Factory Street Dance Studio

December 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Factory Street Studio will present their Winter Dance Concert

This concert features original student choreography by the Creative Kids Company, Intermediate and Advanced Composition classes. A dessert reception will follow the performance.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and children;

proceeds benefit Factory Street Studio's "Come Build With Us!" campaign.

Winter Classes

WINTER QUARTER ACTING CLASSES AT ARTS/WEST

Teen Theater Workshop: acting class
When: Saturdays, January 5-March 15
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Fee: $60 Email Sarah Guthrie at damfarmgirl@gmail.com with your interest, the class needs 8 students to go, it will close at 15 students. Tuition is due at the first class, payable to Sarah Guthrie.
What: This class is open to teens and will be taught by a student from the Ohio University School of Theater.
Instructor: Kate Mussey: Currently a junior in the BFA Performance Theatre program at Ohio University. She has been apart of numerous plays and musicals including: The Adding Machine, Seussical, Godspell and also several grad student films seen around the Athens campus. Originally from Pittsburgh, she is the third child of six and has been a part of the theatre community since she was thirteen years old - starting out at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre in the downtown area. Kate hopes to pursue a Master's degree in Education after finishing her undergraduate studies in June 2009. Kate looks forward to working with everyone and hopes to bring performance techniques (voice and movement) along with script work and improv to the upcoming class.

Story of their Life 10-week class for Middle School aged students.
When: Thursdays, January 10-March 13
Time: 3:00 PM-4:30 PM
Fee: $45.00- call or email ARTS/West office to register, artswest@ci.athens.oh.us, (740) 592-4315.
What: Story of their Life 10-week class for Middle School aged students.
Synopsis: Students go through their life and identify six meaningful/important moments to them. Students will write a play and perform the play based on one moment of their choosing.
Objective: Students will learn how to work together, basic crafting in acting and how to write with specificity. Each student will have authored his or her own five to ten minute play, directed and performed by the students.
Instructor: Kate Scholl is an MFA graduate from the Ohio University Professional Actor Training Program. She has worked professional as an actor in New York and California. She is also certified by the State of Ohio Department of Education to teach drama/theater for grades P-12.

Music Together in Athens ® contact Laura Nadeau (740) 818-5357 for further information. You can also check her website: www.musictogetherinathens.com. Classes Wednesdays and Saturdays for 10 weeks starting January 5, 2008.

Chrysalis at Village Productions will also be presenting a variety of classes and workshops in dance, arts and crafts, and music this winter. Contact Village Production at (740) 448-7480. Jennifer Rusynyk’s Adult Modern Dance Class. Designed for ages 18+ (If there is interest in the 15-18 age range, please call to discuss the class in further detail Jen: 740.504.2686). Geared toward adults with little or no formal dance training, but a desire or curiosity for movement. Jennifer hopes to use her skills as a dancer, instructor and choreographer to find and teach movement that is enriching for movers with mixed abilities and/or a variety of physical limitations. She believes movement can be healing and empowering on many levels and hopes to share this experience with those who may feel that more traditional dance classes are inaccessible to them. This class meets Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 at Arts/WEST beginning January 7, 2008.

EVENTS UPDATE

December 17-19
At 7:00 p.m. The Studio for Young Actors presents A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol is a Victorian morality tale of an old and bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of one evening. Mr. Scrooge is a financier/money-changer who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth. He holds anything other than money in contempt, including friendship, love and the Christmas season.

December 21
At 7:30 p.m.: Factory Street Studio will present their Winter Dance Concert December 21st at 7:30pm. This concert features original student choreography by the Creative Kids Company, Intermediate and Advanced Composition classes. A dessert reception will follow the performance. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and children; proceeds benefit Factory Street Studio's "Come Build with Us!" campaign.

INCUBATED PROGRAMS

The Appalachian Progressive Education (APE) Center at ARTS/West
The Appalachian Progressive Education (APE) Center's mission is to provide high-quality progressive educational programs to school students and homeschoolers in Southeast Ohio. The APE Center brings the Arts and classroom together by merging multiple core curriculum subjects with theater, visual art, music, and dance to fulfill academic standards from pre-K to grade 6. These programs are offered during-school hours as well as after-school. CONTACT THE APE CENTER AT ARTS/West or VISIT THEIR WEB SITE: http://apecenter.org/

The Aquabear Legion at ARTS/West
The Aquabear Legion is an Athens, Ohio based collaborative of musicians and artists from the state of Ohio. The Legion is committed to enhancing, promoting, supporting, and cultivating local music in the area and existing as a resource for creative people... Aquabear Legion provides resources to area musicians and artists in an effort to enhance the local music scene. The Legion does this in a variety of ways: including our website (www.aquabearlegion.com), an upcoming ‘zine used to support and promote local music, our free compilations of music, and countless events and shows every year. We hope to continue to expand our operations in the future, offering recording services, workshops, live programming, and much more. We hope to continue to make Athens and Ohio great communities for music and art. Support local art and music in your community by supporting your local Aquabear!

Want to support Ohio Artists? Check out the Art of Ohio website: http://www.artofohio.com/

Many thanks to The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Athens Foundation, O’Bleness Foundation, The Hocking Valley Bank, The Ohio Arts Council, The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, The Ohio University School of Music, Magic Video, our Olympian Founders, individual donors and the time donated by our army of volunteers, for making this possible.

The mission of ARTS/West is to make facilities, resources, and opportunities available to arts organizations, individual artists, and community residents. ARTS/West harnesses community focus for all individuals engaged in the creation, performance and exhibition of the arts and promotes activities preserving the beauty, heritage and culture of our town

The Studio For Young Actors presents "A Christmas Carol" this week at ARTS/West

Huck Finn and Thank you!

Yes, yes, I know, I know. Come January this will be Jenn's job! So, once again I apologize for the outdated blog...

I know you really what to know what's going on but I first want to give a shout out to everyone who has responded to our end of year funding plea and for all of the gifts we have received on our wish list! Thank you to Cecilia for the 2 printers. Thank you to Bill for the promise of a computer. Thank you to Linda for the stools and clothes horse. Thank you to Ron, Dru, Lonny and Pat, George, John and Joan, Rodney, Miriam, Judith! Thank you to Andrew for the monitor, reel to reel player and books. Thank you to Charlie and Celia for the player piano and thank you to Bruce for brining it over. Thank you to Chris and the OU school of music for the piano dolly and if you didn't know Gene Jennings gave us a grand piano on permanent loan, thank him, too.

Here is what we still have on our wish list:

Wish List for ARTS/West

The following is an alphabetical list of supplies/equipment that would be put to great use by ARTS/West. And, remember, just like with a monetary donation, the value of an in-kind gift of any of these items is tax-deductible!
Items of greatest need are starred like this: **

Art pedestals
Art Supplies
Book shelves
Bunn Coffee Maker, high-volume**
Chairs - office and meeting
Changing Table
Printer, high-volume**
Copier or Copier/printer combo
Mouse (s), with scroller-wheel
Conference table
Hanging supplies for artworks
HVAC system**
Kitchen Cabinets/Metal kitchen racks
Lightweight tables
Lockers
New Floors *
Paint
Piano cover and lock
Play scripts
Refrigerator**
Round table
Storage shelves
Utility sink for art supplies/classes**
*We'd love to explore cost-efficient "green" flooring options like cork or bamboo

If you can help by providing any of these items, or if you know of a good source, please call us at 740-592-4315 or drop by our office at 132 W. State St. between the hours of 11-4, Tues.-Fri.

The staff and patrons of ARTS/West Thank You!

HUCK FINN'S STORY

Huckleberry Finn “sivilizes” ARTS/West
OVST planning shows for 4,000 area school children
FREE Kids Tickets*

OVST presents HUCK FINN'S STORY, Aurand Harris's dramatic adaptation of Mark Twain's classic American novel, THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. It's the tale of an outcast boy, Huck, and his adult friend, Jim, a runaway slave, who flee together on a raft down the Mississippi River in the 1840s.

