For stories about entertainment
Join Next Stage for a dance party featuring the music of blues guitarist Duke Robillard and his band, on Friday, February 24 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney.
Whether it’s a song, a style, an idiom or an image, Duke Robillard will render it with mastery, power, nuance and an unerring grasp of its essence.
PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of contemporary folk and bluegrass music from near and far by Vermont-based The Stockwell Brothers and Oregon-based Fellow Pynins on Sunday, February 19 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage.
Bruce, Barry, Alan, and Kelly Stockwell’s music spans traditional and progressive styles, but their trademark acoustic sound features new singer/songwriter material recast with banjo, alternative rhythms, and three-part harmonies. Featuring 2005 Merlefest bluegrass banjo contest winner Bruce Stockwell, The Stockwell Brothers have performed alongside artists from Bill Monroe, Doc Watson and Earl Scruggs to Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Jonathan Edwards and Asleep At The Wheel, recorded with Mike Auldridge and Phil Rosenthal of the bluegrass supergroup The Seldom Scene, and toured throughout the United States and in Canada and Europe.
PUTNEY, VT— 1/22/2023 — Next Stage Arts kicks off the Brattleboro Winter Carnival with Montreal-based contemporary ice skating company Le Patin Libre, performing their show “Carte Blanche” on Friday, February 17 at 7:15 pm at the Nelson Withington Skating Facility, 61 Memorial Park Drive, in Brattleboro.
Le Patin Libre is a contemporary ice skating company from Montreal, originally founded in 2005 by ex high-level figure skaters. They regrouped with the intention of transforming their athleticism into a means of free expression. Far from sparkles, stereotypes and champions’ demos, the creations of Le Patin Libre propose real works of art exploiting the amazing choreographic and theatrical potential of glide.
Sophie talks about the history of the School for International Training and its place in our town. She also gives us updates and insights into how SIT is evolving, and shares her plans and vision of what global higher education is becoming.
Next Stage Arts presents an evening with American roots jazz band The Afro-Centric Experience, on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts.
The Afro-Semitic Experience is an American roots jazz band with a difference. They are a group of Jewish-American and African-American musicians who have been performing, recording, and teaching together for over 20 years. Their friendship ignites their passion and purpose: Together, as a band, they merge their musical roots, Jewish and Afro-diasporic melodies and grooves, combining the core concepts of ase and shalom – power, action, unity, and peace. Their music embodies the radical notion that people of different faiths, races, and beliefs can come together, and celebrate and build community. Their repertoire is a mix of original compositions and arrangements of pieces curated from Jewish and African-diasporic cultures. Their music reaches out to a distinct open-minded listening audience; their intentional merging of jazz with the spiritual and the sacred has allowed them to share our music in concert as well as at worship services in houses of worship across the United States.
“The work of Afro-Semitic explores how two distinct cultures and histories have much to learn and share from one another,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “They explore the intersections of diaspora, roots, and a renewed expression of peace in difficult times. And they happen to also be incredible musicians and educators.”
Gordon Clark and his Vermont Comedy All-Stars are back for a special holiday stand-up comedy event at Next Stage Arts!
“We all need reasons to laugh, and the Vermont Comedy All Stars do an outstanding job,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts.
The cast of stellar performers includes:
LEAH BONNEMA is a Los Angeles based comedian hailing from rural Maine. Her broadcast credits include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Chris Gethard Presents, Oculus & AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live, IFC’s Comedy Crib, TruTV’s Comedy Knockout and Vh1’s 100 Greatest series. Leah has had the honor of performing for our troops overseas, and has featured in numerous comedy festivals, including The New York Comedy Festival, The Lucille Ball Comedy Fest at The National Comedy Center, The Women in Comedy Festival, The International Glasgow Comedy Fest, Bumbershoot and The Kennedy Center’s District of Comedy Festival in Washington DC.
Jerry’s spent a lot of time around books! He talks about the old days at Brooks Library, the beginning days of our Literary Festival and the Words Project – and how he’s now helping folks find their roots as a genealogist. Tune in for some great stories and insights about delving into the past – in our town and in our families.
The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Sandglass Theater’s Puppets in the Green Mountains festival present a musical folktale about courage in relation to the modern-day themes of migration.
Many stories from Africa have traditionally been passed down by word of mouth. Tears by the River is one of these stories. Krystal Puppeteers sing, drum, puppeteer and dance in this vibrant and joyous performance. A brave monkey, LIBENDI, leaves his land after a great famine has killed many of his fellow monkeys. His adventurous “safari” takes him far off to a river where, after losing his energy from days of walking through valleys and mountains, deserts and barren land with no food and water, he dies beside the river before he can taste the life-giving water. Animals from the forest come to honor him by naming the river after Libendi. This prompts the “bigger” animals and “kings” of the jungle to be jealous to the point of doing crazy things to become famous as well.
Traditional theater in Kenya is distinguishable by its masks, drums, chants, and narratives. The Giriama people of the east coast of Kenya often perform with gigantic wooden figures. Turkanas, Maasai and Kamba tribes use fertility clay and wooden dolls called ikideet or gnide dressed in leather and decorated with coloured glass beads and costume jewelry. All of these elements can be found in Tears by the River, a contemporary puppet theater show that unfolds through images, sound and movement. Celebrating the oral traditions of Africa, these kinds of traditional stories are meant to prepare young people for life, and so, each story teaches a lesson or a moral.
