SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arts announced it received a $300,000 gift from Stewart’s and the Dake Family towards the center’s ongoing Capital Campaign to support the renovations at its Broadway location.  

“This exceptional gift comes at a critical time for Saratoga Arts and the construction project,” Amy Bloom, Executive Director of Saratoga Arts said in a statement. “Over the past several months, through board member gifts, local foundation and key donor contributions, we have experienced incredible community support.  These contributions ensure that we can sustain the organization while the building is under renovation and that our construction timeline stays on track.” 

Funding for the project has come from the city of Saratoga Springs, which owns the historical building, and New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) through a Capital Project grant.  

The $2 million project is focused on modernizing the gallery, upgrading the Dee Sarno Theater, while also improving the lower-level classroom spaces and providing direct access to Congress Park and a future patio.  It will also stabilize the building’s HVAC systems, install energy-efficient windows, address drainage and roofing issues, and upgrade power, wiring and lighting systems throughout the building.  

While the building is under construction, Saratoga Arts is holding classes at several off-site locations on Beekman Street including CREATE Studio and the Community Room behind the Eden Compton Studio.  Art in the Park returns to Saratoga on Saturday May 24 in Congress Park.

For more information about Saratoga Arts, visit saratoga-arts.org or contact Amy Bloom, Executive Director, at abloom@saratoga-arts.org. 

SCHUYLERVILLE — Amateur Photographers are invited to submit their images to the Photography Exhibit at the Schuylerville Garden Club’s Annual Standard Flower Show.  

The show entitled “Once Upon A Time” will be held on July 12 and July 13 at the Town Hall in Schuylerville.  

The photography section is entitled “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”.  The classes are as follows:

Class 1 “Dreamland” – A Woodland Landscape

Class 2 “Nymphs” – Close-up of a Plant, Flower or Insect

Class 3 “Cast A Spell” – A Garden Scene

All photos should be the work of the exhibitor.  Photos should be 8 x 10 inches with a white 11×14 inch mat. Photos must be pre-registered. For details and an entry form, visit www.schuylervillegardenclub.org or call Nancy Derway, Photography Chairman at 518-796-4797 campderway@yahoo.com. 

In addition to the Photo Exhibit, the show will include Horticulture, Floral Design and Artistic Crafts Competition classes, plant, glove and bake sales, a benefit table with prizes and special exhibits. Refreshments and admission to the show will be free.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater will hold open auditions for their July production of the Tony Award-winning musical 1776, with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards, and book by Peter Stone. This production will be directed by Michael Gatzendorfer.

The auditions will be held on Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13, starting at 6 p.m. at Home Made Theater’s headquarters at the Wilton Mall. Callbacks (by invitation only) will be held on Wednesday, May 14.

The primary cast consists of 24 adult men, and two adult women. While the goal is to primarily cast men in the leading historically male roles, HMT is considering women for the many roles traditionally played by men. Women interested in auditioning for these roles should be prepared to portray male characters. All ethnicities and gender identities are encouraged to audition.

For the audition: bring a current photo (cannot be returned), a resume (if available) and a list of conflicts for all rehearsal dates. Except for Tech Week and performances, conflicts can be worked around if known in advance. Prepare a 16-32 bar cut of a modern musical theatre song. An accompanist will be provided. Be prepared to read one of the monologues that will be provided. 

Rehearsals will be Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 6-9 p.m. starting May 21; there may be some Sunday rehearsals as well (TBD). Tech week starts on Sunday, July 13. All rehearsals except for Tech Week will be held at Home Made Theater’s Wilton Mall headquarters.

Performances are weekends July 18-27. There will be performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. For more information, go to: www.homemadetheater.org.

ALBANY — Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus won second place in Division A (small chorus containing 12-25 singing members) and placed fifth overall at the Greater New York/New Jersey Region 15 Annual Convention and Competition, Sweet Adelines International, recently held in Albany. 

