Tag Archives: Ilion Little Theatre

Even Foolish Blog Posts Count

Posted on November 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I still have the tiara. I may wear it next Thursday.

I thought I would start with a Throw-back Thursday picture then segue into the non-sequitur portion on Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I feel this is a double throw-back, since I am impersonating a speakeasy habitue from the 1920’s, Ruby Van Renssalaer by name.  No, I was not around in the 1920’s, do some math for heavens’ sake! (You know who you are.)  Ruby Van Rensssalaer was a character in Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which LiFT presented at The Overlook Mansion in Little Falls, NY.  Some of the characters also appeared at the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica, which is when this picture was taken.

As you may have guessed, once again I got nuthin’.  I have tried to do more writing, specifically by writing a couple of letters.  Regular readers may recall my rule of Any Writing Counts.  It would be a good idea if I actually finished said letters and got them in the mail.  Then some people might be happy to get a letter.  I received a letter the other day and I can attest, it’s awesome.

This guy is a walking non-sequitur.

I shake things up by throwing in another picture.  This is my friend, Tucker, in LiFT’s recent murder mystery, Donation to Murder.  I do love my murder mysteries.

I find this picture rather profound.

This is an even more recent photo, from Shattered Angel by Stephen Wagner, presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.  Lots of us love a good historical murder!

Who could blame me for using the ax on him?

Shattered Angel makes me think of Roxy by Jack Sherman, which the Historical Society did in 2015, with yours truly in the title role.

My throwback non-sequitur posts often end up being a stroll down theatrical memory lane.  I do love my community theatre.  And I will work on writing better blog posts.  Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

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I Think Candy Would Help

Posted on November 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe this was in December.

I wanted to do a Throw-Back Thursday, but I can’t seem to settle on any throw-back pictures, so I thought I would throw back to not too long ago and give a shout-out to a local business.  This is my husband, Steven, and our friend, Margaret, proprietor of the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.  It is a lovely little shop with lots of goodies.  I think another trip there is in my near future.

“Oh shame! Oh degradation!”

Since this is also Non-Sequitur Thursday, I do not feel I need to have a theme to my throw-backs.  This is me and our dear, recently departed friend, Julianne Allen, in Dirty Work at the Crossroads Ilion Little Theatre at  in 2013.  My character was having a real wrist to forehead moment.  It is kind of the way I feel when I fear I am making a really foolish blog post (which, as we all know, is often).

I even felt kind of like Superman that day.

Here is another throw back to a mere year ago, the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K.  It is also another wrist to forehead situation, because, alas, I did not run it this year.  I meant to, but I neglected to write it on my calendar and something else came up.  Well, there’s always next year.

 

That reminds me, I need a hair cut.

Also about a year ago, Steven and I visited the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  Now, there’s a place I need to go again.  Maybe I could write about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  It would definitely make a good blog post.  I’m afraid this has not been a particularly good post.  I’ll try to do better tomorrow, but no promises.  After all, it will be Lame Post Friday.

 

 

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Pre-Haunting Post

Posted on October 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ve posted before rehearsals and performances.  I guess tonight’s event is in the nature of a performance for me, but to be seasonal, I chose the above title for this week’s Scattered Saturday post.  I must soon begin fixing my unruly hair for the Haunted Historic Four Corners Tour.  I will get home late and will no doubt be tired.  I will be happy I already did my blog post.

I got up just prior to six, and it was still dark out when I went for a run.  I was happy to wear the reflective vest (“road guard vest” is what we army folk call it) my sister Cheryl gave me some time ago. It had been raining and was just beginning to sprinkle again as I walked my cool-down.  Full disclosure:  I meant to do a Saturday Running Commentary post but got distracted with, well, Saturday.

I don’t know if I mentioned that Steven is feeling poorly, but of course I won’t say much, because, you know, HIPAA.  But I had to pick up a prescription for him so headed to the Medicine Shoppe in Ilion.   After getting that, I stopped in to the handily located Ilion Wine and Spirits.  Barefoot Pinot Noir, yes, please.  I felt fortunate to be able to take a left out of that parking lot and headed a short way down the road to Moose River Coffee and Beer Belly Bob’s.

