SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Jewish Community Arts kicks off its Fall 2021 season with discussion of the documentary film, Little White Lie, by filmmaker Lacey Schwartz Delgado who tells her personal, provocative story while raising questions of identity, family, race, and the mistakes of our parents. 

Lacey Schwartz Delgado grew up in a typical upper middle class Jewish family in Woodstock, NY, with loving parents and a strong sense of her identity, despite the open questions from those around her about how a white girl could have such dark skin. She believed her family’s explanation that her looks were inherited from her dark-skinned Sicilian grandfather. However, something in her gut made her unsettled.

At age 18, she finally confronted her mother and learned the truth. Her biological father was not the man who raised her, but a black man, known to her and her family over the years, with whom her mother had an affair. Lacey doesn’t acknowledge her newly discovered black identity with her white family. When she entered college and its social scene, the looks she received from her new African American friends led her to rethink how she had viewed herself. It took more than another decade to begin to reconcile the hidden pieces of her life.

The Zoom panel discussion of Little White Lie will take place 7 p.m. Sept. 26. Little White Lie is available for viewing on YouTube and Amazon Prime. Registration is required and is available by emailing sjca.sjcf@gmail.com. For more information: www.saratogajewishculturalfestival.org and Facebook. The SJCA series is made possible by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY and sponsorship by Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs.

ALBANY — The Egg has announced the following changes to its concert schedule:

The Milk Carton Kids, Friday, Sept. 24: Due to health concerns, this concert has been rescheduled. The new date is Friday, April 8, 2022. 

Los Lobos, Sunday, Sept. 26: Alejandro Escovedo, who was originally scheduled to open this show will not be appearing.

Tanya Tucker, Sunday, Nov. 7:  Due to health concerns, this concert has been cancelled.

George Winston, Sunday, Nov. 21: Due to health concerns, this concert has been cancelled.

For further information, call The Egg Box Office: 518-473-1845

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Joyce Carol Oates – in conversation with Salmagundi founder Robert Boyers (4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16) and Russell Banks – in conversation with Yaddo President Elaina Richardson (at 7), represent the Keynote Sessions of the Saratoga Book Festival, which will site its opening ceremony 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 at the Inn at Saratoga and continue all day Saturday with a variety of programs at multiple locations across the Spa City. For Festival information, go to: www.saratogabookfestival.org 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater’s new production, “Almost, Maine,” will have a limited, seven performance engagement at Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, starting Sept. 24. 

Written by playwright and Tony-Award nominated actor John Cariani, and directed by Michael McDermott, the show casts Toni Anderson-Sommo, in the role of “Glory” – a woman broken-hearted over the loss of her husband, after he ran away with someone else. 

“It allows me to be a little New Age and hippie-ish,” says Anderson-Sommo, a recent retiree from the Hudson Falls School District who now teaches English Literature and Creative Writing at the State University of New York – Adirondack in Queensbury. 

“You’d be amazed at how many teachers are actually actors and actresses,” she says. “I think that’s because we’re used to standing in front of a large group and performing to keep their attention.”

Performances will take place Sept. 24, 25, Oct. 1, 2 at 8 p.m., and Sept. 26 and Oct. 2 and 3 at 2 p.m.

The performance at Saratoga Arts marks a venue change for the popular Saratoga Springs community theater company, which has performed nearly 200 productions at Spa Little Theater in the State Park since the historic landmark became its home stage in 1986. 

The age of the building presents COVID-era challenges that cannot be overcome in time to ensure that patrons, casts, crew, and volunteers are kept safe. As such, beginning with the production of “Almost, Maine,” Home Made Theater will stage five performances in the Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts – located at 320 Broadway – between Sept. 24, 2021 and June 19, 2022.  An “Off-Broadway” site at the Wilton Mall will provide the additional space and necessary accommodations for rehearsals, a scene workshop, and storage. 

Single tickets, plus information and subscriptions to Home Made Theater’s entire 2021-2022 season are available on their website, www.HomeMadeTheater.org, or by calling 518-587-4427 during regular business hours.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ballston Spa resident and artist Barbara King will have works on display at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 25. King’s interest in art began with her studies at the Fleisher Memorial in Philadelphia, and her mediums include pen and ink, line drawings, pencil, pastel, charcoal drawings, as well as oil and acrylic paintings. Her primary interest is drawing figures and faces. 

ALBANY — The UAlbany Performing Arts Center will present two programs in one weekend to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. 

An Evening of Flamenco Music and Film will take place 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1. Flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauski will perform a solo set followed by the screening of Flamenco Vivo’s 6Hilos (6Threads) which pays homage to the Golden Age of Flamenco. 

Several of the artists featured in the film will be performing live with Flamenco Vivo when the company presents Tablao Flamenco on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.  Both events will take place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown campus of the University at Albany.

Guitarist and composer Maria Zemantauski has performed in Spain, Italy and across the continental United States to great acclaim. Based in upstate New York, she maintains an active career as a teacher, lecturer and performer; delighting audiences as a soloist or as the founder and director of The Maria Z Ensemble. Zematauski is on the faculty in the Department of Fine Arts, Theater Arts & Digital Media at Hudson Valley Community College where she has also been the Coordinator of Cultural Affairs since 2004. 

