Generoo & Murder at the Preservation Society July 22, 2011

Dear Fellow Trustees,

Mayhem, murder, money, intrigue, secrets, good food and A/C ...a wonderful recipe for for the hottest day of the year (so far)!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112347798856333

Beverly Kline-Lash, a drama therapist, resident of Beaver Springs and member of Generoo, co-authored a dinner theatre play with elements of farce, slapstick, corn, wit and charm!! Unlike the Alhambra dinner theatre ~ dinner, then theatre ~ this was more of a theatrical dinner!!

All those attending (like me) were attending the Preservation Society's Summer Gala. Generoo, and the cast in particular (who played the members of the board of the Preservation Society), created a world into which we entered when we came through the door. At that point we became part of the play ourselves, interacting with the actor/characters as they interacted with each other and with us.

We listened to the actors interacting with each other so we could know what was going on as the evening progressed. It was obvious that there were lots of suspicions between the board members, money was disappearing from the treasury and you knew something was going to have to blow before the Gala evening was over. And sure enough, midway through the main course, Vera Reelee Rich and Officer Will Bustem got into verbal altercation, whereupon he fell over, giving a great death scene! Thereafter, the gala attendees were regaled with all the clues and we each then voted for the one we thought had murdered poor Will Bustem. The clues were a riot and not easy! The fun then was unraveling them and finding our murderer!!

The names of some of the characters will give you some flavor of the evenings goings on:

Rick Sprigsteen - guitarist for the Gala,
Raylie A. Singer - Vera's lawyer & a singer,
Sal Monella - off duty detective,
Arthur VainGlorious - president, secretary, treasurer and accountant for the Society and a confidente of Vera.

Well, it was very funny and very well done!! And the meal was excellent!! And they even had "Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc." correctly noted in the program notes!! Yay for Generoo!

Cummer Museum Site Visit, July 23, 2011

Dear WFAA, Inc Trustees,


We picked a good hot day to spend a cool afternoon at the Cummer Museum attending the Tea and Talk for seniors, a monthly program that is part of our grant to the Cummer. Katrina Cramer, the director for grants, met us and gave us the "inside" tour of new exhibitions and we had some time to talk about some new possibilties for grant allocations. The Talk was well received by about 75 seniors and we all enjoyed a delicious cup of green tea (thought of you, Barbara), Earl Grey flavor (thought of you, Nick!) The topic was the architecture of the Riverside/Avondale historic area of Jax as an art gallery itself and we were encouraged to not stop looking at the art once we left the museum. The lecture was given by Wayne Wood, one of Jacksonville's well known authors and historian.

One idea that Katrina wanted to discuss involves getting some of the art out into the "needy" senior living areas, ie: nursing homes and retirement centers where folks can't get out to visit the museum. You may recall that we started a program with the Jax Symphony where small ensembles give a 45 minute concert in facilities where the clients cannot get out and it has been very successful. Maybe we can use the model we started to do the same with Cummer. If you have ideas, bring them to the fall meeting.

Stay cool! Submitted by Lorrin Watson, trustee and Al Watson, business manager.

Les Mise, ACT UP!, CAC, CTL!! July 2010

From: Rob Hopper [mailto:robobo69@yahoo.com]

Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 5:48 PM
To: jacquie@ctlnet.org
Subject: National Youth Arts Awards Notification - ACT UP!

Dear Jacquie (CTL),

We're soon posting the results of the Sixth Annual National Youth Arts Awards for the 2010-2011 season, and we wanted to let you know that ACT UP! earned 4 awards and 8 additional nominations (our most nominated show for the Eastern Region -- fantastic show)!

Awards:
Outstanding Production: Les Miserables
Lead Actor in a Musical: Gabe King
Supporting Actor in a Musical: Jeremy Smith
Ensemble: Les Miserables

Nominations:
Supporting Actor in a Musical: Alexander Knitter, Zack Wagner, Kyle Wilson
Supporting Actress in a Musical: Mersadies Burch, Jennie Judd, Tess Marshall, Jeanna Stiadle
Direction: Rob Steele (CAC)
...
Please let me know if you have any questions. And thank you for the great shows and for your participation in National Youth Arts!

