SARATOGA SPRINGS — Legendary comedian and sitcom star Jerry Seinfeld visited Saratoga Springs for the first time last week, performing a set of all-new material at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).
The eponymous “Seinfeld” creator made a perhaps obligatory joke about horse racing before delving into a series of observations and commentaries on contemporary life. At one point, a heckler attempted to derail the set, but the audience was firmly on Jerry’s side.
Seinfeld’s latest cinematic project, “Unfrosted,” is currently available to stream on Netflix. The comedy chronicles the largely fictional origin story of Pop-Tarts.
Following his July 24 SPAC show, Seinfeld is scheduled to make three appearances in the New England area from Aug. 7 to 9.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Cynthia Erivo—acclaimed singer, actor, and co-star of hit Hollywood musical “Wicked”—has canceled her Aug. 22 performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) “due to scheduling conflicts beyond the artist’s control.”
Replacing Erivo in SPAC’s summer lineup will be seven-time Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste, whose new album “Big Money” is set to be released on the same day of his Aug. 22 show, giving audiences a chance to experience his latest music live prior to a national tour that begins on Aug. 27.
“While we are disappointed that Cynthia Erivo will not be joining us this summer, we are elated to welcome Jon in celebration of his highly anticipated new album,” said Elizabeth Sobol, the CEO of SPAC, in a news release.
The first half of Batiste’s show will feature music from his upcoming album performed alongside his band. The second half of the show will mark his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra. This appearance will be Batiste’s first time back at SPAC following his Saratoga Jazz Festival performance in 2018.
Tickets to the Cynthia Erivo show will be automatically transferred to “A Special Evening with Jon Batiste and The Philadelphia Orchestra” on Aug. 22. For existing ticketholders who prefer a refund or a credit to redeem at a later date, a request form will be emailed directly to be completed by Friday, Aug. 1. Questions can be directed to the box office at boxoffice@spac.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Dave Matthews Band has played a whopping 212 shows in New York, starting with their first in-state performance in July of 1992. Of those concerts, 50 have now been played at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, starting with the jam band’s Spa City premiere on Sept. 3,1994 and continuing with shows 49 and 50 last weekend.
To celebrate the milestone, Matthews debuted a new original song, “Take All Day,” during his July 19 encore. The delicate ballad, which Matthews performed solo, was met with a rousing ovation from a crowd that filled nearly every inch of available lawn space.
Dedicated DMB fans might’ve also noted a couple other rarities: “The Best of What’s Around” closed out a set for the first time since 1993, and “The Stone” was played during an encore for the first time in over a decade. Matthews also tossed a variety of favorites (“What Would You Say,” “The Space Between,” “Idea of You,” “Cornbread,” “Tripping Billies,” “Everyday,” and “Jimi Thing”) and covers (Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain,” David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” and Cameo’s “Word Up!”) into his two Saratoga setlists.
The singer-songwriter, who is often vocal about his political beliefs, made a thinly-veiled jab at ICE arrests during his Friday show, before hoisting up signs that read “Stop Killing Children” and “Stop the Genocide” as the audience shuffled its way toward the exits.
The Dave Matthews Band is one of SPAC’s most popular acts, having played at the venue nearly every year since ‘94. Perhaps not to be outdone, Phish (who have taken the SPAC stage 24 times) will add three more shows to the record books this weekend.
Photo of a free concert performed at the Brookside Museum in 2024 provided.
BALLSTON SPA — The Village of Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts will present a free outdoor jazz concert at the Brookside Museum on Sunday, July 27 at 5 p.m. The performance will be the first concert in the “Sounds of Summer/Sounds in Winter” series.
Dennis Searles and the Jazz Ambassadors Jazz Band will play music from the porch of the museum. Attendees are invited to bring chairs and picnic dinners to enjoy an evening of music. Should rain cancel the event, it will be rescheduled for Aug. 3 at 5 p.m.
Photo of author Mai Corland and cover art of “Three Shattered Souls” provided by Entangled Publishing/Red Tower Books.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — If you’ve ever visited the Saratoga Springs Public Library in search of the latest popular fiction title, don’t be surprised if the author of the book you’re borrowing is in line behind you.
“I love the library here in Saratoga,” said Mai Corland, a New York Times bestselling author and Saratoga resident. “From when my kids were very little, we would go to the library. During COVID, it was integral and it remains integral in our lives.”