Beginning December 3rd, Ohio Valley Summer Theater has scheduled two per day, daytime performances for school children at ARTS/West in Athens. OVST has received a grant from the Ohio Arts Council to serve up to 4,000 area school children with this high quality arts experience. Schools will be busing students to ARTS/West starting this Monday, and continuing daily for two weeks. This is OVST’s second year providing a holiday show for school-aged children. The program has been expanded to include more students from more schools from both Athens and Meigs County. The show is sure to be a hit with the school kids, as being “sivilized” and going to school is a major theme of the script.

Bob Winters directs, Charlie Lewis compiles musical underscoring, and Nellie Werger designs costumes for this holiday offering. Dedrick Bonner (Jim) sings a powerful version of GO DOWN MOSES with a voice as big as the story itself. Neil Dingow portrays a light-footed Huck, torn between his friendship for Jim and doing what’s “right.” Dixie Sayer, Tammy Young-Winters, Ryan Wannacott, and Gary Molina are versatile players, all bringing life and humor to multiple characters. Sketches commissioned by Mark Twain for an early volume of his novel are used as projected scenery to bring the audience into an authentic recreation of Huck’s world.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

In addition to the daytime shows, there will be 7 public performances: December 7, 8 & 14, 15 at 8 p.m. December 8, 9 & 15 at 2 p.m. General admission is $10.00.* FREE Children's Tickets - With each paid adult, two children (under 18) are admitted FREE. Simply request your free children's tickets at the door before your chosen performance. General admission tickets can be purchased at www.ovst.org, or by calling 740-593-9696. This show is for adults, too. All ages will enjoy HUCK FINN’S STORY. It’s wonderfully suited for family audiences. Running time is approximately one hour.

November Front and Center

You are invited to

‘FRONT & CENTER’

a free music event for school age kids at
ARTS/WEST
132 W. State St. Athens

every third Saturday of each month (Sept.-May)
at noon –1 pm

November 17th special guest:
traditional musician, Junebug (Eric Leighton).

Second half of event is always an open stage for any kids,
solo or group,
to share instrumental or vocal music--if you choose.
Or just listen and enjoy!

Bob Thompson

ARToberfest

Would would think that I could update the blog a little more often, geeze! Sorry kids. So, here is the skinny.

The Humble Play was legendary this year. We doubled out attendance, the audience feed-back was fantastic, the plays were great, the acting was great, what can I say? I can't wait until next year! I am working on putting together a winter play reading series, if you are interested please contact me in the office and let's talk.

Up-coming:

Friday, October 19, 2007 at 8:00 PM. Tripshicore Yoga theater! Contact Michelle Stobart at michelle@inhaleyogo.org for more information. This from Michelle: You can get tickets locally at O'Betty's Hot Dogs and Blue Eagle Music. Or, you can get them on-line at my website using a credit/debit card through pay pal. They will be performing Merely Total Risk with a few new additions and some old favorites. So, if you've seen this show, come again and bring a friend or two. If you haven't, don't miss the opportunity while they are in town to see what Tripsichore is all about. Also, let all your dance and yoga friends know about it. They will be sad to miss it if they haven't already heard about it.

Again, here's what people are saying about Tripsichore:

"Tripsichore is yoga's answer to Cirque de Soleil. Fusing traditional yoga asanas with inventive choreography, their performances give audiences the sensation of participating in an extended meditation - floating through a dream world of mystical landscapes." YOGA JOURNAL

"If you do a yoga practise, you'll be enchanted by this magical production" WHAT'S ON

"The lithe bodies entwine elegantly, flipover effortlessly and balance daringly. The performers' physical control is awesome." THE STAGE

"What is special here is the presence of each performer; the sense of stillness and clarity that each exudes even when hurtling through the air." TIME OUT

Pricing for advanced purchases:
$10 - 13 and under
$15 - over 13, students with valid ID and seniors
$20 - general admission (or everyone else)

All tickets purchased at the door will be $25.00 - no exceptions. Seating is limited. If you have an desire to go, purchase your tickets right away. This show will sell out. Each year they come, it is growing in popularity.

Saturday, October 20, 2007, 12-1pm. October ‘FRONT & CENTER’ a free music event for school age kids at every third Saturday of each month (Sept.-May). October 20th special guest: harpist Patrick McGee. Second half of event is always an open stage for any kids, solo or group, to share instrumental or vocal music--if you choose. Or just listen and enjoy!

Followed by ART/Oberfest!

ART/oberfest Schedule for Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October 21st

A Westside Community Celebration of Visual, Performance, and Culinary Art

Both days: Visual Art from over twenty local artists

Performances - Saturday, October 20th – 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

On Stage:

5:00 Leah Miller – belly dancer
5:15 Rusty Rittenhouse – magician
5:45 Dominika Adamova and Frank McDermott – poetry and music
6:05 Ehryan Everson – dancer
6:10 Quinn Schmallenberg and Zion Everson – dancer
6:15 Pete Wuscher and Matthew Bryant – music
6:45 Ethan Greene – music
7:15 Steve Zarate – music
7:45 Designated Spaces – spoken word
8:15 Bad Chemicals – music
8:45 Leah Miller and Jane Palmer – fire dancer and drums

Downstairs on Saturday:

Kids in Action, Haunted House Knit/Weave Workshop, OU T-Com children’s presentation, Chris Tomazik

Sunday, October 21st – 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm

On Stage:

2:00 Leah Miller – belly dancer
2:15 Ngoma – drum circle
2:45 Rusty Rittenhouse – magician
3:15 Ehryah Everson – dancer
3:20 Quinn Schmallenberg and Zion Everson – dancers
3:30 Ethan Greene – music
4:00 Liz Pahl – music
4:30 Heartlanders – music
5:00 Reyshan Parker – play “Best Intentions”

Downstairs on Sunday:

Kids in Action, Haunted House Knit/Weave Workshop, OU T-Com’s children’s presentation, Xen Glick – 5:00 – 7:00

October, are you kidding me?

ARTS/West’s October

EVENTS
The 2007 Humble Play Schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, October 3: 7:00pm Frog Hollar, USA by W.R. Smiddie
Produced by The Appalachian Regional Theater Company

Thursday, October 4: 7:00pm Liberation by Sarah Guthrie
Produced by The Lost Flamingo Company

Friday, October 5: 7:00pm Hearts of Clover by Kathleen Kramer
Saturday, October 6: 12:00pm Youth Division Readings – written by local Athens High School students!
2:00pm Seasoned Seniors Readings
6:00pm Closing Reception
7:00pm Pick of the Festival: Spoiling Prayers by David Muschell

In addition to all the fine new works of theatre you will be able to see, there will also be visual art installations by Janis Roche and ArtofOhio.com.
Tickets for the festival are $3.00 per reading or $20.00 for an 8 reading pass. Tickets are available at O’Betty’s, Blue Eagle, Haffa’s and the ARTS/West office.
ALL STUDENTS FREE.


October 9, 6:30 PM Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio (PPSEO) invites the public to attend our 36th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
This fun and informative evening will feature a performance by The Ohio University Title IX Singers, a division of the Women's Chorale. In addition to the business meeting, the agenda will include a viewing of "Third Wave:

The March for Women's Lives," a video documenting the 2004 march for reproductive rights in Washington D.C. A panel will discuss successes, the political climate and the future regarding the issues raised by the video.

A question/answer session will follow the panel discussion. Also included during the evening will be the presentation of the Nora Price Award, which honors distinguished service and extraordinary dedication to advancing the purpose and activities of PPSEO. Light hors d'oeuvres and desserts will be provided at the end of the meeting.

The cost for attending is $25 per person. For more information or reservations, call 740-593-3376.


October 10, 7:00 PM Teen Theater Workshop presentation of the one-act comedy by Michael Scanlan, Just a Joke. Admission $1, donations welcome. Play produced by special arrangement with Baker's Plays, Quincy, MA.

October 11, 1:00 PM: Los Utrera, an international ensemble from Veracruz, Mexico, is coming to Athens as part of Arts Midwest World Fest. Arts Midwest World Fest is a community-wide cultural exchange program that brings traditional music ensembles from all over the world to Midwestern communities to share wonderful traditional music and to foster greater appreciation for other cultures. In a two-year cycle, beginning with Los Utrera this fall.