I went into the coffee shop first and got a 12 oz cup of the smoothest coffee ever and a raspberry-filled cookie.  While I nibble and sipped, I worked on my latest attempt at finishing a novel.  I am still at the note-writing stage.  I know who’s going to die and how, but not sure who the killer is.  Perhaps a character I have yet to invent.  But already I’ve said too much.  It is a mistake to talk to much about stories while you are writing them; you can talk yourself out of writing them.

After savoring the last drop of coffee, I went into Beer Belly Bob’s for some beer.  I told them I was disappointed about yesterday’s tasting being postponed.  They were sorry about it as well.  I got some stuff I know I like the taste of.  In fact, I am enjoying a can now (don’t judge me).

The only other thing of note I have done thus far is accompany my friend, Kim, to Ilion Little Theatre, where we borrowed accessories for our costumes tonight.  We are impersonating a couple of murderesses from the 1800’s.  She is a new one (to us), whose name escapes me, while I am reprising my iconic role of Roxy.  I hope to talk more about the haunted tour tomorrow.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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A Ghost of a Post

Posted on October 10, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tired Tuesday follows Monstrous Monday some weeks.  My allergies are kicking my butt, which is hardly a surprise at this time of year.  But I like to make a blog post every day, so I ask my readers to bear with me while I try to come up with something.

Hmm… nothing is coming. I’ll throw in a picture to distract from the lack of substance.

Does this kind of thing make your head hurt?

This was in my Media Library from last October.  I’m sure people have written stories about ghosts being haunted by humans, but I have never read one.  There was that one movie, but I don’t want to mention which one, in case you have not seen it.  It’s the big reveal at the end.  Oh dear, I’ve already said too much.  Now every ghost story you see onscreen, you will be asking yourself, “Which one is really the ghost?”

“Spoil my movie viewing, will you?”

You might get so mad at me, you’ll tear my head off, as Vincent Price has apparently done to Peter Lorre. I wonder what Peter did that was so annoying?  Additionally, I wonder what happened to all the blood, but I do appreciate the neatness.

It’s a beautiful building.

For a third picture, here is Ilion Little Theatre in Ilion, NY, a marvelous community theatre (perhaps you have read a few of my blog posts about it).  It is also reportedly haunted, just to fit it in with today’s theme.  Or are WE the ghosts?  Discuss among yourselves.

 

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Post Show Post

Posted on September 22, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to have a pre-show post, but time got away from me.  In my defense, I went running.  And to Valley Wine and Liquor for a gin tasting.  And to dinner at Sorrento’s.  Then to the show, which was Shattered Angel presented by Herkimer County Historical Society at Ilion Little Theatre.

As you see, still a couple of opportunities to see it.

The show was excellent.  It was interestingly staged and emotionally involving.  My steady diet of true-crime documentaries on television gave me a good perspective on the proceedings, as did my previous obsession with shows like LA Law and Boston Legal.  I have a pretty good idea of how things may have transpired in a modern courtroom.  But never mind my silly opinions and perspectives. Instead, here are a couple of pictures of the show (taken during rehearsal, of course.  One does not like to take flash photos during a performance).

I think this one is suitable for framing.

This shot was purely staged for the picture; the actual pose was never seen in the show.  But that is appropriate, since the show is not precisely what went down in the courtroom.  I believe I mentioned before how characters are combined and testimony condensed to give us the feel of the whole without simply presenting the transcript verbatim (have you ever been to a real trial?  It sometimes takes a LONG time to get to the point).

One of the most moving scenes of the play.

I really enjoyed the performances.  I’m too tired to give a real review, mentioning names and detailing specific parts deserving praise.  But I guess that is appropriate for Lame Post Friday. Let’s just give a shout-out and drive on.

The play continues Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1:30 p.m.  I can’t guarantee they haven’t sold out, but if you’re local and want to take a chance, go to 13 Remington Ave., Ilion, NY.  It’s a great show!

 

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Another Shattered Shout-Out

Posted on September 14, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

This was printed on a post card I sent to a few people.

