Over the last 5 years, the Pottstown High School Musical program has taken us from Rydell High to the City of Oz, from Skid Row to under the sea.
This year, the scene is 1960’s Baltimore! A cast of over 80 talented teens will present the hit Broadway musical Hairspray in the Davenport Auditorium March 1-3. Add in stage crew, lighting, and hair and makeup and you’ve got over a hundred students working to bring this production to life. Long days with rehearsals stretching almost to midnight are just about over and the students are ready for opening night this weekend!
If you aren’t familiar with the plot of Hairspray, it’s the story of Tracy Turnblad, a chubby, vivacious teenager with dreams of dancing on the Corny Collins Show, specifically with her crush, Link Larkin. It’s not just about young love; the story is set in a city undergoing massive change. The show, and in larger part, the community is wrestling with ongoing segregation that
But, Tracy and her best friend Penny are out to change things for everyone! Hairspray is ultimately about breaking stereotypes and changing the culture of the community, with lots of teen hormones, catchy music, and great dance numbers thrown in.
So, come on out this weekend for a great show and lots of hairspray!
The show opens tomorrow, March 1st at 7pm, with another evening performance Saturday March 2nd at 7pm and a matinee at 2pm in the Davenport Auditorium at Pottstown High School.
A new summer youth string orchestra program is forming in the Pottstown area, and any strings player who is between the age of 12 and 20 who is interested in keeping up their skills over the summer is invited to participate. The Youth Orchestra of Pottstown is being organized through the Arts and Culture committee of Mosaic Community Land Trust, which has offices on South Hanover Street. The program is being directed by Niki Purdy, a teaching artist with Play On, Philly!, a nonprofit after-school music program. “Having been part of community ensembles for years, I’ve seen the good that music can do. As a teacher, I feel strongly that music should be accessible to any child who is interested and has a desire to learn and have these experiences. I think that Pottstown is the perfect place for a community ensemble.”
The program is free of charge, but students must bring their own instrument. Rehearsals begin this week at Coventry Christian Academy, 699 N Pleasantview Rd, Pottstown. They will be held from 6:30-8:30 each Thursday throughout the summer.
If you are interested in auditioning for seating in one of the sections (which is not required to participate), auditions will be held Tuesday evening between the hours of 4:00-8:00 pm at the Hobart’s Run offices, located at 701 East High Street in Pottstown, adjacent to the Hill School. All students under 18 who wish to audition must be accompanied by an adult during the audition. Auditions will begin at 4:00 pm and proceed until 8:00 pm. A link to the sign-up for the audition can be found on the Mosaic Community Land Trust website under the events tab . Please prepare 36 bars of a solo or etude, and you will also be asked to sight read a short piece.
A performance will be held in the later part of August which will be free and open to the public. The orchestra is still searching for a location in Pottstown to hold the final performance, so keep an eye on the Mosaic website for information later this summer. Any adult wishing to volunteer to help with the orchestra must have Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearances, obtained here.
If you have questions, you can contact Mosaic at mosaicclt@gmail.com, or call (610)287-7828.
You can choose from drawing, oil painting, water colors, and art journaling.
There are daytime and evening options, so there’s no excuse to get your creative vibe on, let your inner artist out, or maybe start something that could be a special holiday gift to a special someone.
The mission of ArtFusion 19464 is to enrich the lives of the residents in the greater Pottstown area through the visual arts, regardless of ethnicity and economic situations. Our goal is to spark creativity, build self-confidence and develop community bonds through education, mentoring and community service. Artfusion is online at www.artfusion19464.org.
NOTE: Links in previous post may not have worked. These links should be good!
Online voting for Pottstown gospel-singing sensation Candace Benson will end tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 30 at noon. Go here to vote as many times as you can to give our hometown girl a chance to become the next Sunday Best winner!
Candace is one of two finalists. The winner will be announced on BET network this Sunday night, Aug. 31, at 8 pm. You can also call in up to 15 more votes during the show, but there is no limit to the number of online votes you can register.
So get on over to this web page – no registration required! – to click away for this amazing talent with a heaven-sent voice!
Come out and meet your neighbors at the Chestnut Street Park at Washington and Chestnut Streets, Pottstown starting at 6 PM. (Rain or Shine). The event kicks off with DJ dance music and great information from local businesses and non-profit agencies. There will be free food – hotdogs, hamburgers, popcorn, soft drinks and more. There will be games for the kids to play along with a moon bounce. New this year will be a chance to sign up for free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that will also be installed at no cost to neighborhood residents.
This event is funded, in part, by National Penn Bank and the Pottstown Neighborhood Program the Neighborhood. More information is available by calling Victory Christian Life Center at 484-941-0693 or Genesis Housing Corporation at 610-275-4357.
