Cultural Crawl 2011 by CITY Magazine

free and low-cost arts and cultural activities!

Saturday, April 16

1-7 p.m.

VA R I O U S V E N U E S I N D O W N T O W N A N D T H E N E I G H B O R H O O D O F T H E A RT S

SCHEDULES PRESENTED BY

•

GROUP DESCRIPTIONS

•

MAPS

CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

INSIDE DOWNTOWN �� 4 MAP & PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

SCHEDULE �� 8 LISTING OF ALL EVENTS, BY TIME & PLACE

NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE ARTS �� 10 MAP & PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

PUBLISHERS: William and Mary Anna Towler ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHERS: Matt Walsh

Learning to C r aw l [ INTRODUCTION ] BY ERIC REZSNYAK

Have you ever heard about a local art gallery, dance troupe, comedy group, or theater company, and thought, “I’d love to check them out, but I just don’t have the time or money”? With City Newspaper’s Cultural Crawl you no longer have an excuse. This is your opportunity to sample a variety of Rochester’s arts and cultural organizations in one day, for free or very little cost. The idea for the Cultural Crawl came from the cultural groups themselves, who asked us to put together something to showcase the area’s vibrant and diverse music, art, theater, dance, film, and entertainment scenes. That’s precisely what you’ll see Saturday, April 16, from 1 to 7 p.m. along our two “loops” — one downtown and one in the Neighborhood of the Arts. More than 30 galleries, theater groups, dance troupes, museums, etc. will participate at 20 venues, offering up free or low-cost events, from performances to previews to tours to ticket discounts. We hope that you’ll take the opportunity to bounce around the city, taking in as much free art as you can fit into an afternoon and evening. If you get lost, need information, or just want to pick up a free Cultural Crawl button (while supplies last) and some other cool swag, stop by the City Newspaper information tables outside Writers & Books (Neighborhood of the Arts) or Rochester Contemporary Arts Center (Downtown). Or you can approach anyone wearing the black City Newspaper T-shirts. We’ll be roaming around the neighborhoods to make sure everything’s going smoothly, and to take in some of the fun for ourselves. Finally, a big thank-you to all of the arts and cultural groups who are participating in the Cultural Crawl. These organizations are donating their time and talent to this event — no small thing — because they believe in the arts in Rochester. We hope that after you get acquainted with them that you believe in it too, and support their many worthy ventures throughout the years.

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: (themail@rochester-citynews.com) EDITOR: Eric Rezsnyak ART DEPARTMENT: (artdept@rochester-citynews.com) DESIGNED BY: Max Seifert OPERATIONS/CIRCULATION: (info@rochester-citynews.com) CIRCULATION ASSISTANT: Katherine Stathis PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE: Annalisa Iannone, Eric Rezsnyak, Max Seifert Katherine Stathis, Matt Walsh THE CULTURAL CRAWL PROGRAM is published by WMT Publications, Inc. Copyright by WMT Publications Inc., 2011 - all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without permission of the copyright owner.

250 North Goodman Street, Rochester, New York 14607-1199 info@rochester-citynews.com, phone (585) 244-3329 fax (585) 244-1126, rochestercitynewspaper.com

PRESENTED BY

ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM

CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

MAP KEY 1

Geva Theatre Center

National Museum of Play

Garth Fagan Dance School (Fourth Floor)

Eastman School of Music (Kilbourn Hall inside)

Rochester Contemporary Arts Center (ROCO)

parking (NOTE: City of Rochester-

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre

City Newspaper Cultural Crawl Information Table

Little Theatre

operated parking garages, should be FREE on the weekends.)

(in front of RoCo)

Downtown Rochester Participating Arts Organizations 7

Broken Couch is a two-man

improv team featuring BJ Scanlon and Jeff Andrews. (Gavin Price — loving member of the couch — has relocated, though whenever he is around, there will always be a cushion open for him.) They have been working together in different amalgamations for almost six years and are now performing sporadically, in different venues throughout Rochester and beyond. BJ and Jeff discover truth and comedy through playing pretend. It’s like a late-night children’s show, all created and performed on the spot like freeform jazz — except BJ has no rhythm. So sit back, relax and settle into the groove; the Broken Couch is improv you can sink into. For more information visit brokencouch.com. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE improv

comedy performances at Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). **NOTE: 2-5:30 p.m. ONLY**

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre

(20 Windsor St., 325-4370, downstairscabaret.com) showcases our new hit comedy “Defending the Caveman.” The longest-running solo show in Broadway history takes a hysterically funny look at the differences between men and woman, dating back to the times of cavemen. Downstairs Cabaret Theatre

is a year-round professional theatre with three downtown venues, as well as a new location in Brighton, all with intimate and casual settings. DCT produces more than 15 different shows yearly, from Broadway musicals and comedies, to issue-oriented dramas and world premieres. Celebrating more than 25 years as YOUR not-for-profit professional theatre…with PASSION! Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE showcase of

“Defending the Caveman” at 2 p.m.