Corland just released “Three Shattered Souls” earlier this month. It’s the final installment of her romantasy trilogy, “The Broken Blades,” which is primarily set in the fictional land of Yusan, but was written right here in the Spa City.
In an interview with Saratoga TODAY, Corland gushed about the city’s many literary institutions and events, from the Yaddo artists’ retreat to the Saratoga Book Festival to the Northshire Bookstore.
“There is a long history, especially in Saratoga, of supporting the arts,” Corland said. “For a small town, there is a great arts influence…It’s not as cookie-cutter as other places tend to be.”
The home of health, history, and horses served as inspiration for some of Corland’s prior work, especially the young adult novel “Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller,” which takes place partly in Saratoga and includes references to the horse racing industry. Another YA title, “Emma and the Love Spell” is set in a fictional town with a distinct Upstate New York feel. (Both books were released under the name Meredith Ireland.)
“The Broken Blades” trilogy, however, takes inspiration from Korean history and mythology. Corland was born in Seoul, adopted, and then moved with her new family to New York City, where she was raised. Sometime around the 9/11 terrorist attacks, her family decided to relocate. Corland’s sister was interested in Skidmore College, prompting her parents to make the move upstate when they fell in love with Saratoga. At age 22, when Corland was about to leave New York to attend law school in Miami, her life took an unexpected turn when she met her future husband here in New York. In other words, the author of romantic stories had her own life profoundly shaped by romance.
Of course, romance is only part of the romantasy genre. The “Broken Blades” trilogy opens with five deceptive assassins competing (and, at times, collaborating) to kill the king of Yusan. The final installment in the series, released on July 15, contains dark subject matter, such as death, violence, and genocide. These elements were influenced, in part, by real historic occurrences, such as the Jeju uprising/massacre, which caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people. The adult subject matter could appeal to fans of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the fantasy series by George R.R. Martin that was adapted for television as “Game of Thrones.” But Corland’s incorporation of Korean history, as well as her feminist perspective, puts a distinct spin on familiar fantasy themes.
“Three Shattered Souls,” which Kirkus Reviews called “a compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series,” is now available via online and brick-and-mortar booksellers nationwide.
Local youth dancers rehearse on the SPAC stage for “Coppelia.” Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — More than 250 kids from across the Capital Region auditioned earlier this year for roles in the New York City Ballet (NYCB) production of “Coppelia” at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Of those tiny dancers, less than 40 made the cut. It was, said NYCB Children’s Repertory Director Dena Abergel, an all-time record for the most young auditioners.
“Usually we get 60, 70 kids,” Abergel told Saratoga TODAY. “It was unbelievable. I came into the room and the whole thing was full.”
“Coppelia,” which was performed at SPAC from July 9 to 12, included 24 children’s roles with 8 understudies, plus a few teenage roles. Whittling down the list of candidates entailed both technical and practical considerations; being able to do the steps properly was clutch, but height requirements also came into play. Once the select few were chosen in March, Abergel returned to Saratoga in late June for a “Coppelia” intensive that included daily, four-hour rehearsals.
“They were learning a tremendous amount of choreography each day,” Abergel said. “This is actually the most dancing that there is for a children’s role. It’s real ballet. It’s not like stand on the side and jump and move your arms. This is real technique, real ballet. So, we need a lot of time to teach them [George] Balanchine’s beautiful choreography.
Two kid dancers from the Saratoga area, Bryn Gowan and Madeline Del Prete, had to rehearse for around 30 hours, in addition to practicing at home. But they seemed to thrive in the midst of this demanding schedule.
“It’s like the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Del Prete said of the experience.
“It’s a little exciting but also a little nerve-wracking because you’re around a bunch of really good dancers,” added Gowan, who studies at the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet.
Gowan also performed with the NYCB last year, while Del Prete made her debut this summer. Both said they intend to keep dancing well into adulthood.
“It’s really fun to move your body in a different way,” Del Prete said. “It’s technically hard but it’s just so fun to do.”
Photos of highlighted food options at Saratoga Race Course by Aidan Cahill.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Last week, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced a variety of new additions to its food and beverage lineup for this year’s Saratoga Race Course summer meet.
Saratoga Sunrise, the official cocktail of Saratoga Race Course, has undergone a change: lemonade has replaced orange juice in a recipe that includes Belvedere vodka, grenadine, and a lemon garnish.
