Welcome to Season 3 Episode 8 - the "Solstice 23" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, the podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

This special edition of NFTAS is a rebroadcast from December 21, 2022 of Tom reading some of his favorite solstice stories for this season of the year. We hope you'll enjoy this audio gift to you as thanks for your support over 2023. Our next regularly scheduled episode will be on Wednesday January 24, 2024. Happy Holidays to all!

Note: The 1891 Fredonia Opera House will be closed beginning noon on Friday December 22, 2023, and will re-open on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 07 - the "Heartwarmer" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, the podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

Guests on this episode include Prof. Emeritus of Voice Dan Ihasz on the Live at the Met production of Florencia en el Amazonas, Messrs. Phil McMullen and Ben Sheedy, co-directors of the Main Street Studio production of A Christmas Carol, and Libby Cardy-Sciarrino, co-director for It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play at Lakeshore Center for the Arts.

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

Dan Ihasz - Live at the Met. 2:10

Ben Sheedy/Phil McMullen - A Christmas Carol  19:50

Arts Calendar - 38:18

Libby Cardy-Sciarrino - It's A Wonderful Life 40:02

Media:

"Night (Midnight)", "Prelude", and "Joy"; from the album December, George Winston, composer/performer, Windham Hill, November 1982

"Escúchame" and “Ella nunca cedió a las tentaciones del amor”, from the opera Florencia en el Amazonas; Daniel Catán, composer; Marcela Fuentes-Berain, librettist; performed by Aylin Pérez, soprano, and Gabriella Reyes, soprano; Metropolitan Opera House, December 2023

For More Information:

Metropolitan Opera House

Main Street Studios

Lakeshore Center for the Arts

BECOME A MEMBER!

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 06 - the "Sausage Stuffing" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, the podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

Guests on this episode include Ms. Ashley Giaccio and Ms. Alexa Adler, who are the playwright and director respectively of the Walter Gloor Mainstage production of Mason Wright is Not a Mother; Dr. Vernon Huff, Director of Choral Activities at SUNY Fredonia on the upcoming holiday choral concert; and Mr. Jefferson Westwood, Director of the Rockefeller Arts Center, discussing his holiday offerings for the season. 

Special note: if you cannot afford the price of a ticket for either of the two Rockefeller Art center presentations, please call the Campus Box Office at 716-673-3501 and mention the Dallas K. Beal foundation. You will be offered a free ticket for that event!

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

Ashley Giaccio/Alexa Adler Mason Wright  02:13

Vernon Huff Holiday Choral Concert  23:04

Arts Calendar 37:54

Jefferson Westwood Frosty/Christmas Pops 39:56

Media:

Bread and Gravy, performed by Martha Davis, Hoagy Carmichael, composer, feb. 1947

See Dat Babe, African American spiritual, arranged by Stacey Gibbs, performed by the Jamaica Youth Chorale, 2021

Autumn Leaves, composed by Joseph Kosma 1945, performed by Vince Guaraldi, from the album The Definitive Vince Guaraldi, 1958

Carol of the Bells, Ukrainian Christmas carol, written by Mykola Leontovych, 1919; English adaptation by Peter J. Wilhousky, 1936; performed by River City Brass, Nov. 22, 2021

Joh F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961, recorded by CBS News

Abraham, Martin, and John, written by Dick Holler 1968; performed by Dion, August 1968.

September Song, composed by Kurt Weil, lyrics by Maxwell Anderson, Sept. 1938; recorded by Dizzy Gillespie, from the album Dizzy Gillespie's Big Four, September 1975

Artist Links:

Alexa Adler/Ashley Giaccio

Dr. Vernon Huff

Mr. Jefferson Westwood

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 05 - the "Veterans" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, the podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

Guests on this episode include Mr. Todd Langworthy, Town of Pomfret Historian, who will present "Veterans of Pomfret Past" as part of the Chautauqua County Historical Lecture Series; Ms. Cathy Fink, who with Marcy Marxer and Chao Tian will present "From China to Appalachia," and Mr. Tim Kennedy, Artistic Director Emeritus of Buffalo Opera Unlimited, who discusses the Live at the Met presentation of X: The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

Todd Langworthy - 02:11

Cathy Fink - 17:48

Arts Calendar - 33:40

Tim Kennedy - 36:07

Media:

"Taps Bugle Call", performed by the US Army Band, composed by Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, July 1862

"Battle Hymn of the Republic", lyrics by Julia Ward Howe, William Steffe, musical arranger, 1862

"August Flower", traditional Chinese melody; performed by Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and Chao Tian; May 2022

"Dark Eyes", Yevhen Hrebinka, lyrics; music adapted from the "Valse Hommage, Opus 21 for Piano" by Florian Hermann, 1879. Performed by Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Chao Tian, March 2022

"Play the Game", excerpt from X: The Autobiography of Malcolm X, performed by Anthony Davis (composer), from a performance at the National Opera America Center, October 2012.