As I sit here typing in my blog post, the cast and crew of Shattered Angel are at Ilion Little Theatre enjoying their final dress rehearsal. I’m just happy all of them are going to be actually dressed, since my name is in the program under “Costumes.”  Full disclosure:  I personally did very little in outfitting the cast.  I like to think I helped, though.  I like to think I can also help publicize the event with my little blog here.  So here is another shout-out to our play.

Shattered Angel, as you may have read in this space, tells the story of the murder of an area school teacher by one of her students in 1914.  It is a sad story, and a fascinating one, because the defense was not guilty by reason of mental defect, a new idea at the time.   The staging is interesting, too, because although all the action takes place in the courtroom, it is not a straightforward depiction of the trial. Through the use of flashbacks and strategic condensation of testimony and arguments, we get a fuller picture in a shorter time.

The lady in the black dress is not actually in the courtroom, if you see what I mean.

Director Stephen Wagner wrote the script, based on the book Murder of a Herkimer County Teacher: The Shocking 1914 Case of a Vengeful Student by Dennis Webster, and courtroom transcripts.

This is one of my favorite shots.

I stole these pictures from the Herkimer County Historical Society’s Facebook page.  Historian Caryl Hopson took them at rehearsals.  I suppose I should have stayed at dress rehearsal with my Tablet and taken a few pics of my own, but Caryl does such a good job at it.

Once again, performances are Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Sept. 23 at 2 p.m., at Ilion Little Theatre, 13 Remington Ave., Ilion, NY.  For tickets, contact the Historical Society at 315-866-6413.

One more picture I found on Facebook.

 

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Yet Another Pre-Rehearsal Post

Posted on September 12, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

My heart is sore.  There, I’ve said it.  I don’t want to go on whining about my ills.  It’s tiresome. People will become bored and impatient or, worse yet, will worry.  Or they might give advice.  Sometimes advice is hard to listen to.  You know it is the right thing to do, but you already knew the right thing to do; you just didn’t do it.  Or it isn’t the right thing to do, but you know they mean well.  Or they are just being officious, and you want to throat punch them.  But I’m sure none of my readers fall into the last category.

One reason I feel wrong about dwelling on my problems is that it is Sept. 11.  I wanted to dig out my TV Journal from 9/11/2001 and share some of the things I wrote at the time.  I was home recovering from a bunion operation and sat glued to the television all day.  What a terrible event.  But I’m too tired and ill to brave the mess we call a library.

I just looked up at the television and saw something about the latest hurricane soon to make landfall.  I feel terrible for everybody in the path of that.  I do appreciate that I am not currently dealing with any severe weather, under the heading of Count Your Blessings.

In the meantime, I have a blog post to make, and I must make it before I head tofirst dress rehearsal for Shattered Angel, being presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society in cooperation with Ilion Little Theatre.  Opening night is Friday. Yikes!  It is Sept. 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 and 23.  Performances are at 7:30 on the 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22; and 2 p.m. on the 16 and 23. Tickets are $15.  For more information, contact the Historical Society at 315-866-6413.

Tomorrow I have rehearsal for Donate to Murder, the murder mystery LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, is presenting at Herkimer Elks Lodge on Saturday, Sept. 15.  Yikes!  That’s close too, with fewer rehearsals left!  It is dinner theatre with $25 tickets including a turkey dinner by Brian Hess of PK’s Pub.  Yum!  For more information, contact the Elks at 315-866-1439.

I guess I’ll call this a Tired Tuesday post and drive on.  At least I plugged two plays.

 

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Blogger’s Sad Day

Posted on September 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is how I feel, but a bit less melodramatic today.

No, it is not Wrist to Forehead Tuesday.  It is in the nature of a blogger’s day off, because I am too sad and distressed to make a proper post.  However, I think if I put a few of my thoughts down, it will make me feel better.

Community theatre lost a great asset, and I lost a friend today with the passing of Ilion resident Julianne Allen.  I am profoundly shocked as well as saddened, because she was about my age (you know, not ancient) and not sick that I knew of.  The above picture is from our dramatic scene together in Dirty Work at the Crossroads at Ilion Little Theatre in 2013.  My husband, Steven, directed.  Julianne and I worked on several productions together, and she worked on many more that I was not involved in but enjoyed watching.  She was always willing to do what she could and what was needed.

