SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mary Birnbaum, a decorated opera director, takes the reins of Opera Saratoga ahead of the 2023 summer festival season, the organization announced. 

Birnbaum succeeds former General and Artistic Director Lawrence Edelson, whose 8-year-tenure concluded at the end of the 2022 season. Birnbaum is the tenth general director in Opera Saratoga’s history. 

Birnbaum is on faculty at The Juilliard School where she teaches and coaches acting for singers as the Dramatic Advisor to the Masters of Music and Graduate Diploma Program at the Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts. She was Juilliard’s inaugural directing fellow in Vocal Arts, and she will continue her role as a faculty member and Dramatic Advisor to graduate-level singers.

“I look forward to collaborating with the talented staff and superior board of directors to bring exceptional music theater to Saratoga Springs and the surrounding communities,” said Birnbaum, in a statement. “Part of the allure of working with Opera Saratoga was the richness of the artistic and intellectual community in the area and I can’t wait to find ways to partner with other local organizations.”

Opera Saratoga originated as Lake George Opera Festival with a production of Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre on July 5, 1962. The company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually.

In her role as general and artistic director, Birnbaum will be responsible for producing the annual opera festival and overseeing Opera Saratoga staff in all elements of programming, community engagement, fundraising, and artist development; while also directing or working with guest directors, conductors, and designers. 

Her introduction to the Saratoga Springs public will take place at Opera Saratoga’s Annual Gala, on Thursday, June 8, at the Saratoga National Golf Club. More information can be found at www.operasaratoga.org/opera-gala-2023

ALBANY — Actor and comedian Jane Curtin, an original cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” will visit the University at Albany on Saturday, April 29, for two distinct events.  Both appearances will take place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown University at Albany campus at 1400 Washington Ave.

At 4 p.m., the Emmy Award winner will participate in an on-stage interview with WAMC’s Joe Donahue as part of The Creative Life: A Conversation Series. This event is free and open to the public.  Later that day at 7:30 p.m., Curtin will be a part of the cast of Selected Shorts, the live version of the weekly public radio show that airs locally on WAMC Northeast Public Radio.  Tickets purchased in advance are $10-$15.

Starting in its first season in 1975, Curtin was one of the original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” on “Saturday Night Live” and stayed with the show through the 1979-80 season. She later starred in two long-running television sitcoms, “Kate & Allie” from 1984 through 1989, during which she won back-to-back Emmy Awards in 1984 and 1985, and “3rd Rock from the Sun” from 1996 through 2001. Curtin also starred in all four seasons of “Unforgettable” as well as the television movie series “The Librarian” and its spin-off television show, “The Librarians.” Guest appearances have included “The Good Wife,” “48 Hours ’til Monday,”
“The Good Fight,” “Broad City,” “United We Fall” and, most recently, “The Conners.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — After a three-year-long pause due to COVID-19, Shaken & Stirred is returning to benefit Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. 

The Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party is an annual fundraiser for UPH. Local businesses team up to compete against each other, bartending for the most tips. The team that raises the most during their shift wins. This year’s event will be 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the Saratoga National Golf Course. 

“We’re excited to bring back this important fundraiser. All proceeds raised go towards our education programs through the Collaborative School of the Arts, which is an incredibly important aspect of arts for youth in our area.” Teddy Foster, director of Universal Preservation Hall, said in a statement. 

The vision of the Collaborative School of the Arts is to provide extensive performing arts opportunities with instruction by regional and national professionals. Its programs inspire and cultivate career paths for students in creative fields while developing and welcoming a diverse palette of artists. Tuition assistance ensures student accessibility across Proctors Collaborative, including UPH’s summer program Rock Camp. 

For more information, go to universalpreservationhall.org. There is no cover charge for this event.

GLENS FALLS — Country music legend Randy Travis returns to the stage at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls, on Saturday, Aug. 26. Travis’ return follows two prior sold-out shows during the inaugural Kevin Richards’ Country Concerts Close Up! series. 

“Randy & Mary Travis: A Conversation with a Legend” will feature stories and songs hosted by Richards, an audience Q & A session, Travis’ biggest hits performed by New England’s Nashville-bound duo Martin and Kelly, and a piano-bar style sing-along with CMA broadcast winner Richie Phillips and regional fan favorite Mark Pierre.

Randy Travis tickets start at $59 and are available now at woodtheater.org/events. 

SCHENECTADY — For 30 years, Music Haven has presented global sounds in Schenectady’s Central Park bringing international music to the summer seekers hailing from locales locales like Yemen, Ukraine, Louisiana, Ireland and Peru. The Passport Series takes the same world music that patrons of the park series have come to cherish and brings it to Proctors in Schenectady and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. 

“Music Haven is thrilled to expand its partnership with Proctors Collaborative to include UPH as well as the GE Theatre at Proctors,” said series curator Mona Golub, in a statement. “Our winter/spring Passport Series itinerary boasts exquisite artistry from four distinct locales – two familiar favorites in Ireland and Cuba and two dynamic new destinations in Turkey and Korea.” 

The first in the 2023 Passport Series is the traditional Irish music of Dervish at Proctors, Schenectady 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3. Aynur – who has become one of the most well-known musicians from Turkey and a representative of the Kurdish people – will perform at Proctors at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4.

At Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs: get transported to Cuba.  “Salsa Night with Tiempo Libre” will be at UPH 8 p.m. Friday, March 24. Tiempo Libre are modern heirs to the rich musical tradition with its sophisticated performances of timba music, an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of Latin jazz and Cuban song.

Lastly, join ADG7 (Ak Dan Gwang Chil) at UPH 8 p.m. Friday, May 5. ADG7 features a rich repertoire inspired by Korea’s sacred, shamanic ritual music (gut) and beloved folk songs (minyo) of Hwanghae Province in the northern reaches of the Peninsula. ADG7 made their first big U.S. splash at globalFEST in 2019, an annual cultural celebration that features the most dynamic music globally. 

  The Passport Series pass includes a ticket to each of the four winter/spring 2023 shows in the series for $100. Single tickets to each show are also available at the Box Office at Proctors, in person or via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or online at proctorscollaborative.org/passport-series.