First Time for Everything: Actors, audience share a new theater experience with Open Stage’s “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit.”

September 30, 2021 | by Rachel Landon

Actors featured in “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit”

What makes a play a play? Take away the set, the costumes, the director and any rehearsal, and what are you left with?

In an intimate theater on Court Street, audiences are about to find out.

Let’s rewind a few years. In 2010, Nassim Soleimanpour was a young playwright who refused compulsory military service in Iran. Because he refused to be conscripted, he was denied a passport and forbidden to leave Iran. He was, in a way, imprisoned.

But even if Soleimanpour could not leave the country, he realized that his words could.

Fast forward to 2011. Soleimanpour’s play, “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit,” premieres at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is a critical success, played to sold-out houses, and is lauded by audiences for its brilliant originality.

The playwright, of course, was not in attendance. The show would continue to be a smash hit, being translated into dozens of languages and having hundreds of productions. And while his play would continue to travel the world, he would not.

All right. So. In most articles about plays, this would be a really good segue into the plot of the play. Here’s where I would tell you a bit about the story, the characters, the themes, etc. Where (if I did my job correctly) you would lean in and say, “Well that sounds interesting!” A tantalizing but tight paragraph that might fit into a TV Guide descriptor.

Here’s the rub: I can’t tell you.

It’s the worldwide phenomenon no one is supposed to talk about, but here’s the gist of it—the play has no team of designers, no director, no six-week rehearsal period. The actor will see the script the night of the performance, opening a sealed envelope in front of the audience right before the play is performed. It’s not a gimmick. It ties into a very important element of the show, and believe me when I tell you that the less you know about it, the more profound your experience will be.

Same goes for the actors in this play: they know nothing about what they are about to perform. The actor does get a few short directions before the show, before they open the sealed envelope with the script inside. And here’s another catch—once you’ve performed it, you can never perform it again. Theater is, by its very nature, ephemeral. And “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit” is perhaps the most momentary theatrical experience that any actor will ever have—no second nights, no do-overs.

And the actors! Believe me when I say that the lineup for the 12 performances of “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit” at Open Stage are powerhouses in the Harrisburg theater scene. These pillars of the community are artistic directors, drag performers, improvisers, theater educators, actors and singers, and each one has no idea what the show is about.

There have been a lot of big names who have performed “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit.” Americans will know actors like Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, F. Murray Abraham, Cynthia Nixon, Martin Short and Wayne Brady, just to name a few. You might notice these actors aren’t exactly cut from the same cloth. The author created a piece where your “type” doesn’t matter. The story and the experience transcend the individual, and the performer can be any age, any gender, any race, any anything. And audiences can have a profoundly different journey every night.

While I can’t tell you what the journey is, I can tell you that the journey you’ll have is hilarious, heartbreaking, disquieting, illuminating and absolutely transformative. It’s just something you have to experience yourself.

One minor spoiler—you will see one thing that is the same in every single performance: an empty chair in the front row. At every performance over the last 10 years of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit,” the playwright requests that a seat be saved for him.

“White Rabbit, Red Rabbit” runs Oct. 1 to 24 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, visit openstagehbg.com.

Special Events
At Open Stage

“White Rabbit, Red Rabbit”
a play by Nassim Soleimanpour
Oct. 1 to 24

Harrisburg Black NewsBeat
with Dr. Kimeka Campbell
Oct. 13 & 27 at 8:30 p.m.

The Obstructed View
Oct. 2 & 16 at 9:30 p.m.

The HallowQueen Ball
Drag Show & Costume Dance Party
Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.

Court Street Cabaret
Oct. 8 at 9:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

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Building Back: Habitat for Humanity hammers home safety, prepares for post-pandemic work.

September 30, 2021 | by Diane McNaughton

Serina Gaston on a recently built porch in Allison Hill.

They are building their way back.

After a year of silenced backhoes, Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area has a new executive director and a retooled commitment to home renovation.

As part of a global network that spans 70 countries and all 50 states, the nonprofit has become known for teams of volunteers in T-shirts and tool belts framing new houses, scaling scaffolding and raising walls in massive speed-builds. But here at home in Harrisburg, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lengthy construction shutdown and a shift in focus to home repairs.

Habitat hopes new home construction, paused in 2020 and 2021, will resume in 2022, according to Executive Director Serina Gaston, who assumed the reins in April.

