The Rangeley Friends of the Arts

Christmas Concert and Walk to Bethlehem

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:32:35 +0000

Rangeley Friends of the Arts will sponsor two programs to celebrate the Christmas season: December 7^th Christmas Concert by the Rangeley Community Chorus and December 11^th “Walk to Bethlehem” pageant.

The 34th annual “Walk to Bethlehem” to be held in Rangeley on Sunday, December 11^th is a gift to the community from The Rangeley Friends of the Arts. Walkers and carolers are invited to join the beautifully costumed pageant participants as they stroll through the streets of Rangeley, stopping at each of the four churches (Catholic, Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal) asking for a place to stay. Each year, this reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago is a joyous evening in Rangeley.

Each year, a local couple with their new baby portrays Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Many townsfolk portray shepherds, angels, Three Wise Men. The elegant costumes created by Barbara Meservey decades ago are still used today. The celebration begins at 5:30 PM on the steps of The Rangeley Inn as the proclamation is read: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:1-15)

The evening concludes at the Church of the Good Shepherd with a program that highlights local musicians and performers. This year’s program will feature the Rangeley Bell Ringers, Rangeley Community Chorus, Young Children’s Choir, the RLRS Choir and a dance number by the Lakeside Dance Academy. The pageant participants will process to the front of the Church of the Good Shepherd as the Christmas scripture is read. “Silent Night” will conclude the program as everyone will then gather in the Undercroft for refreshments and continue the celebration as a community.

2010 Photo of Walk to Bethlehem Pageant

Mary, Joseph and the Babe.. Lindsay, Brad, Elyse Kennett

Three Wise Men……………Rudy Davis, Les Hoekstra, George Washington

Shepherds…………………. Ian Lillis, Nash Gagnon, Joseph Emerson

Angels…………………….…Sophie Chu-O’Neil, Amber Morrill

Main Streets and Back Roads of Rangeley, Maine: Segment Three

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:03:47 +0000

Did you see the Art Segment of Main Streets and Back Roads of Rangeley, Maine on The Boston Channel? If not, click on the link below.

RFA Presents “Music from the Lake”

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:57:49 +0000

Down East Brass

Rangeley Friends of the Arts has coordinated a joint venture with The Oquossoc Lady and Loon Lodge to bring the talented Downeast Brass to Rangeley for a unique evening on Tuesday, August 16^th. Prior to arriving at the Loon Lodge dock aboard the historic boat (The Oquossoc Lady) for an 8:15 PM public concert, the brass quintet will stop at several private parties along the lake shore. Tickets ($10) for the 45 minute presentation of “Music From The Lake”, on the lawn of Loon Lodge are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce office on 6 Park Road or 864-5364. Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy a gorgeous Rangeley sunset while listening to an evening of beautiful music. Make reservations for an early dinner at Loon Lodge (865-5666) or just come for the concert at 8:15 PM; a cash bar will be available.

The Downeast Brass is comprised of five highly experienced musicians from Southern and Central Maine. They enjoy playing a wide range of styles, from classical to Dixieland, and from parades to wedding ceremonies. As music educators, they seek to reach audiences of all ages with original and entertaining programming.

Trumpeter Dwight Tibbetts recieved a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Southern Maine. He has his Masters in Music from the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon. He was a recipient of the Willie Maiden Award for excellence in composition and arranging. Dwight has taught instrumental music in grades five through twelve for thirty years in Augusta, Maine. He has performed throughout Maine, most recently with the Manchester Brass Quintet. Also an accomplished pianist, Dwight arranges most of the music performed by the Downeast Brass.

Andy Forster has been an instrumental music teacher in the Messalonskee School District for eighteen years. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire and his M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Forster has studied trumpet with John Foss, Robert Stibler, Walter Chesnut and Trent Austin. His conducting teachers include Stanley Hettinger, Malcolm Rowell, and Mark Russel Smith. His professional performing experience includes performances with the Downeast Brass Quintet, the UMF Wind Ensemble, the UMF Orchestra, the Bates College Orchestra, the Colby College Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble, the Al Corey Jazz Orchestra, the Brian Nadeau Big Band, the Mount Washington Hotel Jazz Orchestra, the Mayflower Hill Brass Quintet, the Brass Maineiacs, and numerous musical theater productions.

Mike Peterson teaches instrumental music in the Messalonskee School District. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of Maine, and his B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz. He has studied trombone with Fred Heath, Hal Janks, and Fred “Moe” Snyder.