October 19, 8:00 PM Tripsichore Yoga Theatre: http://www.tripsichore.com/index.html. Or, michelle@inhaleyoga.org
In case you don't know, here's what people are saying about Tripsichore:
"Tripsichore is yoga's answer to Cirque de Soleil. Fusing traditional yoga asanas with inventive choreography, their performances give audiences the sensation of participating in an extended meditation - floating through a dream world of mystical landscapes." YOGA JOURNAL.
Pricing for advanced purchases: $10 - 13 and under, $15 - over 13, students with valid ID and seniors, $20 - general admission (or everyone else). All tickets purchased at the door will be $25.00 - no exceptions. Seating is limited. If you have an desire to go, purchase your tickets right away. This show will sell out. Each year they come, it is growing in popularity. Tickets can be purchased at Blue Eagle Music and O'Betty's. These are cash-only locations.

October 20, 12:00 PM Front and Center, Music program and open stage for kids

ART/Oberfest- Community celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts.
Oct 20, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM, Sun. Oct. 21, 2:00 PM-5:00 PM.

October 21, 5:00 PM: a reading of a new play by Reyshan Parker, BEST INTENTIONS

October 26, 8:00 PM. Bob Thompson brings his piano stylings to Athens!

October 28, 6-9PM: Dinner of Swords presents NOISE SHOW WORKSHOP and potluck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace.com/artwestnoiseshow

CLASSES
Homeschool Arts and Crafts Class.
Led by Kelly Lawrence, owner of Green Mantle Studio. Learn about artists and make crafts for the holidays! All supplies included in fee.
Ages: 5-12
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 10-November 14
Time: 1:00-3:00
Fee: $55.00 or $10.00 per class
Place: ARTS/West Room 1
Place: ARTS/West performance space

Want to support Ohio Artists? Check out the Art of Ohio website: http://www.artofohio.com/

For a complete listing of classes, workshops, and meetings please call during our semi-regular office hours Tue.-Fri. 11-4 at (740) 592-4315

Many thanks to The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Athens Foundation, O’Bleness Foundation, The Hocking Valley Bank, The Ohio Arts Council , our Olympian Founders, individual donors and the time donated by our army of volunteers, for making this possible.

The mission of ARTS/West is to make facilities, resources, and opportunities available to arts organizations, individual artists, and community residents. ARTS/West harnesses community focus for all individuals engaged in the creation, performance and exhibition of the arts and promotes activities preserving the beauty, heritage and culture of our town

Try to remember

Our September events:

EVENTS

Sept. 8, 7 PM: Public premier screening of APPALACHIAN QUILT HIGHWAY. A new documentary video by Carolina Conte, PhD. and Emily Prince. This video was made possible with support from The Ohio Arts Council Appalachian Artist Program, The Athens Municipal Arts Commission with additional support from The Donkey Coffee and Espresso and O'Betty's Red Hot!!

Sept.15, 12 PM FRONT AND CENTER, (formally Kid’s Music Club) Music program and open stage for kids presented by Trishia Lachman,

Sept. 21-23 The Appalachian Regional Theater Company presents J.M. Synge's one Acts: RIDERS TO THE SEA and IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN. Shows will be FRI & SAT Sept 21 & 22 at 8pm and SUN SEPT 23 at 2 pm

Sept. 30: 6 PM Dinner of Swords presents NOISE SHOW WORKSHOP and pot luck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace.com/artwestnoiseshow

CLASSES

Homeschool Arts and Crafts Class.
Led by Kelly Lawrence, owner of Green Mantle Studio. Learn about artists and make crafts for the holidays! All supplies included in fee.
Ages: 5-12
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 10-November 14
Time: 1:00-3:00
Fee: $55.00 or $10.00 per class
Place: ARTS/West Room 1

Readers’ Theater for Seniors
Do you enjoy reading out loud? Want to try acting, but don’t want to memorize the lines? Then we need you for our Readers’ Theater. No experience necessary! Perform a reading with the Youth Division of the Humble Play on October 6, at 2:00.
Instructor: Karen Chan
Ages: 55-up
Days: Tuesday and Thursday
Dates: Sept. 11, 13 (no class 18, 20), 25, 27, Oct. 2-4
Time: 2:00-3:00
Fee: $35.00 (all copies and supplies included)
Place: ARTS/West performance space

We are VERY excited to be incubating a new venture: The Appalachian Progressive Education Center (APE Center). These are some very talented artists and educators who saw a void and got together to fill it. Please go to their website to find out who and what they are and help welcome them to their ARTS/West home. www.apecenter.org for information and class opportunities.

Want to support Ohio Artists? Check out the Art of Ohio website: http://www.artofohio.com/

SAVE THE DATE

HUMBLE PLAY: APPALACHIAN NEW PLAY FESTIVAL OCTOBER 1-7, 2007
Selected adult plays and playwrights are: "Canterbury Tales Revisited" by Celeste Parsons, "Frog Hollar" by W.R. Smiddie "Liberation" by Sarah Guthrie "Hearts of Clover" by Kathleen Kramer "Spoiling Prayers" by David Muscell

Teen Theater Auditions

Announcing open auditions on Saturday August 25th, 1:00 PM at ARTS/West for the production of

Sarah Guthrie’s Teen Theater Workshop.

The workshop will be rehearsing and presenting two one-act plays for women, "The Audition is Over" by John Kirkpatrick and "Just a Joke" by Michael Scanlon on October 12 and 13, 2007. Being a teen workshop, the plays will be cast with women ages 13-19 in roles from age 15 to 40.

More details will be available at the August 25th audition, which will take place at 1:00 PM at ARTS/West, 132 West State Street in Athens. Ms. Guthrie asks all participants to prepare a short, un-memorized poem or monologue to perform. Please be prepared to stay until at least 3:00 PM. Some actresses may be asked to stay until 4:00 PM for further assessment, so please plan accordingly. The director and coordinator of the Teen Theater Workshop is Sarah Guthrie, teacher and former Athens Middle School drama coordinator. Workshop rehearsals will be Wednesdays from 7-9:00 PM and Saturdays from 1-3:00 PM. See you there!

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Strike: The Musical

BOA Community Conversation tonight at 6:30 PM, come on out if you are involved in Business, art, the business of art, oh, that's everyone you say? See you there!

And on SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY:

Letter to our people

August 9, 2007

To the community:

ARTS/West would like to express its deepest appreciation to O’Betty’s Red Hot! and all of the contestants who participated in the 5th Annual Hot Dog Derby. This year’s derby was a fundraiser for ARTS/West and one of the most successful we have seen!

Thank you to Bob, Corrie, Ryan and the entire O’Betty’s Staff. Thank you to Casa Nueva! And especially we wish to thank the biggest fundraiser for the event Kevin Smith of the Oak Room. Mr. Smith raised over $1,000.00 towards our organization and we are deeply grateful! We should also note that Mr. Smith ate an impressive 17 hot dogs!! Kevin Smith was joined in his efforts by Kari Smith, eating for the Union who raised over $600.00, as well as: Jamie O’Nail of Snider Fuller Porter; Johnny Clift of The Makebelieves and Jackie’Os; Ben Frech of the OU Library; and Matt Hull of the Athens Fire Dept./Youth Hockey, Don Kincaid, formerAthens County champ; Eric Hedin of the Athens Do It Yourself Shop, and The Denim Demon. The Community has truly spoken for the arts in Athens and we look forward to serving individual artists, art groups, theaters, etc for many more years to come.

ARTS/West is supported by: The City of Athens: Arts, Parks and Recreation Department, The Athens Municipal Arts Commission, and The Ohio Arts Council. ARTS/West also receives support from: The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Athens Foundation, O’Bleness Foundation, The Hocking Valley Bank, and Olympian Founders.

Thank you again.

Warm regards:

Emily Prince, Director
Tamara Young, Events Coordinator
The entire staff and the padawans.

Hot dogs and art

Be sure to come out to the Casa Nueva and enjoy O'Betty's Redhot!! 5th Annual Hot dog eating contest and fundraisor for ARTS/West!


On August 14, 2007 at 6:30 PM: The Business of Art Community Conversation. http://soartbiz.wordpress.com/

In collaboration, Hocking College, Ohio Arts Council, and Ohio Designer Craftsmen are presenting a two-day Business of Art workshop at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio on October 20 and October 21, 2007. The workshop sponsors are planning much more than just a workshop.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2007, sponsors and other collaborators including Ohio University’s Voinovich Center, ACE net and the Ohio River Border Initiative are conducting a series of community conversations to help create the workshop. Collaborators are inviting artists and craftspeople across Appalachian Ohio and western West Virginia to share their experience and ideas with the workshop planners.

