SCHENECTADY — Proctors Collaborative CEO Philip Morris sent a letter to donors and subscribers this week announcing that Proctors and Capital Repertory Theatre will receive more than $10 million in funding from the federal government’s Shuttered Venue Operating Grant (SVOG) program. The program is administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) – a program “due in large part to Sen. Chuck Schumer’s efforts to support the Arts, not only in New York State, but around the country,” Morris said.

Proctors Collaborative -which includes universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs – has been closed to performances and audiences since March 2020 due to Covid-19. 

The closure cost the organizations approximately $330,000 per month for minimal staffing, heating, cooling, insurance, and ongoing repairs of the historic properties, Morris said. In total, the 16-month closure has cost about $5.3 million. 

“Many months ago, we estimated it would take a minimum of $14 million to Restart Proctors Collaborative. This included money to reimburse our used funds from the costs of closure, as well as the money needed to rehire people and to restock our buildings so we may begin to have an audience and earn revenue again. Over 2,100 (contributors) have contributed over $3 million to this enormous effort,” Morris said, in a statement.

“While we are still awaiting word for Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga, Proctors will receive $9,423,671.85 and theRep will receive $709,169.86. While both are somewhat below what we expected, they are significant recovery dollars that together with what many of you have donated brings us to within $870,000 of our original goal.” 

Yasodhara and the Buddha

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Combining the spirit of fiction with the fabulism of Indian mythology and in-depth academic research, Vanessa R. Sasson shares the evocative story of the Buddha from the perspective of a forgotten woman: Yasodhara, the Buddha’s wife.

Vanessa R. Sasson presents her novel “Yasodhara and the Buddha,” with Amanda Decklebaum lead project manager and co-host of the podcast Soundfood. The Northshire Live event will take place 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 28. Tickets are required. 

Although often marginalized, Yasodhara’s narrative here comes to life. Written with a strong feminist voice, we encounter Yasodhara as a fiercely independent, passionate and resilient individual. We witness her joys and sorrows, her expectations and frustrations, her fairy-tale wedding, and her overwhelming devastation at the departure of her beloved.

It is through her eyes that we witness Siddhattha’s slow transformation, from a sheltered prince to a deeply sensitive young man. On the way, we see how the gods watch over the future Buddha from the clouds, how the king and his ministers try to keep the suffering of the world from him and how he eventually renounces the throne, his wife and newly-born son to seek enlightenment.

Reserve a ticket on eventbrite to get the zoom link for this event. Available via northshire.com 

Folk singer Mary Gauthier
in Discussion with Sarah Craig of Caffe Lena

Northshire Bookstore presents an evening with Grammy-nominated folk singer and songwriter Mary Gauthier, in conversation with Sarah Craig of Caffe Lena. Gauthier will discuss her new book “Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting.”

Mary Gauthier was 12 years old when she was given her Aunt Jenny’s old guitar and taught herself to play with a Mel Bay basic guitar workbook. Music offered her a window to a world where others felt the way she did. Songs became lifelines to her, and she longed to write her own, one day.

Then, for a decade, while struggling with addiction, Gauthier put her dream away and her call to songwriting faded. It wasn’t until she got sober and went to an open mic with a friend did she realize that she not only still wanted to write songs, she needed to. Today, Gauthier is a decorated musical artist, with numerous awards and recognition for her songwriting, including a Grammy nomination.

The event takes place 7 p.m. Monday, July 26. Ticket includes admission to this event for your household, a hardcover copy of Saved by a Song. Your book will be shipped for free and/or available for pickup after the event. Available at northshire.com. 

If you have already ordered a copy of the event book from Northshire Bookstore, contact events@northshire.com to inquire about a complimentary ticket.

CAMBRIDGE — Starting July 24, Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education presents five free outdoor concerts on the great lawn behind Hubbard Hall, located at 25 East Main St. in Cambridge.

Audiences may arrive any time after 5 p.m. for a 6 p.m. concert start, and are invited to bring their own blankets and chairs. A maximum of 100 attendees will be allowed on the lawn. 

