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1. HGWP Workshop and 2020 Annual Fall Production are Postponed
2. Register Now for The Simple Keys to Authentic Acting: A Workshop for Women in Theatre
3. Wellsboro Growers Market is on Thursdays, July 2 & 9
4. Cherry Springs State Park to Hold Free In-Person Programs July 4 & 5
5. Hills Creek State Park Announces Free In-Person Programs in July
6. Free Outdoor Concert is Jam Session This Friday, July 3
7. Register by Friday, July 10 to Audition for Radio Plays on July 11 and 12
8. Gabe Stillman Band to Perform Friday, July 10
9. “Almost, Maine” Cast Puts Finishing Touches on July 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19 Performances
10. Special Effects Workshop Registration Deadline is Thursday, July 16

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800

HGWP WORKSHOP AND 2020 ANNUAL FALL PRODUCTION ARE POSTPONED

The Hamilton-Gibson Women’s Project has postponed “Shrew, A Tale Retold”, its 2020 fall production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” as well as the Shakespeare On Its Feet Workshop. Both postponements are the result of the ongoing coronavirus.

The workshop, originally scheduled this August, was paired with the production to assist in preparing participants for the large cast show.

The earliest the Shakespeare production and workshop could be held is in 2022. An announcement will be made when both are rescheduled.

For more information, call Hamilton-Gibson Productions at (570) 724-2079.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE SIMPLE KEYS TO AUTHENTIC ACTING: A WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN IN THEATRE”

The Hamilton-Gibson Women’s Project is offering a 2½-hour in-person workshop for women ages 16 and up who are interested in acting. COVID-19 social distancing protocols will be followed.

“Not only is this workshop for women who have never acted before but also for experienced actresses,” said Jessie Thompson, presenter.

It is based on the teaching method of E. Katherine Kerr, a well-respected Broadway and film actress and playwright. “During the workshop, I will be introducing participants to Kerr’s four simple principles or keys to authentic acting and how we can use them to build trust and bring more of ourselves to the characters we play.”

Discussed and explored will be Kerr’s keys using monologues as the format. “I studied with Kerr in New York in the 1990s and found her approach to acting very helpful,” Thompson said. “Through the workshop I will share what I learned and how I use it.”

Thompson began her theater studies at Syracuse University and went on to study and work as an actor around the country. Highlights of her acting career include studying and performing at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts, and being a long-time member of the critically acclaimed Sacred Fools Theater Company in Los Angeles, California.

“The Simple Keys to Authentic Acting: A Workshop for Women in Theatre” will be offered twice on Saturday, Aug. 22 at the pavilion outdoors at the Nessmuk Lake Recreation Area on Route 287, one mile south of Wellsboro. The morning session will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the afternoon session from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those attending are asked to select a monologue that is approximately two minutes in length. “You will want to be familiar with whatever material you choose,” said Thompson. “Memorizing the monologue would be helpful but is optional,” she added.

A maximum of eight women will be enrolled per session. All enrollees from both sessions are invited to bring their own bag lunch and attend the 1 p.m. lunch break. Beverages will be provided.

During the lunch break, workshop participants will learn about the fall 2021 HG Women’s Project production of original monologues and about the Hamilton-Gibson production of Stray Cats, a series of nine monologues written by Warren Leigh, which is being directed by Thomas Putnam this fall.

Those who would like some guidance or help in choosing a monologue to present during the workshop are asked to make that known when they register.

Although not required for the workshop, those who want to read Kerr’s handbook, “The Four Keys” can order it through From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro.

The fee for the workshop is $15. To register for either the morning or afternoon session, call the Hamilton-Gibson office at (570) 724-2079.

Photo provided
Jessie Thompson

WELLSBORO GROWERS MARKETS IS ON THURSDAYS, JULY 2 & 9

The Wellsboro Growers Market is from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday through October 8 on the front lawn of the First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street in Wellsboro, next to the Green Free Library, weather permitting.

