The Citizen gallery listings, June 29-July 5: 'Cayuga Naturally' and more:
https://auburnpub.com/entertainment/...9530b4d89c1102
Preview: Vicki Lewis leads The Rev's 'quirky' 'Into the Woods':
https://auburnpub.com/news/local/pre...9530b4d89c1102
"Vicki Lewis knows an actor-friendly environment when she sees one.
A familiar face from TV shows like "NewsRadio" and a familiar voice from movies like "Finding Nemo," Lewis will portray the Witch in The Rev Theatre Company's production of "Into the Woods" in July.
Speaking to The Citizen during a break from rehearsal, Lewis said audiences will see an unpredictable production of Stephen Sondheim's hit 1987 musical at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Owasco.
"We're being allowed and encouraged to bring our own quirky selves to it. I don't feel like we're being put in places other productions put people," she said Tuesday. "They've hired so many talented, individualistic people who are so uniquely gifted, and are encouraging us to use those skills. There's a uniqueness to it because of that. I feel absolutely free to be insanely hilarious and also heartbroken."
Still, Lewis continued, The Rev Producing Artistic Director Brett Smock is directing a production that honors Sondheim's music and lyrics. Based on several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, "Into the Woods" follows a Baker and his Wife as they try to begin a family, only to be cursed by the Witch. Characters come from tales like "Little Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Rapunzel" and more.
Lewis, who has performed extensively on Broadway ("Anastasia," "Chicago," "Damn Yankees"), portrayed the Baker's Wife in a Sacramento production of "Into the Woods" in 2009. She's always wanted to play the Witch, she said, but believes she wasn't quite old enough for the role until recently. Meryl Streep portrayed the character in the 2014 Disney movie adaptation of the musical.
"Vocally, it has a lot of comedy in it. I rarely get cast to do a drama and a musical, usually it's something comedic. But here I get both worlds," Lewis said. "I'm having an incredible time doing it."
The Rev's production will feature 22 performers in the ensemble and as understudies, 14 of whom have previously appeared on the Owasco stage. Lewis praised them and the Rev for their commitment to professional theater that pushes boundaries, as the company educates youth at schools across New York and develops new musicals in addition to producing shows at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.
"To teach, to give back, to honor theater in a true sense — this is a great facility," she said. "It's run beautifully (and) a gorgeous space with a lot of integrity."
More about The Rev:
https://therevtheatre.com/?utm_sourc...SAAEgKaRvD_BwE
Weedsport considering eight potential nicknames to replace "Warriors":
https://auburnpub.com/sports/high-sc...9530b4d89c1102
"The Weedsport Central School District is one step closer to determining a replacement for its longtime Native American-based nickname.
At its board of education meeting on Monday, Weedsport approved a resolution to terminate the "Warriors" nickname and related imagery by June 30, 2025.
The school district also presented eight potential nicknames, and is seeking community input before making a final choice.
The choices are Centurions, Gators, Green Storm, Hawks, Shamrocks, Snapping Turtles, Waves and Woodchucks.
While determining a new nickname, the school district is asking the community to consider several determining factors for the new nickname, including a color scheme that complements the school district’s green and white theme, is relevant to the school and community, and has a quality of timelessness.
Weedsport will consider community input through July 7, and will accept emails at
logo@weedsport.org."
Moravia gathers ideas for spending $2.25M economic development grant:
https://auburnpub.com/business/local...9530b4d89c1102
"Village of Moravia residents are suggesting changes they want to see in their community through an economic development grant.
Around 60 people attended a meeting Wednesday night to get community input on possible uses for the $2.25 million New York Forward grant the village has secured.
In February, the village was announced as one of the central New York region winners for the program, which is focused on bringing government funding to smaller areas hoping to revitalize their downtowns. Moravia's original application for the program included a $6.5 million plan with 18 proposed projects, half of which would either renovate or restore nine buildings on Main Street in the village. Other projects included on the application were improvements to Ethel Fuller Park, providing broadband service in public areas and creating a history trail.
Phil Schaeffing, associate and senior planner/urban designer for Stantec, the state's consulting firm for New York Forward projects in central New York, talked about the program's intent at Wednesday's event held at the village fire station.
"This funding is meant to go towards making projects happen that will create new public spaces, that will turn empty buildings into new uses, and that generally will help make downtown an even better place for you, the residents, your neighbors," he said. "Make it a place that neighbors want to stop by and spend money at local businesses and just generally contribute to the economy and character here at the village."
While all project ideas are being encouraged at this stage, Schaeffing later noted that when applications are being turned in for the program, it is helpful for these potential projects to have additional funding largely secured, along with project drawings and ownership of the site.
"What we will be doing through this planning process starting today and through this fall is to ultimately develop what's called a strategic investment plan and that plan is going to talk a little bit about what the village is like today, what's going really well, what can be improved, what sort of challenges you're facing and then it's going to have a list of projects that are recommended by a local planning committee for the state to consider for this implementation funding," Schaeffing said. "These are meant to be projects that are more than just an idea, they're pretty far along, they own the property, they have a lot of their funding lined up and they need a little more money to be able to get over that hump and to break ground and get going."
That strategic investment plan is meant to be "sort of the road map not just for this New York Forward plan and implementation funds, but even going into the future as the village pursues other funding sources, looks at other projects, this sort of sets the stage" for other possible improvements in the future beyond this funding, he continued.
This process is a partnership between Moravia's local NY Forward planning committee — which includes village residents and business owners — the community, the state and Stantec, and other consulting firms. Schaeffing later said consultants will be able to help out with fleshing out aspects of these potential projects.
In October, the local planning committee will submit the projects and the amount of money requested for each to the state, which will ultimately approve which endeavors get funded.
Schaeffing emphasized the importance of implementable projects as opposed to simply "good ideas" that don't have a way forward at the movement and said the projects should be large enough to make an impact in the downtown area. Another requirement of the selected projects is that ground can be broken on them within two years of getting the funding."
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