Night Outdoor concert series: 

July 24: Athena Burke
July 31: Men o’ War Balladeers
August 7: Village Harmony
August 14: Barry Oreck and Friends
August 21: Hot Club Saratoga

First-come, first-sit. Masks required for those unvaccinated. In case of rain, concerts will be performed inside Hubbard Hall. Go online to hubbardhall.org for more information.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The annual series of writers reading from their works in a unique, public setting continues this year in a virtual format. 

New York State Writers Institute Public Readings for the summer of 2021 will be offered online and will begin at 7 p.m., as according to the schedule below. Reservations are not required. The readings are free. 

The readings will be held virtually this year via Zoom. For a link to attend the readings virtually, go online to: www.skidmore.edu/summerwriters/visiting-writers.php.

Monday, July 19:

Fictionist Dana Johnson (Break Any Woman Down, Elsewhere, California) and Novelist-memoirist Danzy Senna (Caucasia, Where Did You Sleep Last Night).

Dana Johnson is the author of the short story collection In the Not Quite Dark. She is also the author of Break Any Woman Down, winner of the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, and the novel Elsewhere, California. Her work has appeared in Zyzzyva, The Paris Review, Callaloo, The Iowa Review and Huizache, among others. 

Danzy Senna’s first novel, Caucasia, won the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the American Library Association’s Alex Award and was translated into a dozen languages. A recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, Senna is also the author of the novels Symptomatic and New People, the short story collection You Are Free and a memoir entitled Where Did You Sleep Last night? 

Tuesday, July 20:

Novelist Joyce Carol Oates (Zombie, Blonde, The (Other) You: Stories) and Novelist Percival Everett (Telephone: A Novel).

Joyce Carol Oates won the National Book Award for her novel “them,” and has since written dozens of novels and short story collections that have made her one of the most celebrated writers of her generation. Among her best known works are Blonde, We Were The Mulvaneys, Zombie and The Gravedigger’s Daughter. Apart from her many works of fiction, Oates has also written acclaimed books of poetry and a number of books of non-fiction and memoir, the best known of which are On Boxing and A Widow’s Tale.

Percival Everett is the author of more than 20 books and recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, Everett’s novels include I Am Not Sidney Poitier, So Much Blue, Erasure, Telephone and Assumption. 

Thursday, July 22:

Novelist-Memoirist Jamaica Kincaid (Among Flowers, Autobiography Of My Mother, Lucy) and Poet Henri Cole (Blizzard: Poems, Nothing To Declare).

Jamaica Kincaid is the author of many books, including Mr. Potter (described by Robert Boyers as “a perfect, perfectly heartbreaking novel”), Lucy, At The Bottom of the River, Annie John, My Brother, A Small Place, Autobiography of My Mother, and other books. Her most recent novel is See Now Then. 

Henri Cole is the author of seven books of poems, including The Look of Things, The Marble Queen, The Visible Man and Middle Earth. Cole has taught at the Summer Writers Institute since 2004. His most recent books are Blackbird & Wolf and Pierce The Skin, a volume of Selected Poems: 1982-2007.

HUDSON FALLS — Hudson Falls, New York, is about to receive major recognition through a new television series created and produced by credentialed “independent” TV/movie producer Elias Plagianos of Clarkstown.  A “sneak preview” will be screened of the first episode on this new comedy/drama/mystery series at Hudson Falls’ landmark Strand Theatre, at 210 Main St., at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 20.

“Hudson Falls” stars a number of celebrity actors and actresses, who are planning to celebrate the development of this series at the Strand Theatre special event, which will begin with a wine & cheese reception. 

“’Hudson Falls’ was the first pilot production shot during Covid.  The cast and crew members faced a variety of challenges and issues as they cooperated with the Screen Actors Guild developing breakthrough standards to keep everyone safe,” said Tara Westwood, one of the stars and a co-producer. “At the Strand Theatre panel, I am sure the actors and Elias Plagianos will be forthcoming about what these concerns were—which had a traumatic impact on tens of thousands of people who earn their livelihoods in this sector for the past 18 months.”

Plagianos said in a statement that she is looking forward to sharing stories about how instead of being overwhelmed by the obstacles of working safely on set during Covid with no crew, being socially distanced, and communicating through face masks — it was treated it as an opportunity to use the confines as an evolving experiment.

