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luckilyiris · 10 months

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DORSET — The story goes something like this: Famous Hollywood Guy and Wallingford resident accepts a gig at Dorset Theatre Festival to take on a play written by famous Hollywood writer/producer and playwright Theresa Rebeck, who mostly makes her home in Dorset.

Famous Guy does great job in the play, shakes my hand and exchanges a pleasantry on opening night, then carries on. Few years pass by and Famous Guy liked the Dorset gig so much – as well as the short commute down Route 7A — that he comes back, with more handshakes in passing and expressions of gratitude after the opener.

Then, Famous Guy comes back yet again, this time to team up for the first time on stage with his Famous Sister. Clearly, Dorset Theatre Festival was becoming like a second home to his Wallingford farm.

On that second go, however, I finally landed an interview with Famous Guy, but as luck would have it he had to go back and forth to Los Angeles for multiple commitments and engagements. So, a PR deal is reached by third parties, much of it is facilitated by Famous Guy himself.

When I was told of the latest delay, apparently someone at Dorset Theatre Festival made mention to Famous Guy that this ever-deferred sit-down was with a local journalist, and apparently, this former Dorset staffer told me: “When Tim heard you were a Vermont guy, he asked for your cell number and arranged to call you on X day at Y time. No problem.”

There, the cat’s out of the bag: Famous Guy is, of course, Tim Daly, who next week, along with the very talented Jayne Atkinson, will open Dorset Theatre Festival’s second show of its 2023 season, the world premiere of Lia Romero’s “Still.”

The play itself is about Helen and Mark, who were a couple but broke up, yet never forgot each other. They meet for dinner to catch up, the spark is there again, but this time Mark is running for Congress, and Helen has a secret that could gum up the works. Lost love gets a re-look in this comedy about getting older, political divides, and the road not taken.

In short, it is a play tailor-made for leading man Daly, who showed me some years ago that while having cut his early teeth on sitcoms such as “Wings,” and being blessed with obvious good looks, he really is anything but a pretty face: putting aside his fame and success, Daly is very serious about the cerebral aspects of acting.

So getting back to that phone call: Daly calls me pretty much on the promised time hack, but then within a few minutes of just initial small talk about his Vermont farm, he interrupts me: “Telly, a call is coming in that I absolutely have to take, so here’s my personal cell number, and give me a call back in 15 minutes.”

That really struck me. Famous guys in Hollywood do not give out their unlisted digits. But Daly did not hesitate, as he explained later, simply because I was, after all, a Vermont guy like him.

Our conversation that afternoon was one of the most intellectually honest talks I ever had with such a high profile actor. Daly spoke fondly of his time at Bennington College, and extensively of his love for live performance and how the presence of an audience strips away the veneer of fame. It exposes, he explained, an actor in ways does not happen in TV or the movies with their endless takes on one scene until getting it right.

Tim emphasized to me that the live audience made all the difference, and was very blunt in telling me how Dorset, and presumably other local professional stages like it – Weston, Oldcastle, and even tiny Living Room Theatre in North Bennington with its defunct swimming pool for a stage — has allowed him to return to his roots as an actor.

This offered Daly an absence of presumption and a visceral connection to lovers of the stage, he said.

“In New York, you can almost predict the moments of applause with audience members who have The New York Times review tucked under their arms,” Daly told me. “At Dorset, the connection to the audience is much more direct, as if you’re having a personal dialogue with them all evening. It’s both refreshing and liberating for an artist.”

He also was very quick to add: “And that’s all on the record, Telly; you make sure to print it!”

Cynics, of course, will argue that someone as accomplished and materially successful as Daly can afford to be so frank later in his career than he might have been earlier on. Fair enough.

But you could hear the emotion in his voice, and this was no act. That moment for me was one reason to keep going back and catching Daly on stage whenever I could, whether locally, or elsewhere.

Besides, this is one Famous Guy who doesn’t have to drive that far from Wallingford to show you what he’s got.