Eastman School of Music

(26 Gibbs St., 274-1000, esm. rochester.edu) is one of the nation’s leading and topranked music schools, educating 500 undergraduate and 400 graduate students annually in performance, composition, jazz studies and contemporary media, music education, theory, conducting, and musicology. The Eastman School was established in 1921 by George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company, as the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Faculty members include Grammy winners, Guggenheim Fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, and recording artists. Eastman’s prominent alumni include opera singers Renée Fleming, Anthony Dean Griffey, Joyce Castle, and the late William Warfield; jazz musicians Ron

Carter, Steve Gadd, and Chuck Mangione; composer-conductor Maria Schneider; and composers Dominick Argento, Charles Strouse, Michael Torke, and Jeff Beal. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission

to the Lotte Lenya Competition Finals in Kilbourn Hall 1:30-3 p.m. (morning rounds 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; evening concert and winners announcement 8 p.m.). Twelve singer-actors from the United States, United Kingdom, and China will compete in this theater-singing contest.

FuturPointe Dance was formed

as an initiative to broaden the appeal and spectatorship of contemporary dance. FuturPointe Dance is a fusion company, combining dancers and choreographic styles from a variety of genres and training including modern dance, popular/social/ folk dance, Caribbean, African, Latin, and ballet. The company roster is culturally diverse, with dancers hailing from Jamaica, Guyana, the Ukraine, New Orleans, and New York. Weekly classes are open to the Rochester community, and company members are actively involved in residencies and performances that educate, entertain, and promote the vitality and global presence of contemporary dance. Current company members include Guy Thorne, Heather Roffe, N’Jelle Gage, Melinda Phillips, William J. Knighten, and apprentices Olga continues on page 6

ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM

Downtown Rochester Participating Arts Organizations continued from page 5

Kravets and Libby Miga. The company is co-directed by Guy Thorne, Heather Roffe, and N’Jelle Gage. For more information visit futurpointedance.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE performance

1:30 p.m. at Geva Theatre Nextstage (75 Woodbury Blvd.)

The Garth Fagan Dance School (50 Chestnut St., 454-

3260, garthfagandance.org) seeks to create an environment where an appreciation for the arts, particularly dance, is achieved through the teaching of the Fagan technique, guided field trips to local cultural institutions and concerts, and engaging students in readings, criticism, and analysis of dance and other art forms. Second, the school hopes to be a developmental tool for all ages, building self-esteem and leadership qualities, and in general, helping with the emergence of mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy human beings. Finally, the school has long been a place to train dancers for the professional dance world, and will continue to do so. Many of the Garth Fagan Dance Company’s dancers and former dancers teach in and help direct the instructional program. GFDS provides weekly dance classes for ages 3 to adult. The student body is economically, ethnically, and geographically diverse. More than 40 percent of students receive scholarships to attend GFDS. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE open dance

rehearsal. **NOTE: 12:30-2 p.m. ONLY**

Geva Theatre Center (75

Woodbury Blvd., 232-4382, gevatheatre.org) is Rochester’s leading professional theatre and the mostattended regional theatre in New York State. Founded in 1972, Geva attracts over 170,000 patrons annually, CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

including more than 16,000 students. The 552-seat Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage offers a wide variety of shows, from musicals to American and world classics. The 180-seat Ron & Donna Fielding Nextstage is home to Geva’s own series of cutting-edge drama, comedy, and musical theatre; Geva Comedy Improv; Geva’s New Play Reading Series; and the Hornet’s Nest, an innovative play-reading series facilitating community-wide discussion on controversial topics. The Nextstage also hosts visiting companies of both local and international renown. Geva Theatre Center offers a wide variety of educational, outreach and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. Since 1995 the organization has been led by Artistic Director Mark Cuddy. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE performances

by Geva Comedy Improv 1-3 p.m.; FREE performance by FuturPointe Dance at 1:30 p.m.; FREE presentation of Geva’s upcoming season; discount tickets to performances by FuturPointe ($5 off 4/16 7 p.m. show), Geva Comedy Improv ($2 off upcoming shows), and “Radio Golf” ($19 tickets) and “The Music Man” ($25 tickets 4/275/1 performances).