 “Hudson Falls” is a winner of the New York International Screenplay Awards, and has been named an Official Selection of the prestigious LA Shorts International Film Festival. “Hudson Falls” will be seen on Amazon Prime.

For reservations, contact 518-832-3484, or: mystrandtheatre.org. Tickets are $25 per person.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — New Jerusalem, Home Made Theater’s limited-run production about the real-life Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza, will be performed twice at Saratoga Springs’ Congregation Shaara Tfille on Sunday, July 25, and twice at Clifton Park’s Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, Aug. 1. The production will also be streamed on a date to be determined.

Written by playwright David Ives, New Jerusalem is based on actual events that occurred at Talmud Torah Congregation on July 27, 1656.  The show won the 2008 Hull-Warriner Award from the Dramatists Guild of America, an award that is unique in that it is conferred on playwrights by other playwrights.

Directed by Dianne O’Neill, Home Made Theater’s seven-member cast features Saratoga Springs’ Jonathan Hefter as Spinoza. Rounding out the cast are Max Beyer of Albany, Saratoga Springs’ Devra Cohen-Tigor, Saratoga Springs’ Christina DiCarlo, Troy’s George Filieau, Doug Gladstone of Wilton, and Gary Maggio, of Albany.

This Production is a collaboration of Home Made Theater and the Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival. Proceeds from the production will benefit Home Made Theater, Congregation Shaara Tfille, Congregation Beth Shalom and Temple Sinai. It is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York.

Congregation Shaara Tfille is located at 84 Weibel Avenue in Saratoga Springs; Congregation Beth Shalom is located at 688 Clifton Park Center Road. For more information about Home Made Theater, go to:  www.homemadetheater.org, the company’s Facebook page, or contact the General Manager, Eric Rudy, at eric@homemadetheater.org.

GLENS FALLS — Adirondack Theatre Festival is live and inside this summer, staging a comedy, a concert tribute, and a play reading at the Wood Theater. ATF is also producing free entertainment outdoors including a children’s play at City Park and nightly 30-minute music performances next to the Wood on ATF show nights. 

Charles R. Wood 

Theater Line-up 

Each evening ATF show at the Wood is proceeded by “Shows on the Side” – performed outside in the alley next to the theater starting at 7 p.m. The 30-minute free performances feature some of the area’s most talented musicians; a different artist will be featured nightly. 

Slow Food: 7:30 p.m. July 20-25 and July 27-31; 2 p.m. July 28 and July 31. A comedy by Wendy MacLeod and directed by Martha Banta. 

Minding Miss Mae Mae:
2 p.m. July 25 and 7:30 p.m. July 26. A staged reading of a new play by Phillip Christian Smith; directed by Tyrone Henderson. Join the playwright and the cast of actors in the first step of this play’s development. 

Traffic & Weather: 7:30 p.m. Aug, 5-8 and 11-14; 2 p.m. Aug. 7, 11, and 14. Music & lyrics by Adam Schlesinger and directed by Martha Banta.  A concert tribute to the Grammy- and Emmy-winning composer, songwriter and producer. 

Tickets for “Slow Food”, “Minding Miss Mae Mae” and “Traffic & Weather” – all seats are $45. Visit ATFESTIVAL.ORG to order tickets and choose seats or call the Wood Theater box office for tickets and info at 518-480-4878.         

At City Park

Cinderella Goes Disco: Outside, weather permitting – at 12 p.m. July 22-24 and July 29-30 at City Park on Maple Street. All performances are free.  A children’s play by Shubert Fendrich and directed by Marty McGuire. 

PB & J Cafe Children’s Theatre returns this year in City Park in partnership with the Crandall Public Library. Bring your own picnic lunch. 

For more information about the Adirondack Theater Festival, go to: www.atfestival.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces Tang at Home Studio series for the summer. These online art activities bring the Tang experience into participants’ homes every Sunday from July 18 to Aug. 15 starting at 11 a.m. 

Tang at Home Studio gives kids and their families the chance to explore their creativity, make new things, and share their artwork with peers. Each online session lasts one hour and includes a guided exploration of an artwork, information about the artist, and a hands-on art project led by Sunny Ra, The Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs, with assistance from Skidmore College student interns. 