There will be a variety of goodies at both the July 2 and 9 markets.

Liz McLelland of Yorkshire Meadows will have strawberry/rhubarb crunch, caramel shortbread, pecan sandies, shortbread cookies and a host of other yummy desserts.

Linda Sweely of New View Farm is bringing her freshly made artisan breads, such as Focaccia and Italian herb, everything bagels, beer bread and cinnamon buns, maple syrup, honey, jams and jellies, homemade sauerkraut, ground horseradish and sprouts.

Also planning to be at the July 2 and 9 markets are Chuck and Kate Gilligan of Pinafore Run Farm with their raw wildflower honey and possibly some blueberries, and Justina Swartwood and Boki Cvetkovski of Wellsboro with their Scentillating Creations, a selection of candles, soaps and other products.

Frank Maffei will be offering wine tastings and Staggering Unicorn wines sold by the bottle.

At the July 9 market, Jeff and Sally Jones will have their Between Two Rivers maple products, including syrup, cream, sugar and candy, and Todd Webster will be bringing ground beef, New York strip and rib eye steaks, pork chops, ham roast, spare ribs and breakfast sausage.

Among the other vendors that will be at upcoming markets are the Shortsville Green Grower, Aunt Lulu’s Embroidery and WindStone Landing Farms with non-GMO and chemical-free foods.

Customers are asked to wear face masks and maintain six feet of distance between themselves and others. Vendors who want to participate are asked to call Thomas Putnam at (570) 439-2000 or email him at wellsborogrowersmarket@gmail.com.

CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK TO HOLD FREE IN-PERSON PROGRAMS JULY 4 & 5

COUDERSPORT— A free in-person program is being offered on Saturday, July 4 and another one on Sunday, July 5 at Cherry Springs State Park at 4639 Cherry Springs Road, Coudersport, Pa. 16915.

The park is 12 miles from Galeton via West Branch Road and 15 miles from Coudersport via Route 44.

Critters of the Night is This Saturday, July 4
Join park staff this Saturday, July 4 at 6 p.m. for a 30-minute free, in-person program to learn about fireflies and the impact they have on our ecosystem. Registration is required.

Park Welcome Walk is This Sunday, July 5
This Sunday, July 5, at 6:30 p.m., park staff are hosting a 30-minute, in-person short walk to introduce registrants to the history and future of Cherry Springs. The walk is not strenuous and is not a hike. It’s free. Registration is required.

Registration is Required for In-Person Programs
Registration to attend free in-person programs is required. Attendance is limited to the first 25 people who register. It is important for families to register as a group if more than one member is planning to attend. To register, visit https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/cherry_springs_state_park/calendar.

All in-person program registrants must follow CDC guidelines and bring a mask with them in order to attend an in-person program. These programs may be cancelled due to severe weather.

If there is a problem with registering online or for more information about these programs, call (814) 435-1037 or email cherryspringsee@pa.gov.

HILLS CREEK STATE PARK ANNOUNCES FREE IN-PERSON PROGRAMS IN JULY

WELLSBORO — Hills Creek State Park at 111 Spillway Road, Wellsboro, Pa. 16901 is offering free in-person programs in July. Attendance is limited. Those who want to attend must register by calling the park office at 570-724-4246 no later than 5:30 p.m. the day of an event. All attendees are required to bring a mask with them and follow CDC guidelines, including staying six feet away from each other.

The park is seven miles northeast of Wellsboro in Charleston Township via Charleston Street and Hills Creek Lake Road.

