sponsorship support from Vermont Public Radio and The Point. Chandler is wheelchair accessible.

Dance Party Series opener

Rochester, New Hampshire - Join us for the season opener Dance Party Bash Weekend at the Rochester Opera House  for the best in classic rock with Revolving Door or with Gazpacho, the top 80s tribute band in New England…or both!  The floor is flat (orchestra seats removed), so there’s lots of room for dancing.

From Johnny B. Goode to Freebird and everything in between, a Revolving Door of superb area musicians band together to slam out classic rock favorites from the 60s to the 90s on Friday, September 28 at 8:00 PM.  Join us with your family and friends as we celebrate the opening of our season and the great shows we have scheduled for you.  Have a rollicking good time with a fabulous group of musicians, who are donating their time for this event.

Revolving Door:  Nick Kanelos on keyboards, guitar and vocals is a former member of the Boston-based band Unfinished Business that headlined at premier Boston rock clubs like The Paradise, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Bunratty’s and the Channel and opened for The Dream (Extreme) and The Drive. Dr. Nick is a general dentist and co-owner of Garrison Family Dental in Dover NH.  Spaulding graduate, Larry Ciccotelli on rhythm guitar, harmonica and vocals is also well-known in the area as a bluegrass man and for his twenty-five year commitment to coaching youth sports. Art “Jake” Jacobs on vocals is a community favorite and blur of activity as he juggles his time between Rochester Recreation Department Supervisor and Farmington Football Coach.  Dave Hughes on drums was the original drummer for the alternative rock band Heaven’s to Murgatroid and band member in country southern rock Whiskey River Band, classic rock The Waterman’s and hard rock Mach V.  Steve Canty on guitar and vocals is graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood CA and well-known for his studio work and gigs at the Palladium and the Roxy.  Now a resident of Eliot ME, Canty is a freelance sessions player.  Jared Streeter on bass guitar and vocals was raised on bluegrass and classic rock in Charlestown NH and became an inspired bass player through grunge and numetal years. Streeter, an employee of Ear Craft Music in Dover NH and had established himself as a reputable sound engineer for live shows throughout New England.

Party hardy on September 29 at 8:00 PM with Gazpacho, New England’s favorite 80s tribute band.  The band mixes classic rock hits, top 40 radio pop, new wave electronica and hair metal excess with electronic drums, keyboards and computers to cook up a night of unbeatable awesomeness.   It’s more than a show.  It’s a party. Be there!  

Doors open at 7:00 PM.  Cash bar.  Patrons under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by an adult.  Purchase tickets online at www.rochesteroperahouse.com or call/stop by the box office at (603) 335-1992 on M/W/F from 10-5 or two hours before the show. The Dance Party Series in sponsored by Eastern Propane & Oil, L. Wynn Sound and Foster’s Daily Democrat. Rochester Opera House is located in City Hall, 31 Wakefield Street, Rochester NH.  

Tickets:  Revolving Door $10 and Gazpacho $12

WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL PREGNANCY PACT AT THE WESTON PLAYHOUSE

Production runs August 30 – September 8

Weston, Vermont - A story ripped from the headlines, a vibrant score, a thrilling new work for the musical stage – that’s Pregnancy Pact, the final work in the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company’s MainStage season.

Loosely based on the Time Magazine article about a group of teenage girls who were suspected of forming a pact to become single mothers together, Pregnancy Pact is about some truly unforgettable young women seeking love, growing up, and discovering a sense of self in today’s often-confusing world. Their tale is set to the beat of a hard-hitting and tuneful pop-rock score. And true to Weston’s mission to create new exciting works, Pregnancy Pact is a musical for the 21st century. Boasting a complex yet memorable score and a truly authentic voice, Pregnancy Pact is in-your-face edgy in all the right ways.

With book and lyrics by Gordon Leary and music by Julia Meinwald, Weston is honored to produce its world premiere production. It appears on the company’s MainStage, running from August 30 through September 8. Pregnancy Pact was the winner of Weston’s 2010 new musical award, and was chosen for the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s 2011 Festival of New Musicals.

The production is directed by Joe Calarco, who is best known for his adaptation/direction of Shakespeare’s R&J which ran for a year Off-Broadway – becoming the longest running version of Romeo and Juliet in New York history – and earned him a Lucille Lortel Award. Calarco has also directed numerous critically acclaimed new musicals, including The Burn Part Boys, The Toymaker, and Elegies.

The cast of Pregnancy Pact features a great deal of young Broadway talent, including Krystina Alabado, Katrina Rose Dideriksen, Caitlin Kinnunen, Lauren Marcus, Jed Resnick, Margo Seibert, and Dana Steingold. The creative team is comprised of Music Director Rich Silverstein, Scenic Designer Tim Mackabee, Lighting Designer Joel Shier, Costume Designer Jen Caprio, Sound Designer Ed Chapman, and Production Stage Manager Jess Johnston. The production will also feature a dynamic corps of musicians, with Anthony Rubbo on guitar, Lorenzo Wolff on bass, Sean Hagerty on violin, Ro Rowan on cello, and Jeremy Yaddaw on drums.

Tickets for Pregnancy Pact start at $25. For additional information and to reserve seats, call the Playhouse box office at 802-824-5288 or visit the theatre’s website at westonplayhouse.org.
This production contains strong language and sexual content.

Unique to this production, there will be a talkback following every performance of Pregnancy Pact. Each talkback will feature exciting new special guests, such as: Chair of NYU's Tisch School for the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program Sarah Schlesinger, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Steve Trombley, NEA Director of Theatre and Musical Theatre Ralph Remington, and many more. For a complete list, visit the education section of our website. Talkbacks are subject to change.

Dinner is available by reservation at the theatre’s Cafe at the Falls restaurant. Seating is limited and reservations are highly recommended.

Concurrently wrapping up the season is the OtherStages production of Bad Dates, the hilarious one-woman show about a single mother trying to break back into the dating world, written by Theresa Rebeck, creator and executive producer of the NBC hit television show “Smash.” For more information about shows, visit westonplayhouse.org.