Up Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and an overly optimistic 8-year old Junior Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. From Academy Award-nominated director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), Up invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth.
“Rarely has any film, let alone an animated one powered by the logic of dream and fantasy, been able to move so successfully and so effortlessly through so many different kinds of cinematic territory.” - Kenneth Turan, LA Times.
“A lovely, thoughtful, and yes, uplifting adventure.” - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly.
Rated PG for some peril and action, 96 mins.
Easy Virtue The twenties have roared... the thirties have yet to swing. John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita, a sexy and glamorous American woman, and they marry impetuously. However, when the couple returns to the family home, his mother has an instant allergic reaction to her new daughter-in-law. Larita tries her best to fit in but fails to tiptoe through the minefield laid by her mother-in-law. Larita quickly realizes Mrs. Whittaker’s game and sees that she must fight back if she’s not to lose John in this breezy, hilarious movie adapted from Noel Coward’s play.
“Effervescent entertainment!” - Todd McCarthy, Variety.
“Director Stephan Elliott uncorks a rare vintage of laughs tinged with heartache.” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief partial nudity, and smoking throughout, 93 mins.
With Music Director Larry O'Brien
Reserved Seating $25
($23 Opera House Members)
Great Performers Concert Series
The first Glenn Miller Orchestra didn't make it at all. It was a total and absolute failure. But Glenn knew what he wanted, held to that dedication and relentlessly worked to succeed. He launched his second band in March of 1938. Unlike the first, it became an enormous success; and it has been a "hit" ever since.
The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the Swing Era of the 1930s and 40s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts, and its drawing power at theatres, hotels and dance pavilions built and sustained the band's momentum of popularity.
Glenn disbanded his musical organization in 1942 at the height of its popularity, volunteered for the Army and then organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. It went to Europe to entertain servicemen; and then on Dec. 15, 1944, Major Miller took off in a single-engine plane from England to precede his band to France. He was never seen again. The Army officially declared him dead a year later.
Larry O'BrienDue to popular demand, the Miller Estate authorized the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956 under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, who had become the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn's disappearance. Since then, other leaders have followed Ray including clarinetists Buddy DeFranco and Peanuts Hucko, trombonists Buddy Morrow and Jimmy Henderson, tenor saxophonist Dick Gerhart and currently, trombonist Larry O'Brien.
The 19-member band continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans who have not heard them played for a while - hits like Tuxedo Junction, String of Pearls, In the Mood, Chattanooga Choo-Choo and its theme song, Moonlight Serenade. The band also is playing more modern selections in the big-band style, carefully selecting only those newer tunes that lend themselves naturally to the Miller style and sound. The entire repertoire, which now exceeds 1,700 compositions, keeps the band popular with both young and old alike.
Most of the band's shows are sell-outs. It has proven staying powe; and its popularity has never seemed to wane. Indeed, the Glenn Miller Orchestra today is still the most sought-after big-band in the world ... just as it was in Glenn's day.
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
Event Sponsored by ECR International
City Fiddle General Admission $12
($10 Opera House members)
Folk in Fredonia Music Series "Extra"
Creating new settings for old-time tunes is what the members of Abe's Lily say they do, by using banjos, bass, bouzouki and quattro to blend melodies and rhythms into something fresh and exciting. They call it "New Traditional Music." With Laurence Sugarman on banjos, Laurie Hunt on bass and Mark Warford on bouzouki and quattro, the group will have you tapping your feet and singing along in no time.
Add to that a savory blend of acoustic bluegrass, Celtic and traditional music from City Fiddle and the result is a great evening of time-honored folk music. With Phil Banaszak on fiddle, mandolin and guitar, Gretchen Banaszak on fiddle and viola and Chris Panfil on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and guitar, this threesome from Buffalo represents the best in folk musicians that western New York has to offer!
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
Reserved Seating $25
($23 Opera House Members)
DFT Communications Spotlight Series
Whenever Political Humorist Mark Russell is down in the dumps, he opens the newspaper and immediately cheers up. Practically everything he sees strikes him funny. Some days, he says, the jokes jump off the pages and write themselves.
TV Guide has called Russell "the funniest man on television." But he disagrees. "No, the funniest guys are on C-Span," he says.
Russell has spent most of the past 30 years on Public Television. The Mark Russell Comedy Specials have consistently ranked among the top-rated shows on that network. He works live, fresh and topical, performing stand-up comedy while accompanying himself on the piano.
