35 local children (24 cast, with understudies) will take the stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this summer in New York City Ballet’s production of Balanchine’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” from July 8 to 11. Photo provided by SPAC.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Sunday, March 15 at 10 a.m., New York City Ballet Children’s Repertory Director Dena Abergel auditioned approximately 125 Capital Region children to dance with the New York City Ballet during its Saratoga season from July 8 to 11.
Auditions were for 24 children’s roles in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” George Balanchine’s full-length adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most cherished comedies.
“Presenting four performances of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ — the very ballet that opened the SPAC stage in July 1966 — is a remarkable moment for our community and our young dancers,” said Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC. “Here in Saratoga, these talented children bring the story to life with joy and wonder, creating a magical experience that is uniquely ours.”
Casting for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” included roles for 24 girls who were 9-13 years old at the time of the audition. At least three years of ballet training was encouraged for all of the roles. Understudies were also cast.
Returning in celebration of SPAC’s 60th anniversary and its historic partnership with New York City Ballet, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the first performance presented on the SPAC stage at the venue’s grand opening in July 1966. Inspired by the music of Mendelssohn, Balanchine captures the play’s infinite colors: the bumbling comedy of the Rude Mechanicals, the feisty feuding between Titania and Oberon, the romantic confusion of the young lovers chasing each other through the Athenian forest, and of course the mischief-making Puck.
Featuring a large cast of children from the Capital Region, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the first wholly original full-length ballet Balanchine created in America and is one of the most popular ballets in the New York City Ballet’s repertoire.
The full-length production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed at SPAC on July 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 11 at 2 p.m.
Local children selected for the performance included: Arden Gravley (Glens Falls), Edie Kurera (Ballston Lake), Emma Corlew (Queensbury), Leah Smith (Gansevoort), Madeline Del Prete (Gansevoort), Olivia Conklin (Saratoga Springs), Samantha Fowler (Saratoga Springs), Alex Lambie (Ballston Spa), Maeve Tacy (Ballston Spa), and Uma Bharti (Watervliet).
“God of the Woods” book cover via Riverhead Books.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling novel with ties to the Saratoga area will be adapted into a Netflix series starring Maya Hawke of “Stranger Things” fame.
“The God of the Woods,” primarily set in the Adirondacks but containing references to the Spa City, revolves around the mysterious disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar. The multi-generational drama explores the wealthy Van Laar family’s past, which could be connected to Barbara’s case.
According to Deadline, Hawke will play investigator Judy Luptack, who attempts to unravel the mystery.
“God of the Woods” author Liz Moore headlined the 2024 Saratoga Book Festival, and has made a number of appearances across the Capital Region. In July 2024, Moore and actress Amanda Seyfried visited the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs as part of a “God of the Woods” promotional event. Last year, Seyfried starred in the Peacock series “Long Bright River,” which is based on one of Moore’s novels.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — How many poets does it take to screw in a lightbulb? On Wednesday, April 1, at Saratoga’s Whitman Brewing Company, a dozen area poets will celebrate April Fool’s by reading their original comedic poetry.
The event starts at 7 p.m. in the downstairs lounge at Whitman, located in the old Saratogian building at 20 Lake Avenue.
The evening, hosted by Saratoga Poet Laureate Jay Rogoff is billed as “April is the Foolest Month,” a twist on T. S. Eliot’s calling April “the cruelest month.” It will feature stand-up poems from such local wordsmiths as Joe Bruchac, Jackie Craven, David Graham, Carol Graser, Maggie Greaves, Elaine Handley, Susan Kress, Marilyn McCabe, Mary Sanders Shartle, Barbara Ungar, Nancy White, and Dan Wilcox.
“We’re taught about poetry as serious stuff,” Rogoff said, “but it can also be extremely playful. I invited a bunch of poets whose work has sometimes made me laugh out loud. We’re living through stressful times, and poetry and laughter together can help us get through. And how wonderful to hold a reading in an establishment named for Walt Whitman!”
The reading is part of the Laureate Poetry Series and is free and open to the public. Whitman Brewing will have its beverages for sale, in addition to a range of non-alcoholic offerings.
For further information, contact Jay Rogoff at jrogoff@skidmore.edu.
Ellie Ushakov is joined by a group of musicians for the encore of her senior recital on March 20. Photo by Ava Goodemote.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Last Friday evening, Skidmore’s Arthur Zankel Music Center was transported to another world as Ellie Ushakov performed her senior recital. The atmosphere for the night was warm and inviting, a beautiful reflection of the performance Ushakov gave.
Her performance was a combination of solo and group songs, ranging from well-known works to some of her own compositions and songs. Her skill on the guitar produced soft and relaxing sounds that the crowd enjoyed immensely, followed closely by a duet she performed with her teacher, John Kirk, on the mandolin.