The goal of the community conversations and the October workshop is to strengthen the ability of artists and craftspeople to respond to their business challenges by helping them build viable support networks that link them to fellow artists, to local business communities and to new marketing and financial resources. The community conversations, hosted by local arts organizations around the region, are the first step in this process.

If you are an artist or craftsperson and want to learn from other arts business people, start with the community conversation in your area and get involved in the Business of Art workshop in October.

ARTS/West invites you to attend our Business of Art Community Conversation on August 14, 2007 at 6:30 PM at 132 West State Street, Athens, OH.

The Community Conversations are designed to help participants connect with other arts business people in your area and identify local businesses and organizations that can support your work.

I can't believe it is August!

Sorry I've been slacking!!!

Here is the news: We welcome Tamara Young Winters and Linda Lane to our team! Tamara joins us from the Ensemble Theater in Cincinnati and we will use her expertise to the fullest as she is our new events coordinator/development director!! Linda is a proud mother of two, OVST board member and community volunteer who will join us as our work study continuing through the fall.

Here is the best news: ARTS/West: Athens Community Gateway to the Arts has received two grants from the Ohio Arts Council: an “Artist in Residence Sponsor” grant in support of and Artist in Residence program, and “Sustainability” for operational support.

All of the granted activities will take place at ARTS/West, 132 W. State Street throughout 2007 and into 2008. ARTS/West looks forward to an exciting fall which will feature special events and performances by: the Appalachian Regional Theater Company, Tripsichore Yogo Theatre, The Ohio Valley Summer Theater; the 2nd Annual Humble Play: Appalachian New Play Festival, 3rd Annual ART/Oberfest: community arts festival; classes and workshops like: Homeschool Art Class, Readers’ Theater for Seniors, Music Together ® in Athens, once monthly Front and Center, an open stage and music workshop for young people, etc.

And coming-up this month 1st thing: You are invited to the Athens Photographic Project’s group exhibition, Four Portfolios. The Athens Photographic Project is a non-profit program offering recovery support to individuals with severe mental illness by providing the tools of photography and self-expression within an encouraging environment. The Project’s goal is to empower members in their re-discovery of identity, confidence and hope. Photographic exhibitions recognize members as artists and as leaders in the advocacy on mental illness. This service is made possible through generous financial and resource contributions from the community; the 317 Mental Health Board of Athens, Hocking and Vinton Counties; the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); the Ohio Arts Council and Ohio University.

If you have any questions or would like more information on how you can become involved with the Project, please contact:
Nate Thomson
Project Director
The Athens Photographic Project
(740) 277-8796
athensphoto@earthlink.net

Everybody in the pool!

Athens Photographic Project

Come out tomorrow night for the gallery opening of the Athens Photographic Projects "Wings to Fly." These photographs are incredible and not to be missed. The show will be moving to Columbus in three weeks so don't miss your chance to see the Athens premier.

Rusty Smith will be providing entertainment at 5:15 and The Paranormals will start at 7:15.

The opening is from 5:00-9:00. There will be some snacks, some baked good, some coffee, some tea. We will be accepting donations to the Athens Photographic Project and the musicians.

A fine way to spend your Friday.

And, a plug for our friends:

July is here

ARTS/West’s why we love July!

Through July 7th-8PM: The Ohio Valley Summer Theater presents the return of the Appalachian Green Parks Project encore. If you missed it in March— DO NOT miss your chance to see this historic reunion, shows are filling-up! For tickets and more information go to www.ovst.org

July 6: 10 PM: The return of the legendary Frogwhompers. Perhaps the last time ever… Friday evening at 10:15 PM immediately following the Appalachian Green Parks. Tickets are $5.00 and only available at the door. Come for the Green parks, stay for the Frogwhompers!

July 13: 5-9 PM: The Athens Photographic Project presents the gallery opening of Four Portfolios. For ten weeks this spring four Ohio artists learned the basics of building a portfolio of images and how to present them for the exhibition. Andrew Angelson, Amesville; Jenny and Bill Hughes, McArthur; Paul Reininga, Athens; have been members of the Project since 2000, and are the Project’s most advanced students in photography. Construction of a portfolio is a major effort for any artist; it is at least as difficult for an artist with a diagnosis of bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. There is no doubt that these artists rose to the challenge. They soared in the stratosphere. Financial support for this The Athens Photographic project comes from: the 317 Mental Health Board of Athens, Hocking and Vinton Counties; The Ohio Arts Council, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and from private contributions. Music and refreshments will be provided. The gallery exhibit opens July 13 and runs for 3 weeks prior to its move to Columbus Ohio. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 11-4 and by appointment.

July 24: 8-10 PM: Pool party benefit to sponsor the 2nd HUMBLE PLAY: APPALACHIAN NEW PLAY FESTIVAL. Tuesday, July 24, from 8-10 p.m. at the Athens City Pool on East State Street, Athens, Ohio. The pool party will be an evening of sunny, summer fun, with raffles, games and swimming. As part of the celebration of local theater, OU’s student theater organization The Lost Flamingo Company will be performing a skit. Admission is free and open to all. For more information about the play festival, call (740) 592-4315 or visit its myspace site at www.myspace.com/humbleplay.

July 25: 9AM-4 PM: ARTS/West is partnering once again with the Dairy Barn in Athens, OH to offer a one day youth playwright’s workshop (age 11-17) at the Dairy Barn taught by Mary Tensing: You will dive into playwriting by using improvisations to get the juices flowing. We’ll use actor’s exercises to brainstorm, play games and improv scenes to get ideas on the feet. Due to a grant from the Athens Foundation this workshop is FREE. SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. Please contact ARTS/West: (740) 592-4315 or artswest@ci.athens.oh.us to register or for more information. The youth division of the Humble Play is supported by a grant from The Athens Foundation.

* * * Reminders * * *
Thank you to those who have already signed up but, we still need volunteers for all Humble Play activities, call or email to pick a date and activity. We also still need baked good and raffle items for our fundraiser on the 24th.

Be you visual, culinary, textile or performing artists please consider donating some of your much appreciated talents as we celebrate the art of the Appalachians!

The Athens Uptown Arts Market Announces 2007 Market Schedule
Saturday, July 7- the Athens Uptown Arts Market. The Saturday markets are sponsored by the Athens Municipal Arts Commission and the Hidden Treasures Neighborhood of retailers located on East State Street between Court Street and College Street, July 7th from 1pm to 4:30 pm. The September market will be held in partnership with the Ohio University Student sponsored Business Fair. The Athens Uptown Arts Market celebrates the best of Athens handmade and homegrown. Customers will find a wide array of jewelry, bags and apparel, health and beauty products, woodcrafts, quilts, photography, paintings, house-wares and specialty foods. Vending fees are very affordable and all interested artists and food vendors are encouraged to participate. Market Sunday vendors can contact market manager, Carol Patterson cpatte1@columbus.rr.com or Leslie Schaller at 592-3854 or by email at leslies@acenetworks.org to reserve a vending space. All vendors must have a current vendor’s license to participate and only sell home-grown or hand made items. Vendors must bring their own tables, chairs and displays. For more information on Hidden Treasure Neighborhood special events please call 594-5276 or email Colin@Bali-Karma.com

Want to support Ohio Artists? Check out the Art of Ohio website: http://www.artofohio.com/

Quilt National runs through September 3rd at the Dairy Barn Southeast Ohio Cultural Arts Center: http://www.quiltnational.com/

Shameless!

Looking for something to do?

. ."a suspense thriller, something unlikely to be found anywhere else on stage in Athens this summer."

and

"All the actors turn in . . . tasteful performances" . . .

The Athens Messenger

OVST Brings Together Athens Theater Talent For Thriller

Wait Until Dark playing now through Saturday, June 30



(Athens-OH) –Ohio Valley Summer Theater brings together theater talent from across the area in their first offering of the summer, Frederick Knott’s psychological thriller Wait Until Dark. Emily Prince, events coordinator at ARTS/West, returns to the OVST director’s chair to steer an experienced cast from one tense moment of excitement to another.