Russell readily admits that when he was a kid, he dodged the draft. He did it by joining the Marine Corps. After serving his full hitch, he found himself in the smoke-filled bars of Washington, D.C., singing his funny songs.
Around the time the New Frontier was invading Washington, Russell invaded the Shoreham Hotel for a risky two-week gig. It lasted for 20 years. The Marquee Lounge became the place where politicians would come to hear his jokes about the things they had done that day. Today, his syndicated column is enjoyed all over America.
Russell says the question he is most frequently asked is "Do you have any writers?" "Oh yes," he always answers ... "I have 535 writers - 100 in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives."
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
With Thomas Pandolfi
General Admission $15
($13 Opera House Members, $9 Students)
Great Performers Concert Series
American pianist Thomas Pandolfi is emerging as a prodigious virtuoso who excels in reviving the core repertoire from the golden age of pianism. Praised for his interesting and innovative programming, his recitals regularly include works by Busoni, Godowsky, Dohnanyl and Chasins; and his orchestral appearances often feature concerti by Paderewski, MacDowell, Moszkowsi and Anton Rubenstein. Recently, he has been praised for his interpretation of the works of George Gershwin.
The young pianist's career already has included performances with such European orchestras as The George Enescu Philharmonic, the Moravian Philharmonic and the National Philharmonic of the Republic of Moldavia, as well as the American symphony orchestras of New York, Mississippi, Cedar Rapids, Asheville, Princeton and San Angelo, to name but a few. He has collaborated with such conductors as Dimitru Goia, Peter Schmelzer, Mihail Agafita, Andreas Defts, Christian Tiemeyer, Ron Spigelman and William Kushner.
Following a performance of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Asheville Symphony, the Asheville Citizen-Times remarked, "Pandolfi is a standout among today's young pianists, demonstrating a great technician's grace, finesse and polish ... his virtuosity and strength might have had some believing that Liszt himself had taken over the keyboard." The Washington Post described him as "an artist who is master of both the grand gesture and the sensual line. Pandolfi possesses first-rate technical skills, an unerring command of phrasing, a quicksilver touch and cunning legerdemain when it comes to pedaling ... etched with calm and crystal clarity ... outstanding!"
Pandolfi's Opera House program will feature solo works of George Gershwin and will include:
Concerto in F
Three Etudes on Popular Songs -
Embraceable You
Oh, Lady Be Good
Fascinating Rhythm
Song Medley Improvisation
Our Love is Here to Stay
The Man I Love
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
They All Laughed
Embraceable You
I Got Rhythm
Rhapsody in Blue
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
Carmen & Dick Gilman FREE Admission (ticket required)
Folk in Fredonia Music Series
Fredonia folk music favorites Carmen & Dick Gilman invite their musician friends from throughout the state to join them on the Opera House stage for an afternoon of great music, dance and a story or two!
The unofficial kickoff to the Folk in Fredonia Music Series, this event is great fun for the whole family!
Sponsored by The Gilman Family
Although admission to this event is FREE, tickets are required and may be reserved by calling the Box Office at 716-679-1891.
When Mo Folchart reads a story, the characters leap off the page. Literally. And that's a problem. Mo must use his special powers to send the interlopers back to their own world ... and save ours. If ever a task was easier read than done, this is it. Mo and his daughter, Meggie, aided by friends real and fictional, plunge into a thrilling quest that pits them against diabolical villains, fantastic beasts and dangers at every turn.
Brendan Fraser leads a splendid cast that includes Academy Award-winners Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent in this all-fun, all-family film of Cornelia Funke's bestseller.
"A surprisingly enjoyable experience to watch." - Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Rated PG for fantasy adventure action and brief language, 106 mins.
Admission to this event is FREE. Tickets are available at the door the night of the film screening.
A Master Class with Michael Parent
$20 Workshop Fee
Fredonia Storytelling Festival
A workshop for people who are already telling stories.
Participants bring specific storytelling problems or challenges they're facing and get help from Michael, and from the group. Perhaps your goal is to learn and tell a more challenging story, or to tell your stories to a more challenging audience. Whatever storytelling challenge you wish to take on, this workshop will help you determine what your next steps are in meeting that challenge, and help you take those steps.
The more concretely and specifically you can state the challenges you're facing, the more likely you are to get some truly useful feedback. For example, to say "I'm having trouble with audience participation" is not as useful as "When I get children to participate by making animal sounds, I sometimes can't stop them."
This class is limited to 25 participants.
