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“Nature Of Perseverance” Artworks by Kendra Farstad Opens at Springs Street Gallery April 28

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Kendra Farstad, work inspired by Creative February. Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The works of fine artist and muralist Kendra Farstad will be on exhibition at Spring Street Gallery from April 28 – June 23. 

Farstadt had been inspired to work this February through Creative February, an art movement begun by local artist Takeyce Walter. Creative February calls on artists to challenge themselves to develop artwork daily throughout the month of February. These creative endeavors range from drawing, sculpture and jewelry to poetry and performance art. Farstad’s work focuses on the use of oil paints on canvas and panel, taking inspiration from the landscapes that surround her. 

The opening reception will take place at 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, April 28, and the gallery will host an artist talk on Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. 

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this exhibit will benefit RISE Housing and Support Services, a human service agency that has been serving people in Saratoga and the surrounding counties since 1978. 

Spring Street Gallery is located at 110 Spring St, Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Voices Offers French Choral Connection

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Voices will present an afternoon of 19th and 20th Century French choral masterpieces at Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13.

The program features guest Artistic Director Dr. Michael Lister, who has designed the program to showcase the powerful works of composers Gabriel Fauré (Pavane and Cantique de Jean Racine), Frances Poulenc (Gloria), and Maurice Duruflé (Requiem).

Lister explains that the three connect in Poulenc’s and Duruflé’s “inspiration toward the new and individualistic that they inherited from Faure, who began to explore new musical tonalscapes in his music of the Romantic Period.”  

Tickets are available online at www.tickets.proctors.org or www.saratogavoices.org and will be sold at the box office on the day of the concert.

Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party to Benefit Universal Preservation Hall 

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party is returning in May to benefit Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. Chris Onorato, morning show anchor from NewsChannel 13, will join the event as the host. 

Teams from local businesses up to compete against each other, bartending for the most tips. The team that raises the most during their shift wins. This year’s event will be 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the Saratoga National Golf Course. There is no cover charge and no tickets necessary. 

All proceeds raised go toward education programs at UPH and the Collaborative School of the Arts. 

For more information, go to universalpreservationhall.org. 

Family Saturday: ‘Face to Face’ at the Tang on April 29

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Martine Gutierrez, Demons, Chin ‘Demon of Lust,’
from Indigenous Woman, 2018. Tang Teaching Museum collection.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College Family Saturday series continues April 29 at 2 p.m. with Family Saturday: Face to Face.

After learning about the exhibition Face to Face from the student curators in Associate Professor and Chair of Art History Saleema Waraich’s course “(De)Colonizing the Museum: Addressing Systemic Racism and Promoting Social Justice,” participants will create their own mixed-media portraits in response to Martine Gutierrez’s Demons, Chin ‘Demon of Lust,’ p93 from Indigenous Woman.

Family Saturdays, which are suitable for children 5 and older accompanied by an adult, aim to foster multigenerational creative cooperation through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engaging in a hands-on art-making activity. The programs run from 2 to 3:30 pm and are free and open to the public. No registration required; supplies provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The spring season’s Family Saturdays conclude on May 13. Summer dates include June 24, July 29, August 12, and August 26, with details to be announced later. For more information, visit the Tang website at https://tang.skidmore.edu or contact the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080.

Jagged Little Pill to Play Proctors May 2-7

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Jagged Little Pill, the musical. 

SCHENECTADY —The Schenectady premiere of “Jagged Little Pill” will be opening at on Tuesday, May 2. 

The musical is inspired by the seminal rock album of the same name by seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette.

Ignited by Morissette’s groundbreaking lyrics and music – from beloved hits such as “You Oughta Know,” “Head Over Feet,” “Hand In My Pocket,” and “Ironic”, to brand new songs written for the show – Jagged Little Pill  features explosive choreography by Tony Award nominee and frequent Beyoncé collaborator Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and the raw power of an onstage band under the Musical Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements of Grammy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt.   

Jagged Little Pill officially opened on Broadway Dec. 5, 2019 at the Broadhurst Theatre after beginning previews Nov. 3. Prior to Broadway, JAGGED LITTLE PILL completed a record-breaking, sold-out run at American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Tickets to the Tony and Grammy award-winning production are available through the Box Office at Proctors, in person or via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online at proctors.org. Groups of 10 or more can get their tickets by calling 518-382-3884, ext. 139. 

Banda Magda Return to SPAC May 4

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Banda Magda, killing it with multilingual polyrhythms on stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center September 2019. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Banda Magda will return to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 4. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Led by performer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Magda Giannikou, Banda Magda comprises a diverse group of musicians from Greece, Japan, Argentina, USA, Colombia, Brazil, Turkey, Israel and the UK. Their all-new program of global music since they last played SPAC in 2019 will range from samba to French chanson, from Greek folk tunes to Colombian cumbia and Afro-Peruvian lando. 

Tickets are $33 and are all general admission. Performance is at the Spa Little Theater. Visit SPAC.org or call 518-584-9330. 

Universal Preservation Hall Announces“The Office” Trivia Show with David Koechner 

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Test your knowledge of “The Office” with the Pack-Man himself, David Koechner. Anyone who spends hours watching the same episodes repeatedly, still debates whether Jim and Pam were meant to be and knows the secret to Kevin’s chili needs to be at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 28. 

