SARATOGA SPRINGS — Calling it “a total departure from our usual fare,” iTheatre Saratoga is preparing an upcoming holiday musical event titled “An Elemental Christmas.”

A band that includes Emmy-nominated composer Will Severin, Capital Region music veteran George Snyder, and 30-year Saratoga Springs High School music teacher Jeffrey Halstead will perform a selection of tunes ranging from the traditional (“Winter Wonderland”) to the decidedly unorthodox (“River” by Joni Mitchell and “Hounds of Winter” by Sting).  

“It’s based on, to some degree, the elements: Fire, rain, that sort of thing,” iTheatre Saratoga Chairman Will Severin told Saratoga TODAY. “There’s going to be songs people know, there’ll be songs that people forgot they knew, and then there’ll be some songs that they’ve never heard before.” 

These tunes will be thematically linked together via an original script written by iTheatre’s Artistic Director Mary Jane Hansen, who also wrote last month’s charming “Baker Street Adventuress.”

As if their holiday show wasn’t unpredictable enough, iTheatre also decided to toss in some surprise dance numbers, performed by the Saratoga-based Tango Fusion.

“We’ll probably have, towards the end of the night, one number where it’s basically audience participation,” Severin said.

Overall, the performance is aiming for a casual yet spirited experience that includes audience members seated around large tables, vendors selling last-minute Christmas gifts, and a concession stand stocked with craft beer from local breweries.

The “Elemental Christmas” show is the fourth installment of iTheatre’s annual holiday event. Past installments have included “A Colorful Christmas” (in which all the songs included a color in their titles) and “Cosmic Christmas” (featuring David Bowie’s “Space Odyssey” mixed with “What Star is This?”).

“Elemental Christmas” will be performed at the Saratoga Music Hall on Dec. 19 and 20. Tickets are available at www.itheatresaratoga.org.

SCHUYLERVILLE — Susan Meyer, a Saratoga Springs native who now calls Schuylerville home, released last month a book that compiles roughly 15 years’ worth of stories, observations, reflections, and photographs of the Hudson River. 

“River Time: Mindful Reflections from the Upper Hudson,” focuses on Meyer’s connection with a body of water that’s had a colossal impact on both the history of New York State and the nation. The Hudson has also been a source of inspiration to Meyer, who has experienced moments of profundity while kayaking upon it.

“I think it’s a great metaphor for life,” Meyer told Saratoga TODAY. “You never know what you’re going to encounter on the river of life.”

56 original stories and poems (accompanied by 73 full-color photographs) are drawn from Meyer’s journeys on the Hudson, where she contemplated existential ideas while encountering herons, ice formations, changing seasons, and even a Superfund dredging project.

“I get in my kayak, and it takes about one second before I’m in the zone,” Meyer said. “It’s this different perspective; all the usual mental chatter subsides and deeper insight becomes available.”

The book is organized into four thematic sections: “The More Than Human World,” “The Human World,” “Rhythms of the River,” and “The Inner River.” Each part presents a journey from the outer landscape to the inner mind.

One story in “The Human World” details Meyer’s interest in Saratoga County history, and how the remnants of hundreds of years of tumultuous events are still present today. After acquiring a copy of “Early Days in Eastern Saratoga County” by Grace VanDerwerker, Meyer brought the history book to an old local cemetery where soldiers from five different wars are buried. Meyer spent hours reading names from the gravestones and looking them up in her history book.

“The names and stories came alive there among the tombstones,” Meyer wrote. “I knew the gossip: who was highly respected, who were the doctors, the deacons, the soldiers, even who had been murdered. Somehow, I felt at home among all these personalities, as if I, too, am part of the long story of this land through which the river flows.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that Meyer is a meditation teacher, “River Time” is also available as an unabridged visual audiobook that’s narrated by the author and accompanied by hundreds of still and moving images, as well as the occasional sound effect. The result is an immersive experience that is both soothing and pensive.

“I feel like the book is for nature lovers, people who have a mindfulness practice, or anyone who’s seeking peace and steadiness and sanctuary in daily life,” Meyer said. “I think of it like having a refuge that is bigger than whatever waves you’re experiencing, personally or collectively. A natural landscape that you can go to, and it can put things in perspective so that things don’t feel so big.”

“River Time” is available in both a premium full-color print edition and a visual audiobook edition at the author’s website, SusanTaraMeyer.com.