In fact, in Shattered Angel, she took a part that was originally written for a man.  Director and writer Stephen Wagner originally cut the part but then decided to change the role to the man’s wife and cast Julie.  It was going to be a great bit of comic relief, because Stephen was really utilizing Julie’s attitude.

At her first rehearsal, she was already showing us the attitude.

 

Julie on the left, me on the right, ILT president Kelly Stone in the middle.

Just to end with another picture including me, here we are in Harvey from 2012.  Rest in Peace, Julie.  I hope you’re putting on a great show for the angels.

 

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Thank Goodness It’s a Blog Post!

Posted on August 29, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Actually, I had no pleasant delusion today about it being any day but Tuesday.

You knew I was going to have a Tired Tuesday post, didn’t you?  Any local readers might have guessed it based on the level of heat and humidity we all were dealing with here in the Mohawk Valley (YES, I’m whining about it and will probably continue to do so, if you do not want to listen, just move on!).

More astute readers may guess by that parenthetical comment that I am a little sensitive these days to accusations of whining.  A work friend kept yelling at me to quit my whining and I didn’t think I WAS whining but merely observing some unpleasant circumstances.  I have not spoken to him for two days, because I figured I would actually whine.

Where was I?  Ah yes, whining.  I always say, go with your strengths. No, no, I don’t want to whine but rather to make a respectable blog post.  I am making it before rehearsal tonight.  There is more costume work to be done!  Pieces to be looked for, stuff to be put away, people to talk to, plans to be made.  I was telling another work friend about going to rehearsal and he said, “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”  No, I cannot.

I found this on Facebook just now.

At the risk of repeating what is on the above graphic:  performance dates for Shattered Angel are Sept. 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. at Ilion Little Theatre, 13 Remington Ave, Ilion, NY (directly behind Remington Arms).  Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for students and can be purchased by mail by sending a check to: Herkimer Historical Society, 400 N. Main Street, Herkimer, NY 13350, or by calling 315-866-6413 or by stopping by the historical society during their hours of operation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  PLEASE NOTE: “Shattered Angel” is a special, additional production in conjunction with the Herkimer County Historical Society and is NOT part of the regular 2018-2019 theatrical season. Thus, subscriptions and memberships are not accepted for these performances.

Tomorrow I have rehearsal for my as yet untitled murder mystery, which will be presented at the Herkimer Elks Lodge on Sept. 15 (another reason I could not audition for Angel).  I’ll have more information on that production soon.

In the meantime, I shall close with a monster picture I could have used yesterday.  In a comment, Pouring My Art Out said Great White Sharks were monsters too. I agree.

How would you like to brush his teeth?

 

 

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Shattered Post with Monsters

Posted on August 28, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t know that you would call us monsters…

This is a fast Monstrous Monday post, because I want to go to bed!  Yes, I am old and I am tired.  Anyways, I led with this picture, because my friend, Kim, is strangling me. It seemed appropriate since SHE kept me out this late!  Just kidding, it wasn’t her fault.  We were at rehearsal for Shattered Angel, the play the Herkimer County Historical Society is presenting in cooperation with Ilion Little Theatre.  Kim and I are helping with the costumes.  Actually, she is doing most of the work. She is SO ORGANIZED!  I should take a lesson.

In the meantime, that doesn’t make this a very monstrous post, does it?  Let me find us some monsters.

I don’t think this lady got her full night of beauty rest, either.

Here’s a picture from Nosferatu I haven’t used so many times.  Regular readers know he is my favorite guy.  He’s scary.

“Was somebody looking for a monster?”

Here’s a more cheerful-looking monster for us.  I’m not sure where this guy is; I don’t even remember where I found the picture.  Still, a smiling Godzilla, what’s not to like?

He looks a little disgusted by the whole exercise, doesn’t he?

And we end with the iconic Frankenstein’s Monster.  Yes, it’s been a dumb post, but I’m tired.  In my defense, before rehearsal I was finishing the script on my murder mystery.  More on that and on Shattered Angel in subsequent posts.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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