Mike was also the primary music director for the Waterville Opera House from January of 2005 through April of 2008, and was a guest music director at Colby College in January of 2007. In addition to the Downeast Brass, Mike performs with the Good-Time Sound barbershop quartet. He resides in Oakland with his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Rosemary.

RFA presents The Woodland Chamber Ensemble

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:33:05 +0000

Chamber Music Concert August 10, 2011

The Woodland Chamber Ensemble, which drew a large enthusiastic
audience last summer, will perform again on Wednesday, August 10, at
7:00 P. M. in the Church of the Good Shepherd. Sponsored by the RFA
(Rangeley Friends of the Arts,) the concert will feature musicians Sue
Downes-Borko:flute, piano, and voice; Lee Lenfest: French horn; Helen
Plotkin: cello; Henry Plotkin: violin and viola; Gail Russ: oboe,
clarinet, and English horn; and pianists Barbara Ulman and Andrea
Keirstead.

The concert encompasses compositions from the Baroque era
through the classical to contemporary. Some of the music to be
presented includes Mozart’s trio for clarinet, viola, and piano; a
Haydn trio for flute, violin, and cello; a piece for flute, oboe,
viola, cello, and keyboard by Baroque composer Janitsch; Gaubert’s
Tarentelle for flute, oboe, and piano — a perpetual motion depiction
of a myth about tarantulas; and compositions by Randall Thompson,
ensemble member Barbara Ulman, and several others.

About the Musicians:

Sue Downes-Borko received a Music Education degree from the
University of Massachusetts. She has been a high school music
teacher in the state of Alaska, a staff accompanist for the College
of New Jersey, and a member of several flute quartets. Sue is the
director of the Rangeley Community Chorus and has participated in
many local music productions. Currently, she operates a private
lesson studio and is the Minister of Music for the Rangeley
Congregational Church.

Andrea Keirstead, of Farmington, studied social anthropology at
Harvard University. She teaches at Mt. Blue Regional School
District, and has performed on the piano for many events in this
area. Recently she was the pianist for Footloose in Rangeley.

Lee Lenfest is a retired civil engineer who completed 33 years
with the U.S. Geological Survey before moving north to enjoy the good
life Maine has to offer. Lee has played horn with orchestras and
bands at duty stations in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and Virginia. He is
currently principal horn with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and U.
of Maine – Farmington Concert Band, and has also enjoyed engagements
at Monmouth Theater and the Waterville Opera House.

Helen Plotkin grew up in a musical household, playing cello with her father (Henry) and other family members. She studied at Swarthmore College, University of Michigan, and Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She spends her summers on Lake Mooselookmeguntic with her family. During the academic year, she teaches Biblical Hebrew and ancient Hebrew texts at Swarthmore
College, and she works as a rabbi-educator in the local Jewish community.

Henry Plotkin is a chamber music enthusiast who has played his violin and viola in ensembles in Rangeley as a summer resident and in his home in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. He is a
physicist, and has served as science researcher and manager at the US Army Signal Corps, NASA, and UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) while continuing his parallel musical avocation. After acquiring his Oquossoc home in 1992, he became a competitor in the Rangeley Fiddlers Contest, and later participated as a judge.

Gail Russ teaches instrumental music in Maine School Administrative District 58, which includes Phillips, Kingfield, Strong, Stratton and Salem. Since moving to Maine in 2005, she has played oboe, clarinet, and English horn for the Camden Pro Musica Orchestra, Monmouth Theater, Lewiston/Auburn Community Theater, the Bangor Symphony, and other bands and orchestras in the area. She says, “I have the best ‘job’ ever: children and music; I have been blessed!”

Barbara Ulman began piano lessons at age seven, and has had an active musical life. She earned a B.A. from Harvard/Radcliffe, while also studying piano chamber music at the nearby Longy School of
Music. In 1989 she completed a second B.A., in Music Theory and Composition, at California
State University, Fresno. Off-season, she lives in the foothills near Yosemite National Park. She has
spent summers on Rangeley Lake all her life, at a camp that has been in her family since 1915. She plays chamber music for fun and for public performance, and also composes art songs and music for small ensembles and for chorus.

Tickets for the concert ($15) can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce and also at the door on August 10. For further information, please call Barbara at 864-3629.

RFA Home Tour and Taste of Rangeley

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:08:32 +0000

RFA Home Tour and Taste of Rangeley

The 2011 RFA Home Tour and Taste of Rangeley will take place on Tuesday afternoon, August 2^nd from 1-4PM. Homes have been chosen which capitalize on Rangeley’s beautiful setting of mountains and lakes as well as excellence in architecture, construction and interior décor. As you tour the four homes showcased in this year’s event, you will observe an array of life styles which share the common element of a passion for the unique quality of life afforded by Rangeley’s natural beauty and resources.

