Tag Archives: Landmarks Society of Greater Utica

Ready for Ritz and Ragtime?

There’s a suspicious-looking bunch, if you like.

I begin with a throw-back photo, but with a purpose.  These are some of the characters from Rubbed Out at Ruby’s the murder mystery presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, last year.  We made a reappearance at the Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  A few of us are making a reappearance next Saturday, Oct. 6, at this year’s event.

Only I don’t have anything to wear.  That is why I was at the Thrift Store (Salvation Armani, as I like to call it) yesterday.  I had no luck.  But that is not the important thing.  The important thing is to make a blog post.  First, a quick plug for the fundraiser:

October 6, from 7 to 10 p.m., the Historic old No. 3 Rutger Park Mansion,  will be transformed back to the 1920’s. There will be food, drinks and music in a beautiful and unusual setting.  Tickets are $25.  Although it is not necessary, period costumes are encouraged (and a lot of fun!).   For more information, you can visit the Facebook event page (which I have linked to on “event” in the first paragraph).

Sexy ladies, no?

I thought I would fill out today’s post with a couple more photos from last year’s event.  You may be asking why I can’t wear the little red number I’m wearing in the pics.  Explanations are tiresome.  But here’s another picture.

It’s not really so easy to carry a flash in your garter like that.

I will no doubt solve my wardrobe dilemma.  I’ll be sure to write a blog post about how I do.

 

My Weekend: Ritz to GRAVE

Me and my disreputable LiFT friends.

I thought if I led with a really cool picture, my readers would forgive me for another post where I ain’t got nuthin’.    Yes, I said “ain’t got nuthin’.”  A double negative, the word “ain’t,” and a phonetic spelling of lazy pronounciation.  Lots of no-nos!  Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! (That was my evil laugh, in case you did not recognize it.)

I had a busy, tiring weekend.  The above photo is members of LiFT Theatre Company participating in the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  That was my Saturday night, and I spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon getting my costume back together and generally fretting about it, as I tend to do about such things.  We had a lot of fun and got to see one of the famous mansions at Rutger Place.  I’d like to find out more about the Landmarks Society and participate in future fundraisers.

Sunday was taken up with A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, the murder mystery fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  That was a lot of fun, too.  We met at my house, so naturally I had to fix a few snacks.  We had a lot of laughs, too.  Now I must get on with learning my lines.  You might think I would already know them, since, you know, I wrote it.  But not so much.  Anyways, it will be easier than learning Shakespeare.

Expect to hear a lot about this in the next few weeks.

After A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, I may take a break from theatrics for a while (even from being a drama queen in real life, if I can manage it).   Many of my friends shake their heads or laugh and point when I say that, but I really need to work on some other things in my life.  On the other hand, if the Landmarks Society wanted to do a murder mystery fundraiser…

 

Ruby But Not Rubbed Out

What an awesome poster!

I thought I would use today’s post to plug a fundraiser I will be privileged to participate in on Saturday.  “Ritz and Ragtime” will benefit the Landmark Society of Greater Utica on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Roscoe Conkling House, 3 Rutger Park.  There will be food, drinks, and entertainment.  I will be part of the last mentioned.

I’m in the red dress, being strangled.

Longtime readers may remember a little event called Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which was presented by LiFT Theatre Company at the Overlook Mansion in Little Falls.  I wrote it and was featured as Ruby Van Rensselaer, a rich society lush, uh, I mean lady.  I am going to reprise the role on Saturday.  We aren’t going to present the murder mystery, or even a real story.  We just get to dress up and interact with the crowd in 1920’s character.  It should be fun!

I’m not sure how many of the original Ruby’s cast will be there, but I know some of us are really looking forward to it.

We are rather a suspicious-looking lot, aren’t we?

I wonder how it will be to mingle in character and not have to be dropping clues or even talking about the murder.   I’m sure my improvisational skills are up to it (in other words, I like to make shit up).  And if I miss the dead body, I’m sure there will be other murder mysteries. In fact, I may have a blog post about one soon (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, here’s a chalk outline to dream about:

Alas, no chalk outlines on Saturday!