Fish-for-Free All Day at Hills Creek This Saturday, July 4
This Saturday, July 4 is Fish-for-Free Day on Hills Creek Lake. No registration is required. The public is invited to catch the ÒfunÓ of fishing on Independence Day. No one needs a fishing license. All other fishing regulations still apply. Those who want to fish must bring their own tackle and bait. The concession stand will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, chicken fingers, soda and and Gatorade. Those with questions can call the park office at 570-724-4246 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Update on PA Black Bears is This Sunday, July 5
This one-hour update on black bears will begin at 8 p.m. this Sunday, July 5. Pennsylvania has one of the largest black bear populations in the United States. Learn about the new management plan for black bears as well as bear nature studies. Photos, skulls, and video are part of the program. Registration is required.

Coyotes in PA is on Friday, July 10
This one-hour program will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Coyotes are well established members of the wildlife community in this area. Find out where they came from and how to identify them. Mounts, hides, skulls and demonstrations will help tell the story of Pennsylvania’s largest, wild canine. Registration is required.

Whitetail Deer: Built to Survive is on Sunday, July 19
This one-hour program will begin at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. Whitetail deer face daily challenges to survive in Pennsylvania’s woods. Learn about their anatomy, physiology and behaviors, which help these mammals to overcome disease, predators and injuries as they thrive among us. Photos, video, a skeleton and anecdotes will tell their story. Registration is required.

Critter Call is Sunday, July 26
At 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26 is Critter Call. This nighttime one-hour program offers a chance to see nocturnal wildlife in a unique way. Following a brief orientation, participants will travel to spots in and around the park to “call in” gray fox using night lights and an electronic game call. Deer, raccoons, owls and coyotes may also be encountered as participants hike discreetly into the woods and call from several locations. Be prepared to drive short distances, wear dark, scent-free clothes and remain quiet at all times. This program is not suitable for young children or anyone who has difficulty walking at night in a woodland setting. It is limited to 12 people, ages 10 and above. Registration is required.

FMI:
Call the park office at (570) 724-4246 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.for more information.

FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT IS JAM SESSION THIS FRIDAY, JULY 3

This Friday, July 3 at 6 p.m. the free outdoor concert series will continue with a jam session featuring local musicians on the Central Avenue side of the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.

To ensure social distancing, the July 3 jam session will be held outdoors on the Deane Center’s lawn but with the musicians setting up on the side nearest the Deane Center’s Warehouse Theatre rather than on the Deane Center’s outdoor stage. The Deane Center will provide amplification to accommodate more people.

Among the musicians at the July 3 jam session will be Daria Guelig of Wellsboro. She plays hammered dulcimer and concertina and is a member of two local bands, Drowsy Maggie and the 3Ds that performed as part of the free concert series this past Friday, June 26.

Guelig was instrumental in starting jam sessions at the Deane Center on First Fridays last year. “The fun of a jam session is it’s unpredictable,” she said. “Different people pick the songs. It has always been a potluck type of experience, which makes it interesting and fun. We play a wide variety of music from folk, rock and country to bluegrass, old-time, ragtime and standards from the Great American Songbook depending on the musicians who are there,” said Guelig.

Well-known multi-instrumentalist David Driskell who played with the Sadie Green Sales jug band for years will seamlessly weave his many instruments into the July 3 session. “Dan Krise, Bob Rubin, and Steve Ziemak have helped keep the jam sessions going with their years of playing experience as well as others not mentioned,” Guelig said.

“Musicians are welcome to participate in the July 3 or Aug. 7 jam sessions but should contact me beforehand so I know how many chairs to put out,” she noted. Her email address is: dlguelig@gmail.com.

The free outdoor concert series, sponsored by the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce and the Deane Center, started with a jam session with nine musicians on Friday, June 5 and an audience of 20.

The June 26 Drowsy Maggie and 3D concert attracted an audience of more than 100 people who brought lawn chairs and sat on the grassy area in front of the Deane Center’s outdoor stage as well as on Central Avenue, which is closed to traffic for the outdoor concerts from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to provide space for social distancing. “It was good to have Central closed,” Guelig said.