Hochstein School of Music & Dance (50 N. Plymouth

Ave., 454-4596, Hochstein.org) is the gathering place of the creative spirit! Here you’ll find individual instruction in virtually all instruments; instrumental and vocal ensembles of all sizes; dance; music therapy; a variety of offerings in our state-of-the-art Music Lab; a summer of fun that includes special camps and workshops; and performance opportunities that abound! Wonder who else makes Hochstein their home? Students of all backgrounds and ages, from beginning to advanced levels. Hochstein is truly a cultural crossroads in the heart of downtown Rochester. And for those who live in the Finger Lakes region, you’ll find a smaller version, Hochstein at Canandaigua, nestled

into the Canandaigua Academy. Find out more about our programs and concert series’ by dropping by one of our locations, or visiting our website. Cultural Crawl Activity:Performance of

the Hochstein Cello Quartet — a rock cello ensemble featuring Jason Gan, Annie JacobsPerkins, Andrew Wang, and Timothy Yee — at 5 p.m. at National Museum of Play (1 Manhattan Square). **NOTE: Included WITH museum admission, $10-$12**

The Little Theatre (240 East

Ave., 258-0400, thelittle.org) is a complex of two buildings, housing five movie theatres, a café, and an art gallery located in Rochester’s buzzing, cultural East End neighborhood. We pride ourselves on showing films that wouldn’t otherwise play in Rochester with a focus on independent, documentary, and foreign films. Plus, we have the best popcorn in town and have been voted City Newspaper’s “Best Place for a First Date” and “Best Movie Theater.” Join us in a relaxed, non-commercial film atmosphere and enjoy a night out in either our historic Art Deco theatre or our funky four-screen complex, housed in a renovated car garage. Stop in and enjoy dinner before a show, stick around after for dessert and wine, and enjoy free music. Any night of the week, we promise you an experience that will make you join the thousands of others who say, “I love the Little!” Cultural Crawl Activity: Hosting FREE

improv comedy in Little 1, plus one $2 bag of popcorn per person. **NOTE: 2-5:30 p.m. ONLY**

The ManShee Chronicles are

improvisers Marc D’Amico and Beth Winslow. Using an audience member’s favorite anecdote or simply one word, The

ManShee Chronicles weave the ordinary with the absurd in a way only they can. The pair started out as members of the long-form improv comedy troupe Unleashed!, of which D’Amico is still a member. The duo has been performing in theatres all over Rochester since June 2008, and in August 2010 were an opening act for comedian Rob Schneider. Marc teaches full-time at Hilton High School and recently starred in “The Triangle Factory Fire Project” at JCC Centerstage. Beth was last seen in The Second City’s “I’ll Be Geneseeing You” at Geva Theatre. For more information, including upcoming show dates, please visit mansheefunny.com. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE improv

comedy performances at Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). **NOTE: 2-5:30 p.m. ONLY**

National Museum of Play at The Strong (1 Manhattan Square,

263-2700, museumofplay.org) is the only museum in the world devoted solely to play. The museum blends the best features of both history museums (extensive collections) and children’s museums (high interactivity) and provides families, children, adults, students, teachers, scholars, collectors, and others a multitude of offerings. Hands-on exhibits invite guests to stroll through Sesame Street, walk down the Yellow Brick Road, play your way through the history of video games, meet the Berenstain Bears, attend Super Powers school, run a kid-sized supermarket, and more. The museum is home of upstate New York’s only live indoor butterfly garden, the National Toy Hall of Fame, and the world’s largest collection of dolls, games, toys, and electronic games. The museum also houses a spacious food court; a 1,700 gallon aquarium, an operating 1918 carousel and indoor train; and two museum shops.

longest-running comedy improv show. Now in its 11th season, Nuts and Bolts specializes in short-form improv with heavy audience participation. Check out the monthly performances at the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre. For more information visit nabcomedy.com. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE improv

performances at Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). **NOTE: 2-5:30 p.m. ONLY**

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Ave.,

461-2222, rochestercontemporary.org) is a venue for the exchange of ideas. As a center for thoughtful contemporary art, RoCo provides unique encounters for audiences and extraordinary opportunities for artists. The Northeast Regional Contemporary Fiber Exhibition runs through May 9 and is in partnership with the Surface Design Association. This exhibition presents 28 artworks that expand the definition of fiber art and features 22 of the Northeast’s most well-known fiber artists. RoCo’s next exhibition is the international art phenomenon “6x6x2011: Global,” opening June 4 and featuring 6”x6” artworks by famous artists, local artists, students, celebrities and YOU! “6x6” artwork entries are due on or before May 1. More information at roco6x6.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission,

plus 50 percent off couple/family memberships to the center. Members joining or renewing during the event will also receive a free raffle ticket for the “6x6x2011: Global” Buyers Choice Raffle to be held June 4. **NOTE: 1-5 p.m. ONLY**

Cultural Crawl Activity: Performances of

“The Dancing Spider” at 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m., and the Hochstein School at 5 p.m. (included WITH museum admission), plus activities all day relating to the “Tinker with Toys School-Break Week” program. (Museum admission $10-$12)

