The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is receiving $20,000, Fredonia Opera House $10,000; Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will receive $10,000;, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra also will receive $10,000.

At least 60 percent of each grant award will provide compensation for artistic and or creative professionals.

• LISTEN AT SOUNDCLOUD

FREDONIA – On Saturday, November 12, 1994, the 1891 Fredonia Opera House reopened its doors after more than nine years of restoration work with a grand re-opening variety show – Fredonia On Stage!

Nearly 25 years to the day later – on Sunday, November 10, 2019 – the Opera House celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a special show, Fredonia on Stage! – 25 Years Later.

“This celebratory event is a two-part commemoration,” notes Opera House Executive Director Rick Davis. “It STARTS with a matinee performance reminiscent of our grand re-opening!  Local and regional performers join us for a nod to the past 25 years, while representing all the entertainment that the Opera House has to offer today — from Bach to Broadway, Folk to Family, History to Humor, Drama to Dance and Rock to Ragtime!”

Featured performers include:

• The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet representing live dance and Bolshoi Ballet Live;
• Julie Costantini, Jenn Davis and Katie Ryan representing live music and the Broadway On Screen Series;
• Fr. Sean Duggan, Brian Eckenrode and Brian Walnicki representing the Bach & Beyond Baroque Music Festival;
• Pianist Trevor Napoli representing live classical music;
• The Newton Street Irregulars 2.0 representing the Folk in Fredonia Music Series;
• Actress Christina Rausa representing live theatre and the National Theatre Live Series;
• In Jest’s Nels Ross representing family-focused entertainment;
• The band Big Tone representing live popular music and tribute shows;
• Along with this array of entertainment, there will be a few special announcements and acknowledgements.

The celebration ENDS with FanTableous Fete II, a reception/auction held at the Fredonia Beaver Club that will feature light hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and live music. Capping off the celebration will be the live auction of 10 handmade, artist-decorated, three-legged, fan-shaped corner tables during the reception.

Tickets for Fredonia On Stage! – 25 Years Later are $25. Tickets to FanTableous Fete II are $20. Both may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday through Friday, 1-5 p.m. Tickets also may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org.

The first workshop will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2014 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House where CCVB and Cindy Aronson Training will present “Improving the Customer Experience”. This free 90-minute session will help managers, owners and staff to discover, plan, and act on successful strategies to deliver excellent customer service, wowing customers to keep them coming back.

Customer service training will continue in late May with an in-depth, 3-hour workshop for frontline employees. This more intensive training will allow employees who interact regularly and often with customers to practice and solidify their skills and receive a program certification. Additional information about this session will be provided at the workshop on May 1.

The Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, a not-for-profit agency, is the official New York State Tourism Promotion Agency for Chautauqua County and the Chautauqua-Allegheny Region. Utilizing both public and private funds, CCVB promotes the region through a variety of programs targeted at drawing visitors into the area from surrounding states and communities. For more information call 716-357-4569.

In addition to funding for individual artists and smaller arts projects through its Projects Pool Grants Program, the United Arts Appeal provides operating support for eight of the larger arts organizations in Chautauqua County: the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Community Music Project, 1891 Fredonia Opera House, Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, Reg Lenna Civic Center, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. 

Contributions can be made by check to the United Arts Appeal, 715 Falconer Street, Jamestown, NY  14701.

For all the benefits available to contributors to the United Arts Appeal, see “Support UAA” at www.UnitedArtsAppeal.org.

A nationwide program to promote literacy in the community, the Big Read is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), via Arts Midwest. The grant allows Reed Library at SUNY Fredonia to purchase books for distribution to public libraries and reading groups in both Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.  This year’s Big Read novel is Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild.”

Tonight’s event is free and open to the public.

• FOR MORE ON THE BIG READ LISTEN TO OUR ARTS ON FIRE INTERVIEW WITH RANDY GADIKIAN FROM FEB. 1, 2013

At their January meeting, United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County board members (from left) Rick Davis, Elizabeth Bush, Shane Hawkins, Jeff Erickson, Lissa VanDewark and Sally Ulrich sent letters to local businesses and selected individuals, requesting their support for the arts in 2013.

JAMESTOWN – The United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County is calling on the community to sustain a wealth of local arts organizations.

UAA board members recently sent letters to businesses and selected individuals throughout the county, asking for support in 2013 for their eight member organizations and the smaller groups and independent artists that receive UAA Projects Pool funding.

The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Community Music Project, 1891 Fredonia Opera House, Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, Reg Lenna Civic Center, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra are the member organizations of the United Arts Appeal.

Any business or individual that would like to support the arts in Chautauqua County is invited to send their contribution to the United Arts Appeal, 715 Falconer Street, Jamestown, NY  14701.

Contributors to the United Arts Appeal are offered a range of benefits for their generosity, including recognition in printed programs and on the UAA’s website and free admissions to selected performances. Details are on the Support UAA page at UnitedArtsAppeal.org.

The James Prendergast Library in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN – Election day is just 15 days away, and with that, the candidates for various state and federal offices are starting to kick their election effort into high gear. Part of the campaign effort includes debating the issues, and residents in Jamestown will have an opportunity to hear from candidates in two major campaigns tonight at the Prendergast Library.

Marcia Merrins with the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters (LOWV) says the organization is hosting a meet the candidates forum, featuring candidates for both the state Assembly and County Court Judge.

“At 7 p.m. it will be candidate Andy Goodell – who’s the incumbent, and Dr. Rudy Mueller for the New York State Assembly [150th District]. That should be a really good debate. For county court judge, we have Bill Coughlin and John Ward. I should say also, that the Jamestown debates are also cosponsored by the Jamestown American Association of University Women.”

Merrins adds that there will not be an appearance by the candidates who are running for the New York 23^rd Congressional District. That race incumbent Tom Reed (R-Corning) and Nate Shinagawa (D-Ithaca). Merrins says despite a tradition of the county League of women voters hosting a debate between congressional candidates, the organization won’t be hosting one this year because Reed has opted not to take part.

Merrins adds that Reed was invited to both tonight’s meet the candidates forum, along with a second one in Fredonia on Thursday. He was unable to commit to either event.

“Every election is important, but this is a federal office and people in Chautauqua County, the feel already that they’re getting a little slighted with the redistricting. So I think that he really needed to show that he cared with us and that he would be able to debate publicly with his opponent in Chautauqua County.”

Tonight’s Meet the Candidates forum will begin at 7 p.m. in the Prendergast Library in Jamestown. It is free and open to the public. The second Meet the Candidates forum will be on Thursday, Oct. 25, at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House.

WRFA will be on hand for tonight’s meet the candidates forum and will broadcast the debate between the state assembly candidates – challenger Rudy Mueller and incumbent Andy Goodell – this Thursday at 6 p.m. during our Community Matters program.

In addition to funding for individual artists and smaller arts projects through its Projects Pool grants program, the United Arts Appeal provides operating support for eight of the larger arts organizations in Chautauqua County: the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Community Music Project, 1891 Fredonia Opera House, Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, Reg Lenna Civic Center, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.

Contributions can be made by check to the United Arts Appeal, 715 Falconer Street, Jamestown, NY  14701.

For all the benefits available to contributors to the United Arts Appeal, see “Support UAA” at www.UnitedArtsAppeal.org. For the complete list of contributors, see “BRAVO!” at the website.