Christina “Chica” Salerno, director of the Studio for Young Actors, takes a turn on stage in the lead role of Suzy Hendrix, a blind Greenwich Village housewife who matches wits and a few punches with a sinister con-man and two ex-cons. Conspiring against her are Ohio University School of Theater graduates, Hayley Van Meter and Thomas O’Donnell. They are joined in treachery by Andrew Crabtree as they search for a mysterious doll whose value is worth killing for.

Award winning designer and School of Theater faculty member, Dan Denhart, designed the Wait Until Dark set. Fellow faculty member Lowell Jacobs designed sound. Hocking College instructor and theater director, Kate Enger serves as props master, and Nellie Werger contributes another spot-on costume design.

Assistant director Timothy Aranyos and several members of the student theater group, The Lost Flamingos, contribute with energy and excitement to this first installment of a three show OVST summer season. Opening June 29 at ARTS/West and playing through July 7 is the second highly anticipated revival of The Appalachian Green Parks Project & Friends. Following an amazingly successful Spring run, this expanded AGPP & Friends will include even more of the group’s original members, including: Bruce and Gay Dalzell, Charlie and Celia Lewis, Connie Winters, Jim McGaw, David Toney and Bill Mullins. The OVST summer season concludes with an all-time favorite, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, directed by Bob Winters.


Wait Until Dark runs in the Ohio University Elizabeth Baker Theater June 15–30. Show times are Wednesday through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. June 16 and 23 are Sunday, family matinees at 2:00 p.m. when one child (17 and younger) is admitted free with each paid adult. Wait Until Dark is not appropriate for very young children. For tickets call 740-593-9696 or buy your reserved seat tickets online at www.ovst.org.


The Ohio Valley Summer Theatre has been bringing quality theatre to Southeast Ohio since 1951. For more information on OVST and its upcoming performances of Wait Until Dark, The Music Man and Huck Finn’s Story visit www.ovst.org.

Humble Play Youth Division

Humble Play
2nd Annual Appalachian New Play Festival

HEY YOU 11 – 17 YEAR OLDS!

ARTS/West is partnering once again with the Dairy Barn in Athens, OH to offer a one day youth playwright’s workshop (age 11-17) at the Dairy Barn: July 25, 2007, 9 AM-4 PM

Taught by Mary Tensing: Actor, playwright, director, and teacher. A number of theatres have commissioned her to write new works and she has directed for The Women's Theater Initiative, The Know Theatre Tribe, and The Children's Theatre, as well as a number of touring productions for Cincinnati Opera's Education Ensemble and Theatre IV. Mary is a graduate of Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts and Northwestern University. Due to a grant from the Athens Foundation this workshop is FREE. SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. Please contact ARTS/West: (740) 592-4315 or artswest@ci.athens.oh.us to register or for more information. The youth division of the Humble Play is supported by a grant from The Athens Foundation.

HAVE YOU WRITTEN A PLAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS?

During the 2nd annual Humble Play Festival, October 1 – 7, 2007 there will be opportunities for children ages 11 – 17 to have their own short play (10 minutes in length) or long play (one act) performed for an audience at ARTS/West. There will also be workshops available for young participants that are to be announced as we get closer to the festival.

So, put on your creative cap and sit down with your note book and write a play. Send an email to ARTS/West at artswest@ci.athens.oh.us or download applications from the links below. Make sure you have had your parent/legal guardian’s permission to apply and they must sign the forms – no submissions will be accepted without these signatures. We’ll let you know all about what to expect at the festival after we receive your work.

If you have any questions you can email us at artswest@ci.athens.oh.us or call 740/592-4315 and ask for Kelly or Emily.

The Humble Play: Appalachian New Play Festival is presented by: ARTS/West: Athens Community Gateway to the Arts and the Athens Municipal Arts Commission

Humble Play - youth submission form.doc
Free file hosting from File Den Humble Play- company app_3.doc
Free file hosting from File Den Humble Play- playwrights app_4.doc
Free file hosting from File Den

June is bustin’ out all over!

June 18, 19 7-9 PM: Appalachian Regional Theater Company (ARTCO) will be holding auditions for their production of J.M.Synge's Two One Acts; "Riders To The Sea" and "In The Shadows Of The Glen" to be performed ARTS/West Sept. 21-23. Rehearsals start Aug. 26th at ARTS/West. Stipend for leading roles. Some leading, minor or non -speaking roles available. Contact Karen Chan kmchan@intelliwave.com for more information.

June 24: 6 -9 PM Dinner of Swords presents Noise Show Workshop and pot luck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace.com/artwestnoiseshow

June 29-July 7: The Ohio Valley Summer Theater presents the return of the Appalachian Green Parks Project encore. If you missed it in March DO NOT miss your chance to see this historic reunion, shows are filling-up! For tickets and more information go to www.ovst.org

Don't forget our NEW semi-regular office hours Tue.-Fri. 11-4

****Important Dates****

July 24: 8-10 PM The Humble Play committee will be hosting a benefit fundraiser at the City Pool! SAVE THE DATE!

July 25: 9AM-4 PM ARTS/West is partnering once again with the Dairy Barn in Athens, OH to offer a one

day youth playwright’s workshop (age 11-17) at the Dairy Barn taught by Mary Tensing: Actor, playwright, director, and teacher. A number of theatres have commissioned her to write new works and she has directed for The Women's Theater Initiative, The Know Theatre Tribe, and The Children's Theatre, as well as a number of touring productions for Cincinnati Opera's Education Ensemble and Theatre IV. Mary is a graduate of Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts and Northwestern University.

The fee is $35 and covers all supplies except lunch. Please contact ARTS/West: (740) 592-4315 or artswest@ci.athens.oh.us to register or for more information.

Don’t forget the deadline for Humble Play: Appalachian new play festival submissions is fast approaching (July 2nd)! You can download an application from www.myspace.com/humbleplay *SPECIAL OFFER* If you submit 7 blind copies of your script and we will waive the submission fee!

Memorial Day, you say

May 25-26, 2007: The Lost Flamingo Company will present the final two performances of "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL". The show will run May 25 & 26 at ARTS/West for only $5. House opens at 7:30 PM and the show will start at 8:00 PM. There will be a shuttle that runs from 7:00p - 7:45p at Baker Center, which will transport people to ARTS/West. "Urinetown": Music Mark Hollmann, Lyrics Mark Hollmann, Greg Kotis, Book Greg Kotis. Directed by Chris Bauman; Music Dir: Mike Evans; Choreographer: Chelsea Goettge.

May 27, 2007: 6-9pm. Dinner of Swords presents NOISE SHOW WORKSHOP and pot luck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace,com/artwestnoiseshow

WE WILL BE CLOSED ON MEMORIAL DAY

and our new office hours are Tue.-Fri. 11-4.

Rental activities will continue beyond office hours pretty much whenever you want.

Don’t forget the deadline for submissions for the Humble Play: Appalachian New Play Festival is fast approaching (July 2nd)! You can download an application from www.myspace.com/humbleplay

SPECIAL OFFER *If you submit 7 blind copies of your script and we will waive the submission fee*

ARTS/West is partnering once again with the Dairy Barn in Athens, OH to offer a one day youth playwright’s workshop (age 11-17) at the Dairy Barn on July 25th from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM taught by Mary Tensing: Actor, playwright, director, and teacher. She has performed in numerous productions including: The Christmas Carol (Playhouse in the Park), Durang Durang (The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati), and Ironmistress (The Women's Theatre Initiative). A number of theatres have commissioned her to write new works: Rapunzel, Thanksgiving Eve, The Rockin' Adventures of Peter Rabbit, Hansel and Gretel (The Children's Theatre), Tales of the Baba Yaga, Placing Out (The School for the Creative and Performing Arts). And she has directed One Flea Spare by Naomi Wallace for The Women's Theater Initiative, Neat by Charlayne Woodard for The Know Theatre Tribe, and her own version of Androcles and the Lion for The Children's Theatre, as well as a number of touring productions for Cincinnati Opera's Education Ensemble and Theatre IV. Mary is a graduate of Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts and Northwestern University. The fee is $35 and covers all supplies except lunch. Please contact ARTS/West: (740) 592-4315 or artswest@ci.athens.oh.us to register or for more information.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!