Kirk could be seen nodding and swaying along as he played, looking at Ushakov proudly as the crowd erupted into cheers at the closing of their duet. Ushakov was engaging and funny, capturing the crowd’s attention.
Ushakov’s songwriting was highlighted when she performed multiple original works. Her lyricism was creative and entertaining, with many of her lyrics eliciting a few laughs from the crowd. One of her songs required the crowd to sing the refrain with her.
Ushakov asked musicians from the crowd to join her on stage for her encore, which was an Irish song that transported the audience into an old tavern with an uplifting and jovial tune.
The night was a wonderful illustration of her range. The music hall was transformed into a brand-new place with each song. The audience was not shy to show their appreciation of her talent as they cheered and hollered between tunes. Her effect on the crowd was evident as she received a standing ovation at the closing of her last song.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A slew of pop performers recently announced they’ll be appearing at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) this summer.
The clock will “Tik Tok” until Kesha takes the amphitheater stage on Aug. 18. Opening for her will be Chromeo, the electro-funk duo, and Erika Jayne, a singer perhaps best known for starring in the Bravo reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
On Aug. 27, “No Scrubs” sensation TLC will co-headline a concert with hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa. En Vogue, a girl group with a string of hits in the 90s, will open.
Tickets for both concerts went on sale this week and are available via spac.org or LiveNation.com.
Photo of Josh Groban and still from “Star Wars” provided by the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will host the Philadelphia Orchestra for a three-week summer residency from Aug. 5 to 22.
Led by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the season pairs classical masterworks with SPAC premieres and performances by world-renowned artists, including Tony, Emmy, and five-time Grammy Award–nominated singer Josh Groban; Grammy–nominated indie-folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov; and two-time Tony Award–winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Additional performances include screenings of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows — Part 1” and “Star Wars: A New Hope,” which will be projected onto screens in HD while the orchestra performs the accompanying film scores live; Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony; “The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi and “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” by Astor Piazzolla; the Tchaikovsky Spectacular; Mozart & Mahler; “Pictures from an Exhibition” with Daniele Rustioni; Emanuel Ax Plays Beethoven; and Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.”
“Our 2026 Philadelphia Orchestra season marks a milestone celebration—60 years of extraordinary music at SPAC with the Orchestra,” said Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC. “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which opened the Orchestra’s first season here in 1966, returns as the centerpiece of this summer’s season, led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. This monumental work, with its transcendent choral finale, offers our community a stirring experience that celebrates six decades of artistry and the enduring partnership between SPAC and the Orchestra.”
Highlighting the season is the Philadelphia Orchestra debut of Josh Groban on Aug. 14. Groban will perform a special Stage, Screen & Symphony program that blends musical theater hits, cinema classics, and symphonic arrangements. Groban has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, headlined legendary venues on multiple continents, and entertained audiences with acclaimed film and television appearances.
Indie-folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov will make his SPAC and Philadelphia Orchestra debut to close the season on Aug. 22. The Johannesburg-born songwriter brings songs such as “Miles to Go,” “Liars,” “Big Black Car,” and “Amsterdam” to the stage in sweeping orchestral arrangements. Isakov has collaborated with many symphonies, including the Colorado Symphony, as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic—the latter of which was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “a singular experience.”
Philadelphia Orchestra Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will return to the podium on Aug. 15 to anchor SPAC’s 60th anniversary season with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, featuring a cast that includes soprano Leah Hawkins, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Issachah Savage, and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, alongside Albany Pro Musica. The program will open with the SPAC premiere of William Grant Still’s rarely performed “Wood Notes,” a pastoral orchestral suite inspired by the natural beauty of the American South and the poetry of Joseph Mitchell Pilche. Continuing the 60th anniversary theme of “Seasons,” the residency will also feature paired performances of “The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi and “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” by Astor Piazzolla, with concertmaster David Kim serving as leader and soloist on Aug. 19.
Kicking off the season with three performances is Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop (Aug. 5-7), including the popular “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” program, followed by an evening featuring the SPAC premiere of Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 23,” with pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason in her SPAC and Orchestra debuts, and Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1.”
Returning for the first time since 2014, two-time Tony–winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell will lead, on Aug. 7, an “American Dreams” program highlighted by his narration of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” a reflection on unity, equality, and democratic responsibility. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the program also draws inspiration from Marian Anderson’s landmark performance of the work at SPAC 50 years ago. The evening features Broadway favorites, including “Wheels of a Dream” from Ragtime, in which Mitchell originated the leading role, and concludes with Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 9,” written during the composer’s time in the United States and inspired by American musical traditions.