Teams will compete for prizes–while also hearing behind-the-scenes stories from David about playing the hit show’s favorite obnoxious paper salesman (and Michael’s bff), Todd Packer. After multiple trivia rounds, top teams will need to channel their favorite characters from “The Office” and test their acting chops in order to be crowned –by David– trivia champions. The show also features a Q&A, meet and greet and pictures with the Pack-Man. This event is approximately 90 minutes. 

Tickets available via 518-346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or at universalpreservationhall.org. Groups of 10 or more can get their tickets by calling 518-382-3884, ext. 139.

Caffe Lena Special Night: HURT, a Fundraiser for Mississippi John Hurt Film Project

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A fundraiser to benefit the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation will take place Saturday, April 29 at Caffe Lena. Photo: Mississippi John Hurt “Last Sessions.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The songs of Mississippi John Hurt have been covered by everyone from Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Dave Van Ronk, to Donovan, Jerry Garcia, and Jorma Kaukonen – both as a soloist and with his band Hot Tuna – and he famously performed at Caffe Lena shortly before his death in the mid-1960s. 

On Saturday, April 29 a bevy of entertainers will perform atop the Caffe Lena stage in tribute to the singer and songwriter who has influenced a world of musicians with his unique fingerpicking style.  

The fundraiser features four duos playing the music by and inspired by Mississippi John Hurt.  Performers include the Piedmont Bluz Duo of Valerie and Benedict Turner, Annie & Jonny Rosen of Annie and the Hedonists, Erin Harpe & Jim Countryman and Mark Tolstrup & Jill Burnham of Mark & Jill.

Monies raised will benefit the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation, established by Hurt’s granddaughter, Mary Frances Hurt. The Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted primarily to preserving the musical legacy and history of Mississippi John Hurt, while providing musical and educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth. Through the music of John Hurt, children and adult music fans alike are exposed to the rich oral, musical, and literary traditions of the Mississippi Delta and surrounding areas. 

Funds raised will also support a film, currently in production, about his life and legacy.

For tickets and more information, go to: caffelena.org. 

Home Made Theater Spring Gala to Honor Dawn Oesch

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater will hold its annual Spring gala on Saturday, May 6. This year’s theme is “Swing Into Spring.” 

The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. at The Hills and Hollows restaurant at McGregor Links, 359 Northern Pines Road in Wilton.

The evening will include heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar (for the first hour—cash bar after 7 p.m.). Also included is the opportunity to participate in raffles, games, and a “wine grab.” 

Entertainment provided by members of the Home Made Theater family, including Johnny Martinez and Diane Lachtrupp of Tango Fusion Dance Company, and sneak peeks at Home Made Theater’s upcoming productions of Mean Girls, Jr., presented by the Youth Conservatory program, and the June musical, The Sound of Music.

This year’s gala will honor current Home Made Theater Artistic Coordinator Dawn Oesch. Dawn has been an essential part of the company for many years as an actor and as director of some of its most popular productions, including Mamma Mia! and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Tickets are $85 per person, or $175 per person to be on the Honorary Committee. Honorary Committee members receive program recognition, VIP seating for the entertainment, and a special gift bag. The deadline to purchase tickets is April 26. Purchase at Home Made Theater’s website, www.HomeMadeTheater.org, or by calling 518-587-4427 during business hours.

CulinaryArts@SPAC Presents A Southern Opus on May 12

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center announces A Southern Opus: Hattie’s featuring Chef Mark Graham, a CulinaryArts@SPAC event taking place at The Pines@SPAC at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 12.

Executive Chef Mark Graham has been cooking for 39 years and has become a fixture in the Capital Region food scene, recently joining Business For Good (BFG) as the Executive Chef for Hattie’s Albany. He has worked for industry giants like Chef Bradley Ogden (Lark Creek Café), Chef Gary Danko (Viognier) and Chef Wolfgang Puck (Spago), and in Saratoga Springs at The Wine Bar, The Lodge and Chez Sophie. From 2019 to 2021, Graham was the Chef de Cuisine for Salt & Char at the Adelphi Hotel. 

The soulful and sophisticated New Orleans-inspired menu for the May 12 CulinaryArts@SPAC event will include: Hors D Oeuvre’s: Mini Biscuits, Bacon Jam or Leek and Tomato Jam with double cream cheese; Appetizer: Mushroom Gumbo with sweet onions, baby bell peppers, celery baton, chicken broth and blonde roux garnished with crispy okra & cajun kale chips; Entrée: Boudin Stuffed Quail with organic grits, sweet corn & butter beans or Grilled Red Fish with rock shrimp succotash, red eye gravy or Brassica with beans and grits, and Dessert: Sweet Potato Tart with Pecan Crumble.

Drinks will include wine and beer along with the News Orleans born cocktail, The Sazerac.

As part of the Business for Good family of companies, Hattie’s Restaurants aim to grow and amplify a community positive business, while maintaining the quality and character of its product, the vision of its present ownership, and the legacy of its founder, Miss Hattie Moseley Austin. All profits of the Hattie’s Restaurants are donated to local charity, aligning with the Business for Good mission of giving back to move forward.

Tickets cost $100 per person. Visit spac.org for details.