Sincerely,
Rob Hopper
National Youth Arts

AMIkids Grant - April 20, 2011

Dear Trustees,

What an incredible experience Al and I had when presenting the award check to AMIkids, Jax. They are SO GRATEFUL for our involvement! ALLof the students were at the luncheon, given in our honor, and many of the parents, board members and ALL the staff joined us. David Hull, our Foundation attorney and AMIkids board member and Ann Bruchman, director of AMIkids, explained alot of what is happening with this school. Although they have an art program, they are starting a drama program and music program. We met the art teachers, the drama coaches (both volunteer) and the music instructors - mainly in jazz, gospel and contemporary. What dedicated people!! These are the kids who have been before the judge and sentenced for criminal acts and have been placed at AMIkids instead of in jail or detention center.
We spoke with several of the students and could sense the appreciation. They had wonderful live music entertainment, student testimonials, comments from teachers and then the check presentation
(on stage, with comments from the Chair of the WFAA, Inc trustees - off the cuff!) which brought LOUD applause and whistles! This is the first time they have applied for a grant and were astounded that they
received the award! Then we had a sandwich luncheon and chatted abit before leaving at 2:30. This might be the longest check presentation in our history!! Next year, we will hope to have some of these people join us sometime during the Spring Meeting weekend.  Like Lynne, I am humbled and in awe of the work going on to encourage the appreciation of the arts.

Respectfully submitted, Lorrin S Watson, chair, trustees.

Packwood House Museum Grant - April 4, 2011

Packwood House Receives Grant

LEWISBURG, (Pa.)--The Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts presented a $5788 check to representatives of the Packwood House Museum on April 4. The funds will be used to purchase a wireless hanging system for the exhibit galleries, underwrite the cost of producing an introductory video that will be shown to visitors before they tour the historic structure, and add a digital projector and screen for museum programs.
Lynne Gale of the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc. presented the check to Dr. Christine Sperling, chair of the Board of Directors, and Dr. Richard A. Sauers, executive director of the museum.
Packwood House Museum
15 North Water Street
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-524-0323
http://www.packwoodhousemuseum.com/

Slifer House Museum

Slifer House Museum would like to thank the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc. for the grant that has allowed the museum to host a number of successful programs this summer.

Victorian History Camp, held June 14 – 17, opened with  a Civil War encampment which offered children a day in the life of a soldier.  The thirty children that attended the first day of camp dressed in period clothing and traveled throughout the encampment in small groups, receiving interactive presentations on Civil War medicine, religion, dances and games of the war by the reenactors. 

Held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., encampment provided children with the experience of drilling as a unit, loading and firing a cannon, and other artillery tactics presented by reenactors of Battery B 3^rd Pennsylvania Light Artillery, South Mountain Horse Light Horse Artillery and Cooper’s Battery 1st Pa Light Artillery.  Important figures of the Civil War from Union County were presented by reenactors, including Surgeon Theodore Christ, Tille Pierce Allemann , Lt. Col. W. Willard Smith and Rev. William McCormick. Lunch that day was provided by RidgeCrest Restaurant on the campus of RiverWoods.

Two workshops were held daily Tuesday through Friday, accommodating between eleven to sixteen children per two-hour class. Classes that week included: “Sailor’s Valentines,” “Adventures of Alice in Slifer House,” “Heavenly Smells, Miraculous Uses: Herbs,”  “Patterns & Stamps,” “Playing with Pictures: Collage,” “Eli’s Favorite Pie,” “Household Chores & Victorian Games,” and “Etiquette, Cupcakes, & Tea.”  The classes offered throughout the week allowed children to create crafts and food of the era, learning what it was like to live in Victorian America.

With the help of WFAA, Inc., four performances were scheduled for the Summer Concert Series.  Pleasant Valley Dancers performed traditional Civil War and Victorian era dances in period costume on Thursday, June 23, under the direction of Jack and Natasha Holt of Freeburg.  The performance included the Spanish Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Schottische, and Virginia Reel, in which the audience participated. The Repasz Band from Williamsport, the oldest American non-military band which formed in 1831, performed on Thursday, June 30 for a crowd of nearly 250 guests. One favorite song that was played was Seventy-Six Trombones. Award-winning Civil War storyteller and singer Ray Owen performed July 21,  sharing tales of Mark Twain and life on the Mississippi river.  The Dansbachers, known for German oompah and polkas, will perform at 7 p.m. August 11.

