SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Performing Arts Center will present Beethoven For Three featuring Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma with special guest Antoine Tamestit on Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. in the 500-seat Spa Little Theater. Proceeds from the performance will go toward establishing a programming fund for the Theater, SPAC’s year-round performance home. 

“Seeing these artists, who are all among the best musicians in the world, is a sublime and moving experience in any format. We feel incredibly fortunate to have this unique opportunity to present ‘Beethoven For Three’ in the intimate and glorious acoustic of our Spa Little Theater,” Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC’s President & CEO said in a statement. “All tickets purchased for this special concert will support our efforts to provide year-round programming for the community in the Spa Little Theater.”   

Beethoven For Three features Emanuel Ax (piano), Leonidas Kavakos (violin), and Yo-Yo Ma (cello) in Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 6. Joined by special guest, Antoine Tamestit (viola), the group will then perform the monumental “Eroica” Symphony No. 3 reimagined for four players, in an intimate arrangement that maintains the power and immediacy of Beethoven’s orchestral work.

Since reopening in the fall of 2022, SPAC has presented year-round programming in the Spa Little Theater, bringing the best in music, theater and dance to the region and welcoming artists from around the world. Tickets to Beethoven For Three are available at spac.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Concertgoers can purchase $25 tickets through May 14 for select Live Nation promoted shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

How Concert Week Works: fans can visit LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek to see the full list of participating events. Filter search by participating events, venues, or artists. Once a show is selected, look for the ticket type labeled “Concert Week Promotion,” add the ticket(s) to cart, and proceed to checkout.

Some Of 2024 participating Shows at SPAC include: Khruangbin performing May 26; Hootie & The Blowfish; Lainey Wilson; Niall Horan and Brooks & Dunn in June; Train/REO Speedwagon (July 23) and               Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire  (July 24), and New Kids On The Block, Creed, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Goose and many more each slated to perform later this summer.  Concert Week tickets include all fees upfront in the $25 all-in cost.

GLENS FALLS —Adirondack Theatre Festival (ATF) announced it has put single tickets on sale for its 30th Anniversary season. One performance is already sold out, and audiences are encouraged to book their tickets now.

The season kicks off with the world premiere musical comedy Todd vs the Titanic by the creators of the international hit Murder for Two, which ATF originated in 2010. ATF’s production of Todd vs the Titanic will transfer to the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca following the run in Glens Falls. 

Next, ATF will stage a concert presentation of the new Broadway-aimed pop musical The King’s Wife (running July 19 – 21). With music and lyrics by Grammy-nominated Nashville songwriter Jamie Floyd and book by Mêlisa Annis, the sweeping epic imagines the secret history of the first wives of Henry VIII. 

The season will close with Jeffrey Hatcher’s edgy new adaptation of Dial “M” for Murder (running Aug. 1 – 7), the play by Frederick Knott which inspired the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film. 

Additionally, ATF audiences can sneak a peek at a newly commissioned ATF play. Worth: An Intimate Exhibition, is a one-person play written and performed by Jessica Frances Dukes, who starred in the Netflix hit Ozark as Agent Maya Miller. Dukes will perform a developmental reading at the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council’s Lapham Gallery from July 12 – 14. Tickets to this special presentation are priced at $20. 

Single tickets for Todd vs the Titanic, The King’s Wife, and Dial “M” for Murder currently range from $25 to $49. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.atfestival.org, or by calling the Wood Theater Box Office at 518-480-4878, or in-person at the Box Office at 207 Glen St. The Box Office is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Murder in Spa City – the seventh installment in author David K. Wilson’s Sam Lawson Mystery series, brings a wisecracking Texas detective to Saratoga Springs where he is pulled into a murder mystery.

Wilson is originally from a small town in East Texas, but he’s lived in upstate New York for more than 20 years and currently lives in Saratoga Springs.

“Most of the books in this series take place in Texas, but I’ve been wanting to bring Sam to Saratoga Springs for quite a while,” Wilson said. “A colorful character in a colorful city.”

The story is set against the city’s many historic landmarks, as well as the bustling nightlife during horseracing season.

In the new novel, Sam has come to Saratoga Springs to attend a wedding, but is soon thrust into the murder investigation of a local wealthy businessman. It isn’t long before he realizes the key suspects are every member of the victim’s dysfunctional family.

The book is released this month, and for more information about Wilson, as well as how to get a copy of the book, go to: davidkwilsonauthor.com. 

SCHENECTADY — Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative, announced the promotion of Jean Leonard to President. 

Leonard, currently the chief of staff and head of programming, has served the institution for 12 years. In that time, in addition to program responsibility and duties in the office of the CEO, she has intermittently been responsible for other departments as well as special projects. 