Telly Halkias is a national award-winning freelance journalist and the secretary of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists (NSNC). Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TellyHalkias

#tim daly #Dorsey theater #Vermont guy

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larryland · 3 years

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REVIEW: "The Almost True and Truly Remarkable Adventures of Israel Potter" at Oldcastle

REVIEW: “The Almost True and Truly Remarkable Adventures of Israel Potter” at Oldcastle

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bakerstreetbabe · 5 years

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Oldcastle Theatre's 2019 Season

Oldcastle Theatre’s 2019 Season

Bennington is fortunate to have its own Equity theatre company downtown on Main Street. This is Oldcastle’s 48th season which is an impressive record. Even more impressive, it has had the same Artistic Director all those years. Eric Peterson not only has the distinction of being Oldcastle’s Artistic Director for that period of time, he is also, as far as we know, the longest serving Artistic…

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#Oldcastle Theatre Company

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raretempo · 6 years

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Top Cities with the Best Public Art Funding Part 1: Micropoles

If you’re an artist in search of a new place to call home there are some things you have to consider. There are plenty of interesting and diverse communities to choose from. Some different aspects you may be contemplating include cost of living, artistic community, and public art funding. We’ve done some of the leg work for you and found a few different communities that have the best balance of these different factors.

When researching art funding in cities, we obtained our information mainly from the 2018 Arts Vibrancy Report compiled by the National Center for Arts Research at Southern Methodist University. We’re using their definitions of size and pulling cities from their list of the Top 40 Most Vibrant Arts Communities in America. If you want to see how your current area is stacking up, check out their interactive map.

community size

One of the first things you’ll consider when moving to a new city is the number of people you’ll be dealing with. We’ll give you three options to choose from: small, medium, and large.

Small

Also known as Small Micropolitan Statistical Areas, these areas have a population of 10,000 to 50,000 people. These are attractive if you’re a small town girl livin’ in a lonely world… and you like it that way, or you’re just looking to downsize your community.

Medium

These Medium Metropolitan Statistical Areas are going to be a nice balance of big city living and small-town charm. The populations in this category will vary from 100,000 to 1 million people. This will appeal to those of you looking for that option right in the middle.

Large

Moving to the big city can be an exhilarating and, also, a terrifying experience. These bad boys are coming in at over 1 million in population. If you want to experience all that a behemoth like these have to offer, but may not be interested in the usual suspects (L.A., NYC, San Fran, etc.), stay tuned.

This week, we’re going to cover the small towns or mini micropoles as we like to call them.

bennington, vermont

Population: 36,191

Assets

This statistical area also includes Manchester, VT. The artistic community in this area is diverse and involved. This area is home to Bennington College, Southern Vermont Arts Center, and Bennington Art Guild. The Laumeister Art Center at Southern Vermont College features a myriad of galleries, studios, a museum, and a 315-seat theatre. Bennington also plays host to the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East, a summer institute for amateur musicians. Other interesting assets to this arts community include the Oldcastle Theatre Company, Manchester Music Festival, and the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

The Vermont Arts Exchange is a non-profit community arts organization based in the old mill town of North Bennington. Their mission focuses on strengthening communities and neighborhoods through the arts. The Cultural Bennington Arts Council also advocates on behalf of the community to keep art funding at the forefront of the economic development strategy.

Cost of Living

According to the metrics at bestplaces.net, the overall cost of living index score of Bennington is a 90. This is relative to the national average score of 100. Median housing cost comes in at $145,000. By visiting bestplaces.net, you are able to compare this to the city that you currently reside in and see how it stacks up against a place like Bennington.

oneonta, new york

Population: 60,097

Assets

This statistical area is the Otsego County, represented by the City of Oneonta in New York State. It’s located an hour and 15 minutes west of Albany, NY. Some of the focuses of this are include living green and community development. It is known as the “City of Hills” and the origin of Oneonta is believed to mean “place of open rocks” in the Mohawk language. The city has a rich history in the arts and includes world-class opera, national art exhibitions, theater, and concerts. Nearby Cooperstown is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum most prominently. It also plays host to the Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, and the Glimmerglass Opera.

