Ancram Opera House Hosts Special Plein Air Plays For Supporters…And Dinner, Too
The three outdoor plays in secluded locations were followed by a dinner at a patron’s home.
Cathy Redlich, president of the board of directors; Jeffrey Mousseau, AOH co-director; Joan Hunter and Jim Hunter
The Ancram Opera House, which presents an annual season of contemporary theater, alternative cabaret, storytelling, and community programs, mounted its second season of The Plein Air Plays. On Saturday, August 19, it added The Plein Air Plays Plus!, a benefit performance for the organization’s supporters. Guests arrived at the Ancram Town Hall to enjoy beverages, then, after the first of the three plays, traveled to two more locations for an original half-hour play. Each was enacted in a secluded spot, the final taking place at the Strever Burial Ground, a tiny but evocative graveyard that played a large part in “Giving Up the Ghosts.” Following that final play, guests dispersed to attend a dinner at one of several patrons’ homes, where the wine and liquor was generously supplied by Copake Wine Works and the dessert by Copake General Store. Last year, the Ancram Opera House produced over 90 individual events (half of which were free) and serviced more than 1,000 people. Located in a former grange hall, the AOH has recently purchased a neighboring house which will become the annex, and the organization will be known as the Ancram Center for the Arts.
The setting and characters for "Summer," by Barbara Wiechmann, featuring Martina Deignan and Glenn Barrett.
Written by
Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