FREE Admission (ticket required)
Acclaimed storyteller Michael Parent entertains the kid in all of us in this special program with stories about kids and the challenges of growing up, singalong songs and perhaps a trick or two. It's a program for kids, their families or anyone who has ever been a kid. Part of the Fredonia Storytelling Festival. Sponsored, in part, by the D.R. Barker Library and the Fredonia Teachers' Association.
Although admission to this event is FREE, tickets are required and may be reserved by calling the Box Office at 716-679-1891.
Michael Parent Featuring Michael Parent
With Doug Manly and Various Regional Tellers
General Admission $10
An evening of storytelling for adults ... Hosted by Doug Manly and featuring acclaimed storyteller Michael Parent, this evening of wild and witty stories is guaranteed to tickle your funny bone and make you laugh out loud! Several regional tellers also will be featured with stories ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. The ticket includes a reception with the storytellers and light refreshments following the performance. Part of the Fredonia Storytelling Festival.
Sponsored by Ann & Doug Manly.
General Admission $8 ($5 Seniors, Students & Children)
Welcome to the world of magic with Cliff Hopkins & Kelly! When it comes to magic & illusion, Cliff Hopkins & Kelly are one of the hottest and most unique acts appearing in the world of magic today! Mesmerizing and astounding audiences around the world, this dynamic duo is in constant demand, creating feats that appear to be impossible.Whether slicing a woman in half while she's standing up, making it snow onstage or defying the laws of gravity, Magician/Illusionist Cliff Hopkins leaves critics and audiences alike scratching their heads in wonder at his unique and often unbelievable performances. For more than a decade, this witty, personable and fun-to-watch grand illusionist and comedy magic professional has been astounding audiences at some of the largest theatres, colleges, comedy clubs, theme parks and corporate events around the world. As a master of his craft, his performance is one of the most talked-about magic and illusion shows in the industry.
Expressing a gift for his unique capability at the tender age of 7, Cliff's very first magic performance was as part of a talent show in the first grade. His career path was sealed after his parents took him to see Doug Henning perform. Mesmerized and awestruck at Doug's performance, it was at that moment that Cliff's passion for magic was cemented!
Today, Cliff flawlessly executes the most challenging illusion concepts. Combining state of the art sound, high tech lighting, special effects, side-splitting comedy, eye-popping magic and cutting edge illusion is what guarantees that Cliff's audiences are treated to a theatrical experience they won't soon forget!
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
General Admission $12
($10 Opera House members)
Folk in Fredonia Music Series
Internationally acclaimed James "Sparky" Rucker is recognized as a leading folklorist, historian, musician, storyteller and author. He has been singing songs and telling stories from the American tradition for more than 40 years. Accompanying himself on guitar, banjo and spoons, Sparky has released more than a dozen recordings.
Rhonda Rucker is from Louisville, Kentucky, and practiced medicine for five years before becoming a full-time performer. She began taking piano lessons from a ragtime player when she was 4 years old. In addition to piano, Rhonda adds sweet-sounding vocal harmonies, a mean gutsy blues harmonica, old-time banjo and rhythmic bones to the duo's music. She began performng with Sparky in 1989 and appears on seven recordings with him.
The duo's audio release, Treasures & Tears, was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording. They also contributed music to the syndicated television miniseries, The Wild West. Their unique renditions of John Henry and Jesse James were used in the National Geographic Society's Storytelling in North America.
A concert by Sparky & Rhonda is a humor-filled journey through 400 years of African-American cultural and folk history. It includes old-time blues, Appalachian music, slave songs, Civil War music, spirituals, work songs, ballads, Civil Rights music and Sparky's own original compositions. The two deliver an uplifting presentation of toe-tapping music spiced with humor, history and tall tales.
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
Danza! Performing Arts Academy
General Admission $10 (Adults),
$6 (children 10 & under)
Opera House Rental - Presented by Danza! Performing Arts Academy
The Danza! Performing Arts Academy presents an exciting dance performance to kick off the holiday season. Danza's Holiday Extravaganza encompasses an eclectic mix of classic holiday favorites and new Christmas songs. The performance features dance styles from ballet, tap and modern to pointe, jazz and everything in between by young preschool through advanced dancers.
For tickets, call the Box office at 716-679-1891
Danza! Performing Arts Academy
General Admission $10 (Adults),
$6 (children 10 & under)
Opera House Rental - Presented by Danza! Performing Arts Academy
See previous listing for more information.
For tickets, please call the Box Office at 716-679-1891.