Other free concerts being sponsored by the Deane Center and Wellsboro Chamber on Fridays at 6 p.m. are: Scott Turner on July 17; Cole Band, a country rock group, on July 31; a jam session on Aug. 7; and the Vineyard Band on Aug. 21. For more information, call the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220, email office@deanecenter.com or stop in at the Deane Center between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Photo by John Eaton
Daria Guelig plays her concertina near the Deane Center’s outdoor stage before the start of the June 26 free outdoor concert.

REGISTER BY FRIDAY, JULY 10 TO AUDITION FOR RADIO PLAYS ON JULY 11 AND 12

Friday, July 10 is the deadline for people of all ages to schedule a time on July 11 or 12 to audition for radio plays being performed in August during the Fourth Annual Tune In To Radio HG Festival.

The auditions will be in the Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro. Short sections of scripts known as sides will be provided to registered participants in advance.

Auditions are being scheduled in one-hour increments between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 and between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 12 so not more than eight individuals will be in the theater at any given time. This will help ensure participants’ safety by providing space to follow CDC social distancing guidelines and time to disinfect all surfaces between each audition.

“Voice acting is a great way to try acting without the worry of memorizing lines or learning blocking for a stage performance,” said Gabe Hakvaag, festival producer.

The festival will be online this year so the audience can hear the performances in their homes. Each day of the festival a new slate of classic and contemporary audio dramas and comedies performed by voice actors with live music and sound effects will be posted to Hamilton-Gibson’s website for the public.

To schedule an audition time and receive a script section, call Hamilton-Gibson Productions at (570) 724-2079 or email WBFRHG@gmail.com.

Photo by John Eaton
Yolie Canales, one of this year’s radio play directors, helps a person who is auditioning by demonstrating how to act out some lines.

GABE STILLMAN BAND TO PERFORM FRIDAY, JULY 10

On Friday, July 10, at 7 p.m., the Gabe Stillman Band will step out onto the Coolidge Theatre stage in the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.

This is the first time the theater has offered a live indoor show since mid-March when Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a stay-at-home order to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

“We are excited to return to the Deane Center,” said Stillman (guitar and vocals) who leads the band and is the 2019 Gibson Guitar Award-winner. Also featured are Colin Betty (bass guitar) and Joel Vincent (drums).

The band will be performing fan favorites along with some brand new original songs from Stillman’s album “Flying High”, which is set to be released this summer. Stillman recorded “Flying High” with the legendary Washington, D.C. blues band, The Nighthawks. The title track, “Flying High” and “Shame Shame”, two of the new originals from the upcoming CD, can now be downloaded or streamed on all digital platforms.

In January of 2019, Stillman and his band competed at the 35th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, where they landed in the final eight out of 101 starting entries. Stillman’s command of the guitar garnered serious notice from the judges who selected him as the winner of the esteemed Gibson Guitar Award. “Winning this award is an incredible honor, especially at this early stage of my career,” said Stillman at the time. “It’s an electrifying feeling to have encouragement like this from the Blues Foundation. It tells me I’m on the right path as a musician.”

Admission is $20. For this BYOB concert, audience members are encouraged to bring their favorite beverages and snacks. To reserve a table free and for tickets, call the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220, email office@deanecenter.com or stop in between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, visit deanecenter.com.

Photo provided
Gabe Stillman

“ALMOST, MAINE” CAST PUTS FINISHING TOUCHES ON JULY 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19 PERFORMANCES

When Hamilton-Gibson’s production of playwright John Cariani’s “Almost, Maine” opens on Friday, July 10 in Wellsboro, Terry Babb and Barbara Biddison will be on stage. “In our scene, we are outdoors in the middle of a northern Maine winter. It is a lovely, cold, clear moonless night with lots of stars in the sky,” said Biddison.

“This is one of my all-time favorite HG productions. I love this play. It’s sweet. Hearts are broken; love is lost and found,” she said.

“This production is ideal for all of us right now. Each scene is a love story of one kind or another. People will leave the theater feeling good. It’s an escape for the audience and the actors,” said Biddison.

