After 5 months of rehearsing, more than 30 children, ages 6-18, will step onstage to present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. at the new Community Arts Center, 121 Cayuga St in downtown Fulton. The popular Disney musical will run May 10-19 with Friday and Saturday evening performances May 10, 11, 17, & 18 at 7pm and matinees at 2pm on Saturday, May 18 and Sundays, May 12 and 19.

The JR production is an annual event the children look forward to each year and wait excitedly for the announcement of next year’s show. The production is only open to those 18 and under who are in school (or homeschooled). The production team led by Adam Schmidtmann, known affectionately as Mr. Adam, is the same team working together on the Jr show for the last 4 years at CNY Arts Center including JR productions of Seussical, Legally Blonde, Shrek and now Beauty and the Beast. The label notes a moderated version of classic musicals scaled to youthful voices and skill levels to make the material more accessible to the children.

The new Community Arts Center, recently opened after more than 8 months of renovations, houses a theatre smaller than the previous theatre which seated over 100. “Only during Jr shows do we sell out over 100 seats for any one performance,” said Executive Director, Nancy Fox. “So the intimate size of the new theatre is perfect for all other uses. We’ve added an extra performance to the run of the Jr show to accommodate the expected sellout crowds. We encourage advance ticket purchase to avoid being turned away.”  

Tickets are available from any child in the show who will receive a complimentary ticket to share with a guest for every 10 tickets sold. Or visit CNYArtsCenter.com for tickets and more information.

Caption: Beauty and the Beast’s Belle (portrayed by Ally Barnaba) reads to the children and spends time with little princesses during Story Hour at the Fulton Public Library. Beauty and the Beast, Jr will run May 10-19 at the new CNY Community Arts Center in downtown Fulton on 121 Cayuga St. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for tickets and more information.

CNY Community Arts Center is setting the table for a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser to support the next stage production, Beauty and the Beast, Jr, set to open next month. The spaghetti dinner to be held Saturday, April 27 from 3-7 pm, at 1st United Church in Fulton, will support the high cost of royalties and costumes and more for the popular musical production.

“The Jr production with more than 30 children onstage will feature all the popular characters and music from the classic Disney musical”, said Director Adam Schmidtmann, “but the cost of doing such productions runs in the thousands just for the rights to produce it. When you add in the character costumes and set, and the professional staff to coordinate all the pieces, it is quite a hefty price tag that ticket sales alone cannot cover.

“That’s why we do multiple fundraisers all through the rehearsal period to help defray those costs. We’ve held a bottle and can drive, a 2000Roses Crowd-funding campaign to cover the $2000 for royalties, and now we are hosting this Be Our Guest spaghetti dinner where there will be baskets and raffles and the kids in the production will serve the dinner.”

The First United Church, located at 33 S. 3rd St. in Fulton, has donated the use of the hall and kitchen for the fundraiser. Take out dinners will be available and tickets can be purchased online at www.CNYArtsCenter.com.

The production runs May 10-19 in the new Community Arts Center in Fulton. Advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged to avoid missing the show which is projected to sell out. Visit the website for more information.

CNY Community Arts Center is excited to announce a run of JOHN, HIS STORY, for one weekend only, April 5-7 on the new stage at CNY Community Arts Center located at 121 Cayuga St. in downtown Fulton.  The 90 minute performance will run four show times including two matinees, Friday and Saturday, April 5 & 6 at 7:30, Saturday and Sunday, April 6 & 7 at 3pm.

Starring veteran actors Kristin Cook, Beth DeRousie, and welcoming Don Crowe and Michael Bolio to the cast, the popular ensemble play has toured the CNY region since 2007, last seen in 2015 with a cast that included Bobby Fontana and the late Brian Pringle. 

“It has proved to be an unexpected delight with audiences every time it is performed” said Fox, Director. “When audiences hear the familiar stories of the miracles of Jesus brought to life through 25 charactersplayed by only four actors the comments always include pleasant surprise. It’s especially appropriate for the Easter season when the religious community celebrates the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.”

JOHN, HIS STORY was written by actress-playwright Jeannette Clift George and premiered by the A.D. Players, a faith-based theatre company in Houston. Brought to life by four actors, some costume accessory changes, and a few props JOHN, HIS STORY enjoyed a successful off-Broadway run in 1997 at the Lamb's Theatre. The play toured internationally and received critical acclaim in productions across the country.

Fox continues “Not the least bit preachy, the play is unlike traditional dramatizations of the Bible. Using ordinary bystanders to tell John’s story of Christ delivers an experience everyone can relate to. We’re surprised to hear ourselves laughing at the all-too human responses easily recognizable while asking ourselves 'Would I have the same reaction today?' Probably!”

 “We’re also excited to have a new stage and facility to present dynamic plays and musicals like JOHN, HIS STORY to audiences on a continuing basis with our comprehensive arts programming,” said Fox. “CNY Community Arts Center is a destination for family friendly art experiences and community involvement. The time is right to bring back this popular play delivering a great evening’s entertainment to debut on our new stage.” 

For more information and tickets, visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com or call 598-ARTS (2787). 

CAPTION:

Kristin Cook and Beth DeRousie in one of the many great scenes from “John, His Story”. The popular play returns for one weekend only presented by CNY Community Arts Center, April 5-7 at their new location in downtown Fulton, 121 Cayuga St. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for information or call 598-ARTS (2787).

