SARATOGA SPRINGS — Accessible only by boat, the Saratoga Lake Association and Soul Session Edu-tainment, Inc. presents a community good will concert to take place Sunday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs.

Solo and tandem kayak and paddleboat (SUPs) rentals are available through the Kayak Shak. Kayak areas will be marked off as well as boat pass-through lanes.  Safety and social distancing  protocols will be maintained.

The event is weather permitting.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Rochmon Record Club presents No Doubt “Tragic Kingdom,” on Tuesday, July 20 at Caffe Lena. 

The Rochmon Record Club converges Live in Caffe’ Lena (limited Seating) and Virtually via Zoom to listen to, and learn about, No Doubt’s 3rd album “Tragic Kingdom!” Released in 1995, “Tragic Kingdom,” No Doubt’s most successful album, dominated the radio from Late 1995 through most of 1996. Featuring the hit songs “Spiderwebs, “Just a Girl,” Don’t Speak,” “Excuse Me Mr.”, “Sunday Morning” and 9 more. This classic album from the mid 90’s was written and recorded by a band on top of their game and falling apart at the same time. 

The Zoom feed will begin at 6:30 p.m. with an audio stream and chat, the show begins at 7 p.m. with a  live audio and video presentation by Alyssa Vosganian, aka “The Button Pusher.”

A Rochmon Record Club Listening Party is meant to inform and deepen our understanding of the history of the individual performers, songs and the stories that went into the making of this classic album. By listening together, we get to hear the music again for the first time. 

The Rochmon Record Club will be streaming live on Zoom, Pre-Registration is Required. Go to caffelena.org to register for tickets. Zoom attendees will be sent information to access the show after you register.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Dance Studio Tango Fusion announces that in-person Salsa Classes are back and will be outside for the next couple of months. 

Free class for new students – Monday July 12, at 7:15. New students may try a free Salsa Class held at the Saratoga Springs YMCA at 290 West Ave. No partner or experience needed. Contact info@tangofusiondance.com to reserve a spot. First time students receive a discount when they sign up for classes the first night.

New students are welcome to try a swing class at 6:30 on July 12 or waltz class at 8 p.m.  One free class per student please.

Covid guidelines: Dancers who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear a mask; unvaccinated dancers are required to wear a mask. 

Tango Fusion Dance Company is co-directed by Diane Lachtrupp Martinez and Johnny Martinez.  They are award winning Latin, Tango and Swing dancers and are former owners of Stepping Out Dance Studio in NYC.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater announces open auditions for their September/October production of Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani, and directed by Michael McDermott. These auditions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, July 12-13, at Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Sign-in is 6:30-7 p.m. and auditions are 7-9 p.m.

The cast consists of two women and two men, ages 20-60. Actors play multiple parts. Depending on audition numbers, a third couple may be added. All ethnicities and gender identities are encouraged to attend.

Almost, Maine is a romantic comedy comprised of nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town called Almost, Maine. The play is bracketed by a discussion between two lovers, Pete and Ginette, who are gradually in the process of revealing their love to each other. 

Auditions will consist of a monologue reading (which will be provided; no memorization required), improvisation, and readings from the script (which will also be provided). Dress comfortably. Bring with you a current photo (cannot be returned) and a list of ALL your commitments, from the date of audition through Oct. 3. Rehearsals will start with a read through on July 19. Regular, in-person rehearsals start Aug. 9. Exact days and times are to be determined based entirely on the cast and crew’s availability (summer vacations and plans can be worked around if known in advance). Rehearsals will be held in an area that is near downtown Albany until Tech Week, beginning on  or about Sept. 19, when the production moves to the performance venue, Saratoga Arts in Saratoga Springs.

Performances are Sept. 24-26 and Oct. 1-3, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Should you not be able to make the auditions, you may contact the Director as soon as possible to set up on online audition which must be held prior to July 11.

For a detailed flyer with character descriptions and the monologues that will be used, visit Home Made Theater’s website, www.homemadetheater.org. For additional questions, please email or text the Director, Michael McDermott at 518-669-5414 or michael.mcdermott@yahoo.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — NYC Ballet Musicians & Friends, under the artistic direction of Luellen Abdoo, begins a new association with Bethesda Episcopal Church, to celebrate the return of the ballet to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center after the 2020 hiatus. 

For more than 20 years, Ms. Abdoo has organized chamber music concerts in Saratoga Springs performed by musicians of the ballet orchestra during their annual residency at SPAC. The invitation to the music making is also extended to musical friends both near and afar.

The 2021 chamber music ensemble features: Luellen Abdoo, violin; Eugene Moye, Associate Principal Cellist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra; and Christopher Oldfather, piano. They will perform the Schubert: Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 148 “Nocturne”, the Rachmaninoff: Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor for violin, cello and piano, Telemann’s Sonatina No. 1 in A Major for violin, cello and piano, and Schumann’s Three Fantasy Pieces for cello and piano. As a special feature, Tango Sonata for violin and piano by composer Ron Wasserman will be performed. The composer is the Principal Bassist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra.