This year, Habitat has bolstered its critical home repair program, improving existing homes with ongoing maintenance issues: leaky roofs, windows and doors; decaying porches and wobbly railings; broken bathrooms and dilapidated kitchens. Many of their jobs involve installing ramps and adding handrails to steps and showers.

Gaston noted that, every year, one in three adults over the age of 65 falls, often causing injury and even death. Their “Safe at Home” program repairs homes for seniors and adults with disabilities, with accessibility and safety as a focus.

Much of Habitat’s funding comes from individual donations, grants, and Managed Care Organizations such as Gateway Health Plan, which recently donated $60,000, earmarked for the homebound, those with disabilities and seniors.

In addition to home-building and repair, Habitat hosts a quarterly financial literacy workshop, and, of course, operates the Habitat ReStore, a used goods store that accepts small and large donations of new or gently used furniture, housewares, appliances, building materials and more.

Health Equity

A desire to make a home safer and healthier is built into Gaston’s DNA. She said that health care has been her lifelong passion, and safe, stable shelter is one of the foundations of good health.

“I have a heart for helping people,” she said.

That emphasis on food insecurity and healthier living began in her childhood in Elkins Park in Montgomery County. She has lived in central Pennsylvania for 24 years, after moving here to join her husband, a Steelton native. They met when they both were students at West Chester University.

Before coming to Habitat, Gaston worked as executive director of the Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network, where she educated low- to moderate-income families about the building blocks to health—the importance of eating a balanced diet and the dangers of obesity and diabetes.

She also helped create the Pennsylvania VeggieBook app and focused on improving the social determinants of health. In addition, she worked at the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and the state Department of Health and currently serves on the Pennsylvania United Way board, the state’s Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee and the Pennsylvania Chapter’s Society of Public Health Educators.

“My passion is health equity, and I believe that having a safe and decent place to live impacts your health,” Gaston said. “When we look at the social determinants of health, we can’t overlook having a safe place to live.”

Making Inroads

In the critical home repair program, the nonprofit partners with homeowners for internal and external renovations and repairs.

To qualify, applicants must be up-to-date on their property taxes and mortgage and have an income below 80 percent of the Dauphin County median family income.

For a family of four, that means income must fall below $67,900 or $54,350 for a two-person household.

If a resident qualifies, a construction team will go out and look at the project. Acting as both construction manager and coordinator, they will take pictures, talk to the homeowner and tap volunteers. If it’s a bigger job, like a roof, they may contract out the work, Gaston said.

There is no cost to the homeowner if they qualify.

“That is part of our mission,” Gaston said. “We want everyone to be able to live in a safe environment.”

The Etzweiler family was one beneficiary of the Critical Home Repair Program. They recently wrote to Gaston and her team:

“Thank you for the difference you have made. Through your help, we are getting closer to our goal of putting siding on our home, which will boost our confidence and self-esteem! Thank you for the windows you replaced, the bathroom floor and ceiling fan, the newer stove and hood with fan, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and all the electrical work that was done to improve our home situation. “

Whether in Harrisburg or Halifax, tough economic times have darkened the doorsteps of both rural and urban America, Gaston said.

They are making inroads. From 2006 to 2021, the nonprofit has completed 199 home repair projects and counting, prioritizing safety, energy-efficiency and code compliance.

Crystal Brown, a former board member of the nonprofit Tri-County Housing Development Corp. and once head of the Brethren Housing Association, applauds Gaston and the work of Habitat. Tri-County partnered with Habitat to do a three-house building blitz in 2018 along Swatara Street.

She also lauded Gaston for her commitment to housing equity, safety and fairness.

“She is a phenomenal woman and leader,” Brown said.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, visit www.harrisburghabitat.org or call 717-545-7299.

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Community Corner: Notable Events in October

September 30, 2021 | by Missy Smith

October Community Corner

HarvestFest
Oct. 1-2: Enjoy the fall season at a two-day craft festival of fall and winter décor, food, entertainment and activities at Mifflin County Youth Park, 110 W. Logan St., Reedsville. www.visitbigvalley.com

Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 1-31: Every weekend in October, the Rockhill Trolley Museum and East Broad Top Railroad, 421 Meadow St., Rockhill, will run scenic train ride through Aughwick Valley. Board a vintage trolley, pick out a pumpkin, enjoy some fun activities, shop with vendors and more. www.eastbroadtop.com

Gardening Event
Oct. 2: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host a gardening event at the Peffer Street Edible Forest Garden, 2002 Walter Alley, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are needed to weed and mulch the garden and help expose the buried sidewalk. Gloves and water bottles provided. www.hyp.org