The Community Arts Network of Oneonta is a non-profit organization that has the goal of, “creating a cultural, educational, social, and economic environment in which the arts can flourish.” Their website is a great resource for finding local arts events and fundraisers to support art funding in the area. Destination Oneonta is another organization that has a great landing page for arts assets.

Cost of Living

When compared on bestplaces, Oneonta is slightly cheaper than Bennington in most categories for cost of living. Its overall index score is 86 and the median housing price is $137,300. This proves that you can still live in New York (state) without the crazy cost of living and make a living off of the arts.

juneau, alaska

Population: 32,468

Assets

Juneau is a small capital city that is alive with a vibrant arts and culture scene. Assets include Perseverance Theatre, the Juneau Symphony, the Juneau Lyric Opera, Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau Jazz & Classics music festival, and Celebration, a biennial Alaska Native cultural festival. Juneau is also home to many art galleries, studios, and performing groups. The city has The Juneau Arts & Humanities Council as its official arts agency which manages the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. The council provides scholarships, grants, art funding and support for arts organizations.

Organizations such as the Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, and The Canvas help to keep Indigenous arts, language, and culture alive in Juneau. Traditional art forms of First Nations people are taught to the younger generations with the help of these organizations. These art forms include native dance, carving, and weaving. Juneau ranks extremely high, the top 1%, in Government Support and in the top 10% in terms of Arts Dollars.

Cost of Living

Juneau is significantly more expensive than either of the other Micropolitan Areas. Its median home cost is $389,900 and this is where the biggest discrepancy lies. However, its high ranking in federal funding for the arts and overall arts dollars helps to bolster the artistic community a bit. Most categories beyond housing are comparable with both Bennington and Oneonta.

how does it fit?

If small towns sound like a good fit for you, then be sure to consider one of these options for your next move. Not convinced or looking for more? Stay tuned for next week as we feature perfect moderately sized towns with art funding that even Goldilocks couldn’t resist!

#Art Funding #Art Life #Artists #Best Places #Big City #Public Art #Small Town #Where To Live

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larryland · 3 years

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REVIEW: "Red" at Oldcastle Theatre Company

REVIEW: “Red” at Oldcastle Theatre Company

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larryland · 3 years

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REVIEW: "Brighton Beach Memoirs" at Oldcastle

REVIEW: “Brighton Beach Memoirs” at Oldcastle

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larryland · 3 years

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REVIEW: "Water, Water, Everywhere..." at Oldcastle Theatre Company

REVIEW: “Water, Water, Everywhere…” at Oldcastle Theatre Company

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larryland · 4 years

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Bennington Community Theater Announces Auditions for Broadway-style Musical Revue Bennington Community Theater invites singer/actors to audition for a Broadway-style musical revue conceived and directed by D.

#BCT #Bennington Community Theater #Bennington Performing Arts Center #Bennington VT #BPAC #D. Mark Blank #Oldcastle #Oldcastle THeatre #Oldcastle Theatre Company #OTC #Richard Cherry

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larryland · 4 years

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Vermont Arts Exchange Brings Gypsy Layne Back to Bennington

Vermont Arts Exchange is bringing Gypsy Layne back to Bennington and back to our stage, February 14th and 15th. Call 800-838-3006 for tickets

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#Basement Music Series #Bennington Performing Arts Center #Bennington VT #BPAC #Gypsy Layne #Oldcastle #Oldcastle THeatre #Oldcastle Theatre Company #OTC #VAE #Vermont Arts Exchange

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larryland · 4 years

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Oldcastle Theatre Company Announces Two Holiday Entertainment Events

