CALL FOR ARTISTS

Saratoga Arts annual Open Call to all Artists. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 1.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arts has sent out its annual Open Call to all Artists across the Capital Region.

This is open to both members of Saratoga Arts as well as non-members and gives all artists the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional setting. You must be a resident of one of the 11 counties of the

by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — “FOR THE LAST TIME,” my client says to me. “I. Did. Not. Kill. Those. People.”

So begins the new 386-page novel “12 Months To Live” by James Patterson and Mike Lupica, set for publication on Sept. 25 via Little, Brown and Company.

Northshire Bookstore will host an afternoon with the bestselling author duo at the Saratoga Springs City Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24. They will discuss the book and their work with Joe Donahue of WAMC / Northeast Public Radio.

“12 Months To Live” follows criminal attorney Jane Smith, a tough as nails ex-NYPD beat cop, who has received a terminal diagnosis and doesn’t have much time. The burning question: Is her own client trying to kill her first?

James Patterson is among the world’s bestselling authors. Among his creations are Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, and Maximum Ride. He has collaborated on novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton and has won an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, and the National Humanities Medal.

Mike Lupica has covered the world of sports for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and

Esquire, and has written 17 New York Times bestsellers.

Single tickets for the event with the authors at the City Center are $40.98 (one general admission ticket and a hardcover copy of the book), and $56.73 (two admission tickets and one copy of the book).

The details: Copies of “12 Months to Live” purchased as part of your ticket package will be pre-signed by the authors and given to you when you arrive at the event. There will NOT be a post-event signing line. If possible, there will be additional autographed books available for purchase at the event.

For more information, go to: northshire.com.

Capital Region.

Entries are collected by Saratoga Arts and a jury of arts professionals from the area is put together to review all submissions and create five exhibitions per year, featuring four artists each.

Apply by September 1. Details and instructions, go to: saratoga-arts.org/Open-Calls.

HMT Holds Open Auditions Aug. 14-15

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater will hold open auditions for their October/November production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written by Christopher Durang and directed by Barry Streifert.

The auditions will be held on Monday, Aug. 14 and Tuesday, Aug. 15, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Home Made Theater’s headquarters at the Wilton Mall (near the Saratoga Hospital annex, across the hall from Home Goods).

Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike centers on middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia who share a home in Bucks County, PA., where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha.

Rehearsals will begin Sept. 12 and will generally be held Sunday through Thursday at Home Made Theater’s headquarters in the Wilton Mall.

For the audition: bring a current photo (cannot be returned) and a resume. Be prepared to list all potential conflicts from the first rehearsal (with the exception of tech week and performances, conflicts can be worked around if known about in advance).

For a detailed flyer with character descriptions and other audition information visit Home Made Theater’s website, www.homemadetheater.org.