Since 1994, Genesis Housing Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has served Montgomery County as a community housing development organization (CHDO) and is dedicated to the development of affordable housing and to the education of consumers on housing and financial issues. Our general activities include the rehabilitation and new construction of homes to improve and stabilize neighborhoods and to provide opportunities for lower income homebuyers to purchase homes at affordable prices. Genesis Housing Corporation also provides monthly classes and individual counseling to help overcome barriers to home ownership, financial education and foreclosure prevention.
For more information about Genesis Housing Corporation and our programs, please visit our website atwww.genesishousing.org, email at info@genesishousing.org, visit us on Facebook or call 610-275-4357.
ArtFusion 19464 will host their fourth annual summer beef and beer fundraiser on Saturday, August 9 from 6-9pm. This year’s event will be held at the ArtFusion studios and gallery at 254 E. High St.
Tickets are $20 purchased in advance. If any are still available, tickets at the door will be $25. Tickets can be bought online athttp://artfusion19464.org/event/2014-beef-and-beer/, in person at ArtFusion, or over the phone by calling 610-326-2506. Guests can choose the beef entrée, or a vegetarian sandwich option.
Victory Brewing Company has once again generously donated their amazing beer for this event. Ice House will be making the hot beef sandwiches and Montesano Bros. will again be creating their amazing side salads and veggie sandwiches. There will be soda and water in addition to Victory beer and homemade desserts to finish off the meal.
Along with enjoying great food and great beer, guests will have the chance to win fun door prizes, try their luck at a 50/50 raffle and bid on silent auction items. Proceeds benefit ArtFusion 19464’s upcoming fall educational exhibit Rainbow Crow and Other Stories. This show will feature artwork inspired by Native American stories.
The non-profit community art center will once again be offering free field trips to local schools in conjunction with this show. Please email info@artfusion19464.org for more information on scheduling a field trip. The Rainbow Crow field trip program is generously sponsored by the Foundation for Pottstown Education.
ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.
Genesis Housing Corporation is pleased to announce the second annual outdoor movie night will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at the Chestnut Street Park in Pottstown. This year’s movie will be Disney’s Frozen.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to the Chestnut Street Park at Washington and Chestnut Streets, Pottstown starting at 8 PM. The event kicks off with Tom Carroll, a free balloon performer, followed by DJ music until dusk and then Disney’s Frozen. The rain date is Sunday, August 3rd.
This Pottstown Neighborhood Program is funded by National Penn Bank through the Neighborhood Tax Credit Program. More information is available by calling 610-275-4357, on our website at www.genesishousing.org and/or via email at info@genesishousing.org.
Since 1994, Genesis Housing Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has served Montgomery County as a community housing development organization (CHDO) and is dedicated to the development of affordable housing and to the education of consumers on housing and financial issues. Our general activities include the rehabilitation and new construction of homes to improve and stabilize neighborhoods and to provide opportunities for lower income homebuyers to purchase homes at affordable prices. Genesis Housing Corporation also provides monthly classes and individual counseling to help overcome barriers to home ownership, financial education and foreclosure prevention.
For more information about Genesis Housing Corporation and our programs, please visit their website at www.genesishousing.org, email at info@genesishousing.org, visit them on Facebook or call 610-275-4357.
This comes to us from ArtFusion 19464. For quite some time I have been curious about what we know about the Lenni-Lenape in Pottstown. This looks to be an informative, fun, and fascinating way to re-connect with the Native Americans who lived upon and walked this land before us.
Native American Memorial
In 1859, workers clearing a mound in an area on the south side of the borough unearthed skeletal remains and artifacts of an ancestor of the Lenni-Lenape people. Over the next twelve years many more remains and artifacts were unearthed in this area. Many of the remains and items were initially exhibited locally, but over time they have been lost.
In 2000, then mayor Anne Jones headed up a campaign that resulted in the Memorial currently located at the intersection of South Franklin Street and Industrial Highway. The site sits on land generously donated by the family of Mr. Tim O’Conner, owner of Humphrey Flag Company.
The memorial, which was originally dedicated on May 5, 2000, is an acknowledgement and a recognition of the people whose spirits inhabit those grounds. Unfortunately, in recent years, the memorial has been neglected. In an effort to bring new life and attention to this memorial, Ron Williams and Clanmother Star Harbach have organized a re-dedication of the memorial on May 3 and a pow wow on May 3 and 4. Williams says: “The Memorial is my primary objective. The Pow Wow is a way of creating interest. I am hopeful that in time we can do more to make this memorial a local landmark that we can be proud of. It should be a place of cultural awareness. Future plans will include warm weather monthly story-telling circles, new plants representing the indigenous features of the pre-colonial period, a medicine wheel, lighting and a sculpture representing the culture of the Native Americans, for starters.”