CNY Community Arts Center is excited to announce an evening of entertainment, food and beverages to kick off a new music series “Meet the Artist.” The event will be held at the new Community Arts Center March 22 from 7-9 pm and introduce Tom Rasely, accomplished fingerstyle guitarist eager to share his musical style with Central New York audiences. This inaugural Music Series evening will also serve as a fundraising event with tours of the Center’s theatre and gallery. The series is intended to spotlight area musicians new to the CNY Community Arts Center stage.

Tom, a Central New York native whose mother resides in Oswego, returns to the area after a distinguished career as a guitarist, composer, teacher, author, and recording artist. He has toured 26 states and parts of Canada and performed twice at the White House for Christmas VIP tours, in 1998 and 2002. His concerts often include the unique audience-participation improv, original music, and many familiar melodies. His live gigs also include basic blues seminars, and a variety of background music venues.

As a recording artist, Tom has appeared on over 80 recording projects, many featuring his original music. Tom also plays most of his own keyboard parts, and quite a bit of auxiliary percussion on his recordings. 

As a teacher, Tom has taught thousands of players: at his private studio; at the NPM Guitar Schools all across the country; as Director of the Norwich Guitar School; and at the National Guitar Workshop in Connecticut. Two of Tom's songs were featured in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine: "Innuendo" in Issue #61, and "La Valse" Issue #64 and his arrangement of "Jupiter" (by Gustav Holst) on Fingerstyle Guitar Journal on-line. Tom has written several guitar instruction books, including the "Chord Chart Guitar Method" (self-published), "Stuck in a Rut" [Emergency Road Service for Guitarists and Other Musicians] (Amazon e-book), and "Types and Uses of the Capo" (Mel Bay Publications).

Tom began playing the guitar in 1964, shortly after the Beatles hit the American music scene, and greatly influenced by his father, Charles Rasely, a Juilliard School graduate ('42), teacher, singer, composer, pianist, violinist,  and conductor. Other "mentors" include Donald B. Miller and Phil Klein. Tom had a vast training in music theory, having studied music at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse NY and received a Bachelor of Music Ed. from SUNY Fredonia ('73).

“I am delighted Tom has offered to share his talent and his music with us, helping us raise funds to complete the new center,” said Nancy Fox, Executive Director, “and kicking off this Music Series as part of the expanded programming we will offer in our new venue.”

To learn more about Tom Rasely, visit www.rasely.com. Tickets are available at the door, or call 315-598-ARTS (2787) for reservations. Community Arts Center is located at 121-125 Cayuga St in Fulton. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for more information.

CAPTION: CNY Arts Center welcomes Tom Rasely, celebrated fingerstyle guitarist, to perform in concert March 22 from 7-9pm. Tickets are available at the door, or call 315-598-ARTS (2787) for reservations. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for more information.

CNY Arts Center is delighted to announce the new Community Arts Center theatre will be ready in time for the opening of Little Women, the Broadway Musical, set to run February 15 – 24. The Community Arts Center is located at 121 Cayuga St. in downtown Fulton.The production has been rehearsing in the much smaller Arts Hotspot on S. 1st St. around the corner from the new center. Renovations of the former Herron’s Fabric store on Cayuga St. have been underway since last August and the main floor including the theatre, handicap accessible restrooms and lobby will be ready for public gathering by the time of opening. Lower level and mezzanine level will be closed to the public until additional renovations are completed, pending the Certificate of Occupancy. “We’ve been holding our breath for the important fire safety and electrical upgrades to be completed,” said Nancy Fox, Executive Director. “With these complete, after inspections, we’re expecting a temporary Certificate of Occupancy that will allow us to present Little Women in the new theatre. It will come down to the wire in time for the opening of the production.“There is more work to do, and more funds to raise to fully complete the transformation of this 1970’s era building,” Fox continued. “We still have a wheel chair lift to install, a kitchen to design and open, and lots of small details, along with our glass etched donor wall. The work will continue but at least this first, very important section will be functional.”Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 novel about her life, Little Women focuses on the four March sisters— traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy, and their beloved Marmee, at home in Concord, Massachusetts while their father is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War.Careful attention to appropriate costumes and props will authenticate the time period and give audiences a feast for the eyes.  Coupled with the new stage and seating configuration, the experience promises to be exciting. Raised seating has been included in the design of the theatre to improve visibility for several rows.Tickets are available online for performances Fridays and Saturdays, February 15, 16, 22, and 23 at 7:30 pm, and Sundays, February 17 and 24 at 3pm. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for more information.
Caption: Marmee (Kate Kisselstein, center) and her little women (l to r), Jo (Carleena Manzi), Beth (Peyton VanBoden), Meg (Joey Tucker), and Amy (SKy Rolnick), share a letter from Father on the battlefield during the Civil War in this Broadway musical version of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The production runs February 15-24 in the new CNY Community Arts Center theatre. For tickets and more information, visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com

CNY Community Arts Center recognized a recent contribution from Pathfinder Bank with this etched glass panel, designed and completed by artist Leslie Paice, presented by Nancy Fox, Executive Director (L) to Deana Michaels Branch Manager (R) while bank employees looked on. The panel was presented in appreciation for a $25,000 donation to the renovation of the new Community Arts Center and will be displayed on the Donor Wall when the Center is completed. The Community Arts Center is located at 121-125 Cayuga St in downtown Fulton. For more information visit CNYArtsCenter.com or call 315-598-ARTS (2787).