FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Catherine Zacchi
304-558-2003, ext. 340
Catherine.m.zacchi@wv.gov
West Virginia stages arts and cultural events this summer
West Virginia shines the spotlight on lively arts and cultural events this summer.
Music that ranges from bluegrass festivals to symphonic concerts is bound to strike a chord with listeners. Acts from Branson-styled variety shows to contemporary theater take the stage. Craft shows and art workshops appeal to the appreciative viewer and hands-on learner.
Tamarack, Beckley
On June 20, Tamarack melds music, art and theater to celebrate its own 12 th anniversary and the 145 th birthday of West Virginia. Tamarack is the nation’s first statewide collection of handmade crafts, arts and cuisine. Festivities get underway at 10 a.m. and continue through 8 p.m. The event is free.
Performers from Theatre West Virginia will stroll through the building, performing selections from their outdoor dramas. Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Jim Rubin, will re-enact West Virginia’s statehood ceremony. Hoppy Kercheval is scheduled to broadcast his TalkLine radio show live from Tamarack. The Brandon Green Trio will meander and play Appalachian mountain music from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. A reception in the David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery at 6 p.m. will open The Best of West Virginia fine art show juried exhibition.
Other summer attractions at Tamarack include artists’ live demonstrations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; performances that range from bluegrass music to Appalachian clog dancing to storytelling in the Sunday@Two series; and numerous meet-the-author sessions. For details, visit www.tamarackwv.com/events.
Music
Augusta Heritage Center , Elkins
The Augusta Heritage Center of Davis and Elkins College in Elkins promotes folk art, music, crafts and traditions. Musicians gather in Elkins City Park each Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. for a Pickin’ in the Park session of acoustic bluegrass and open jams. This summer’s weeklong music workshops run July 6- Aug. 8. They include Cajun/Creole, guitar, blues, swing, Irish/Celtic, bluegrass and old-time Appalachian music. Workshops also are offered in craft and folklore. Weekly concerts on Tuesday and Thursday nights in Harper-McNeeley Auditoriumat 8 p.m. are open to the public.
On Aug. 8-10, the Augusta Festival caps off the summer session. The party kicks off on Aug. 8, at 8 p.m. with a dance in the pavilion. On Aug. 9, festivities run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a juried craft fair, stage performances, pipe organ concert, kids’ hands-on activities and more. The August Festival Concert takes place at 8 p.m. in Hermanson Center, David and Elkins College. The fair wraps up on Aug. 10 with a Sunday gospel sing in the college chapel from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For more information on events at Augusta Heritage Center, visit www.augustaheritage.com.
Mountain Stage, Charleston
Based in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, Mountain Stage presents new and established artists in live musical performances. The award-winning show is hosted by Larry Groce and recorded before a live audience. This summer’s concerts include Jakob and the Gold Mountain Rebels on June 29, Amos Lee on July 27, Vienna Teng and Crooked Still on Aug. 10, Carlene Carter and Eric Church on Aug. 17, and Joshua Radin on Aug. 31. For details and updates, visit www.mountainstage.org.
Wheeling Symphony
The Wheeling Symphony celebrates America with a series of free concerts in July. West Virginia’s Mountain Stage Band appears as special guests. Performance dates and locations are July 3, Clarksburg, 7:30 p.m.; July 4, Wheeling’s Heritage Port, 7:30 p.m.; and July 5, Canaan Valley Resort State Park outdoor amphitheater, 3 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to the outdoor concert. For more information, visit www.wheelingsymphony.org and click on Summer Concerts.
Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg
June 26-28 marks the first Rhythm, Blues and All That Jazz weekend at the historic Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. The festivities start on June 26 at 6:30 p.m. with a free street dance featuring The Carpenter Ants. On June 27, the Carnegie Hall Mainstage Performance will be the Bill Frisell Trio at 7:30 p.m. June 28 opens with a musicians’ jam session on the Ivy Terrace at 12:30 p.m., followed by West Virginia Blues Society 2007 Champions Izzy and Chris at 1:30 p.m.; Hard Bargain Reunion at 2:15 p.m.; Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang at 3:30 p.m.; Sonny Landreth at 5:30 p.m.; and Hubert Sumlin with The Nighthawks headlining at 7:30 p.m.
On June 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, West Virginia’s Carnegie Hall celebrates 25 years of incorporation as an arts center. “Carnegie Day” gets underway with an opening ceremony and Fun Run, followed by demonstrations and tours. The anniversary will be celebrated in conjunction with the Rhythm, Blues and All That Jazz Weekend.
For a full schedule of summer events, visit www.carnegiehallwv.com.
American Mountain Theater, Elkins
Throughout the summer, the folksy American Mountain Theater (ATM) stages a Branson-style musical variety show in the historic Elkins Railyard. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The theater is located across the rail yard from the Durbin Greenbrier Valley Railroad. Tickets for adults are $22; seniors 55 and older, $20. American Mountain Theater also provides custom group or individual packages for visitors to the Elkins area. ATM staff can arrange packages that include theater, meals, lodging, train excursions and other activities. For more information, visit www.americanmountaintheater.com.
Pickin’ in the Panhandle, Back Creek Valley
Sept. 6-7 is the Pickin’ in the Panhandle BBQ and Bluegrass Festival at the Lazy A Campground in Back Creek Valley, near Martinsburg. The festival features 16 bluegrass bands, and includes a music competition that offers cash prizes for best flat picking, banjo, fiddle and band. The barbeque contest honors for best professional and backyard fixings. Heritage artisans and children’s activities round out the family-fun event. Visit www.travelwv.com for more information.
Theater
Contemporary American Theater, Shepherdstown
From July 9 through Aug. 3, the Contemporary American Theater on the campus of Shepherdstown University will stage five new American plays. The 2008 season schedules the productions in a rapidly-rotating series, enabling visitors to see the complete repertory in a single weekend. The plays are “The Overwhelming” by J.T. Rogers, a gripping story of an American family in Rwanda faced with the 1994 genocide; “Pig Farm” by Greg Kotis, a comedy about farming, government and romance; “Stick Fly” by Lydia R. Diamond, a drama about an elite African-American family, race, class and the need to belong; “A View of the Harbor” by Richard Dresser, a comedy about Maine’s flaky upper crust; and “Wrecks” by Neil LaBute, a mischievous monologue about a grieving widower and memories of his blissful yet complicated marriage. Visit www.catf.org for more information.
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, Charleston
The Clay Center hosts a diverse range of performance and visual arts, from the Summer Solstice program of Baroque music as part of the June 20-29 FestivALL to the extraordinary tap dancing of Savion Glover. While at the Clay Center visit the Avampato Discovery Museum, which houses two floors of hands-on science exhibits designed for fun and creativity. For more information, visit www.theclaycenter.org.
Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lewisburg
The Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg is celebrating its 41 st year. For dates and details on the summer season, visit www.gvtheatre.org.
West Virginia Public Theatre, Morgantown
Based in West Virginia University's Creative Arts Center, the West Virginia Public Theatre presents its 2008 summer season. For details on performances and dates, visit www.wvpublictheatre.com.
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