President is a new position at the Collaborative and is reflective of continued recovery from the nearly two-year shutdown during COVID and the expanding portfolio of activities that the Collaborative embraces. The President will head all operations day-to-day and continue to lead an expanded programming department. 

The Collaborative manages the collection of Proctors facilities in Schenectady, as well as Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609 will host a semi-formal evening of snappy cocktails and delicious jazz from 5 – 8 p.m. Saturday, May 11.

The event, featuring music by Azzaam Hameed of SmoothKeys, with vocals by Annette Harris, will be staged to raise awareness and funds for the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge and their Annual Education Award. Music, Lite Hors d’Oeuvres, Silent Auction, Cash Bar. 

Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609, is located at 69 Beekman St., Saratoga Springs. For more information, go to: www.FrederickAllenLodge.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Opera Saratoga has elected four new members to its Board in preparation of the 2024 summer season, and under the leadership of General and Artistic Director, Mary Birnbaum.

New board members include: Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works, Jason Golub; Supervising Judge of the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial District, Hon. Christina Ryba; local business owner and musician Derek Stannard; and, president and CEO of Empire Media Network, Abby Tegnalia. 

“All community leaders in the Capital Region, each new member brings a valuable perspective and talent to our leadership team. I am looking forward to working with them as we continue to take Opera Saratoga forward,” board President Steve Rosenblum said in a statement.

Interested in learning more about Opera Saratoga’s 2024 season, its board, or wish to become involved, visit www.operasaratoga.org or contact Managing Director Amanda Robie at arobie@operasaratoga.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Deep Purple returns to Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sept. 4 to celebrate over 50 years of Smoke On The Water with a repertoire that spans a half-century. 

Hit songs ‘Hush’, ‘Black Night’, ‘Speed King’ ‘Fireball’ and ‘Smoke On The Water’ helped define heavy rock, riffs and all. 

Selling over 100 million records and laying the ground for hard rock and metal, the band continue to tour arenas the world over and release hit albums.  Their last studio album, 2020’s ‘Whoosh!’ was their highest charting in 46 years, making Number 4 in UK Album charts.

Joining Deep Purple on their US tour is YES.

Tickets: go to livenation.com. 

SCHENECTADY — This year’s Harbor Jam concerts will take place Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady announced. 

The concerts will feature the music of the Bee Gees and the Eagles 

Headliners Night Fever – a tribute to the Bee Gees on Saturday night, and Hotel California – a tribute to the Eagles on Sunday night. Each night’s entertainment kicks off at 6 p.m. with a DJ (DJ MixItUp NY on Saturday and DJ Ketchup on Sunday), followed by the headliner performance at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday, July 21 concert will also be followed by a special fireworks show.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. There are no age restrictions to attend, and concertgoers are welcome to bring chairs and blankets for seating. The free shows will take place at the Mohawk Harbor Amphitheater in Schenectady. 

More Birds in Schenectady:  A cover band called The Best of The Eagles will perform at Proctors on Sept. 28, in a Live Nation-presented show. 

Meanwhile, The Rumours of Fleetwood Mac – comprised of nine musicians who call themselves “the world’s finest ‘Fleetwood Mac tribute artists” embark on a North American summer tour that will stage at Proctors on Aug. 13, promoter LiveNation announced this week.    

• GLENS FALLS – At 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Rewind At The Park’ featuring Harvest & Rust – A Neil Young Experience. From the chart-topping Harvest material and the electric exploration of Rust Never Sleeps, to songs from Neil’s time in Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Buffalo Springfield. Tickets: Early Bird – $20, Day Of Show – $25.  The Park Theater is located at 14 Park St, Glens Falls. Go to: www.parktheatergf.com.

• SARATOGA SPRINGS – The music of The Beatles (Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, July 17), Pink Floyd (Brit Floyd P-U-L-S-E Celebrating The 30th Anniversary of The Division Bell, July 21), and Queen (Killer Queen,  with Special Guest Journey cover band Voyage, Sept. 15), are scheduled to be performed at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this year. 

Bearly Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) appears at Putnam Place May 17. 

• HUDSON FALLS – Mr. Gone: The Headhunters Show-Weather Report Tribute (May 25), and AC/DC cover band Back In Black (May 26) are slated to appear at The Strand Theatre, at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —  Pitbull announced his Party After Dark Tour will hit over 25 cities across the U.S. and include a stop at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Sept. 8.

Pitbull’s recent musical releases include Trackhouse and Trackhouse: Daytona 500 Edition. The album titles are inspired by the NASCAR Cup Series team Trackhouse Racing, which he has been a co-owner of since 2021. The tracks feature special guests Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Nile Rodgers, T-Pain, Omar Courtz, and more.

Special guest T-Pain and openers SiriusXM Globalization DJ’S will also perform at Saratoga. Tickets: livenation.com.