Wasn't Urinetown a hoot! Oh, you missed it? Don't fret you have one more weekend to see it, May 25-26 at 8pm.

Also this week: ARTS/WEST will present a semi-staged reading of a new play by MATT HUGHES,

WQED

May 24 at 7:30 pm.

WQED is a radio station in turmoil, causing considerable stress in the staff, and lots of laughing in the audience.

with

Carol Ault, Dean Barker, Cecilia Rinaldi, Karen Chan and Norm Cohn, who has attempted to direct it.
Jack Matthews will read an introduction in an effort to explain the mess.

This reading is free but donations are always appreciated.

P.S. That is the press release they sent to me so I am not being offensive. I am looking forward to this reading, myself.

Urinetown: The musical

This weekend and next The Lost Flamingo Company

presents:

Urinetown

directed by Chris Bauman

May 18, 19, 25 & 26, 8:00 PM

at ARTS/West

for only $5. (tickets available at the door)

House opens at 7:30 PM and the show will start at 8:00 PM.

There will be a shuttle that runs from 7:00p - 7:45 PM at Baker Center, which will transport people to ARTS/West.

Urinetown the Musical is an award-winning satirical comedy musical, poking fun at local government, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and petty-minded, small town politics.

May 18, 19 & 25, 26 @ 8:00 pm"Urinetown: The Musical"
Music: Mark Hollmann
Lyrics: Mark Hollmann, Greg Kotis
Book :Greg Kotis
Directed by Chris Bauman; Music Dir: Mike Evans; Choreographer: Chelsea Goettge
Cast List Bobby Strong -Bobby Withers
Caldwell B. Cladwell -Dedrick Bonner
Hope Cladwell -Kristin Shirilla
Pennywise- Michelle Crow
Officer Lockstock-Drew Crabtree
Officer Barrell -Jordan Young
Little Sally -Sarah Stevens
Little Becky Two Shoes -Celeste Sexton
Hot Blades Harry -Neil Dingo
Josephine -Kate Krushinski
Tiny Tom -Kevin Peebles
Soupy Sue -Carolyn Toth
Senator Fipp -Geoff Smith
McQueen -Ryan Wonnacott
Robby the Stock Fish -Charlie Petrey
The Poor -Katie Gucik, Katie McGonagale
Cladwells' Gange -Drew O'Brien, Chelsea Goettge, Casey Feran, Lauren Salandra

So sorry...

Several unexpected circumstances have unfortunately led to the decision to cancel An Appalachian Spring Evening at ARTS/West on Saturday, May 12th in the evening. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Athens Music Club's presentation of This Merry, Merry Month of May is still on for TONIGHT, Friday, May 11th at 8:00pm. This performance is free but donations are always appreciated.

Full time

Guess what? Give up? ARTS/West now has a full-time employee!
Common questions:
Who is it?
So, you'll be open more now, right?
Do you have health insurance?
Well, it's me. We may expand our official "semi-regular" office hours but I don't know that I can be here more without moving a bed in. Ha ha ha hyperbole! Yes, I will have health insurance. So, yay to the community for supporting ARTS/West and facilitating our growth. Please, when you call, leave a message becuase I may be full-time but I still have meetings and go to the bathroom.

ARTS/West May Events

It’s the lusty month of May! Come and check out some of the terrific events happening at ARTS/West this month. Special Note: The film screening for the collaborative film class between the Dairy Barn and ARTS/West will be held on FRIDAY evening MAY 4th @ 5:00 PM AT THE DAIRY BARN. Come out to the Dairy Barn and see what the kids have been working on since March!

May 3-5, 7:30 PM &
May 5-6 2 PM The Studio for Young Actors presents Annie Jr. www.studioactors.com Studio for Young Actors is proud to present the Broadway Junior version of the hit musical Annie, May 3- 6 at ARTS/West. This production features over 30 young people ages seven through fifteen from throughout Athens County. Tickets are $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for teens and $4.00 for ages 12 and under. It is not recommended that people bring children under four to Studio shows. Advanced tickets are highly recommended and are available at: O'Betty's Red Hot on West State St. in Athens, Mountain Laurel Gifts on Court St. in Athens, and The Hyacinth Bean Specialty Florist at 94 Columbus Rd. in Athens.

May 4, 5 PM Film Class Screening at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center. Come out and see the work of our youngest film makers at the Dairy Barn! This class is a collaboration between the Dairy Barn and ARTS/West.

May 11, 7 PM Spring Medieval masques! More info coming soon!

May 12, 7 PM An Appalachian Spring Evening. The evening will feature the music of Charlie and Celia Lewis, The Boys O’ The Hock. It will also feature Living History Characters: Maria Ewing Martin & Bertha Levion and the documentary: A Forest Returns: The History of the Wayne National Forest. Tickets for the evening’s event are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Haffa’s Records, O’Betty’s Red Hot, from Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council 1-866 394-3011 or, the ARTS/West office.

May 18-19 &
May 25-26 at 8 PM The Lost Flamingo Theater Company presents Urintown. Check out www.lostflamingo.com for more information.

May 24, 7:30 PM A reading of a new play by Jack Matthews, WQED.

May 27: 6-9 PM Dinner of Swords presents NOISE SHOW WORKSHOP and pot luck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace.com/artwestnoiseshow

For a complete listing of classes, workshops, and meetings please call our office during semi-regular office hours of 1-4 at (740) 592-4315 or go to www.myspace.com/artswestathens .

HUMBLE PLAY: Appalachian new play festival applications are available in the office or by emailing artswest@ci.athens.oh.us. APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted until July 2, 2007. PARTICIPATION: We are seeking plays that will highlight the work and the playwrights, actors and directors of Appalachia generally and Southeastern Ohio specifically. There are three categories this year including: “Playwright”, “Company”, and “Youth Division.” Each division has a separate application and application fee. All applications must be postmarked on or before July 2, 2007 Check out the Humble Play my space at www.myspace.com/humbleplay

An Appalachian Spring Evening

There is an incredible amount of terrific stuff happening in May! This is the one I got written-up first! Come to everything!!!

ARTS/West, Athens Community Gateway to the Arts, is pleased to partner with Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council to present “An Appalachian Spring Evening” on May 12, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

The evening will feature the music of Charlie and Celia Lewis: ". . . a husband and wife team who serve up an entertaining combination of love songs, bluegrass, folk, country and popular music (often injected (infected?) with a healthy dose of humor) on the guitar, banjo, hammered dulcimer and Celtic harp, along with a strong and pleasing vocal blend." . . . or so their brochure says and, The Boys O’ The Hock- Athens County Celtic Band. It will also feature Living History Characters: Maria Ewing Martin & Bertha Levion and the documentary: A Forest Returns: The History of the Wayne National Forest, for more details @ www.littlecitiesofblackdiamonds.org

Tickets for the evening’s event are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Haffa’s Records, O’Betty’s Red Hot, from Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council 1-866 394-3011 or, the ARTS/West office.

The event is sponsored in part by the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, a regional organization that is collecting, interpreting and preserving the history, natural environment and culture of the former Hocking Valley Coal Boom region of Athens, Hocking, Perry and Morgan Counties that was highly impacted by a boom-to-bust mineral extraction era over a century ago and is still living out the legacy of that period today.

The mission of ARTS/West is to make facilities, resources, and opportunities available to arts organizations, individual artists, and community residents. ARTS/West harnesses community focus for all individuals engaged in the creation, performance and exhibition of the arts and promotes activities preserving the beauty, heritage and culture of our town.

ARTS/West is supported by: The City of Athens: Arts, Parks and Recreation Department, The Athens Municipal Arts Commission, The Ohio Arts Council. ARTS/West has received support from: The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Athens Foundation, O’Bleness Foundation, The Hocking Valley Bank, and Olympian Founders.

The evening activities will take place at the ARTS/West facility located at 132 W. State Street. Limited parking available.