Nuts and Bolts is Rochester’s

Search Engine Improv is a three-

man comedy team that combines the best of Chicago and New York City styles of long-form improvised

performance. Constantly working to develop not only their skills of improvisation, but also innovative approaches to performance, SEI creates uniquely styled shows, each an exciting exploration of ways that long-form improvisation can be used to create compelling (and hilarious) theatre. Having toured extensively SEI has made a name for itself and helped put Rochester on the map of the national improv scene. Search Engine Improv is Cal Keefe-Perry, John Forrest Thompson, and Law Tarello. Locally SEI can be seen at The Space (1115 E. Main St. Door 2-Floor 2), Rochester’s newest venue for the performing arts. New shows every first Friday and Saturday of the month. For show, workshop, and class schedule, or to book SEI for your own private event or class, visit SearchEngineImprov.com. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE improv

comedy performances at Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). **NOTE: 2-5:30 p.m. ONLY**

Unleashed! Improv is Rochester’s

premier Chicago-style improv troupe, bringing you daring, original comedy since 2005. Its team of improv pros puts together a completely unique show for you every time they perform. The cutting-edge mix of comedic styles includes anything from short skits to full-length, one-act plays. You may even catch a musical number or two. And you can get in on the action, too, as each show incorporates suggestions and volunteers from the audience. Unleashed! performs regularly at the Jewish Community Center (1200 Edgewood Ave., in The Lounge). Performances are the second Saturday of every month at 7:30 p.m. The troupe is also available for workshops, parties, fundraisers, or other (legal) functions. For more information call 217-2515 or visit unleashedimprov.com. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE improv

comedy performances at Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). **NOTE: 2-5:30 p.m. ONLY**

ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS neighborhood of the arts vENUE

BEFORE 1 PM

1 PM

1::30 PM

2 PM

2::30 PM

3 PM

FREE MEET-AND-GREET, TOURS, "TOM

Blackfriars Theatre Bush Mango Drum & Dance George Eastman House

OPENS 10AM

FREE MUSIC

Golden Link Folk Society (@ Writers & Books) Image City Photography Gallery

FREE ADMISSION

OPENS 11AM

FREE ADMISSION

FREE OPEN REHEARSAL OF “HAIRSPR

Magical Journey Thru Stages Memorial Art Gallery ($5 - $10)

OPENS 11AM

B.O.G.O. ADMISSION

CULTURAL CRAWL TOUR

ORGAN CONCE

FREE PERFORMANCES

ROCHESTER COMM. PLAYERS

GREATE REP. CO

Movies on a Shoestring (@ Dryden Theatre) MuCCC RAPA Rochester Museum & Science Center ($10 - $12)

OPENS 9AM

$15 OFF MEMBERSHIPS FREE ART ACTIVITIES

Studio 34 Creative Arts Village Idiots Comedy Improv Visual Studies Workshop

FREE ADMISSION

Writers & Books

FREE LITERARY ACTIVITIES, LIVE MUSIC

downtown rochester FREE SHOWCASE

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre Eastman School of Music

ROUNDS 11AM - 12:30PM

Garth Fagan Dance

STARTS 12:30PM

FREE MUSICAL-THEATER CONTEST FREE DANCE REHEARSAL FREE COMEDY, DANCE, PRESENTATION; TICKET OFFERS

Geva Theatre Center

FREE IMPROV COMEDY

Little Theatre National Museum of Play ($10 - $12) Rochester Contemporary (ROCO)

CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

OPENS 10AM

"DANCING SPIDER"

FREE ADMISSION

NEED MORE INFO? HAVE QUESTIONS? FIND THE CITY TENTS (LOCATED AT ROCO AND WRITERS & BOOKS) OR FIND A CITY EMPLOYEE WEARING A BLACK T-SHIRT

3::30 PM

4 PM

4:30 PM

5 PM

5::30 PM

6 PM

6:30 PM

AFTER 7 PM

MMY" PREVIEWS FREE DANCE PERFORMANCES

RAY”

N ERT

ER ROCH. O.

FREE ADMISSION

8PM SHOW FREE

BREAD AND WATER

8PM RCP SHOW ($5 - $10)

FREE PREVIEW, “DREAMGIRLS”

7:30PM SHOW ($15 - $20)

FREE COMEDY

8PM CONCERT

WINNER ANNOUNCED

8:30PM SHOW OF “RADIO GOLF”

HOCHSTEIN

OPEN UNTIL 8PM

ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM

10 CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

MAP KEY 1

Rochester Association of Performing Arts (RAPA)

Rochester Museum & Science Center

Blackfriars Theatre

Village Idiots (inside Village Gate, lower level)

A Magical Journey Thru Stages

(Auditorium Center, Third Floor)

George Eastman House

Bush Mango Drum & Dance

Studio 34 Creative Arts Center

Image City Photography Gallery

Visual Studies Workshop

Writers & Books

Memorial Art Gallery

MuCCC

parking City Newspaper Cultural Crawl Information Table

(in front of writers & books)

