House for Arts

Hi there, long time no blog... I'm back with the news that this Wednesday, November 12, I have a new segment that will be airing on WMHT-TV's weekly arts show, AHA! A House for Arts. Produced for WMHT Educational Telecommunications, the segment looks at the history and mission of Norman Rockwell Museum, and this time out I  researched, interviewed, filmed, and edited the entire piece. Of course I had a certain level of knowledge and expertise to bring to the table about the subject (since the Museum is my full-time employer); nevertheless, it was still a challenge... and I'm happy with the results and education it provided. 

Albany Barn promo / courtesy www.albanybarn.org

This past week I made some promising new connections in the Albany, New York arts community, in the areas of both film and theater. One of the highlights was a visit to the Albany Barn, a unique creative arts incubator and community arts center in the city's Arbor Hill region. I had heard good things about this grassroots organization, offering studios, community, and affordable housing for area artists, and was impressed with both the space and artwork on display. During our visit, my theater friend and I happened upon the opening night of A Steady Rain, a drama that is being produced by Creative License, a new theater group in the area—we decided to stick around. Written by playwright Keith Huff, the show is essentially a duologue, with the two actors playing long-time friends and fellow cops presenting alternating monologues, as if under police interrogation. Even though the acoustics of the stage made it hard to hear at times, I thought the actors, Aaron Holbritter and Ian LaChance, did a fine job and kept my attention (I recognized LaChance from Schenectady Civic Players' recent production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, where he delivered an equally commanding performance as Dr. John Watson). The striking, minimalist set caught my interest immediately upon entering the venue: just a couple of chairs framed by purple-hued window sills, which cast a moody, rain-soaked tone. We also had a chance to speak with the show's director, Casey Polomaine, before and after the show—I appreciated meeting another talented, creative individual in the area, as I further explore the Capital Region's arts scene (the play is on view at Albany Barn through November 15).

While we're on a theatrical note, one of my last segments for AHA! was a look at Albany's long-running equity playhouse, Capital Repertory Theater. For some reason, not all the transitions in my edit translated successfully to the final segment, which aired on the program last June; so here is a look at the version that I intended (pre-color and audio correction):

AHA! A House for Arts airs Wednesdays on WMHT-TV at 7:30 p.m. And for me, creatively speaking, the show goes on...

Related Links:

AHA! A House for Arts, WMHT-TV

www.albanybarn.org

"'Steady Rain' a gripping cop tale," Albany Times Union, November 7, 2014