"We're Not Askin' Massa to sit at a lunch counter"; excerpt from the Metropolitan Opera production of X: The Autobiography of Malcolm X; Anthony Davis, composer; Christopher Davis, story; Tulani Davis, libretto; performed by Will Liverman, baritone, as Malcolm X.

Artist Links:

Todd Langworthy

Cathy Fink

Tim Kennedy

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 04 - the "Spooktacular" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, the podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

Guests on this episode include Dr. Robert Strauss, who offers insights on the Live at the Met presentation of Dead Man Walking; Distinguished Professor of Art Emeritus Mr. Alberto Rey, discussing the life and work of Gustav Klimt for the Art and Architecture presentation of Klimt and The Kiss; and Mr. Woody Keppel, who is bringing his modern-day vaudevillian show Mr. Crites and Woodhead: Sons of Vaudeville and Masters of Mayhem to the Marvel Theatre at SUNY Fredonia.

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

Live at the Met - Dr. Robert Strauss - 02:15

Klimt and The Kiss - Mr. Alberto Rey - 20:15

Arts Calendar - 37:05

Mr Crites and Woodhead - Mr. Woody Keppel - 39:48

Media:

Autumn Village Halloween Ambience, The Melody Makers, October 2023

"This Journey", from the opera Dead Man Walking, music by Jake Hegge, libretto by Terence McNally; Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano

"Everybody Hear That", from the opera Dead Man Walking, music by Jake Hegge, libretto by Terence McNally; Ryan McKinney, baritone

Entry of the Gladiators, Op. 68, Julius Fučík, composer, 1897

Artist Links:

Dr. Robert Strauss

Mr. Alberto Rey

Mr. Woody Keppel

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 03 - the "Sweater Weather" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, a podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

Guests on this episode include Dr. Karl Boelter, who discusses the Fredonia Jazz Festival events, Ms. Jessica Tong of the Tong/Sheppard Duo, who will be performing "Fantasies and Fairy Tales" at the Opera House; and Dr. Jessica Hillman-McCord, who is directing the upcoming Theatre and Dance production of the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

Dr. Karl Boelter - Fredonia Jazz Festival:  1:37

Ms. Jessica Tong - Tong/Sheppard Duo:  20:37

Arts Calendar:  39:03

Dr. Jessica Hillman-McCord - Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812:  41:20

Media:

"The Coffee Song (I Like You A Latte)", from the album Caffeine and Affirmations, music and lyrics by Nicole Zuraitis, performed by Nicole Zuraitis, LA RESERVE records, September 2023

Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major, F. Shubert, composer. Performed by Jessica Tong, violin, and Michael Sheppard, piano, Rosch Recital Hall, September 2022

"My Little Suede Shoes", Charlie Parker, composer. Performed by Nick Weiser, piano; John Bacon, drums; Joe Goehle, bass.

excerpt from "The Duel", from the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, written and composed by David Malloy, performed by Josh Groban, Nick Choksi, and Amber Gray, May 2017

"Marshmallow", composed by Warne Marsh; performed by Nick Weiser, piano; John Bacon, drums; Joe Goehle, bass; Matthew Erman, saxophone; August Bates, saxophone

Artist Links:

Dr. Karl Boelter

Fredonia Jazz Society

Jessica Tong

Tong/Sheppard Duo

Dr. Jessica Hillman-McCord

Dept. Theatre and Dance SUNY Fredonia

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 02 - the "Pumpkin Spice" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, a podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

Guests on this episode include Gail Pugh Dash, who will present the lecture "Gleanings from the Ellis Rowley Home in Laona" on Oct 12; Doug DeJoe, who will be in concert as part of the Folk in Fredonia Gilman Family Music Series on Oct. 13; and Dr. Jonathan Katz, co-curator of the exhibit Not Gay at the Marion Art Gallery. 

Listeners should be advised that the interview with Dr. Katz contains strong language and an open discussion of issues concerning gender and sexuality. Listeners should exercise their own personal discretion as to whether or not to listen to this interview.

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

01:38  Gail Pugh Dash

19:01   Doug DeJoe

36:19  Arts Calendar

37:40  Dr. Jonathan Katz

Media:

"Fall Jazz Music", Relax Cafe Music, August 21, 2020

"Can't Do Nothing 'Bout Time," written and performed by Doug DeJoe and the Bloomlaters, from the album Headlines, Dougie Joe Tunes, 2008

"He Sure Left A Lot," written and performed by Doug DeJoe and the Bloomlaters, from the album Headlines, Dougie Joe Tunes, 2008

Artist Links:

Gail Pugh Dash, Chautauqua County Genealogical Society

Doug DeJoe

Dr Jonathan Katz

Welcome to Season 03 Episode 01 - the "Here We Go Again" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, a podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

The first episode of Season 3 features a preview of the fall 2023 season at the Opera House with Executive Director Rick Davis, an interview with Jacob Swanson and Alison D'Amato of the Decho Ensemble, and a conversation with Broadway star Eden Espinosa.