From our friends at OU School of Theater

VIDEO PHONES AND VIOLENCE SELF INCRIMINATION AND MYSPACE/FACEBOOK/WEBSITES A FORUM

Elizabeth Evans Baker Theater – Kantner Hall Friday April 20, 2007, 12:10 – 1:00 pm

The School of Theater will be producing the World Premiere of Laura Jacqmin's new play Happyslap at the end of April. The characters in this play engage in happy-slapping, described by CNN as "the youth fad of filming violent acts -- which most often they have provoked themselves -- and spreading the images on the Web or between mobile phones."
A forum focusing on this cultural phenomenon and similar, less violent notions, permeating our students
(Why post a picture of yourself smoking pot in your dorm on your facebook/myspace page?)

Join us with your lunch and your thoughts.

Thanks in advance to our special guests: Professor Stan Alost, Associate Dean Patti McSteen and Professor Tom Vander Ven

Town Meeting on the Arts

Athens Municipal Arts Commission Hosts A Town Hall Meeting on the Arts

The Athens Municipal Arts Commission will host its annual Town Meeting on the Arts on Tuesday, April 17th at 6:45pm at ARTS/West.

Members of the Athens Municipal Art Commission will present an annual report of the arts and introduce initiatives for 2007, including presentations on:

Percent for Art

Public Art

Local Mural Legislation

the Athens Uptown Arts Market.

“Athens has long been recognized as one of top art communities in the country, and this meeting is way for us to continue to value and honor the arts not as a luxury, but as an integral part of life in Athens”, says Carol Patterson, City Council member and Chair of the Athens Municipal Arts Commission.

The public is invited to attend, and the program will include an opportunity for community input and suggestions. In addition, the Studio for Young Actors will offer a sneak peak rehearsal of their upcoming performance of "Annie Jr".

Refreshments will be provided.

The Athens Municipal Arts Commission is an agency of the city government that represents the city's commitment to the arts by promoting accessibility, participation and appreciation of the arts.

So, I have been straightening up all day for our guests. I have annual reports available for your perusal, a flier of up-coming events, a survey, etc. We would love to have you tonight!

April 2007

What's going on in April, you say? A lot. Say, did you notice that our blog is a whole year old? Someone should bring it some cake and leave it with me. But, that's not why your here, this is:

ARTS/West April Events

April 13-14 & 20-21: 8:00 pm ACTORS’ MOVEABLE THEATER proudly presents Impossible Marriage by Beth Henley. Throughout this widely funny and moving comedy the characters struggle heroically with the impossibility of finding an allegiance between their civilized duties and primitive desires. For tickets call 740-592-3823; berryfraze@columbus.rr.com

April 14, 12-1 pm 'FRONT AND CENTER', a community open stage event for young people. The first half of April's 'Front and Center' (formerly called Kid's Music Club) will showcase your own COMPOSITIONS, no matter how simple or elaborate, whether sung or played on any instrument. Prizes will go to participants. It is always amazing to hear the tunes that kids make up themselves, even if you are not yet into composing. In the second half of the hour you are welcome to perform any pieces, whether solo or duet or ensembles. Come one, come all to "Front and Center'!!!

April 17, 6:45 pm TOWN MEETING. The Athens Municipal Arts Commission will host its annual Town Meeting. Come and have your voice heard as the Arts Commissions presents an over-view of 2006 sponsored events including: Art Market and Athens County Quilt Discovery and introduces such 2007 initiatives as: Percent for Art, Public Art, Mural Legislation, Art Market 2007, etc. Plus a sneak peak of Annie Jr. presented by The Studio for Young Actors. This event is catered and free and open to the public.

April 22, 7-8:30 pm DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE for information call Robby at (740) 593-6717 or email Sherron at sherroncourneen@aol.com

April 29: 6-9pm Dinner of Swords presents NOISE SHOW WORKSHOP and pot luck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace/artwestnoiseshow.com

For a complete listing of classes, workshops, and meetings please call our office during semi-regular office hours of 1-4 at (740) 592-4315 or go to www.myspace.com/artswestathens.

HUMBLE PLAY: Appalachian new play festival applications are available in the office or by emailing artswest.ci.athens.oh.us. APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted until July 2, 2007.
PARTICIPATION: We are seeking plays that will highlight the work and the playwrights, actors and directors of Appalachia generally and Southeastern Ohio specifically. There are three categories this year including: “Playwright”, “Company”, and “Youth Division.” Each division has a separate application and application fee. All applications must be postmarked on or before July 2, 2007 Check out the Humble Play my space at www.myspace.com/humbleplay

Many thanks to The Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Athens Foundation, O’Bleness Foundation, The Hocking Valley Bank, The Ohio Arts Council , our Olympian Founders, individual donors and the time donated by our army of volunteers, for making this possible.

The mission of ARTS/West is to make facilities, resources, and opportunities available to arts organizations, individual artists, and community residents. ARTS/West harnesses community focus for all individuals engaged in the creation, performance and exhibition of the arts and promotes activities preserving the beauty, heritage and culture of our town

Also, from our friends at the Dairy Barn:

The Dairy Barn wish list for their Summer Camp: If anyone has the following items that they wish to donate to the Dairy Barn for our summer art camps please let me know…we try to reuse and recycle as much as we can!, Pantyhose/Nylons-(can have runs in them), Dry Cleaner Wire Hangers, Brown Paper Bags for Groceries, We be doing Earthworks and will need some dirt, straw, sand-if you have any please let me know and we can find a place to store it for camp, Cardboard boxes-larger the better! 2x4s-we will be cutting them into sections for sculpture bases so any lengths are good and they can be painted, Magazines, Flower seeds (any extras from planting this spring?), Metal garbage can for ceramics firing...and wood chips (Pit Fire Materials), Cleaned out 5 Gallon Buckets, Milk Jugs-Gallon size with the dents in the sides (two indents on either side of handle)
Bring by whenever you can…and leave in front of my door if I am not here.

Nicole Tartoni
Education Director

The Dairy Barn Arts Center
8000 Dairy Lane
P.O. Box 747
Athens, OH 45701-0747
Phone: 740-592-4981
Fax: 740-592-5090

Appalachian Green Parks Project at ARTS/West

The first performance of the Appalachian Green Parks Project in over 30 years is nearly upon us.
This Thursday evening, March 29, at ARTS/West bringsthe Gala Kick-off of the 2007 OVST (Ohio Valley Summer Theater) Summer Season.

The performers for this evening include original Green Parks members: Bruce and Gay (Gehres) Dalzell, Bill Mullins, Charlie and Celia, plus Bob & Connie (House) Winters who were, and still are,major creative forces behind this entire project from way back in 1973 to the present day.

Featured guests include Jerry Rockwell, a wizard on the Appalachian/Mountain Dulcimer, Bill Mullins, multi-instrumentalist parexcellence, as well as Jim Prouty & Terry Douds, both former membersof the "Frogwhompers" and "A Touch of Grass." We are also privilegedto feature some offspring of the aforementioned folks!

The Gala Season Kickoff - Thursday, March 29. tickets are $20 each, as this is afundraiser, and the higher cost includes a reception featuring local wines and finger foods starting at 6:30 p.m. This gives you a chance to mingle and talk with members of the troupe as well as OVST Board Members. Heck, you will even be able to pick up a season subscriptionto all the shows going on at OVST this year. Then, the concert begins at 8:00 p.m.

Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31, 8:00 p.m.: The eveningconcert continues into the weekend -- tickets are $10 each. Sunday, April 1, 3:00 p.m.: Matinee performance, family friendly. Each $10 ticket entitles the bearer to one free child admission.There will be puppets and singing games along with some of the pieces from the evening concerts. Should you decide you'd like to attend, please visit www.ovst.org

The Appalachian Green Parks Project visited many, many locations in Southeastern Ohio and throughout the state during our country's Bicentennial, and those who saw the group then may want to have this opportunity to see it again. We have heard from several folks already who remember bringing their children to a show in the1970's! We hope we'll meet those children and their children thistime around. Looking forward to seeing you -Charlie & Celia www.charlieandcelia.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a great spring break, if you get one!