The rededication ceremony will begin at 9am on Saturday, May 3 at the site, which is at the corner of Franklin St. and Industrial Highway near the river. Frankie and Johnnie’s has generously offered the use of their parking lot for those who want to attend. Afterwards the festivities will switch to Memorial Park.
The pow wow will take place from 10am-6pm on Saturday and from 10am-5pm on Sunday at the Veteran’s Memorial in Memorial Park. Visitors will be treated to dances from many different tribes. In between the dances, a storyteller will entertain and educate with traditional tales. Guests will be able to shop at different Native American vendors, who will be selling leather crafts, jewelry, beadwork, instruments, wood sculptures, herbal teas and more. Author Gretchen Hardy will be selling signed copies of her book. Buttons& Beads: Lenape Princess Wynonah and the Future President, an historical fiction book illustrated by Zoungy Kligge, takes what is known of these intrepid ancestors and weaves them into one Lenape woman, Wynonah, who becomes their collective voice. A portion of the sales of her book will be donated to the Memorial fundraiser. There will also be an interactive education tent run by Laura and Ron Buckwalterwhere visitors can learn more about the Lenape people. Outside of the main pow wow site, other local groups including ArtFusion 19464 will be set up.
The event will begin with a Grand Entrance and opening ceremony at 12pm on Saturday. Following the opening ceremony, there will be a Veteran’s Dance, where military veterans and those currently serving are invited to participate to honor their service. The dancing will continue until 6pm. At 7pm, group Spirit Wing entertain the community with a free concert open to the public. The pow wow on Sunday will also begin with a Grand Entrance at 12pm. The events that day will end at 5pm.
Clanmother Star will MC the event and Joe Camaho will be whip man for the event, a ceremonial position responsible for lining up the dancers for the Grand Entrance. Medicine Horse Singers will drum for the dancers.
The entrance fee for the pow wow is $5, cash only. Children 6 and under are free. Visitors can park in the Memorial Park lot and at the lot by the Carousel building on King Street. There will be a free trolley running from the Carousel parking lot up to Pottsgrove Manor, where the annual May Day festivities will also be taking place on Saturday.
Please note that the back gate at the Veteran’s Memorial in the park will be closed to the public. All events will run rain or shine.
The organizers and dancers ask that visitors only take pictures when they are told it is allowed, as a matter of respect. Those who do not follow these rules will be escorted from the event.This is a pet friendly event. Well-behaved pets on a leash are welcome, and owners are asked to be courteous and clean up after their pets.
All funds raised during this weekend will go toward establishing an annual celebration and the maintenance and improvement of the monument. The site will be updated to make it a place of learning, with a regular schedule of storytelling and other events that will take place on site. The pow wow will be an annual event, in an effort to continue the recognition of what was lost.
In conjunction with this effort to create the awareness of the Native American contribution to the history of this nation, Representative Mark Painter will also be presenting a resolution in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 2, to recognize this year as the 90th anniversary since Native Americans were granted full United States citizenship. Until 1924, Native Americans were not citizens of the United States, but on June 2, 1924 Congress granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. under the Indian Citizenship Act.
Back by popular demand, the contemporary dance company Melange will perform at Steel River Playhouse for two performances only, Saturday April 12th at 8:00 pm and Sunday April 13th at 3:00 pm.
Featuring the music of Peter Gabriel, the Melange professional dance company and student apprentices will present a Genesis concert experience of inspired movement coordinated with breathtaking visual lighting and videography effects. Experience storytelling through the power of movement, led by artistic director, Michelle Jones Wurtz.
The professional company includes Michelle Jones Wurtz, Emily Meola, Kelsey Patrick, and Daria Vartanian-Gibbs. Student apprentices include Jenna Balog, Aimee Kulp, Alexa Lurie, Makena Lurie, Alessandra Ondey, and Raeanna Woodall. Kathleen Kerner is the rehearsal assistant.
And while you’re at Steel River, be sure to check out the new concession and retail area, where you can pre-order your intermission treats for fastest service. There’s great shopping too, including Steel River logo items (wine glasses, cheese trays and more).
About Steel River Playhouse
Steel River Playhouse is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable education and performance facility that seeks to strengthen community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the presentation of quality performing arts events and education for diverse audiences. Designated as a “gateway” performing arts center, Steel River provides affordable, high quality performances, comprehensive educational offerings, and enriching volunteer opportunities in all aspects of theatre arts. The organization embraces emerging and established artists, and supports community by serving as a magnet destination for economic development and a platform for shared experiences by diverse audiences. Students and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to explore and grow their skills by working side-by-side with professional instructors, performers, directors, and designers.
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