The one-hour chamber music concert is scheduled for Sunday, July 11 at 4 p.m. at Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. All donations will go directly to the musicians. Reserve your seat at: bethesdachurch.org   Or call: 518-584-5980

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Snider Fashion will host a show July 21 at the Adelphi Hotel to benefit the Saratoga Warhorse Foundation, which helps veterans get their lives back on track after military trauma through working with retired thoroughbreds. 

The event takes place 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21 at The Atrium in the Adelphi Hotel, 365 Broadway. 

Individual tickets are $150. Space is limited. To inquire about tickets, email satci@stacisnider.com, or call/text 917-588-1979.   

Learn more about Saratoga WarHorse at: saratogawarhorse.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Spa City native and longtime member of The Figgs Pete Donnelly released a new 12-track CD last week, titled “The Perpetual Twist.” 

“Is it self-serving to use injustice as a vehicle for songwriting? Do artists have a duty to express beyond themselves a reflection of the world around them?” he asks. “Music at its best is both painfully cathartic and joyously lovable. I can only hope that an inkling of these emotions comes through in this batch of songs. “

For more information or to purchase the CD, go to: www.petedonnellymusic.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — New Bluebird Hotels property, Spa City Motor Lodge in downtown Saratoga Springs, staged a Best of Saratoga Springs Festival June 25 to mark the beginning of the 2021 tourism season. The event, held outside the new downtown property at 413 Broadway, featured food vendors and live performances by Jeff Brisbin, and G. Love.

CAMBRIDGE — Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education in Cambridge has announced the establishment of The Karen Strand Endowment. 

In the summer of 2020, longtime Hubbard Hall supporter and advisor Curt Strand passed away, leaving approximately $850,000 to Hubbard Hall in his will, in honor of his late daughter and Hubbard Hall volunteer Karen Strand. Part of this bequest has allowed Hubbard Hall to retire the majority of its debt and will allow the organization to replace its aging HVAC system and purchase artist housing in Cambridge. 

The majority of the money will be held in a restricted investment fund, with the annual investment earnings supporting scholarships and fellowships at Hubbard Hall, in the name of Karen Strand, who passed away in 2006. 

Karen Strand became involved at Hubbard Hall in the late 90’s, first as a volunteer in the Hall’s Village Store. She eventually joined the staff and became the manager of the Village Store. Karen loved the Hall as a welcoming place where she always felt accepted and valued. Hubbard Hall was – and is – a place dedicated to gathering people from all walks of life to create, learn, and grow together. 

Curt Strand, retired chairman and CEO of Hilton International, passed away in his home July 11, 2020. He was born Nov. 13, 1920 in Vienna, Austria and moved to the United States when he was 17. A graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, class of 1943, Strand served in the United States Army Military Intelligence from 1943-1946 during World War II. Later, he served as Superintendent of Service for New York’s famed Plaza Hotel, Hilton International’s Vice President of Planning, and eventually became President and Chairman of Hilton International, and Director of Trans World Airlines. 

Hubbard Hall is a thriving arts center dedicated to cultivating, sustaining and promoting the cultural life of our rural community. Hubbard Hall gathers people from all walks of life to create, learn, and grow together, while developing, producing, and presenting world-class art and artists. For more information, go to: hubbardhall.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and New York City Ballet (NYCB) announce the casting for NYCB On and Off Stage from July 14-17 at SPAC. Each program will be hosted by a beloved NYCB Principal Dancer who will be retiring from the company during the 2021-22 New York Season – Maria Kowroski will host the Short Stories presentation; and Gonzalo Garcia will host the All Balanchine presentation in addition to performing in both programs.

The cast includes New York City Ballet dancers Sara Adams, Tyler Angle, Jacqueline Bologna, Meaghan Dutton-O’Hara, Gonzalo Garcia, Kennard Henson, Spartak Hoxha, Emily Kikta, Miriam Miller, Lars Nelson, Amar Ramasar, Teresa Reichlen, Davide Riccardo, Mimi Staker and Claire Von Enck who will perform excerpts from masterworks including Apollo, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Jewels, and Who Cares?, and beloved narrative ballets like Firebird, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Western Symphony, Fancy Free, and The Concert. Solo Pianists will provide musical accompaniment for both programs. 

SHORT STORIES – 7:30 p.m. July 14 & 15, 2 p.m. July 17; ALL BALANCHINE – 2 p.m. July 15, 7:30 p.m. July 16 & 17. 

The presentations will all be approximately 75 minutes long with no intermission. Amphitheater tickets and general lawn admission tickets are available at spac.org. Masks are required for unvaccinated individuals. Proof of vaccination or negative test is no longer required for entry to SPAC-produced events. Visit spac.org for more details.