Twenty-two accomplished singers under the direction of Jennifer Hunter took to the stage to compete in four-part Barbershop style. The chorus performed a musical package exploring different aspects of finding and losing love, including “This Could Be the Start of Something Big,” and “From the First Hello to the Last Goodbye.” 

Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus is an award-winning women’s a cappella group, singing four-part harmony. They perform everything from classics and jazz to ballads and contemporary songs. The chorus has been entertaining since 2008. 

The Chorus rehearses at 7 p.m. Monday nights at the Knights of Columbus on Pine Rd. in Saratoga Springs. To learn more or if you have interest in auditioning to become a member, go to: https://www.saratogasoundtrack.org. 

WASHINGTON COUNTY — Art lovers and curious explorers alike are invited to spend a weekend discovering the creative spirit of Washington County. The seventh annual Artisan Trails in Washington County will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 -13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This self-guided tour features open studios and pop-up artist fairs across the county, where visitors can enjoy live demonstrations, plein air painting, hands-on workshops, and a wide variety of artwork available for purchase.

Hosted by the non-profit Artisan Trails in Washington County, the event celebrates the region’s vibrant creative community and highlights the rich history, scenic landscapes, and diverse handmade traditions found throughout the area.

Visitors will be guided to each site via maps both online and on paper, along with roadside signs. The tour typically includes studios of painters, textile artists, metal sculpturers, stained glass artists, photographers, potters, furniture makers, beekeepers, blacksmiths, farms, cider houses, breweries, and more. The event itself is free and open to the public.

The application deadline for participating artists is June 1. More information and registration are available at www.artisan-trails.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — This season at Universal Preservation Hall, Shakespeare, strings, and a Broadway star are each taking center stage in the venue’s lineup of performances. 

 “Antonio, or What I Would” will be in the Great Hall 8 p.m. Saturday, May 31 and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1. The production takes a firmly gay stance on Shakespeare’s favorite pirate. It’s the closing performance of a somewhat successful outdoor production of “Twelfth Night,” and the actor playing Antonio finds himself asking, “What happened here?” as the queerness of both his character and his own identity is relegated to stage left. “Antonio, or What I Would” was developed at the Play on Labs with Troy Foundry Theatre in 2024.  

Long before “Bridgerton” broke the Netflix algorithm, Vitamin String Quartet had helped establish classical crossover as a genuine force in contemporary music. They will be in the Great Hall 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9. On their latest tour, VSQ has created fresh arrangements of the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift, performing spellbinding and innovative renditions of Swift’s music alongside familiar hits from Billie Eilish, BTS, “Bridgerton,” The Weekend, and Daft Punk. 

The first show in the Great Hall announced for 2026 is Matthew Morrison: Rhythms & Revelations 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5. Matthew Morrison, known for his standout role as Will Schuester on “Glee,” is a dynamic performer whose charisma and versatility have captivated audiences for years. With a background in musical theatre, Morrison effortlessly blends his impressive vocal talents with a strong acting presence, bringing depth and charm to his performances. 

Tickets are on sale through the Box Office at Proctors in person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Tuesday- Saturday 12-6 p.m. or online by visiting atuph.org. Groups of 10 or more can get the group discount by calling 518-382-3884 x 139.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Little Big Town is hitting the road in 2025 with their Summer Tour ’25, bringing their signature harmonies and live show to amphitheaters across North America. 

Produced by Live Nation, the 22-city tour includes a stop at Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, on July 31, with special guests Wynonna Judd and Shelby Lynne.

Little Big Town – consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook – burst onto the music scene 25 years ago with smash hits “Boondocks,” “Bring It on Home,” “Good as Gone” and “Little White Church.” The band’s breakthrough albums Tornado and Pain Killer produced multiple No. 1 singles, including “Pontoon,” “Tornado,” and “Day Drinking,” as well as the history-making, best-selling country single “Girl Crush.”

The tour follows Little Big Town’s celebrated 2024 performances and marks the band’s first full summer headline run since 2019.