Continuing this exploration of American music, New Zealand conductor Gemma New will make her SPAC debut on Aug. 20, leading Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” paired with Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G” and Florence Price’s “Piano Concerto in One Movement,” performed by pianist Michelle Cann, who will also appear on the SPAC stage for the first time.
Also highlighting the season is the return of pianist Emanuel Ax on Aug. 13, performing Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5,” one of the composer’s most iconic works, under the baton of newly appointed Principal Guest Conductor of The Metropolitan Opera Danielle Rustioni, making his SPAC debut. On Aug. 12, Rustioni will lead Musorgsky’s “Pictures from an Exhibition” and Korngold’s “Violin Concerto,” featuring the SPAC and Orchestra debuts of celebrated violinist Bomsori Kim.
Finally, the popular film nights will return with “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows — Part 1” on Aug. 8 and “Star Wars: A New Hope” on Aug. 21.
“August at SPAC will bring three remarkable vocalists across genres—Josh Groban, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Brian Stokes Mitchell—alongside classical music’s most in-demand artists, from Saratoga favorites and icons like Marin Alsop and Emanuel Ax to rising stars making their SPAC debuts, including Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, following the recent debuts of her siblings Isata Kanneh-Mason and Sheku Kanneh-Mason,” said Christopher Shiley, president of SPAC. “From masterworks and SPAC premieres to programs inspired by the themes of ‘Seasons’ and America’s 250th anniversary, this summer promises to inspire, uplift, and connect our community through music.”
Tickets are already available for members (tiered by level) and will be available to the general public on March 25 at 10 a.m. Visit spac.org for details.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Rappers Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz will perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on July 2, Live Nation announced on Tuesday.
The 2026 tour follows a successful 2025 run and continues the celebration of Wayne’s “Tha Carter” legacy, an album series that cemented his place as one of the most influential rappers of all time. Spanning more than two decades, “Tha Carter” albums have delivered multi-platinum milestones and record-breaking chart-toppers.
Presale began Wednesday, March 18. General on-sale begins Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Friday, March 20, Caffè Lena welcomes Louisiana-born singer-songwriter and guitarist Joy Clark to its intimate concert space. Clark is a rising force in Americana and folk whose debut album “Tell it to the Wind” marks her arrival. Her sound blends the social consciousness of folk, the grooves of Southeast Louisiana, and the soul-rooted music she grew up with. Clark honed her craft in New Orleans, toured with Grammy-winner Cyril Neville, and later joined Allison Russell’s Rainbow Coalition, performing alongside Brandi Carlile, the Indigo Girls, and more. Opening for Clark is Upstate New York soul-rock songwriter Buggy Jive, who has previously performed at Saratoga’s New Year’s Eve festivities.
On Saturday, March 21, songwriter Andrea von Kampen will perform at Lena. Described by The New York Times as “a fine singer with guitar work reminiscent of the cult hero Nick Drake,” von Kampen’s songs are intimate and introspective, guided by graceful melodies and a calm, expressive voice. After a series of well-received EPs, von Kampen released her full-length debut “Old Country” in 2019, followed by “That Spell” in 2021. In 2022, she made her acting debut in the independent film “A Chance Encounter,” starring in the film and writing and recording its soundtrack. Her most recent studio album, “Sister Moon” (2024), marks a new chapter. Von Kampen’s music has amassed more than 55 million streams on Spotify.
MILTON — From noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, Sashies Dispensary will hold a one-year anniversary party under the big top.
Slated for the free event: live music by Ethan Edward, budtender Benji Hitrick, and DJ Sean Casey; free BBQ from Farm to Fire and wood-fired specialties from Three Vines Bistro; balloon displays by the Adirondack Balloon Company; surprise giveaways and roaming performers; and a host of vendors, including Jaunty, Gron, Heirloom, High Peaks, Slack Hollow Organics, Off Hours, Florist Farms, Revert New York, Golden Garden, and Nanticoke.
Located at 201 Northline Road (in the same building as the Havana Cigar Lounge), Sashies had its soft opening in early 2025. The dispensary is owned by Sachmarie Crowley, a United States Navy combat veteran with more than 20 years of healthcare experience.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs will host folk singer Dan Berggren in a benefit concert on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at 624 N. Broadway. Proceeds will support the congregation’s campaign to build a new meetinghouse designed to serve the wider Saratoga Springs community.
Rooted in the Adirondacks, Berggren is accompanied by a guitar and banjo. He was inducted into the 2025 Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame, and environmentalist Bill McKibben has called his music “the sound of the Adirondacks.”
Funds raised will help advance plans for a new meetinghouse at 400 Louden Road, addressing the congregation’s need for space as its programs and community partnerships continue to grow. The “New Home for a New Era” is envisioned as a flexible, welcoming space for public events, educational programs, cultural gatherings, and moments of reflection.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://uusaratoga.breezechms.com/form/DanBconcert.