HBG Flea
Oct. 2: Explore the HBG Flea on first Saturdays for art, handmade gifts and vintage wares from local artists and curators, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outdoor markets are held from May to October at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, and indoor markets are held from November to April at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. www.hbgflea.com

Harrisburg Hoopla
Oct. 2: Harrisburg Young Professionals and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities will host the fourth annual Harrisburg Hoopla at City Island, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy a friendly track-and-field day for adults, organized to build community, boost the economy and raise money for local nonprofits. Visit www.hyp.org

Book Fest
Oct. 2: The Chocolate Town Book Festival will be held at the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey, 2 to 5 p.m., followed by a piano night in the Reading Garden featuring pianists ages 9 or older, 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be held outdoors at the library, allowing attendees to meet and talk with local authors. In case of rain, the rescheduled date is Oct. 3. Attendees should bring lawn chairs. www.hersheylibrary.org

Fall Meet Week
Oct. 5-9: High-performance cars are in focus during the Eastern Regional Fall Meet, Hershey’s annual antique car show and festival. View period automobiles, see racecar demonstrations and visit the flea market. On Oct. 9, attend the annual “Night at the Museum” dinner and reception at the AACA Museum, 161 Museum Drive, Hershey, 6 to 10 p.m. www.hershey.aaca.com

Fall Storytime
Oct. 6: Kids ages 2 to 5 are invited to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a story session, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes, play and an activity will introduce Wildwood critters and share the joy of reading with young attendees. www.wildwoodlake.org

Book Festival
Oct. 6-10: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, hosts the ninth annual Harrisburg Book Festival with in-person bookstore hours, an outdoor tent sale and virtual author events with award-winning and bestselling authors. www.hbgbookfest.com

Networking Mixers
Oct. 6, 21: Join the West Shore Chamber of Commerce for networking mixers, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Oct. 6 at Good Hope Fire Station, 1200 Good Hope Rd., Mechanicsburg, and Oct. 21 at Duke’s Bar & Grille Riverside, 313 S. Front St., Wormleysburg. www.wschamber.org

Curiosity Kids
Oct. 7: Visitors, ages 3 to 6, and families can enjoy “Curiosity Kids—SHAPES!” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Discover two-dimensional shapes and learn what makes each one unique, while exploring the 2021 “Art of the State” exhibit in search of these shapes. Participants will use their artistic and creative skills to create artwork of their own. www.statemuseumpa.org

Bird Walk
Oct. 8: Join volunteers Rick and Peggy Price for a morning walk at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to look for fall warblers and other songbirds heading south, raptors including broad-winged and sharp-shinned hawks, and year-round resident birds. Meet in front of the Nature Center at 7:30 am. Pre-registration required. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Foreign Film
Oct. 8, 22: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “Another Round,” a film from Denmark, on Oct. 8, and “The Mole Agent,” a film from Chile, on Oct. 25. Showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. Registration is required, and film nights will be held at 50% capacity. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Golf Fundraiser
Oct 9: Daystar Center for Recovery will host a golf tournament fundraiser at Armitage Golf Course, 800 Orrs Bridge Rd., Mechanicsburg, 6 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. In addition to the four-person scramble, there will be contests with prizes, a lunch buffet and more. www.daystarrecovery.com

Space Day
Oct. 9: Celebrate “Space Day” at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Women in Space,” with keynote speaker Dr. Jan Davis, NASA astronaut, a viewing of “Apollo 11: First Steps Edition,” hands-on activities and more. www.whitakercenter.org

Volunteer Day
Oct. 9: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to enjoy the outdoors and help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tools and work gloves will be provided. Assume the workday is cancelled if it is raining. Pre-registration required. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Odd Ones Bizarre
Oct. 9: The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, hosts the Odd Ones Holiday Bizarre, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the corner of Verbeke and 3rd streets. Shop for unique, handcrafted items for the holiday season at this alternative arts and crafts event. www.millworksharrisburg.com

Homeschool Event
Oct. 12: Homeschool students are invited to Hershey Gardens, 63 West Chocolate Ave., to discover soil, worms and other creatures that live in the soil, to learn about the environment that exists beneath trees and shrubs, to visit the Bonsai exhibit, and to enjoy a garden story time, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. www.hersheygardens.org

Art Show
Oct. 15: The Civic Club of Harrisburg will host an art show at the Overlook Mansion, 612 N Front St., Harrisburg, 5 to 9 p.m., with about 15 local artists with work for sale. www.civicclubofharrisburg.com