Photos of Natasha Pickowicz, Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji, and Devin Finigan provided by SPAC.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) recently announced the return of its CulinaryArts@SPAC initiative this winter and spring, presented at The Pines at SPAC.

The 2026 season begins on Feb. 5 with chef and four-time James Beard Award finalist Natasha Pickowicz, fresh off the release of her new book “Everyone Hot Pot,” an exploration of Lunar New Year traditions.

On April 23, mother-son team Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji will present “Heartland Masala: Indian Cooking from an American Kitchen,” blending Indian culinary traditions with diasporic American stories. 

The series concludes on May 21 with “A Kitchen on Goose Cove,” celebrating the culinary magic of coastal Maine with acclaimed chef Devin Finigan of Aragosta, recognized as one of Food & Wine’s best restaurants in both 2024 and 2025. 

Each event features exclusive tastings; conversation with chefs, authors and hosts; and opportunities for book signings. The conversations will be recorded for future broadcast on WAMC’s The Roundtable as part of its “WAMC on the Road” series.

“CulinaryArts@SPAC is a celebration of culture, connection, and the power of a shared table,” said Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC. “This season, from Natasha Pickowicz’s joyous exploration of hot pot traditions, to the Mukharjis’ rich journey through Indian cuisine, to Devin Finigan’s evocative taste of the Maine coast, each gathering reflects SPAC’s mission to bring people together through art, nature, and the stories that shape how we eat. I’m especially delighted to welcome Auyon Mukharji, whose band Darlingside is one of my personal favorites, adding a familiar and local musical connection to the evening.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Toto will bless the rains down in Saratoga on July 16.

The pop-rock group best known for a string of hits released in the 1980s will appear at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) this summer, bringing with them Oscar and Grammy winner Christopher Cross, as well as power-pop band The Romantics, known for their hits “What I Like About You” and “Talking in Your Sleep.”

SPAC’s summer lineup is becoming increasingly busy, with 11 acts already booked for the amphitheater main stage and another 5 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performances scheduled for the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Dec. 1, more than 100 students of all ages and abilities from AIM Services, Saratoga Bridges, and Community Based Services performed at the SPAC School of the Arts as part of SPAC’s “Access the Arts” educational program.

The initiative began in 2023 and is part of SPAC’s mission to provide free access to the arts and inclusive programs for people of all ages and abilities. The final performance share was the culmination of ten weeks of music, dance, and improvisational theater classes that were specifically curated for students at the SPAC School of the Arts.

“There is a palpable sense of joy and momentum in this program,” said Jess Bien, director of learning and engagement. “Our students show us every week how powerful it is to have spaces where adults of all abilities can express themselves freely, connect with others, and experience the wellness benefits of creative work. Watching Access the Arts expand has been a clear reminder of how central inclusion and shared creativity are to SPAC’s mission.”

The final performance share included participating groups from across the program, including Move On!—a Dance Alliance and SPAC School of the Arts dance group for adults of all abilities—and SPAC School of the Arts’ own Rhythm Sole, an inclusive tap class.

CLIFTON PARK — Saratoga Springs artist Chuck Brouillette’s superhero pop art exhibit will appear at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library this month. The exhibit is supported by the Saratoga Arts “Art in Public Places” initiative.

Brouillette’s pop art canvases capture the iconic heroes and villains of America Comic Art Mythology who’ve sprung from the 80+ year history of sequential art storytelling. Brilliant colors and clean design highlight the power of the art form by focusing on the stories that images tell without words.

“I connected with sequential art as a compelling storytelling medium as far back as I can recall,” Brouillette said. “But it wasn’t until I graduated to Super-Hero Comics that I was hooked. The mythology, the brightly colored costumes, the good guy ethics; it all combined to engage me and introduce me to an art form and literary canon that still compel me 50 years on.”

The exhibit will be on display at the library (located at 475 Moe Road in Clifton Park) from now until Jan. 29.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Grammy-winning goth-rock group Evanescence unveiled their 2026 world tour plans on Monday, and they’ll stop at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on June 23 alongside Spiritbox and Nova Twins.

Evanescence’s 2003 record “Fallen” is ranked the sixth bestselling album of the 21st century (just behind Lady Gaga’s “The Fame” and ahead of Coldplay’s “A Rush of Blood to the Head”). The album’s hit singles, including “Bring Me to Life,” broke the Top 10 in more than 15 countries and topped Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 and Alternative Airplay charts. “My Immortal” was a Top 10 hit in over ten countries, including the US, UK, and Australia.