The two evening programs are made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with funds from the NYS DanceForce, a partnership program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the New York State Governor and Legislature. 

Admission to An Evening of Flamenco Music and Film is free. No tickets or reservations are required.  Advance tickets to Flamenco Vivo’s performance are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  For reservations and further information, contact the Box Office at 518-442-3997 or visit the Performing Arts Center website at www.albany.edu/pac. Individual tickets are also available through The Egg Box Office or on-line at www.theegg.org 

HUDSON FALLS — Walter Trout, set to release his 29th solo album over a career that has spanned the globe, performs at The Strand Theatre, 210 Main Street, Hudson Falls on Tuesday, Oct. 12. Show time is 7:30 p.m.

In addition to his solo work, Trout has shared the stage as a sideman with Jesse Ed Davis, Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, Joe Tex, and John Mayall, among others. 

Tickets are $30 General Admission. Call 518-832-3484 or online through Brown Paper Tickets, at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5158312. Please note this performance is requiring all fans to be fully vaccinated or to provide PRINTED proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the event. 

For more information, please call 518-832-3484 or go to www.hudsonrivermusichall.org or www.mystrandtheater.org . The Hudson River Music Hall, Productions, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit.

Dave Matthews Band returned to Saratoga Performing Arts Center where they staged a pair of shows on Sept. 17-18, 2021.

Photos by: Mathew Tucciarone
Music, Portrait, Editorial and Tour Photographer
www.mathewtucciarone.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Peace Week observes the UN International Day of Peace – Sept. 21 – through local events. 

Tuesday, Sept. 21 
• 7 p.m. – Book Discussion: “The New Jim Crow,” by Michelle Alexander. In person at PNECC or by registering for Zoom. The New Press Michelle Alexander’s classic study of mass incarceration and its racist foundation, illuminates the concept of systemic racism with concrete data. Copies of the New Jim Crow are available at Northshire Bookstore. For more information about the event, contact tdiggory@skidmore.edu .

Wednesday, Sept. 22
•10:30 a.m. – Peace Week Story Time at The Childrens Museum Saratoga, 69 Caroline St.  Participate in a peace art project and a reading of “I am Peace” by Susan Verde. Peace Week is an opportunity for children to learn how every person has a part in building peace. In honor of Peace Week, all regular admission tickets are $2 off. 
• 6 p.m. – Outside Interfaith Service: Celebration of the Fall at Interfaith Healing Garden behind Sanctuary, PNECC. All are invited to celebrate the Fall Equinox at The Interfaith Healing Garden behind the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church. The service will be led by The Reverend Kathy Johnson, an Interfaith-Interspiritual minister, alongside people with different beliefs helping with readings, music, meditation and sharing the bounty of the garden. Celebration will be outdoors. For more information, contact Rev. Kathy at pyramidofpotential56@gmail.com.

Friday, Sept. 24
• 10 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Contemplative Labyrinth Walk with Harp led by Rachel Magnell, Spiritual Director in Saratoga Springs. Limited space. Registration required. Details provided upon registering at Elizbeth1226@yahoo.com. 

Saturday, Sept. 25
• 7 p.m., Early Victims of Climate Change: The Pacific Islands In person at PNECC or by registering for Zoom. Ms. Frances Namoumouis, from Fiji, has been involved with Climate Justice and Disaster management projects since 2004. Moderated by Laura Faulk, co-chair of the local chapter of The Climate Reality Project and Board Member of Sustainable Saratoga.

Sunday, Sept. 26 
• 2 – 4 p.m. – Documentary, “Purple” and Film Discussion. United Methodist Church, (175 5th Ave.). At a time of immense division, “Purple” tells the story of Americans with opposing viewpoints confronting their disagreements head-on and discovering the concerns and humanity that lie behind each other’s positions.

Monday, Sept.27 
• 7 p.m. – Sponsoring Asylum Seekers in the Saratoga Region. In person at PNECC or by Meeting Registration – Zoom. Asylum seekers are often placed in detention, not because they are criminals but because they lack a residence where immigration officials can keep in touch. Sponsorship can get them released from detention and provide a temporary secure home.

Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church, or PNECC, is located at 24 Circular St. Saratoga Springs. For more details on Saratoga Springs Peace Week and events, go to: www.pnecchurch.org/peaceweek 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The theme was party Key West and the show billed as a musical variety featuring Blues, Buffett, Broadway and more, honoring the late musician, Matt McCabe. 

McCabe, owner of Saratoga Guitar and former city Finance Commissioner, died in January after battling COVID-19. 

The Capt. Dick’s Key West Island Party and Memorial Fundraisers were staged Monday nights in August at the Parting Glass. A total of $ 585 was raised via a special 50/50 raffle drawing, with proceeds going to S.A.M. — in McCabe’s memory.  S.A.M.is an organization that helps local musicians in times of hardship

The organizers of the musical evenings and the Matt McCabe Fundraiser were Capt. Dick (Richard Sanzen) and the Pirate Wench (Nancy Buckingham), included the following musicians who were among those who lent their talents to the events:  who contributed their time: Trish Anderson, Bob Boyer, Matt Donnelly, Denny Dwyer, John Leroy, Tim Lynch, Mike LoMaestro, Roxanne Norris, Paul Riley, Rick Rourke, Tim Wechgelaer, Sam Zucchini.