This year’s homes include: DON AND MARTY THOMPSON HOME at 17 Pine Grove Heights, JACK LOUNSBURY HOME at 1 Green Drake Lane Ext. (Saddleback), JANICE ADLER HOME at 112 Dorset Road, and GARY AND JACKIE PATNODE HOME at 90 Cottage Avenue.

The tour of homes will culminate at the Country Club Inn with THE TASTE OF RANGELEY, an appetizer extravaganza catered by local restaurateurs at 4:15PM. More than 12 restaurants will provide appetizers that will delight the festive crowd as they gather to celebrate Rangeley and the quality of life and events we are privileged to enjoy each year. During the celebration, guests may place their raffle tickets in the basket accompanying their favorite item.

Home Tour Personal Choice Raffle includes:1). Portland Christmas Package:

(Cross Jewelers Gift Certificate & Tickets to “The Magic of Christmas”), 2). A season’s pass to RFA 2012 Season, 3). 12 CD package from Schooner Fare, 4). Framed print from John Swan, 5). 2 One Day Passes to Mingo Springs Golf Course. 6). One Day Pass to Evergreen Golf Club, 7). 2 front row seats for 2011 Walk to Bethlehem.

Tickets are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce at 6 Park Street. Two options are available: 1..Home Tour (with one raffle ticket) and Taste of Rangeley beginning at 1PM ($15), 2. Taste of Rangeley beginning at 4:15PM (with one raffle ticket) ($10).

Award Winning Divas

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:25:55 +0000

RFA DIVA

Rehearsals are well underway and the excitement is building. Award Winning Divas sing award winning songs!–The RFA Diva shows will be held July 27, 28, 29 at the Saddleback Base Lodge in Rangeley at 7:30 PM. This very popular show has a new location with beautiful sunsets and expansive views and new time. Reserved seat ($20) and general admission ($15) tickets are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce 6 Park Road– stop by to select your seats (864-5364). The extremely talented performers have been rehearsing and preparing a very powerfully entertaining show that you will not want to miss. Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Carrie Underwood, Queen, Rosemary Clooney and many more will delight the audience. One thing is for sure; this show will explode with talent and be filled with many surprises

RFA brings Sidecar Heroes to Rangeley

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:57:51 +0000

Sidecar

Sidecar Heroes is a six-man a cappella band. They will be performing at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rangeley on July 14^th at 7PM. The Sidecar Heroes perform function band repertoire using the cheapest instruments which they could find… their voices. Six men, six unique instruments, all combining to create the tight harmonies and rockin’ rhythms which comprise Sidecar Heroes eclectic repertoire. They’ve got Rock, they’ve got Doo Wop, and they’ve got Motown and Funk. No genre is safe from their ever-searching arrangers. Sidecar Heroes is based out of Southern Maine and currently performs all over Maine and New Hampshire.

Jason Paquette (tenor) has been singing a cappella music for the past seven years. Jason grew up in Ellsworth, Maine. He started piano lessons in the second grade. Both his parents are music teachers. It was almost a given that this child would be musically talented. He has a music degree from the University of Maine and is currently the Chorus teacher at Morse High School in Bath.

Mark Rowe (baritone) began his a cappella career singing In the Still of the Night and Uptown Girl in a vocal quartet in high school. After a brief stint studying computer science, Mark switched majors and studied classical voice at the University of Southern Maine. Many groups and many years later, he now finds himself with Sidecar Heroes where he sings baritone and arranges.

Dennis Boyd Jr. is excited to be a part of Sidecar Heroes. Having sung previously with the Maine Steiners and Audiologic, Dennis is excited to be once again singing bass for an a cappella group. Dennis holds a BM degree from the University of Maine and is currently the director of choirs at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and Middle School and formerly worked at Bonny Eagle High School. Dennis loves to go out on the road and travel with his friends.

Lee Hunter grew up in rural central Maine on a farm where there was nothing to do but toss cows and play music. Singing and performing through his childhood years and into college, he dipped into virtually every genre; from barbershop to classical to contemporary. Equipped with a music minor and public relations degree, he joined Sidecar Heroes in 2008 and has been spitting beats for them ever since.

Devan Porter (tenor) is really glad to be singing a cappella again! Raised in a house with no musicians, it wasn’t until high school that Devan got into music by singing in his high school chamber singers and teaching himself guitar. His first and only a cappella experience before Sidecar Heroes was with the Maine Steiners(’07-’08). Other than work and music, Devan likes to snowboard, hike, play basketball, and always does his best to stay out of trouble.