General Admission FREE
D.R. Barker Community Series
As a gift to the community, the D.R. Barker Library has teamed up with the Fredonia Opera House to offer this free-admission holiday film.
In this 1945 holiday classic, journalist Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck) is one of the country's most famous food writers. In her column, she describes herself as a hard-working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. However, Elizabeth's got a little secret: She needs a recipe to boil water! She has no cooking skills, no Connecticut farm, no adoring hubby and no baby-makes-three, as suggested in her column.
When the owner of the magazine she works for decides that a heroic sailor will spend Christmas on Elizabeth's farm as a publicity stunt, Elizabeth knows that her career will be over if the truth comes out ... but what can she do?
Watch the fun and hilarity as Elizabeth tries to be the perfect holiday hostess, a gourmet cook, a good wife and doting mother ... all with absolutely NO experience.
The film also stars Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet and Reginald Gardiner.
While admission is FREE, a ticket is required and can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 716-679-1891.
General Admission $20, ($18 Opera House members)
Presented in partnership with Rocking Horse Productions and the Lancaster Opera House
Those nutty, singing nuns are back!
In Nuncrackers, the holiday spin-off of the musical Nunsense, the Little Sisters of Hoboken have constructed a Cable Access studio in the convent basement and are launching their very first Christmas TV special. Things go wrong from the start: Sister Mary Leo, the resident nun-ballerina, has a backstage mishap, throwing a monkey wrench into plans for a full-scale production of The Nutcracker ballet.
But the sisters soldier on through musical numbers that range from the silly to the absurd, including "The Twelve Days Prior to Christmas," "Santa Ain't Comin' to Our House," "Here We Come a Waffle-ing" and "We Three Kings of Orient R Us."
Nuncrackers is a merry and bright holiday show filled with hilarious gags, snap-crackle quips, some of your favorite carols and a "Secret Santa" audience participation!
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
Sponsored by Robert & Marilyn Maytum
Collage PAC
General Admission $10
Opera House Rental - Presented by Collage Performing Arts Company
The Collage Performing Arts Center will be performing its sixth annual Christmas Show, "Christmas in Our Hometown" on December 17th and 18th at 7pm. The annual dance show incorporates dancers of all ages into various dance routines of tap, ballet, jazz and novelty to classic Christmas songs.
For tickets, call the Box office at 716-679-1891
Collage PAC General Admission $10
Opera House Rental - Presented by Collage Performing Arts Company
See previous listing for more information.
For tickets, please call the Box Office at 716-679-1891.
General Admission $15
($13 Opera House members)
Folk in Fredonia Music Series
On a July evening in 2004, at their campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello harmonized for the very first time. As they sang their campmates off to sleep, they knew they had stumbled onto something extraordinary.
Audiences seem to agree. Since that summer night, Red Molly has garnered a devoted national fan base. These ladies have a lot of fun on stage, and it's contagious. Red Molly consistently brings concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship and a warm, engaging stage presence.
The magic of Red Molly stems partly from the richness and diversity of each member's "pre-Molly" experiences. Laurie (vocals, guitar, banjo) left a career in psychology to pursue her love of singing. She worked for several years as a backup singer, and also released two solo albums, These Old Clothes and The Things I Choose to Do.
Abbie (vocals, guitar, Dobro) has a background in jazz, bluegrass, classical and a cappella music. She released two solo albums, My Craziest Dream, a collection of swing standards featuring her father Herb Gardner on piano, and Honey on My Grave, a collection of acoustic originals. In May 2008, she released a duo album, Bad Nights/Better Days, with Anthony da Costa.
Carolann (vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin) spent several years as a professional theatre actor before releasing her solo album, Just Across the Water. She later released two albums with power folk quartet CC Railroad, Smile Whenever and Black Horse Motel.
As a trio, the group released its first CD in 2006, Never Been to Vegas. It climbed to the Top 30 on the Radio & Records Americana chart, a rare accomplishment for an independent album. And listeners of WUMB Radio Boston voted the CD one of the Top 10 CDs of 2006. Red Molly's newest release, Love and Other Tragedies, is the group's first full-length studio album. It was released in spring 2008.
"Everything Red Molly sings is delivered with tick-tight arrangements, crystalline vocals and caramel harmonies. But what is most striking is the ardor they bring to eveything they do, whether snuggling into the sweet parochialism of an old spiritual, or the gritty pathos of a Gillian Welch tune." -- The Boston Globe
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.