“I was glad that HG decided to do this show this year,” she said. “When Thomas (Putnam) directed the first production of ‘Almost, Maine’ in 2008, I was an audience member. I love auditioning so I thought I’d give it a shot. The next thing I knew, I was cast with Terry Babb. We have known each other a long time. It’s easy working with him on stage,” she continued.

“There will be a different feel to the 2020 production compared to 2008’s because instead of eight actors performing two or three roles apiece, each of us is only portraying one character,” she said.

“This play was written as if all of the scenes are happening at exactly the same time but in different locations in and around the mythical town of Almost. In staging it, one scene follows another with each lasting about 10 minutes,” said Biddison.

“When the March and April performances of ‘Almost, Maine’ were postponed in mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak, we had already memorized our lines, our costumes and props were ready, and the entire cast was about to do our first run-through. Then, everything stopped,” she said.

“A totally new experience for me was having my lines down pat and being absolutely ready to perform and then having to remember them for about four months so when we came back we were ready to polish our scene for our July performances,” said Biddison.

“I personally trust HG when they say they are being careful and observing all safety precautions,” she said, noting that although the Warehouse Theatre seats 110, only 30 people will be seated per performance to allow for social distancing; the play will be about 90 minutes without intermission to keep the audience from mingling; and all audience members are asked to wear facial coverings.

Other cast members are: Sean Bartlett, Michelle Lockwood, Noyes Lawton, Sarah Brion, Taylor Nickerson, Sarah Duterte, Josh Allen, Kacy Hagan, Zach Putnam, Ryan Mullins, Laura Mullins, Linda Iseri, Ramon Duterte, Samantha Coolidge and Ryan Dalton.

Performances of “Almost, Maine” are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, July 10 & 11 and July 17 & 18, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, July 12 & 19 in the Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro.

Admission is $14 for adults and $6 for youth, 18 and under. All tickets must be purchased in advance and prepaid so all seats can be reserved to ensure social distancing. For tickets online visit hgp@booktix.com or call (570) 724-2079 and prepay using a credit card.

Photo by John Eaton
Pictured are Terry Babb and Barbara Biddison in “Almost, Maine.”

SPECIAL EFFECTS WORKSHOP REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, JULY 16

Hamilton-Gibson Productions is presenting a special sound effects workshop online as a live-stream event via Zoom on Saturday, July 18 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop is free and limited to the first 40 people who register on or before Thursday, July 16.

Now in its fourth year, the festival is being held online for the first time this August. It will include classic and contemporary radio dramas and comedies performed by voice actors accompanied by live music and special sound effects.

The July 18 workshop will explore designing and performing special sound effects for audio dramas. Presenters are Sean Bartlett who has been involved in creating and performing sound effects for the festival for several years, and Gabe Hakvaag, who has produced and directed audio plays for more than two decades, including for the Tune In To Radio HG Festival he founded in 2017.

“In audio drama, sound effects work with the voice actors to engage the audience’s imagination,” said Hakvaag, festival producer. “Sound effects can create soundscapes, such as tropical jungles or the deserts of the planet Mongo, or can punctuate specific actions, like riding a horse, packing a suitcase or punching a criminal.”

This workshop will demonstrate how sound effects performers create these sounds, often in surprising ways. “The way we imagine how something sounds is quite different from the way it actually sounds,” said Bartlett, who is in charge of sound effects for the 2020 festival. “When designing a sound effect, you have to focus on what you imagine the sound is like. So we’ve popped balloons for gunfire, used coconut shells for galloping horses, crinkled newspaper for bonfires, and stretched cellophane across clothes hangers to mimick swarming hornets,” he said.

To register for the Sound Effects Workshop, email Hamilton-Gibson Productions at WBFRHG@gmail.com or call (570) 724-2079 on or before July 16.

Photo by John Eaton
Gabe Hakvaag demonstrates how to create the sound of footsteps.