Len Barry of the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts joined WRFA’s Anthony Merchant in-studio to discuss upcoming February events at the Reg as well as how the theater plans to take part in this years Doors Open Jamestown

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Gleaned from Schein’s many travels to Ethiopia where he co-founded with the children of the Southern Dawn Circus the One Love AIDS/HIV Awareness Theater, “The Adoption” fictionalizes the lives of children growing up in Ethiopia and the USA over the span of 20 years. The book focuses on an Ethiopian girl named Kalkidane who’s been adopted by a couple from America and later accompany her on return trips to her home country to meet with her previous family. Thus begins a relationship lasting 20 years. As the book alternates between Kalkidane’s life in Chicago and her sibling’s lives in Ethiopia, it chronicles the always disruptive visits of the American family and the gradual dispersal of the Kalkidane’s siblings from their hometown.

Schein says he hopes to engage the huge Ethiopian Diaspora in the USA, and to have “The Adoption” translated into Amharic, the lingua franca of Ethiopia. He is currently on a book tour that has taken him to New Orleans and Chicago. In the fall of 2019 he will give readings on the West Coast.

The appearance by Schein in Jamestown is also a return for him to a city he called home for several years when he served as the Executive Director of the Reg Lenna Civic Center and Arts Council for Chautauqua County (which merged in 2015 to become Reg Lenna Center for the Arts).

The Adoption book cover

In addition to Schein reading excerpts from his book in front of a live audience, WRFA Station Manager Dennis Drew will also conduct an interview.

The reading and interview will be the first of a new WRFA series of entitled Arts On Fire LIVE. Building off the long-running local Arts and Entertainment radio program Arts on Fire (Fridays at 5 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.), Arts on Fire LIVE will be the first multimedia series in the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts’ Media Arts Studio on the third floor of the facility.

Arts on Fire LIVE is planned to be a series of concerts, readings, interviews and more presented before small audiences. Most of these events will be recorded with live audiences and broadcast at a later date on WRFA 107.9 FM during the regular Arts on Fire time slot.

The announcement of the new live series comes as WRFA marks its 15th anniversary of being on the air.

Arts on Fire LIVE with David Schein begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Patrons are invited to enjoy refreshments before the performance and meet Schein after the performance in the adjacent Pre-function Room, also on the 3rd Floor. The book will also be for sale at that point.

The event is free to the public but seating is limited. Those wishing to attend must RSVP by calling 716-484-7070 or sending an email to RSVP@reglenna.com.

Audience members may enter the awning entrance of the building at 108 E. 3rd St. (between Forte and 3rd on 3rd Gallery) and take the elevator to 3R.

“Arts on Fire LIVE” is made possible by support from Arts Consulting Group. The Media Arts Studio is possible with grants from the Sheldon, Gebbie and Lenna Foundations, Downtown Redevelopment Initiative, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Holmberg Foundation.

For more information, visit reglenna.com.

Effectively, this only changes the name of the licensee from “Arts Council for Chautauqua County” to the “Reg Lenna Center for the Arts” – the new organization created under the recent merger.  No other substantive changes are planned.

Questions or Comments on the transfer can be made by contacting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.gov), making a comment in the comment section of our website or by calling WRFA at 716-664-2465 ext 222.

The interior of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

JAMESTOWN – One of the leading arts organizations in Chautauqua County has found its new executive director.

The Reg Lenna Center For the Arts board of director has appointed Kathleen Eads to the position of Executive Director. A native of California, Eads has been working in theater and performing arts for over 25 years, most recently as Managing Director of the Antaeus Company in Los Angeles. During the last decade, she has also worked for Disney Theatrical as their Senior Broadway Marketing Manager and was also instrumental in the creation of Baruch College’s Performing Arts Center, serving as its first General Manager and Director.

Eads’ appointment was made following a comprehensive search and interview process by both the Reg Lenna’s board of directors, staff and various community partners. Her first day on the job will be Monday, January 6.

Eads says she looks forward to utilizing her broad background in the arts to serve the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts and the greater Jamestown Community. Under her direction, the organization will continue to work with community organizations, sponsors, production partners and schools to bring a diverse season of arts and educational opportunities to the area. The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is also the license holder for WRFA Radio in Jamestown.

Earlier this year, the Reg Lenna Civic Center and the Arts Council for Chautauqua County merged to become one agency, now known as the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. Neither organization has had an executive director for the past several years.