3rd in The Burg
Oct. 15: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Harvest Fest
Oct. 16: Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale, hosts its annual Fall Harvest Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will feature live music, food trucks, vendors, kid games and more. www.centralpenn.edu

Wild Game Chef
Oct. 16: Join Rick Calla, the “Wild Game Chef,” for an afternoon of delectable dishes at Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd, Millersburg, 1 to 3 p.m. Admission is $20 per person or $35 per couple. Each guest will be able to taste the dishes the chef creates, learn about techniques involved, and how to pair with beer and wine. www.nedsmithcenter

Art Tour
Oct. 16-17: The third annual Hershey Hummelstown Art Studio Tour features 10 Hershey/Hummelstown artists who will open their studios to the public. Visitors can tour the studios, watch demonstrations, and purchase art. Studios will be open on Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 17, 12 to 5 p.m. Visit “Hershey Hummelstown Art Studio Tour” on Facebook.

Book Giveaway
Oct 23: Friends of Kline Library will hold a Halloween book giveaway for children, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg. Costumes welcome. www.dcls.org

Nature at Night
Oct. 23: Take an after-hours walk at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and watch the exhibit critters come to life. Then make s’mores around a campfire and sip apple cider, while taking in a Halloween story. Kids can dress as their favorite animal or in a costume. Bring a trick-or-treat bag. Cost is $5. www.wildwoodlake.org

Trunk or Treat
Oct. 24: AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, will host “Trunk or Treat,” 12 to 3 p.m. Kids are invited to dress in Halloween costumes, decorate their own goodie bags and hunt for treats in the museum. Watch Halloween-themed videos in the indoor drive-in theater and see a hearse vehicle display. www.aacamuseum.org

Over the Edge
Oct. 29: Rappel from the rooftop of 200 N. 3rd St. in downtown Harrisburg between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Raise funds and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region’s one-to-one youth mentoring programs. Register for this rooftop rappelling adventure at CAPBIGS.ORG.

Fall Garden Fun
Oct. 30: Join Penn State Extension Master Gardeners at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, to take care of your garden and support the birds in preparation for the upcoming winter months, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Workshops include indoor and outdoor components. Preregistration required. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

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Art, on the Mark: Maureen Marks teaches children, families to create, enjoy art.

September 30, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Maureen Marks

At Maureen Marks Arts in Lower Paxton Township, students aren’t expected to create art perfectly.

Instead, owner Maureen Marks encourages her classes to create.

“Art is important to kids because it’s one of the few subjects that has no right or wrong answers,” she said. “Kids need to have that creative part during their development. You need to know there are possibilities.”

After years of teaching art in area public schools, Marks started teaching in her home, then in West Hanover Township. Four years ago, she renovated her current spacious, bright studio on Sunset Avenue in Lower Paxton from a building that once housed offices.

“I’ve been involved with doing art pretty much since birth,” Marks recalled. “My dad wanted me to be an English teacher, but I couldn’t stop making things.”

Maureen Marks Arts offers a wide variety of fall and spring classes each year for ages 3 to adult. Fall sessions usually attract a total of 120 students in all age groups with a “90% to 95% return rate,” she said.

Media instruction ranges from drawing, painting, clay, printmaking, pastel and crafts such as jewelry making.

The facility also offers a variety of public or private art parties and events, as well as several youth camps and “pop-up” events each year. Family paint nights held there are open to ages 8 and up.

Like many area venues, COVID-19 and the state’s pandemic orders have been a major challenge. Last year, the business was forced to close entirely from March through June. When it reopened, class sizes were reduced to meet state social distancing mandates. Masks were required, as well, and parents of students could no longer enter the building.

To further adhere to social distancing mandates, Marks split her 2020 summer art camps into two sessions each. Today, she still conducts classes “doing individual everything” with art supplies. “I’m still trying to separate things,” she said.

Marks also posted instructional project videos online during the pandemic.

“With COVID, everyone turned to art,” she said. “The soul needs this.”

Fun, Carefree

The Hamiltons are one of many families that have joined together for various activities at Maureen Marks Arts.

“Everyone in our family has been involved there at one time or another,” said Elizabeth “Liz” Hamilton, mother of Brooke, 14, Audrey, 10, and Landon, 6. The Lower Paxton Township family started going there in 2016 after a friend recommended it for Brooke’s birthday party.

