Youth Theater Program Hires Musical Director

Group prepares for orientation for summer production of “Rent”

  For its inaugural summer, the Hudson Valley Teen Summer Theater Program hired Chris Bankey as musical director. It previously announced Randi Accardi signed on as director. Donna Jessie, one of the volunteer organizers, said the two are well known for their work in community theater.  So far, 15 teens have fully registered for the troupe, which will present “Rent” during a three-day period, August 10 through 12. Jessie expects more youths from throughout Rockland County and New Jersey to sign up by the June 6 orientation at Clarkstown South High School at 7 p.m.  Registration will be accepted that day.  “Probably by the time orientation comes around, we should have 30 to 35,” she predicted.   Jessie said planning for the summer program, …

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Back Stage: Artists, Supporters Of The Arts Cheered

Winners honored at RCC.

The Arts Council of Rockland honored the winners of the 2012 County Executive Arts Awards last week at the Cultural Arts Center of Rockland Community College during ACOR’s 26th annual celebration of art, those who support it and those who create it.

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Bardonia Business Hosts Celebrity Chef at Cooking Class (VIDEO)

The Food Evolution welcomed Chef Peter Berley this past Tuesday for a special cooking session

  Leek and Potato Fritata. Bruschetta of Fresh Ricotta and Spicy Kale. Strawberry and Lemon Curd Parfait.  Sound good? A small group got a chance to taste these dishes and more at the special cooking class at the Food Evolution in Bardonia this past Tuesday. Peter Berley was the guest chef leading the session called "Fast and Fabulous Dishes for Spring.  The meals came from his recipe book, which was available for attendees to peruse and purchase: Fresh Food Fast. Berley is the former executive chef of the world-renowned Angelica Kitchen restaurant in New York City, he is Chef at The Culinary Loft in NYC, holds classes at The Institute of Culinary Education and The Natural Gourmet Institute in Manhattan. He has contributed to Edible …

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Rose Marie Raccioppi

10:06 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Great Food with right intention... to nourish, to savor, to serve need and desire... along with a glimpse of paintings that complement an inviting decor... thrilled to be the artist whose works are on exhibit. In totality... hallmarks of delight.   more ›

Concert: 'Five For Fighting' Comes To Provident Bank Park

Performance part of 2012 concert series.

Five for Fighting, otherwise known as American pop-singer-songwriter John Ondrasik, is the latest addition to the 2012 concert series at Provident Bank Park in Pomona. Five for Fighting will appear at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 8, at the stadium, which is in its second year of operation and its first year as a concert venue. The park is home of the Rockland Boulders Can-Am League pro baseball team. Best known for his piano-based rock, such as the Top 40 songs "Superman (It's Not Easy)" (2001), "100 Years" (2003), and "The Riddle" (2006), Five for Fighting tickets are on sale now. General admission is $25; Seated Bowl $35 and general admission, floor $45. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit http://rocklandboulders.com/pressbox…

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Supporters Remember Paula Bohovesky With Concert (VIDEO)

The Concert For Paula Bohovesky: A Celebration of a Life was held at Pearl River High School Saturday.

Friends, family and supporters of Paula Bohovesky gathered at Pearl River High School Saturday night for the Concert For Paula Bohovesky: A Celebration of a Life. Bohovesky, a 16-year-old Pearl River High School student, was murdered while walking home Oct. 28, 1980. The concert raised money for PetitionForPaula.org, a non-profit formed in 2008, to support a performing arts scholarship in her name and to maintain an existing memorial on the high school grounds. The group also collects petitions each two years when Bohovesky’s two killers, Richard LaBarbera and Robert McCain, are up for parole. “I am very grateful that all of you here have chosen to use your time to be here tonight. Together we will work to continue to make sure that the …

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Tonight: Nanuet Rotary Beatles Concert Fundraiser

Mark your calendar for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4. Last year's Beatles Concert Fundraiser was a hit. The Beatles cover band, Ob-La-Di, will perform at NHS with archival footage to benefit Nanuet Rotary's charities and People to People.

Wayans Brothers Head to West Nyack

Comedians, brothers to deliver sets at Palisades Center

Shawn and Marlon Wayans' comedy career isn't one that began small and blossomed over time—the brothers, youngest of 10 sibilings, started big with the satirical flick I'm Gonna Get You Sucka.  On the heels of the 1989 release was more mainstream work, like the perenially-in-syndication sitcom The Wayans Bros. and movies like White Chicks. Now, the two are tackling stand-up—and heading to West Nyack this weekend. It's the siblings' first time to Rockland; they've played nearby, up north in Poughkeepsie, but never performed live this side of the Hudson. And though Shawn and Marlon's rapport is what earned them initial accolades and a lengthy career, the two won't be performing in tandem at the Palisades. "It's more tag-team," Shawn said. "…

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Levity Live Comedy Show Benefits Walk4Good

Christine Baker and her dog Jessie are going to walk the 2,180 miles of the Appalachian trail over six months

  Walk4Good held its first Comedy Showcase fundraiser on April 18 at Levity Live Comedy Club in the Palisades Mall. Several very talented comedians donated their time for this event and the event raised over $2,000 Christine Baker is the founder of Walk4Good and president of CB Creative, Inc., an integrated communications consulting firm in Nyack.  "I recently launched Walk4Good, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to practice kindness," said Baker. "Our organization is busy preparing for our inaugural event—I will be hiking the Appalachian Trail with Jessie, my dog, (all 2,180 miles from Maine to Georgia) in order to get people moving for Kindness."  Baker and her dog Jessie are planning to walk the 2,180 miles of …

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Tom Green Brings Stand-Up to West Nyack

Interview: creator of 'The Tom Green Show' heads to Rockland

When fans tuned in to The Tom Green Show in the late 90s and early 2000s, they weren't seeking celebrity guests or high-budget camera work. They wanted one thing: Tom Green. The Canadian-born comedian married absurd antics and scatological humor to cultivate a personality that found a welcome home on MTV, Rolling Stone's cover and countless late-night shows. And on April 27, 28 and 29, Green will perform his brand of stand-up comedy in West Nyack. Green is taking the stage at Levity Live, a new comedy club in the Palisades Center that has hosted the likes of SNL-alum Jim Breuer and, this coming weekend, 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan. Though Green's career took off with his eponymous show and a handful of ribald films like Freddy Got Fingered …

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Bob Dylan Tribute Comes to Nyack Library

Carnegie Room to host cover concert Friday

Fans of Bob Dylan will have a chance to see their favorite anthems performed live Friday night at one of Nyack's most posh venues—the Nyack Library Carnegie Room. The White Light Songwriter Series will continue with "Blowin' in the Wind," a tribute to the cagey songwriter and his poetic tunes. The series—which has previously presented tributes to The Beatles, Nina Simone and The Doors—is the project of Rockland music instructor Dylan Kelehan, who operates Dylan's School of Music in Airmont. "We'll take a bunch of different songs from Dylan's catalogue and perform them," Kelehan said, noting standards like Knockin' on Heaven's Door and All Along the Watchtower are on the set list. Harmonicas, slide guitar and organs are also key ingredients…

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Kevin Zawacki

2:23 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

The White Light Songwriter Series has a Led Zeppelin night in the works, too.   more ›