Education Wrap-up

Recent Happenings (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) this year’s Scarecrow Alley, picking up where Anna Marie Leeper, Assistant to the Director, had left off. Cathy and our Maintenance crew installed the scarecrows about the grounds, instantly making it a festive Fall destination. Janice Corkery, Director of Visitor Services & Special Events, lined up an array of regional crafters and collectible vendors for the Victorian Weekend Crafts & Collectibles Show and again for a new show on Halloween Day itself. We again relied on our partners from Without a Cue for a Halloween experience in the Physick House. The result was The Gloomy Apparition, an immersive theatrical experience in the Physick House Museum. Our visitors were treated to a few things that went bump in the night as they tried to solve the mystery. The weather threw somewhat of a monkey wrench into the Halloween events we had planned with Craig McManus of Ghostwriter fame. We were forced to cancel one night of programming, but Craig graciously added a third walking tour on Saturday to accommodate any inconvenienced guests. Over at Aleathea’s Restaurant, playwright/ director Jackie Fazio was putting the cast of “All Bets Are Off,” this year’s Murder Mystery Dinner, through their paces. Even in the time of COVID, we managed to stay busy and entertain visitors safely.

Education

The Museum Education Division had to adapt to a whole new set of rules, as well. No longer making any visits to classrooms or

community centers, our Museum Educators boarded the innovation train, switched to digital and virtual experiences and used Instagram, audio and video. Melissa Palmer created a vibrant community in our Friends

of Cape May MAC Museum Education

Facebook page, now with nearly 300 members. We added content, suggested activities and reading for members, posted Registrar Ben Ridings’ History Minutes, and shared post from affinity organizations. In late June, Museum Educator Rich Chiemingo provided a Zoom program on John Philip Sousa for the Avalon History Center, and just last week, Mary Stewart offered the same group a quick primer on the Roaring Twenties. We look forward to gradually adding regular programming.

2020 Music Festival Presents Live and Virtual Performances

After scheduling and rescheduling concerts for Spring and Summer, we finally succeeded in our quest to present the Cape May Music Festival in September. Partnering with the City of Cape May, we presented Backtrack Vocals at the Rotary Park Bandstand on Saturday, Sept. 19. Director of Visitor Services & Special Events Janice Corkery coordinated the details with Laurie Taylor, Cape May’s Director of Marketing, as part of Cape May Strong.

Working with long-time partners Jed Gaylin and Brian McPeak (Bay Atlantic

Photo by Susan Krysiak

The Cape May County Library’s Cape May Court House branch reopened its doors this fall to the public with limited hours and capacity. Cape May MAC’s Mary Stewart and Susan Krysiak created a display for the months of November and December, which celebrates Victorian Christmas traditions.

Symphony) and Eliot Bailen (New York Chamber Ensemble), we were able to develop four virtual concerts offered in September and October. Interestingly, these virtual concerts made possible musical collaborations that would not have been possible on our concert stage. Musicians from both groups played together through the magic of the internet. Each concert was about 30 minutes long and featured four or five pieces of mixed repertoire. We were able to enjoy Jed on piano and Eliot on guitar, instruments we don’t usually associate with either of them. Each concert was followed by a live Zoom Q and A session immediately following. To say it was a quick learning curve is an understatement. While the musicians mastered the art of playing together in different cities, let alone different rooms, Cape May MAC’s staff learned the ins and outs of Zoom and Vimeo. IT Manager Cathy Baldacchini, Director of Media Relations Susan Kyrsiak and Chief Outreach Officer Eliza Lotozo guided our journey into this digital and virtual wonderland. The videos of the concerts are still available on Cape May MAC’s website, capemaymac.org.

Due to our success with that initial foray into the world of virtual concerts, we have all agreed to another session. On Dec. 3, the group gets together again for “A Musical

Holiday Celebration: Traditions from

Home & Abroad.” The concert will feature a selection of melodies and songs from France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England and America, a perfect holiday-themed concert to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Check your email box for the invitation to attend.

We still have one live concert on our calendar. Our friends at the Atlantic Brass Band have agreed to help us welcome the Christmas season at the Physick Estate. Under the baton of Maestro Salvatore Scarpa, they will provide the perfect concert of rousing holiday music at our Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 21. Tickets are free but limited and must be reserved in advance. Check out capemaymac.org to order.

Ending with some more good news, on Oct. 27, we received the word that the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has awarded us level funding for the 2021 Cape May Music Festival. We can now begin to plan what will be a unique series, possibly both live and virtual, for next year. -- MES