Elizabeth Hamilton said she often participates in “pop-up classes” with friends or family at Marks Arts, such as holiday painting or watercolor events. Her favorite projects include a Christmas card with a pickup truck illustration, a Valentine gnome and wooden pumpkins made with her children.

“I never really thought of myself as an artist, but Maureen offers so many different materials to work with, and she explains it so well,” Elizabeth said. “I learned to have fun with it and not stress out about making it perfect. It’s fun to remember who we were with for each of the classes. Maureen is a great teacher. It’s been great seeing her giving the kids her knowledge.”

Brooke Hamilton has regularly attended sessions at Marks Arts since her initial birthday party there five years ago. From there, she was inspired to begin crafting her own jewelry at home, according to her mother.

“I’m really glad that Brooke found a craft there that she could take home and run with,” Elizabeth said. “When she’s not reading, she’s downstairs at her art table.”

Brooke, a freshman at Central Dauphin High School, said that she hopes someday to land a job “that has something to do with art.” Her favorite project done with Marks was a tree collage set on canvas using a variety of different materials.

“I liked crafting on my own before this, but she made it really fun and carefree,” Brooke said. “I have two really good friends who go there with me, and you have a lot of time to do things there, like around hour or an hour and a half for each one.”

In turn, Marks said she “loves going to work every day.”

“No two days are the same,” she added.

She also said that she enjoys watching her students grow both in art skills and in life skills.

“Part of kids learning to have self-esteem is working through your mistakes,” she said. “In art, it’s OK to make mistakes.”

Maureen Marks Arts is located at 103 Sunset Ave., Harrisburg. For information, call 717-545-5815 or visit www.maureenmarksarts.com.

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Seventh Heaven: Seven Mountain Wine Cellars is a swill destination.

September 30, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Nathan Bubb of Seven Mountains Wine Cellars admits he has a hard time remembering the names of all seven mountains.

“There’s Broad Mountain, Long Mountain… I can’t name them all off the top of my head, although I probably should,” he said with a laugh, as he points to the seven peaks outlined on his wineglass, part of the winery’s logo.

If you’ve ever driven U.S. Route 322 from Harrisburg toward State College, you’ve traveled up and over the area known as “seven mountains.” The steep, twisting stretch of highway—also seven miles—transports you from Mifflin into Centre County.

But after summiting the seventh mountain, rather than continuing on to State College and Happy Valley—especially if you’re a wine lover—you just might be, appropriately enough, in seventh heaven.

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars—right off the highway, but in the woods near Bald Eagle State Forest—is a destination in itself. That’s because, with 40 varieties on the wine list at any one time—many of them award-winners—there’s a reason for everyone to raise a glass to the father-son winemakers.

Wine Wins

“Most wineries have half the selection of what we have,” Bubb said. “The good side of that is that we have a little bit of everything for customers to try. There’s something for everyone, from big, bold, dry reds to softer reds, and dry acidic whites to semi-sweet whites, to really sweet Niagaras, Concords and some interesting port wines and sherry wines, as well.”

What could possibly be the downside?

“It can be a nightmare downstairs, juggling things from tank to tank,” Bubb said.

He points “downstairs,” under the large, shaded patio to the heart of the winery’s operations—the cool, cave-like wine cellars below—literally inside the mountain.

Not only has Seven Mountains racked up dozens of awards in state competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, but their white German-style wine, Traminette, took a double gold medal in national competition at the American Wine Society’s 2019 competition in Palm Beach.

The awards are the rewards for the family-owned and operated winery founded by Bubb’s father Scott about 15 years ago. At the time, Scott was ranked one of the top-10 amateur winemakers in the country. When Scott learned he’d be losing his full-time manufacturing job, it was the motivation he needed to pour his energies into full-time winemaking.

“He started with a small amount of wine—4,000 gallons—and things went crazy. In six or seven years, he was in the 20,000-gallon range, which is hard for one person to do,” said Bubb.

That’s when Nathan came on board, and Seven Mountains’ operations elevated from a solo winemaker to a father-son team.

But you won’t find vineyards on the property—there are too many deer that would eat the grapes, Bubb said, speaking from experience and failed attempts.

“We’re not farmers—we would rather focus 110% of our time on making great wine,” said Bubb. “But 80% of the grapes we purchase are from PA, and we process everything here on site.”

Moving Mountains

The pandemic threw them, like many small businesses, off a cliff and into new territory.