Dryden Theatre (part of the George Eastman House)

Neighborhood of the Arts Participating Arts Organizations 13

BIODANCE is a nationally emerging

contemporary dance company of “…some of the area’s top modern dancers” (Anna Reguero, democratandchronicle. com). The company is committed to artistic excellence in the creation and performance of innovative dances, dance theater, and dance film through collaboration with multi-disciplinary artists and dancers. Repertory choreographed by Artistic Director Missy Pfohl Smith and a roster of internationally known choreographers such as Bill Evans, Randy James, Ivy Baldwin, and Jeanne Schickler Compisi often explores social, political, and environmental issues always through dance, sometimes with text, film, music, and ice cream. BIODANCE interacts with its community members in a variety of ways through performances, benefit concerts, interactive lecture-demonstrations, and classes at venues such as Geva’s Nextstage, Hochstein Concert Hall, MuCCC, and more. Look for information about the BIODANCE 52 Pick-Up Project, coming

to 52 sites near you! For more information visit biodance.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE 6 p.m.

dance performance at Bush Mango (34 Elton St.).

quality theater, and to offer stimulating, educational and creative opportunities in theatre-arts production to our community’s ever-growing population of actors, authors, musicians and craftsmen. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE tours of the

Blackfriars Theatre (795 E.

Main St., 454-1260, bftix.com) has entertained local audiences for more than 60 years, and is proud to provide the best possible showcase for performers, theatre artists, and technicians who have chosen to make the Greater Rochester community their home. We usually present five major stage productions each season, ranging from comedy and drama to musicals. We also offer additional programming throughout the year, including cabarets, reviews, and full summer productions, like our upcoming Summer 2011 production of the Sondheim musical “Sunday in the Park with George.” Overall, the impact of Blackfriars Theatre is twofold: to entertain local audiences with

theater, and meet-and-greet with the cast and crew of the rock-opera “Tommy” (opening April 23), plus sneak previews of the special effects used in the show. **NOTE: 2-6 p.m. ONLY**

Bread & Water Theatre was

founded in 2000, and is committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience and acting as a positive agent of change in its community. Under the artistic direction of J.R. Teeter, BWT develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dramatically changing world through new and rare works of drama, and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community outreach continues on page 12 ROCHESTERCITYNEWSPAPER.COM 11

Neighborhood of the Arts Participating Arts Organizations continued from page 11

programs. For more information visit breadandwatertheatre.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE preview of

“The Paris Letter” at MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave.) at 4 p.m., plus buy-one-get-one tickets ($6$12) for upcoming performances of the show.

Bush Mango Drum and Dance (34 Elton St., bushmango.

org) is a community center that houses our school of West African performing arts classes and our professional performing company, which is multi-racial as well as multi-generational. We have served a wide range of people from 3 years of age to 77 years of age by providing instruction in West African drum and dance and performance opportunities, as well as a strong mentoring component where adults mentor teens and youth and teens mentor youth, since 1989. Bush Mango Drum & Dance was co-founded by Blair Hornbuckle and Colleen Hendrick. West African drum and dance is at the core of all we do at our Elton Street home. You can find our professional company performing all over New York State! We teach adults Monday through Thursday evenings and our Youth Project classes happen on Saturdays. Cultural Crawl Activity: Hosting FREE dance

performances and a drum circle at its Elton Street space at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. **NOTE: 4-7 p.m. ONLY**

Geomantics Dance Theater

prides itself on furthering the creativity of a distinguished dance lineage. Begun by the inspired movement theorist Rudolf Laban, enhanced by the exquisite dances of Mary Wigman, and brought to delightful effervescence by the theatrical genius of Alwin Nikolais, this lineage now deepens with the visceral movers of Geomantics. Among its most recent artistic successes are the evening-long “Do Animals Meditate” 12 CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

in an unprecedented two-week run at Geva Theatre Center, as well as its collaboration with Eastman Opera Theatre in Christoph Gluck’s “Orpheus and Eurydice,” making opera history with its richly psychological and strikingly kinetic choreography. “Geomantics” means “divination by means of the earth,” and the company’s training employs a comprehensive language of movement that bespeaks the pleasure of residing on the third planet from the sun. Today’s lecture-demonstration reveals that language of movement as fundamental to all dance, athletics, therapy, theater and daily life. For more information visit geomanticsdancetheater.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE lecture-

demonstration at Bush Mango (34 Elton St.) at 5 p.m.