Five newly redesigned food carts will debut trackside, including: Union Ave Grill (sweet sausage with roasted tomato and onion piperade), Toga Gyros (a vegetarian favorite with crispy falafel bites paired with a refreshing cucumber yogurt sauce), Taco Republic (chicken carnitas tacos, slow-braised and pulled, layered with pico de gallo, salsa verde, and cilantro on warm flour tortillas), Capital Q (slow-smoked BBQ brisket panini with barbecue sauce, crispy onions, and pickled jalapeños), and the Carnegie Hot Dog Cart (a spicy all-beef sausage dressed with classic toppings: Dusseldorf mustard, relish, sauerkraut, chopped raw onions, and a NY pushcart onion sauce).
The new Subourbon Life canned cocktail line features non-carbonated, Bourbon-based drinks, including Bourbon and Pink Lemonade; Bourbon Iced Tea and Lemonade; and the Bourbon Margarita, comprised of Bourbon, lime and a touch of citrus. Each option is available at the Subourbon Beverage Express adjacent to the Finish Line Bar and Grill.
The list of new and returning spirits and wines includes: Bulleit Bourbon; Casamigos and Tres Agaves Tequila; Hendrick’s Gin; Mount Gay Rum; Moët & Chandon Champagne; Mionetto Prosecco; Josh Cellars, Ruffino and Joel Gott Wines, including a light pinot grigio from Ménage à Trois; and Albany-based ALB Vodka.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Excelsior Vocal Ensemble will present “Celestial England” at the Bethesda Episcopal Church at 26 Washington Street on July 19 at 3 p.m.
Excelsior will perform English choral music from across the centuries, including Herbert Howells’ “Requiem,” William Byrd’s “Mass for Five Voices,” five spirituals from “A Child of Our Time” by Michael Tippett, and selections from Gustav Holst’s “Choral Folk Songs.” Special guest organist Derek Stannard will also perform.
BALLSTON SPA — There aren’t many places on earth where you can see a kangaroo, professional wrestling match, beauty pageant, magician, and a waterskiing squirrel all in one day. But you can do it at the 2025 Saratoga County Fair, which returns to Ballston Spa on July 22 and runs until July 27.
This year, the fair will be open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, then from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is free in the fair parking lots, with shuttle buses available for those in lot D. Admission costs $15, but is free for kids 12 and younger. Tickets are still available online at www.saratogacountyfair.org/home.
Amusements of America will be providing the rides, games, and food offerings in the carnival section of the fair every day from noon until 10 p.m. Rides include adult attractions like the Crazy Mouse; Starship 3,000; Pharaoh’s Fury; Free Fall; Sky Fall; Orbiter; and Top Gun. Family-friend rides include two Ferris wheels; the Wacky Worm roller coaster; bumper cars; a carousel; and a Tilt-A-Whirl. As for food, expect everything from deep-fried favorites to local gourmet food trucks.
The fair’s itinerary is packed with activities, shows, exhibitions, and events. For a full list, you can view the fair’s calendar on its website. But we at Saratoga TODAY have prepared this curated schedule of some of the most exciting, unique, and just plain weird things to do at the 2025 fair. We’ve also bolded some special headlining events for each day. No matter what your interests or hobbies, there’s something for everyone, even if it’s just snacking on a funnel cake and riding some rides (though, we recommend having the funnel cake after the rides, not before).
Tuesday, July 22
County Draft Horse Show (10 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
4-H Goat Show (1 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 12, 4, and 7 p.m.)
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Talent Building)
Saratoga County Fair Pageant (4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
4-H Swine Show (6 p.m.)
Beatin’ the Odds concert (7 to 10 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Demolition Derby (7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Grandstand)
Wednesday, July 23
County Draft Horse Show (9 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
4-H Dairy Cattle Show (10 a.m. at the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 2, and 4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
Open Draft Horse Show (1 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
4-H Sheep Show (3 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.)
Saratoga’s Got Talent (6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
The Dynasty professional wrestling (7 p.m. at the Grandstand)
River Country Band concert (7 to 10 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Thursday, July 24
4-H Western Horse Show (10 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 2, and 4 p.m. in the Talent Building) 4-H Alpaca Show (1 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.)
Stewart’s Ice Cream Eating Contest (3:30 p.m. in the Townley Building)
Goat Show (4 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
4-H Beef Show (4 p.m. in the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
Tractor Pull (6 p.m.)