Join us Saturday, December 7 for our Annual Holiday Variety Show. Show begins at 7 pm, but the fun starts at 6 pm. There will be caroling with the Bennington County Choral Society, jewelry, silent auction, and festive goodies. Adults $25 Students $10

Also remember to buy your tickets to A Very Buck2fifty Christmas before the 7th is over, to save $25 on your tickets. December 21st we will be the…

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#A Very Buck2fifty Christmas #Annual Holiday Radio Variety Show #Annual Holiday Variety Show #BCCS #Bennington County Choral Society #Bennington Performing Arts Center #Bennington VT #BPAC #Buck2fifty #Holiday Radio Variety Show #Holiday Variety Show #Matt Edwards #Oldcastle #Oldcastle THeatre #Oldcastle Theatre Company #Radio Variety Show

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larryland · 5 years

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Auditions for 10 Minute Plays at Bennington Community Theater

Auditions for Bennington Community Theater‘s November Production are on September 14th & 15th 12 – 3 pm at Oldcastle Theatre, 331 Main Street (Rt. 9) in Bennington, VT.

The November production will consists of 7 ten minute plays. One of the plays is a musical. The plays which include authors from our surrounding communities are:

The Kiss by Anne Undeland (seen last year at Oldcastle in “The…

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larryland · 5 years

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Amy Hayes & Matt Edwards Return to Oldcastle with “Makin’ Whoopie” Cabaret Amy Hayes and Matt Edwards are back for another great cabaret. Makin' Whoopie May 17th & 18th at 7:30 pm…

#Amy Hayes #Bennington VT #Makin&039; Whoopee #Makin&039; Whoopie #Makin&039; Whoopie A (Sexy) CABARET #Matt Edwards #Oldcastle THeatre #Oldcastle Theatre Company #OTC

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larryland · 3 years

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Gail Burns reviews Oldcastle's mind-changing musical "Big River"

Gail Burns reviews Oldcastle’s mind-changing musical “Big River”

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#Anthony J. Ingargiola #Bennington Vermont #Big River #John Foley #Oldcastle Theatre Company #Reji Woods #Roger Miller #Tim Howard

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larryland · 3 years

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REVIEW: "The Whipping Man" at Oldcastle

REVIEW: “The Whipping Man” at Oldcastle

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#Bennington VT #Brandon Rubin #Carl Sprague #Cory Wheat #David V. Groupé #Eric Peterson #Herb Parker #Justin Pietropaolo #Matthew Lopez #Oldcastle #Oldcastle Theater #Oldcastle Theatre Company #OTC #Roseann Cane #The Whipping Man #Ursula McCarty

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larryland · 3 years

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REVIEW: "Proof" at Oldcastle Theatre Company

REVIEW: “Proof” at Oldcastle Theatre Company

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#Bennington VT #Claire #Cory Wheat #David Auburn #David V. Groupé #Eric Peterson #Ethan Botwick #Gail Burns #Gail M. Burns #Gary Allan Poe #Halley Cianfarini #Oldcastle Theatre Company #Proof #Richard Howe #Talley Gale #Ursula McCarty #Wm. John Aupperlee

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larryland · 4 years

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Bennington Community Theater Presents "You Have the Right to Remain Dead"

Bennington Community Theater Presents “You Have the Right to Remain Dead”

Bennington Community Theater Presents:

“You Have the Right to Remain Dead” by Pat Cook

Directed by Ellery Schiller Bennington Community Theater as part of the Year of Mystery presents “You Have the Right to Remain Dead” a rollicking whodunnit by Pat Cook. You’ve just settled down in a theater to solve an audience-participation murder mystery. The narrator comes out and gives you a few “ins and…

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#BCT #Bennington Community Theater #Bennington Performing Arts Center #Bennington VT #BPAC #Ellery Schiller #Oldcastle #Oldcastle THeatre #Oldcastle Theatre Company #OTC #Pat Cook #You Have the Right to Remain Dead

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