George Eastman House International Museum of Photography & Film (900 East Ave.,

271-3361, eastmanhouse.org) combines the world’s leading collections of photography and film with the stately pleasures of the National Historic Landmark mansion and gardens that Kodak founder George Eastman called home from 1905 to 1932. Eastman is heralded as the father of popular photography and motion-picture film. George Eastman House, which opened to the public as a museum in 1949, is the world’s oldest photography museum and third largest film archive in the United States. On view now at Eastman House are several exhibitions, including “Larry Merrill: Looking at Trees,” “Cameras from the Collection,” and three exhibitions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, featuring rare 19th century photographs and cameras, contemporary images of re-enactments and battle sites, and the fictionalized films from the 20th and 21st centuries. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission

1-5 p.m. ONLY, plus FREE showings of the

2011 Rochester International Film Festival in the Dryden Theatre at 4 & 8 p.m.

Golden Link Folk Singing Society was founded in 1971,

and is dedicated to presenting, promoting, and preserving folk music in the Rochester area. Golden Link offerings include free weekly Tuesday night sing-arounds, concerts of folk performers, an annual weekend folk festival in September, music workshops, and more. The heart of Golden Link is participation. Come to a Tuesday night singaround, bring your voice or an instrument, or just come to listen to a wide range of musical styles from traditional songs, gospel, and blues to the music of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Joan Baez, to contemporary folk music and songs written by Golden Link members. For more information, visit goldenlink.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE music

throughout the day at Writers & Books (740 University Ave.) by Beth Sleboda, Grant Cos, Steve Gretz & Leslie Lee, Joan Burch, Bob White and the Wingers (including Jeff Love and Marshall Smith), Ruth & Dana Fine, and Java.

Greater Rochester Repertory Companies was

founded in 1996 to provide a venue for actors, musicians, and all theatre practitioners to learn and teach. GRRC is also committed to giving a voice and venue to local and regional authors. Our first production was the critically acclaimed children’s play “An Algonquin Princess: Pocahontas.” Other original productions have included “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Couples,” “Portraits,” and most recently, “Ping.” We have also produced critically acclaimed productions of known plays. Our productions of “Queen of Bingo,” “Save Me A Place at Forest Lawn” and “True West” were selected to be performed at the TANYS (Theatre

Association of New York State) Festival. Since 2009 GRRC has made its performance home at MuCCC in the Neighborhood of the Arts. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE cutting

of “Love Letters” at 3 p.m. at MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave.).

Groove Juice Swing is

committed to spreading the joy of swing dancing in Rochester. The group offers two annual workshop weekends, regular public classes, weekly and monthly social dances, and private lessons. Its experienced instructors specialize in teaching Lindy Hop, the original high-energy partnered jazz dance. The dance originated during the late 1920’s in Harlem and was popularized in the 30’s and 40’s. Groove Juice Swing also consistently brings in top-notch bands and instructors from around the country to offer its students the best learning and social dancing experience possible. Next event is “A Black and White Affair” at Tango Café Ballroom (389 Gregory St.) on May 6, with vintage dance footage and black-and-white photography. Dress in black and white! Beginner lesson 7-8 p.m., dancing 8-11 p.m. For more information visit groovejuiceswing.com. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE dance

demonstration at Bush Mango (34 Elton St.) at 4:45 p.m.

Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Ave.,

271-2540, imagecityphotographygallery.com) was founded in 2005. Every four weeks the gallery produces a new exhibit of photographic art. The exhibits feature a mix of the work by gallery partners, artists-in-residence, and featured guest photographers, generally from the Rochester region. During the Cultural Crawl our exhibit, “Through the Student Lens 2011,” features jury-selected photographs from 17

local high schools. We are very impressed with the high caliber of both technique and creativity by the student photographers. The students also have the opportunity to experience the gallery exhibition of their art. Also exhibiting are gallery partners Dick Bennett, Steve Levinson, Gil Maker, Don Menges, Dan Neuberger, Betsy Phillips, Gary Thompson, Phyllis Thompson, and Sheridan Vincent with artists-in-residence Jim Patton and David Perlman. Guest photographers are Mike Edwards and Mark Bangs. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission

to the gallery.

A Magical Journey Thru Stages (Third Floor, Auditorium

Center, 875 E Main St., 935-7173, mjtstages. com), also known as simply Stages, is a nonprofit theater company dedicated to offering high-quality community theater opportunities for youth. Stages’ programs delight audiences, educate youth in theater arts, benefit local charities, and foster personal and professional growth. Drawing from the vast young talent of the Greater Rochester area, Stages’ 20102011 season features three musicals and two straight plays, auditioning performers who range in age from 9 to 18. Its summer theatercamp programs are open to students entering grades 1-10, with all levels of experience encouraged to attend. Workshops and an Explorer Program round out its offerings. Stages is centrally located in the third floor of the historic Auditorium Center. Its intimate theater seats approximately 200 and there is not a bad seat in the house. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE open

rehearsal of “Hairspray.” **NOTE: 2-4 p.m. ONLY**

Memorial Art Gallery (500

University Ave., 276-8900, mag. rochester.edu) is Rochester’s art museum. A visit to the