Saratoga’s Got Talent (6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
County Draft Horse Show (7 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
Family Bingo (7 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
Skeeter Creek concert (7 to 10 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Friday, July 25
4-H English Horse Show (10 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
Dairy Cattle Show (10 a.m. at the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
The Children’s Museum at Saratoga (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 2, and 4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
The Dambreakers concert (1 to 4 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.) Taste of Saratoga County (local culinary delights in the Townley Building from 4 to 6 p.m.)
Draft Horse Obstacle Course and Games (5:30 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
Saratoga’s Got Talent (6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
Family Bingo (7 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
• Electric Rodeo concert (7 to 11 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Saturday, July 26
4-H Rabbit Show (9 a.m. at the Small Animal Show Ring)
4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 4, and 6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
The Bennett Brothers concert (12 to 3 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
4-H Poultry Show (2 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.)
Taste of Saratoga County (local culinary delights in the Townley Building from 4 to 6 p.m.)
4 Wheel Drive Truck Pull (7 p.m.)
4-H Young Farmers Olympics (7 p.m. in the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
Family Bingo (7 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
Big Sky Country concert (7 to 11 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Sunday, July 27
4-H Master Showman (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. in the Talent Building)
Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 12, 4, and 7 p.m.)
Country line dancing lessons (from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Cosplay costuming construction (12 to 3 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
4-H Dog Show (1 p.m. in the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
Saratoga’s Got Talent: Best of Fair (4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
The Down Home Boys concert (4 to 8 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
Backstage crew members prepare for the New York City Ballet’s annual residency at SPAC. (right) New York City Ballet Production Stage Manager Jacqueline Reid shows off a costume used in “Coppélia.” Photos by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Five tractor-trailers hauled lavish sets, hundreds of intricate costumes, and more than 1,000 gleaming ballet shoes into the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Monday morning in preparation for the New York City Ballet’s (NYCB) 59th annual residency in the Spa City, which began on July 9 and concludes on Saturday, July 12.
Also arriving at Saratoga for the residency (though not in tractor-trailers) were more than 90 dancers, as well as dozens of members of the New York City Ballet Orchestra.
This year’s performances include the full-length story ballet “Coppélia,” which held its world premiere at SPAC in 1974; Jerome Robbins’ spirited “In G Major,” an audience favorite set to Giuseppe Verdi melodies; George Balanchine’s “Stravinsky Violin Concerto”; and Justin Peck’s newest work “Mystic Familiar,” which will have its SPAC premiere.
“Nowhere else in the world outside of New York City does the full company of dancers and musicians present a robust week of repertoire, every single year,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of SPAC, in a statement. “SPAC is unique and incredibly fortunate to be able to bring these world-class artists to our community.”
Called “story ballet done to perfection” by The New York Times, George Balanchine’s “Coppélia” will feature scenery and costumes by Rouben Ter-Artunian, as well as lighting by Mark Stanley. Included in the cast will be around 30 local children, who began auditioning for their roles in early March.
“Mystic Familiar” is set to an original score by composer Dan Deacon, who also provided the score for Peck’s 2017 ballet “The Times Are Racing” and Francis Ford Coppola’s 2011 film “Twixt.” The set design will feature a backdrop by the Los Angeles-based visual artist Eamon Ore-Giron, whose work was featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial.
Here is the full NYCB performance schedule at SPAC:
Coppélia
July 9 @ 7:30 p.m.
July 10 @ 7:30 p.m.
July 11 @ 7:30 p.m.
July 12 @ 2 p.m.
“Mystic Familiar” + “In G Major” + “Stravinsky Violin Concerto”
July 11 @ 2 p.m.
July 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
For tickets or more information, visit spac.org.
SPAC Offering Free Dance Workshops
Last week, SPAC and the NYCB announced that they would offer a series of free dance workshops for children, teens, and adults of all abilities on July 10 and 12.
Held at the SPAC School of the Arts, the workshops are led by NYCB dancers and the choreography is inspired by “Coppélia.” Additional access workshops will feature modifications so that participants of all abilities feel welcome.
New York City Ballet Workshop Schedule:
July 10 @ 5:15 p.m.: NYCB Ballet Essentials Workshop, Access Workshop for Teens and Adults
July 12 @ 10 a.m.: Children’s Access Workshop
July 12 @ 12 p.m.: Children’s Workshop, In Motion Workshop
For more details on the workshops, visit spac.org.