Evanescence joins a rapidly growing 2026 lineup for SPAC. Last week, Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses were added to the mix. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will welcome the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) back to the Spa City for a 2026 summer residency from July 12 to 26. 

Curated by Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, the season features five programs that traverse a spectrum of chamber music that includes works by Mozart, Marsalis, Dvořák, Beethoven, Barber, Villa-Lobos, and more. 

“We are delighted to bring the finest chamber music programs specifically designed for our cherished SPAC audiences performed by some of the greatest musicians from around the world,” said CMS Artistic Directors Finckel and Han. “With music ranging from Mozart to Marsalis, and in celebration of this summer’s 250th anniversary of American independence and musical identity, we are deeply grateful for our enduring partnership with SPAC. We look forward to sharing this remarkable summer with you.”

Guest artists for the 2026 summer residency include Stella Chen, Danbi Um, Matthew Lipman, Sterling Elliott, Evren Ozel, Michael Stephen Brown, Sahun Sam Hong, Orion Weiss, Aaron Boyd, Sean Lee, Lawrence Dutton, Milena Pájaro-Van De Stadt, Mihai Marica, Juho Pohjonen, Demarre McGill, James Austin Smith, Romie De Guise-Langlois, Marc Goldberg, Nathaniel Silberschlag, and the Calidore String Quartet.

All 2026 CMS events will take place in the Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall in Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College while the Spa Little Theater undergoes renovation. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit spac.org.

JULY 12 | Dvořák’s Quintet in A Major 

Wu Han, piano

Evren Ozel, piano

Stella Chen, violin

Danbi Um, violin

Matthew Lipman, viola

Sterling Elliott, cello

Mozart: Trio in E major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, K. 542

Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano

Gershwin: Three Preludes for Violin and Piano (arr. Heifetz)

Dvořák: Quintet in A major for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 5

JULY 15 | From Haydn to Copland

Michael Stephen Brown, piano 

Sahun Sam Hong, piano 

Lun Li, violin 

James Thompson, viola 

Nicholas Canellakis, cello 

Ian David Rosenbaum, percussion

Haydn: Trio in C major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Hob. XV:27

Mendelssohn: Quartet in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 1

Brahms: Selected Hungarian Dances for Piano, Four Hands 

Bernstein: Three Meditations from Mass for Cello and Piano (1971, arr. 1977) 

Copland: El Salón México for Piano and Percussion (arr. Bernstein)                          

JULY 19 | Burleigh, Dvořák and Beethoven

Orion Weiss, piano 

Aaron Boyd, violin 

Sean Lee, violin 

Lawrence Dutton, viola 

Milena Pájaro-Van De Stadt, viola 

Mihai Marica, cello 

Burleigh: Southland Sketches for Violin and Piano

Dvořák: Trio in G minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 26

Beethoven: Quintet in C major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, Op. 29

JULY 22 | Winds Around the World

Juho Pohjonen, piano 

DeMarre McGill, flute 

James Austin Smith, oboe 

Romie De Guise-Langlois, clarinet 

Marc Goldberg, bassoon 

Nathaniel Silberschlag, horn 

Beethoven: Sonata in F major for Horn and Piano, Op. 17

Barber: Summer Music for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn, Op. 31  

Villa-Lobos: Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon   

Taktakishvili: Sonata for Flute and Piano  

Jongen: Rhapsody in D minor for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano, Op. 70

JULY 26 | Calidore String Quartet

Franklin: Quartet No. 2 in F major for Three Violins and Cello   

Haydn: Quartet in E-flat major for Strings, Hob. III:38, Op. 33, No. 2, “The Joke”

Mozart: Quartet in B-flat major for Strings, K. 589, “Prussian”

Wolf: Italian Serenade for String Quartet

Marsalis: At the Octoroon Balls for String Quartet

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet will present its 5th annual production of “The Nutcracker”—featuring over 125 local dancers ages 5 to 18—on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 at the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.

The show will feature new costumes, props, and choreography. Special guests include Sarah MacGregor and Jethro Paine (courtesy of Boulder Ballet) and Andre Malo Robles as Herr Drosselmeyer.

Tickets are now available at www.ticketleap.events/events/ssyballet/the-nutcracker-2025-1945883007.

All ticket proceeds directly support the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet, a nonprofit dedicated to providing quality professional dance training to pre-professional students throughout the Saratoga region.