For more information on Reg Lenna Center For The Arts and its programs, visit reglenna.com or call 716-664-2465.

The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts and Southern Tier Brewing Co. are teaming to present Dark Star Orchestra – nationally known and touring act that has been praised by both critics and fans alike for its determined commitment celebrating the music of the Grateful Dead.

Tonight the band will use a set list from a previous Grateful Dead live performance, recreating a past concert in its entirety

The show starts at 7 p.m.

There are still some tickets remaining for the show. All tickets are general admission and can be purchased at the Reg box office, by calling 716-484-7070 or by visiting reglenna.com.

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.

After decades of close collaboration and support, the Arts Council for Chautauqua County and the Reg Lenna Civic Center will merge into one organization. The boards of both nonprofits have voted on and approved the merger with the expectation that it will be finalized by late summer.

The Reg Lenna Civic Center and the Arts Council for Chautauqua County complement one another in mission and operations. With a 90-year history of delivering performing arts, cinema and productions from community organizations, the Reg Lenna Civic Center will continue to expand these traditions with the merger. 

The Arts Council for Chautauqua County, which formed in 1979, has grown into a countywide agency whose main focus includes servicing arts organizations and artists, presenting arts education for regional youth and operating the 3rd on 3rd Art Gallery. It also owns the license for WRFA.

Once the merger is complete, both organizations’ programming will continue as before, but as part of one larger and more sustainable body called the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

This merger was made possible by funding from the Sheldon Foundation, Gebbie Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, and the Lenna Foundation.

In all, twelve projects in three well-defined clusters have been approved under the program, representing over $400,000 in new downtown investment. JRC, with support from the Gebbie Foundation, will provide $145,000 in matching grants to support the work.

In the past, the JRC has worked with property owners on a case-by-case basis to improve the facades and interiors of over 20 buildings. Under the new program, projects need to be clustered together to maximize the impact of investment and build confidence. This year, merchants and property owners were asked to talk to each other, identify project clusters, and submit an application.

Jim Goodling, Downtown Project Associate for JRC, praised the downtown community for responding so well to the program. He said the JRC staff was uncertain how property owners would respond to working with their neighbors when this program was announced,, but the number of projects proposed clearly shows that people are very willing to work together to improve downtown Jamestown.

Three clusters of projects were awarded funds.  The first is a group of three buildings on North Main Street near the intersection with first street. The second cluster involves buildings owned by Brian and Shayleen Taylor near the intersection of Second and Main Streets.  The final cluster of buildings on East 2nd and 3rd Streets and includes renovations to the Reg Lenna Civic Center and Mariner’s Pier Express Restaurant, as well as an art mural project at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts. Major façade renovations will also be made to Dugan’s Tavern and the Hall and Piazza Law building.

Work on most of the projects should be completed by the end of 2013.  Some work has already begun.

The bout will take place at Allen Park Ice Rink and feature the Babes battling the Niagara Roller Girls, from Niagara Falls, Ont.

If you find your lack of tickets disturbing, $8 pre-sale tickets are available at Labyrinth Press Company (12 E. 4th St., Jamestown NY), Sharp’s Russell Roller Rink (7385 Market St., Russell PA), or can be purchased from your favorite derby girl! $10 tickets will be available at the door the night of the bouth.

The Babes will also be holding a drawing, and matching funds to donate to the Reg Lenna Civic Center’s Digital Projector Fund.

“Short and Sweet”  is a collection of four short plays, two dramas and two comedies, created to be performed by and for young adults in almost any setting.   These plays, directed by a first year student, an advanced student, an alumna, and a faculty member, provided needed opportunities for our actors to spread their wings onstage while entertaining audiences in an unusual, off-off-broadway Café La Mama style setting.  “Short And Sweet” is offered free of charge and is open to the public.

Elmira College’s John Kelly, will also present a Physical Characterization workshop in the same space at 11am on May 4.  The workshop is open to actors from their teens through adulthood and costs $35.

The Reg Studio Theater is located at 108 East Third Street in Jamestown, NY.

“Short And Sweet” is part of a series of theatrical workshops and performances produced by Willow Bay Theater, Arts Council For Chautauqua County and the Reg Lenna Civic Center.

For more information visit artscouncil.com or call 716-664-2465.