Shawn Fitzgerald was born a poor black child. At around 7 or 8 years of age, he heard someone really good sing, thought to himself, ‘hey, I could probably do that’, and has been doing so ever since. He hopes one day to be James Bond, or to see a real life zombie apocalypse, preferably both.

With their many years of performing experience coupled with some exciting arrangements, Sidecar Heroes offers an exciting and entertaining show that everyone will enjoy. Tickets ($15) are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce 207-864-5364.

RFA Annual Street Dance will be held on Main Street Tuesday, July 19, 6:30—10 PM. Downtown Rangeley becomes a dance floor—Main Street is closed to traffic. Joe Montimurro and Scott Iverson & Friends will be featured. Music will include classic Rock and Roll, Beatles, Mamas & the Papas and Rolling Stones. All ages are encouraged to come and dance the night away

RFA DIVA Show will be held July 27, 28, 29 at 7:30PM at Saddleback Base Lodge. Tickets are on sale now at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce at 6 Park Road. New location with great sunset views, new performers, and new songs will surely be a show not to be missed. The evening will have numbers that will make you smile, laugh, sing-a-long and surely a few surprises.

RFA presents FOOTLOOSE

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:36:01 +0000

Rangeley Friends of the Arts kicks off a busy summer season with 4 performances of the exciting musical FOOTLOOSE on July 4^th weekend. The performances will be held at the Lakeside Theater at 7PM on July 1, 2, 4, 5. Reserved seat tickets ($15) are available at The Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce on 6 Park Road in Rangeley 864-5364.

When Ren (Connor Durgin) and his mother (Sue Downes-Borko) move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the adjustment to his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the local laws – including a ban on dancing. When Ren hears of the town’s ordinance “no dancing of any kind is allowed at any time anywhere within the town limits of Bomont”, Ariel’s best friends – Rusty (Jaycee Mullen), Urleen (Ashley Quimby) and Wendy Jo (Ellie Brooks) – pull him aside to explain that this law dates back five years to a car accident that claimed the lives of four Bomont teenagers. In the flood of grief and guilt that followed that tragedy, the Rev. Moore (Tim Straub) managed to convince the Town Council to ban dancing. When the Reverend’s rebellious daughter, Ariel (Dagmar Wetherill) sets her heart on Ren, her boyfriend, Chuck (Hudson DeRaps) tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation and many of the locals are eager to believe the worst about the new kid.

This talented cast of 27 has several veterans of RFA productions and many newcomers. The music is exciting, the dancing is wonderful, and the show will delight everyone in the audience. The talented, small pit orchestra will provide a musical evening not to be missed.

RFA Summer DIVA Auditions

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:37:11 +0000

Calling all vocalists…the RFA Summer DIVA Auditions will be held June 19, 4-6 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rangeley. The theme for this year’s show will be Award Winning Divas! Do you enjoy singing? Performing? Having Fun? Come join some veterans and some new comers to the DIVA Production.

If you are interesting in participating, you will need to audition. Please email- moozicteacher@hotmail.com to discuss song options/ideas. This very popular production will be held at the Saddleback Mountain Lodge on July 27, 28, 29.

FootLoose The Musical is coming to Rangeley this summer

Caroline Bates-Hoffman — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:52:23 +0000

FOOTLOOSE comes to the Lakeside Theater in Rangeley for the July 4^th weekend.

Footloose Dancers

July 1, 2, 4, 5, 2011 at 7PM, Tickets now on sale at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of
Commerce 207-864-5364

$15.00 Reserved seats

FOOTLOOSE explodes onto the stage with classic 80s anthems including Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, and of course the title track, Footloose.

Life in small-town Bomont is peaceful until City boy, Ren, arrives. Breaking every taboo, Ren brings dance back to the heart of a town held back by the memory of a tragedy.

Based on the hit 80s movie (which launched the careers of Kevin Bacon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Lithgow), FOOTLOOSE has become a stage musical phenomenon. From Broadway to the West End and touring across the UK, there is just no stopping the music.

Music Director, Sue Downes-Borko has assembled an awesome pit band, Artist Director, Susan Hamilton has a passion for this exciting musical. With great dance numbers choreographed by Pam Ellis, Erin Smith, Susan Hamilton, FOOTLOOSE is packed full of electrifying dance routines, guaranteed to get you to your feet.

Dancing is not a crime; to miss Footloose would be!