If you call during the semi-regular office hours (M-F 1-4) please leave your name and number! Possible reasons why Emily doesn't answer the phone: in the bathroom (yes, it's true), updating the chalk board, having a meeting right here at my desk, doing the dishes, fetching the mail, worked until 11 or midnight the day before, don't have part time help, etc. ... So, I am not ignoring you and I do my very best to call everyone back, I really do, especially if I know who it is who called. I was also out today recording our monthly radio show on "Conversations from Studio B" air time: Sunday, March 18 at 12:30 on 1340 AM. You can also listen on line at: http://www.woub.org/radio/studiob.html

You don't want to miss the Upcoming at ARTS/West: March 24: 5-11 pm The Aquabear Legion presents Athens County Fair 2007. Music starts at 5pm! With: Self Destruct Button, Men of Gentle Birth, Casual Future, State of Ohio, The X Bolex, Silo Circuit, BlkTygr, Lola Indiana, Coshocton, and Weedghost. http://www.myspace.com/aquabearlegioncountyfair2007

March 25: 6-9pm Dinner of Swords presents NOISE SHOW WORKSHOP and pot luck dinner. $2. Check out www.myspace.com/artwestnoiseshow

March 29 Gala Opening at 6:30 & March 30-31 at 8 pm & April 1 at 3 pm The Ohio Valley Summer Theater presents the return of the Appalachian Green Parks Project. Tickets are: $20 for gala, $10 for all other performance. 1 child admitted free with paying adult on matinee April 1st. For tickets and more information go to www.ovst.org

HUMBLE PLAY: Appalachian new play festival

ARTS/West announces applications for HUMBLE PLAY: Appalachian new play festival

2nd Annual HUMBLE PLAY: APPALACHIAN NEW PLAY FESTIVAL this coming October 1-7, 2007
We are pleased to invite submissions from adventurous playwrights, directors, and theater companies.

PARTICIPATION: We are seeking plays that will highlight the work and the playwrights, actors and directors of Appalachia generally and Southeastern Ohio specifically. Plays will be rated on the some of the following criteria: Does the playwright use language well? Is the dialogue believable within the world the playwright has created? Does the work tell a story? Is the story clearly told? Is the story accessible to an Appalachian audience? Does it involve human values, morals, and ideas with which we can identify, whether we agree with them or not? There are three categories this year including: “Playwright”, “Company”, and “Youth Division.” Each division has a separate application and application fee.

A script committee will review each play submitted. Be concise and clear in your application; the committee is interested in your evaluation of the play you’ve submitted, which is where you will impress.

APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted from March 19 to July 2, 2007

All applications must be postmarked on or before July 2, 2007. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS
You may not submit more than two projects and each project must be submitted as a separate application.

Applications will be available at the ARTS/West office and by requesting one via email at artswest@ci.athens.oh.us

The mission of ARTS/West is to make facilities, resources, and opportunities available to artists, community children and area residents. The facility is a centralized, cultural hub situated in an evolving Arts District on the west side of Athens, ARTS/West harnesses community focus for all individuals engaged in the creation, performance and exhibition of the arts and promotes activities preserving the beauty, heritage and regional flavour of our town

Appalachian Green Parks Project (AGPP)

Here is a message from our OVST friends, Charlie and Celia Lewis..

Now that spring is springing, there is a lot of activity surrounding the return of the Appalachian Green Parks Project (AGPP). In this project singers, actors and instrumentalists embodied the spirit of Appalachian culture through songs, stories, folk dancing, and puppetry. The project toured the State of Ohio via the Parks system, and travelled to Washington, D.C. during the mid-1970's. More history later…

We have been fortunate to locate materials that have until now been stored away in various locations, including attics, bedrooms, and studios. We were offered access to a cache of photos, tapes, posters, literature and newspaper clippings by the Ohio University Alden Library Archives, where they have been kept in storage for some years. Also, the Mills James Studio in Columbus was able to lend us session tapes from which Charlie will glean previously unpublished recordings from the same sessions during which the AGPP Record Album was created. There are plans to release the AGPP Album on CD to make available at the performances. As there is a bit more room on a CD than there was on vinyl, some of those takes may be included as "bonus" material -with permission of the performers, of course!

Excitement mounts as we contact each original member of the incarnations of the project. There is still a short list of folks for whom we have no contact information. Please let us know if you are, or if you are in touch with, someone who had anything to do with the project during these years: 1973 through 1976. Did you see a performance? Were you volunteering in an Ohio State Park or at the State Fair one year when the project was there? Do you have any photos or audio materials or memorabilia from a performance? We would love for everyone who touched the project to have the opportunity to re-connect with others who did. It was a lovely, compelling, and vibrant moment in time, and we're not sure we'll ever be able to present this opportunity again.

Email: Charlie@charlieandcelia.com

Snail: P.O. Box 25, Guysville, Ohio 45735-0025

Phone: 740-662-9928

Thank you, and please consider joining us either at the end of March (a weekend of concerts and presentations), or at least one day during the week of June 29 -- July 7, to witness this historic re-enactment of the Appalachian Green Parks Project.

Following is the current schedule of events:

Thursday, March 29, at ARTS/West, Athens, Ohio:
Gala Evening gathering:
7:00 p.m. - hors d'ouevres
8:00 p.m. -- Musical performances by a several local friends and former members of the project

Friday, March 30, at ARTS/West, Athens, Ohio:
8:00 p.m. - Evening Concert

Saturday, March 31, at ARTS/West, Athens, Ohio:
8:00 p.m. - Evening Concert

Sunday, April 1, at ARTS/West, Athens, Ohio:
2:00 p.m. - Family concert, including puppet shows, dancing, etc.

On each date from June 29 through July 7 there will be an afternoon and/or evening performance, featuring original members of the project. Most of these folks will arrive from out of town, and they found the summer dates easier to negotiate than those at the end of March. We will continue to update the schedule as plans form.

Keep an eye on our site for information as it becomes released. Charlie is posting photographs and soundbytes from the newly discovered memorabilia stacks. Very shortly there will be a website devoted to these events, but until that time, our website will serve the purpose.

Contact us with any questions, ideas, contact information andmaterials!

Thank you -Charlie & Celia Lewiswww.charlieandcelia.com

Angels and Wings

Hey, welcome, my Leadership Athens friends. I will know if you have viewed this blog!

Hey, welcome, everyone else! What is going on at ARTS/West? you say. Well, here is something: The Studio For Young Actors closed "The Snow Queen" on Sunday and they will be holding auditions for "Annie Jr." next week. Be sure and go to their website for more info.

Terry Fortkamp has added some more art classes and you can contact her at (740) 664-2330 to register and to find out more.

Laura Nadeau's Music Together ® will continue and you can find out more at www.musictogetherinathens.com.

If that is not enough for you, we are busy in our final techs and rehearsals for "Angels and Wings" Artists in Communities presentation March 9-10 at 8:00 pm and March 10 at 2:00 pm. ARTS/West is pleased to partner with dancer and choreographer Missy Whaley in the culmination of the Angels and Wings project.

Angels and Wings, a community project has been exploring close to death experiences with oral histories, soup suppers, workshops and video work, all leading to a multi-media dance theatre piece to be held on March 9th and 10th. All performances are at ARTS/West 132 West State Street, Athens, Ohio.

Angels and Wings will feature eight dancers, ages 16-through mid-fifties who have worked with Missy to choreograph a piece that captures the powerful stories and emotions that have emerged through the project during the past six months. Individuals who attended workshops and soup suppers were invited to share personal stories. Graceful “natural” deaths, tragic deaths, violent deaths, suicide, near death experiences and all of the confusion, peacefulness, fear and joy that these very human events create are woven into a theatre piece that celebrates our need to understand the inevitable—the loss of loved ones and our own ending.

For Missy Whaley, owner of the dance company, MinDCollision, it is important to include the community in creating and sharing dance and art. “Professional dancers are part of the mix, and they contribute amazing talent,” she notes, “but including community members who bring the passion of their personal stories is what makes the work powerful.” The piece is a perfect fit for ARTS/West, Athens city’s Community Performing Arts facility that promotes community-based art. Above all, the work of Angels and Wings has been to understand that death, like life, takes place in community.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Angels and Wings has additionally been financially supported by the Athens Foundation. Digital video equipment was generously provided by the Athens County Library.

As always, if you would like further information on the rental of our facility please call 740/592-4315. You know I don't always answer the phone, and you know I would if I wasn't so busy coordinating all of these super cool events!