Gordon Clark and his Vermont Comedy All-Stars return for a night of stand-up comedy at Next Stage Arts, following their enormously successful shows in November and March. Featured performers will include several contest-winning and touring comedians most often seen in the Burlington area.
“We all need reasons to laugh, and the Vermont Comedy All Stars do an outstanding job,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Comedians will be coming from all around the state to perform – partnering with the All Stars allows them to reach a new audience in the southern part of the state, and build a new following.”
The cast of stellar performers includes:
Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of swing and Americana music by Zara Bode’s Little Big Band and StompBoxTrio, as part of the 2022 Next Stage “Bandwagon Summer Series,” on Sunday, August 28 at 4:00 pm on the lawn at New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, VT.
Zara Bode’s Little Big Band performs classic American swing to delight the ears, eyes, and feet. Inspired by the likes of Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, and Ella Fitzgerald, the Little Big Band features top shelf chanteuse Zara Bode (of Signature Sounds artists The Sweetback Sisters) and a sizzling horn section led by clarinetist and arranger Anna Patton. From chic to cheeky, the southern VT-based septet digs into the classics with aplomb and affection, creating vibrant new takes on the old radio hits.
The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series and Twilight Music present an outdoor concert with the Soggy Po’ Boys on Saturday, August 20th at 6:00 PM, at Putney’s Cooper Field.
“Although New Hampshire isn’t the most obvious home for a group so devoted to the culture of The Big Easy, the Soggy Po’ Boys seem genuine in their ambition to spread the word about jazz New Orleans style, and they’re creating an accessible and fun way into this world.” -London Jazz
The Soggy Po Boys, native to New England, have quickly become an institution. They are spreading the good news of New Orleans music across the northeast and beyond, playing at concert halls and street corners; music festivals and burlesque festivals; bars and libraries; wherever the party requires. Part of the beauty of New Orleans music is that it’s celebrated and appreciated wherever it goes, from the street to the theater.
Next Stage’s Bandwagon Summer Series presents Slavic Soul Party! on Sunday, August 14 at 6pm at the Retreat Farm: “New York’s Official #1 Band for BalkanSoulGypsyFunk”
“Easily one of the most exciting artists we’re bringing this summer, Slavic Soul Party checks all the boxes,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “They’re masters of the Roma style of music that encapsulates dancing energy, old world sounds, and they make it so fresh and new that audiences from around the world have hailed them as one of the greatest contributors to the genre. This show is going to be fun!”
International artists Sackett and Ahmed Zaghbouni aka MR MiC join forces to bring a fun and energetic performance entitled “BeatBox MEETS Popping.” Amirah is a hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and educator based in Chicago, IL. Her signature style is the funk style dance known as ‘popping’. As a proud Muslim American, she combines Islamic themes with her dance to share the universal beauty of her faith with audiences of different faith backgrounds to promote unity and understanding. Ahmed Zaghbouni is an international beatboxer and filmmaker from Sousse, Tunisia. His performance always entertains the audience with disbelief by the sounds he creates only using his mouth and voice as an instrument. He is proud of his Muslim heritage and the Sufi faith traditions native to his home of Tunisia. These two Muslim artists, bonded by faith and their love of hip-hop, offer a counter narrative to the media’s portrayal of Muslims. Both Ahmed and Amirah are dedicated to preserving and sharing hip-hop culture with the next generation and audiences around the world, as well as being examples of using art for social change.
Authentic Polish food, stories of leaving the homeland, and all Borscht sales donated to the Ukraine – plus everything served up with humor and heart – Andrzej and his Polish Food Stand – a Brattleboro treasure, indeed. (now located in West Bratt.)
STEPHEN DOTSON is all over the place! As Brattleboro’s Sustainability Coordinator he talks to everyone – from our road crews to the Rich Earth Institute – and collaborates to find real, practical and creative ways to help all of us live healthier and happier lives in this community.
Putney, VT- Sandglass will present their own newest show for families, Oma, with a special musical score composed by Molly Gawler and the Gawler Family Band. Oma says that knitting is not just pom pom hats and sweaters. Oma’s knitting contains whole stories! This new family show by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller is an intergenerational tale that revolves around Grandma or “Oma.” It is her birthday and all are preparing for the celebration. While the grown-ups manage work phone calls, playdate logistics and other such tasks, the children get into mischief with party decorating, present wrapping, cake baking. Finally they all gather around for one of Oma’s stories told in yarn. One character emerges from the tangle of wool and nearly ruins the party. But not to worry, all ends well at Oma’s house.
We say Farewell and Happy Trails to one terrific man who managed and supervised Brattleboro’s infrastructure for 47 years – trouble-shooting from the hip and getting the jobs done. Steve retired at the end of 2021, leaving us in good hands with Dan Tyler who worked with Steve for many years.
A press release announces the fun:
“Antiques Roadshow is Coming to Shelburne Museum!
Time to rummage through your attic! ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will make its first visit to Vermont on July 12 at the Shelburne Museum for an all-day appraisal event as part of the series’ 27th production tour.
For Sara Coffey, people come first. In this show, Sara shares stories of how anthropology, dance, and early travels widened her experience and her curiosity — and how she discovered community engagement as a mighty force that creates and connects, from the Arts arena to being a Vt. State Representative.
We always get a new perspective when talking to local youth!
Thank you, AVA WHITNEY for sharing your stories, insights and experiences of growing up here in Brattleboro.