Williamsport Symphony Orchestra

The WSO is excited to be putting its generous funding from WFAA, Inc. to use!  We had an exciting Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra season culminating with a concert including Dvorak 8 and featuring member and marimbist Erin Graham in a Marimba Concerto by Hovahness.  Given the Asian influences of this concerto, WSYO also featured a selection of Japanese woodblock prints on display in the lobby from a local collector.

On another note, Pops in the Park is ready to roll!  Join us on July 17th in Brandon Park in Williamsport and July 20th at Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg for fantastic outdoor concerts including Hollywood, Patriotic, and light classical selections!  Visit www.williamsportsymphony.org for more details!

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

On April 7, 2011 Al Watson, Business Manager and Lorrin Watson, Trustee of the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc. presented the 2011 grant award check to Hope McMath, the director of the Cummer Museum and to Katrina Cramer, Manager of Foundation Relations for the Museum. We have participated in programs at the Cummer for the past four years and we're proud to be involved again this year. The Junior Docent program and Senior Talk and Tea program will benefit from our grant this year. Many other fine programs and exhibits are available at the Cummer - here is the home page: http://www.cummer.org/

Grant Award to AMIkids, Jax

Business Manager Al Watson and Trustee Lorrin Watson from the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc. were treated to a special time with students, staff and friends when we presented the 2011 grant award check to AMIkids, Jax., April 19. Our friend and AMIkids board member David Hull joined us at the luncheon. Ann Bruchmann, director of AMIkids, Jax, is also in the picture. The students had prepared several displays of their art work shown in the accompanying photo and we were treated to some great music. These kids know they are receiving a wonderful education in this program and we know we are priviledged to provide the opportunity for them to experience a wide range of the arts.

2011 Check Deliveries ~ Packwood House Museum, Lewisburg, PA

It was with much pleasure that I presented a check to Dr. Christine Sperling, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Packwood House Museum and Dr. Rick Sauers, Executive Director of PHM.  The WFAA, Inc. has been privileged to partner with the PHM  for the past five years in our mutual goal to encourage the appreciation of the arts.  Part of this year's funding went to purchase a new picture hanging system for the museum. This will protect the walls from needless repetitive hammering of nails into them, for the purpose of hanging pictures for exhibits.  The new hanging system also provides much more flexibility in the display and arrangement of exhibits.

In the case of large pictures two or more of the rods can be used to hang  it.  A very satisfying solution to a vexing challenge.

Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc. ~ 2011 Grant Year

The WFAA, Inc. has just about concluded its 2011 Grant Year.  This is the 5th year that the WF has awarded grants.  As one of the permanent Trustees, I cannot tell you just how wonderful and fulfilling this "job" is.

In the next several posts I will be sharing pictures of the delivery of grant checks from this year's grant cycle.

To be a part of this thrust to encourage the appreciation of the arts to all ages in as many venues as we can is a great privilege!

Generoo and Godspell

This musical came out of the 1970s and has been a popular production since then.

"The word "Gospel" is derived from Anglo-Saxon "Gódspell" (ca AD 1000), which means "good word". Joseph Bosworth, The Gothic and Anglo Saxon Gospells, John Russel Smith, 1874; (Wikipedia). 

This is an ambitious production which requires all 10 actors to be on stage throughout the two acts.

"Since the setting is never explicitly stated in the text, directors frequently see this show as a chance to show off their creative abilities. In one such production, the setting was simply three construction scaffolds. In another, it was done with a wall, some steps, and a treasure chest." (Wikipedia)
If your play is going to be produced in west Snyder county, what will your setting be??  Why a central Pennsylvania open air farmer's market, of course!!  This definitely allowed the director, David Greene, a chance to show off his creative abilities!! 

Enter Generoo!!

"GENEROO's goal is to involve individuals of all ages and from diverse circumstances, without exclusion, in cultural and artistic events, providing opportunities for exploration and appreciation that may otherwise be lacking in our rural community, so that all people might experience the joy and benefits of a richer life." (HB's blog)

In this goal, Generoo was absolutely successful!!  And the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, Inc. was very pleased to partner with Generoo to bring Godspell to Beaver Springs, PA this summer!

This power point program allowed spectators to see the whole process of the production from beginning to end.

To the left of the computer is a model of the central PA open air farmer's market, the Generoo setting for the play Godspell.

Congratulations to Generoo on a production well done!!

 

Must catch up!!

I have been to a number of wonderful site visits since June and I will post on them and try to post in future in a more timely fashion.  Promise!