I spent the weekend in upstate New York, where the vibrant red and yellow leaves were matched by the glow of the Hunter’s Moon. I attended the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, an annual event where knitters showcase hand-knit sweaters and learn new techniques, yarn dyers sell their creations, and 4-H club kids, farmers, and shepherds present their prized alpacas and sheep in competitions.
While there was no official curtain time on the fairgrounds, it was very theatrical with all the handmade “costumes” and shows. The sheepdog herding demonstration and leaping llama competition certainly drew a crowd!
I also visited Olana State Historic Site, the former home of artist Frederic Edwin Church. The 250-acre estate overlooks the Hudson River and features an education center offering hands-on art-making, creativity workshops, and school field trips. I spotted picnickers discussing art on the beautiful grounds, while instructors led al fresco painting workshops near the gardens. Occasionally, the site hosts theatre and opera performances. Worth a visit! In both these experiences, the community was at the center of creativity.
I loved this recent American Theatre piece about Out of Hand Theater in Atlanta and its mission to educate and engage audiences through community dinners and discussions.
Here’s to an autumn filled with joy, creativity, and shared experiences.
✏️Around the Web✏️
- Layne Holley has been named chief managing officer of Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland.
- Great piece on building new audiences at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
- Interesting article on maintaining freshness in play development through community programming and partnerships with youth theatre companies.
- Read this thread about how the late, great Gavin Creel sent encouragement to a high senior school navigating the college audition process.
- Here is a New Jersey theatre teacher’s dispatch from this year’s Broadway Teachers Workshop.
- Last night at New York City’s Town Hall, The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway honored its inaugural Nationals class, a program for early-career artists to develop their creative collaboration skills. Proceeds support education programming.
- Upcoming: Josh Groban’s Find Your Light Benefit Concert on Oct. 29 at Jazz at Lincoln Center will feature Sara Bareilles, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renée Fleming, and others, benefiting arts programming nationwide.
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From the Archives
The 24 Hour Company Ushers in a New Decade of Theatre Artists
The 24 Hour Company continues to bring theatre makers around the world together to create short plays in a concise time frame.