Memorial Art Gallery is a journey through more than 5,000 years of art history. From the relics of antiquity to works in the vanguard of contemporary movements, the Gallery offers a panorama of the world’s art. The Gallery’s permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects has been called the best balanced in the state outside of metropolitan New York City. In addition to its collection, the Gallery offers a year-round schedule of temporary exhibitions, lectures, concerts, tours, and family activities. Memorial Art Gallery also includes a community art school, an art library, an on-site gourmet restaurant, a museum gift shop, and soon-tobe Centennial Sculpture Park. Cultural Crawl Activity: Buy-one-get-one-

free admission to the museum ($5-$10), plus a special tour at 2 p.m. (included in museum admission), as well as performances on the Italian Baroque organ by Eastman School of Music doctoral student Michael Unger at 1 & 3 p.m. (included in museum admission). **NOTE: 1-5 p.m. ONLY**

Movies on a Shoestring, Inc. will present the 53rd Rochester

International Film Festival Thursday, April 14-Saturday April 16, featuring 27 short films (six or seven per showing), including animations, documentaries, and narratives. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance. Movies on a Shoestring, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit, volunteer organization. Formed in 1959, this group of Rochester-area film enthusiasts is charged with holding the annual Rochester International Film Festival, the oldest continuously held short film festival in the world. Each festival includes a wide variety of original and imaginative works by filmmakers from around the world. For a schedule, descriptions of the films, and biographies of the filmmakers, visit rochesterfilmfest.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission

(donations accepted) to film-festival screenings Saturday at 4 & 8 p.m. at the George Eastman House’s Dryden Theatre, 900 East Ave. continues on page 14

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Neighborhood of the Arts Participating Arts Organizations continued from page 13

MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave., 244-

0960, muccc.org) has reinvented theater in Rochester, given many Rochester theater groups a home, and made Rochester theater affordable every week. A look at our productions: “Wonder of the World,” “Moose Murders,” “Edge,” “No Child,” RoCo Performance Art Night, “Bash,” all of Shakespeare’s romances, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” and many more. Our companies include The American Playwright Series, Fairport Summer Performing Arts, Greater Rochester Repertory Companies, Limelight Productions, MMB Theater One, Method Machine, Rochester Community Players, The Shakespeare Company of Greater Rochester, and Stasz/Pruitt Productions. Our audiences are different, eclectic, new, established, first-time theatergoers, and veteran theatergoers who attend traditional or pay-what-you-can experimental theater and staged readings. Classic plays, new voices, Rochester voices, American voices, world voices. MuCCC is an all-volunteer-run theater; become a MuCCCer today by visiting MuCCC.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE theater

performances by Greater Rochester Repertory Companies, Rochester Community Players, Bread & Water Theatre, and SOTA Singers. **NOTE: 1-5 p.m. ONLY**

Rochester Association of Performing Arts (727 E. Main

St., 325-3366, rapaonline.us), also known as RAPA, is committed to all persons interested in the arts, particularly disadvantaged youth and the community at large. Its purpose is to provide professional training to talented children and adults who express an interest in learning skills for a career or for personal enjoyment (and) to provide alternative, positive directions for youth 14 CITY • CULTURAL CRAWL 2011

at-risk, via scholarships. We offer programs in dance, acting, voice and piano for all ages. In addition we have a full season of plays and musicals in our East End Theater. Upcoming events: RAPA’s summer stock “Chicago” in July (auditions May 10 for ages 16-28), and RAPA’s Summer Camp “Camp Rock,” ages 8-16. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE excerpts from

the musical “Dreamgirls” (running April 15-17) at 5 p.m.; $2 off rush tickets for the 7:30 p.m. “Dreamgirls” performance.

Rochester Community Players, Inc. is one of the

oldest continuously operated committeetheater organizations in the United States, having been incorporated in 1923. For its first fifty years, RCP was considered the premier theater in Rochester. The troupe has produced more than 600 full theatrical productions. In 1994, RCP established the Shakespeare Players, a free Shakespeare program. Since 1997, RCP’s Shakespeare Players have performed an annual free Shakespeare in the Park production in early July at the Highland Park Bowl. In 1997 RCP established The Irish Players of Rochester as a program that produces Irish theater. The Irish Players are a member of the Acting Irish International Theater Festival. For more information visit rochestercommunityplayers.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE preview of

the current RCP Irish Players show, “Bedtime Story” and “Dublin Carol,” 2 p.m. at MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave).