To ensure a fun sharing environment, registration is required. The live Sunday sessions are best suited for kids ages 5-12 and their adult companions, but everyone is welcome. 

Registration opens on the Tang website on the Monday before each Sunday session. Then you can explore, learn, and prepare materials. On the Sunday from 11 a.m. – noon, we will gather on Zoom to discuss our ideas about the artwork, engage in an art-making activity, and share our creations. For the best experience, log in via computer instead of a mobile device, if possible. This will enhance each participant’s ability to view artwork and videos, and to engage in conversations with one other.

How do I register?

Registration will be available through a link posted on the Tang website at tang.skidmore.edu on Monday for that week’s session. Registration is free. To register, you will be asked for your name, email address, the number of participants, the name or names of your child or children, their ages, and your ZIP code. Once you register, you will receive project instructions, a list of materials, and a link to Sunday’s Zoom meeting. Register early, as space is limited.

Questions? Contact Sunny Ra, The Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs, via email at sra@skidmore.edu.

The schedule begins July 18: Scrolled Stories, exploring artworks by Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander and discuss how she combines Indo-Persian manuscript painting with contemporary art practice in a wide range of forms including painting, drawing, animation, and installation. After looking at her works, we will create our own scroll-styled artwork that tells our own unique story.

The museum also has announced the return of in-person Family Saturdays. Each 90-minute session features a close-looking exercise at a work of art, an art-making activity, and a moment to share new creations. These multigenerational events are for children 5 and older with a parent, grandparent, or other guardian. Family Saturdays will run from July 17 through Aug. 14. There will be two sessions each week starting at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. with each session capped at five children with one adult each. Reservations are required. For more information, visit tang.skidmore.edu/calendar/category/17-family-saturdays. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Hospital’s 39th Annual Gala will be held Aug. 4 on the grounds of Saratoga Casino Hotel. 

Presented by Julie & Co. Realty, LLC, and Bonacio Construction Inc., the fundraiser supports high-quality, affordable healthcare by benefiting the hospital’s Saratoga Community Health Center.

 The Gala is one of the Capital Region’s largest, most successful charitable events. It is known far and wide for its enticing auction items and creative themes—this year “School Spirit.”

“The 2021 Gala will have a true homecoming feel to show that we are back and better than ever,” Gala Co-chair Julie Bonacio said, in a statement. “We have infused the essence of school spirit throughout our lineup, with a tailgating-themed menu and games, a sports bar tent and décor dripping in Saratoga Hospital’s colors of purple and gold.” Bonacio is co-chairing the event for the fifth time and this year is joined by Co-chair Aimee Dake and longtime Honorary Chair John Hendrickson.

The Gala is a significant source of support for Saratoga Community Health Center, the only facility of its kind in greater Saratoga. The center provides primary care, dental, behavioral health and addiction medicine services to patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Demand for care continues to grow, resulting in more than 25,000 patient visits each year.

Gala live auction items include box seats for the Travers Stakes, an exclusive party at Cantina’s new rooftop, vacations to St. John island and Cape Cod, a Lake George getaway, a fantasy sports experience to a major league game or PGA tournament, and much more. Guests and registered bidders can also bid, via mobile devices, on a variety of silent auction items.

The event will be held at the Saratoga Casino soccer fields from 6-9 p.m.; the live auction begins at 7:30 p.m. Reservations cost $175 per person ($125 for those ages 21-35). Auction item details, reservations, mobile bidding registration and additional event information is available at www.saratogahospitalgala.org. For questions, email lgreenaway@saratogahospital.org or call 518-583-8663.

Saratoga Hospital Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga County’s leading healthcare provider. The foundation secures, manages and distributes charitable gifts to support the mission of Saratoga Hospital. Over the years, the foundation has raised more than $55 million for Saratoga Hospital programs and facilities, all of which benefit the people of the Saratoga region. For more information, visit www.SaratogaHospitalFoundation.org.   

SCHUYLERVILLE — For the first time in 16 months, Laffer Gallery, located at 98 Broad St. in Schuylerville, will be hosting an opening reception. The event takes place 5-8 p.m. Saturday, July 10, and the featured artist is Wendy Ide Williams. Masks are not required for those fully vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated, masks are required. Go to: www.thelaffergallery.com