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:

Rick Davis Preview  01:54

Decho Ensemble  20:43

Arts Calendar  36:00

Eden Espinosa  39:40

Media:

"Here You Come Again," performed by Dolly Parton; written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, from the album Here You Come Again, September 1977

"Ulterior Motives"; Andrew Cote, composer, 2012; performed by the Decho Ensemble; Jacob Swanson and Sarah Marchitelli, alto saxophones, July 2020

"Duet #1 Wo0 27," Ludwig von Beethoven, composer (1790-92); performed by the Decho Ensemble, Jacob Swanson, alto saxophone, Sarah Marchitelli, tenor saxophone, August 2020

"I'm Not That Girl," from the musical Wicked, Stephen Schwartz, composer, performed by Eden Espinosa from her album Look Around, August 2012

"Look Around," from the musical The Will Rogers Follies, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adoph Green, May 1991, performed by Eden Espinosa, from her album Look Around, August 2012

Artist Links:

Decho Ensemble

Eden Espinosa

Welcome to Season 02 Episode 21 - the "See You in September" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, a podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

This episode is the final episode of Season 2, and features interviews with Mr. Brian Hoffman from Remembering Red - A Red Skelton Tribute Show, and Dr. Anthony Chase on the National Theatre productions of Othello and Good. Notes from the Aisle Seat will return for Season 3 on September 13, 2023.

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps (approximate):

02:52 - Brian Hoffman "Remembering Red"

21:40 - Tony Chase Part I "Othello"

43:43 - Arts Calendar

48:57 - Tony Chase Part II "Good"

Media:

"When Summer is Gone", written by Sonny Curtis, performed by Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Capital Records 1965

excerpt from "The Red Skelton Show," first broadcast April 22, 1958

excerpt from Othello by William Shakespeare; performed at the National Theatre, Nov. 2022-January 2023; Giles Terera, Othello; Rosy McEwen, Desdemona; Clint Dyer, director.

"Summertime", from the musical Porgy and Bess, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Irving Berlin; performed by Miles Davis from the album Porgy and Bess, Columbia 1959

excerpt from Good by C.P. Taylor; performed at the National Theatre of London Oct. 6-Dec. 24, 2022; David Tenant as John Halder; Dominic Cooke, director

"See You in September", Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards, composers; recorded by The Happenings, July 1966, B.T. Puppy label

Artist Links:

Brian Hoffman "Remembering Red"

Tony Chase

Theater Talk Buffalo

Theater Talk WNED Public Radio Buffalo NY

Welcome to Season 02 Episode 20 - the "Midsummer" edition - of Notes from the Aisle Seat, a podcast featuring news and information about the arts in northern Chautauqua County NY, sponsored by the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Your host is Tom Loughlin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair Emeritus of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Fredonia.

This episode features interviews with Mr. Dan Ihasz, Professor Emeritus of Voice at SUNY Fredonia School of Music, on Mozart's Die Zauberflöte; Mr. Adam Cooley, painter and sculptor, on the art scene in Japan in advance of the Art and Architecture presentation of Tokyo Stories; and Mr Paul "The Movie Guy" Preston on the upcoming Cinema Series films Somewhere in Queens and Book Club:The Next Chapter. 

Notes from the Aisle Seat is available from most of your favorite podcast sites, including Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Music, as well as on the Opera House YouTube Channel. If you enjoy this podcast, please spread the word through your social media feeds, give us a link on your website, and consider becoming a follower by clicking the "Follow" button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

If you have an arts event you'd like to publicize, hit us up at [email protected] and let us know what you have! Please give us at least one month's notice to facilitate timely scheduling. Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps (approximate):

02:50 - Mr. Dan Ihasz on Die Zauberflöte

20:25 - Mr. Adam Cooley; Tokyo Stories

39:31 - Arts Calendar with Special Program Announcement

42:11 - "The Movie Guy" Mr. Paul Preston - Cinema Series

Media:

"Raganu Nakts (Witch Nights)", Latvian folk song, performed by Tautumeitas, June 23, 2018

Overture to Die Zauberflöte, W.A. Mozart, composer; performed by Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis, conductor, 1984 Universal International Music B.V.

"Rembo-nagashi," from the album Urban Music of the Edo Period (1603-1868), Ensemble Hijiri-Kaï, November 2021

"Let's Go to the Movies", from the musical Annie, composed by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, 1977; excerpt from the film version 1982

Overture from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Opus 21; Felix Mendelssohn, composer (1826), performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, conductor, 2002.

Artist Links:

Mr. Daniel Ihasz

Mr. Adam Cooley

Mr. Paul Preston "The Movie Guy"

Youtube Channel

Twitter