Rochester Museum & Science Center (657 East Ave., 271-4320,

rmsc.org) stimulates broad community interest and understanding of science and technology, and their impact — past, present, future — on our lives. Established in 1912

as the City of Rochester, New York’s Municipal Museum, the Rochester Museum & Science Center has expanded and evolved to meet the changing needs of the greater Rochester community for nearly a century. RMSC’s galleries offer interactivity and opportunities for families to share fun learning experiences. Recreated existing galleries include the spectacular “Expedition Earth” natural science exhibitions, among many others. RMSC also includes the Strasenburgh Planetarium, featuring giant-screen films, current-event star shows, and laser-light displays. Additionally, RMSC’s Cumming Nature Center in Naples, NY, offers seasonal outdoor activities on its 900 acres. Cultural Crawl Activity: $15 off

memberships during the event. The museum is currently showing its “Colossal Dinosaurs: Bigger Than Ever!” exhibit and will have special “Lights, Camera, Action: Movie Science” activities going on throughout the day, included in museum admission ($10-$12). **NOTE: 1-5 p.m. ONLY**

School of the Arts is nestled in

the heart of Rochester’s cultural district and serves city students in grades 7 through 12. SOTA is considered to be a flagship school of the Rochester City School District, boasting a 90 percent graduation rate with 90 percent of its students furthering their education by attending college or university. Last year SOTA was selected to perform at the 2011 American High School Theatre Festival in Scotland as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest and most prestigious arts festival in the world. More than 2,200 schools in North America apply for the privilege and only 75 are chosen. Seniors Sarah Mullen and Adrianna White Eagle will perform monologues from David Rimmer’s poignant play, “New York.” This is the production that SOTA plans to perform at the Fringe Festival. They may even surprise you by singing a few songs from past School of the Arts productions. Sarah and Adrianna will join 13 other drama-program

majors and travel to Scotland to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchange. For more information, visit sotafringe.org. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE theater

performance at MuCCC at 1 p.m. (142 Atlantic Ave.).

Studio 34 Creative Arts Center and Gallery (34 Elton

St., 737-5858, studio34beads.com) is a hub of exciting classes and workshops with world-renowned artists. Featuring a state-ofthe-art glass lab with nine torch stations, eight kilns, and newly designed metalsmith facilities, there are workshops for beginner through advanced master students, and independent study. Through its mentoring program, Studio 34 is an incubator for artists who want to learn how to teach others. The gallery features the work of local artists and faculty in media such as metal, clay, blown glass, resin, wire, cold connections, enamels, and the delicacy of fine beaded jewelry. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission

to “46 Hands: Faculty and Student Exhibit”; artist-studio tours; demonstrations of glassblowing, jewelry design, metalsmith; free hands-on glass fusion project for ages 10 and over. **NOTE: 2-7 p.m. ONLY**

Village Idiots (274 N

Goodman St., D106, 797-9086, improvVIP.com) is Rochester’s largest improv-comedy troupe and training

institution. The Village Idiots promote the art of spontaneity without regard to class, race, gender, or even talent! New classes start every other month, and performances are held weekly in Rochester’s only theater solely dedicated to improv. Unlike most improv troupes across the country, the Village Idiots do short-form, long-form, and experimental improv shows. And as the producers of the Rochester Improv Fringe Festival for the past three years, it has fostered Rochester’s national reputation for world-class comedy. Despite its size and influence, the Village Idiots are always seeking — and holding auditions for — new, local improv talent. So if you’re an idiot, or know someone who is, go to improvVIP.com for more information on shows, auditions and classes. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE improv-

comedy performances. **NOTE: 5-7 p.m. ONLY**

Visual Studies Workshop

(31 Prince St., 442-8676, vsw.org) is an internationally recognized artist-run nonprofit learning and resource center for the media arts. VSW programs include a full-time Master of Fine Arts degree in association with SUNY College at Brockport, community workshops, gallery exhibitions, lectures and screenings, artist residencies, artist publications, a research center with extensive book and print collections, and the bi-monthly journal Afterimage: the Journal of the Media Arts and Cultural Criticism. With many of its alumni

prominent as artists, curators, critics, and educators, the Workshop has globally and historically expanded the fields of photography, artists books, film and video production. VSW was founded by Nathan Lyons in 1969 and has resided in two historic buildings located in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts since 1977. Cultural Crawl Activity: FREE admission

to the exhibit “Shedding Light” by Pamela Vander Zwan.

Writers & Books (740

University Ave., 473-2590, wab. org) promotes reading and writing as lifelong activities for people of all ages, through educational programs, publications, community events, and author appearances. For 30 years our programs, held at our Rochester and Finger Lakes facilities, have reached a growing audience of thousands, making us one of the largest and oldest literary organizations in the country. Our programs have received nationwide recognition while inspiring generations of Rochesterians to make literature a part of their everyday lives. Cultural Crawl Activity: Writing exercises,

karaoke poetry, book-store sale, tours of the W&B building, magnetic poetry and other literary games, and membership specials. PLUS: FREE music all day long by members of the Golden Link Folk Singing Society.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!

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