“My job was primarily in the basement [wine cellars] before COVID, but now I’ve picked up doing all the deliveries,” Bubb said. “We supply 40-some grocery stores across the state, and when everything was shut down, our grocery store sales went through the roof. It was just insane, but it introduced a lot of people to our wines.”

You can find Seven Mountains wine at the Mechanicsburg and Lancaster Wegmans, numerous Giant Supermarkets, Carlisle’s Castlerigg Wine Shop, even new Pennsylvania Libations locations—in Pittsburgh’s Strip District and Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market.

The Bubb family also owns and operates Reedsville’s Stone Fly Café, where suggested wines are paired with Italian/American menu items. Their Pinot Noir, for example, complements the Balsamic Roasted Salmon Panini. And who wouldn’t enjoy a little Blackberry Merlot paired with the ultimate comfort food—a dreamy Nutella or Peanut Butter & Jelly Panini?

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is one of about a dozen stops on the Central Pennsylvania Tasting Trail, organized by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. And it’s one of 54 destinations cultivated into Happy Valley Agventures, an agritourism initiative that promotes authentic foodie experiences showcasing Centre County’s farmers markets, small farms and ag-related small businesses, organized by the area’s tourism bureau and chamber of commerce.

“Our roots run deep here in Happy Valley with agricultural heritage,” said Ed Stoddard with the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “We really honor the land where we live and where our food comes from.”

It all ties into the enduring legacy of agriculture, on land that sits in the shadow of Penn State University—originally founded by farmers.

“It’s so beautiful back here in the woods. We are literally smack-dab in the mountains, surrounded by nature,” Bubb said, gesturing across the sun-dappled patio encircled by trees.

“We have lots of people who come and bring their laptops during the day, using our guest WiFi to work during the day—people who normally work from home—but I don’t want to get anybody in trouble.”

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is located at 324 Decker Valley Rd., Spring Mills. For more information on locations in this story, visit sevenmountainswinecellars.com, centralpatastingtrail.com and happyvalleyagventures.com.

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Big Picture: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Capital Region poised to meet rising needs of pandemic-era youth.

September 30, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Amy Rote, Mary Murphy, Krystina Shultz, Roe Braddy & Rich Carroll of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region

Amy Rote calls it “the real issue” facing area kids right now: mental health.

“School districts will address the educational gap, but the real issue is the mental health needs of our kids from the pandemic—that’s where our primary focus is,” said Rote, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR).

She’s speaking from experience. The career path that led Rote to BBBSCR began in the mental health field.

“What led me to Big Brothers Big Sisters is its mission—creating supportive friendships that help kids build resiliency and skills,” she said. “It felt like the perfect fit.”

The nonprofit’s mission is to “create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth” over a five-county area.

Rote served as the organization’s vice president of programs beginning in 2013, when she went into “creation mode,” expanding the organization’s programs to meet escalating challenges facing youth.

“When I came on board, the previous CEO [Maddie Young, who now serves as the Carlisle YWCA’s executive director] was an incredible mentor,” Rote said. “Together, we recognized that our organization had the opportunity to do much greater things by responding to what our kids were dealing with then—the opioid epidemic, incarceration, trauma in relation to social changes in technology, cyber-bullying, a lack of physical exercise—all of these things were happening.”

Little did she know, socioeconomic issues would be compounded by a worldwide pandemic.

In 2020, when Young departed, Rote was named president and CEO. And while many nonprofits were and are struggling—and downsizing programs under pandemic-related stress—Rote and the BBBSCR board knew they had to do the opposite in the face of the pandemic: They needed to go big.

“We want to serve more youth and increase the families we’re impacting. Growth is a priority because kids need mentors now more than ever,” Rote said. “I needed to invest in our leadership team first, and I was picky because these programs and the people in them mean everything to me.”

As the organization maintained and supported about 400 matched community mentors (“bigs”) and area youth (“littles”) through 2021, Rote built her team by hiring Mary Murphy as director of development and Rovenia “Roe” Braddy as vice president of programs.

“What I love about these two ladies is their positivity,” Rote said. “We talk to our kids, our ‘littles,’ about surrounding themselves with positives—this organization needs positivity.”

Murphy, with an extensive background in marketing, was seeking a position that would “fulfill a sense of purpose and meaning” and “make a difference in the community.”

“And the more I did my research on Big Brother Big Sisters, the more I fell in love with it because it connected all the dots for me,” said Murphy, of Lewisberry.

“Mary stood out to me,” said Rote, “Because our organization is about connections and relationships, and when it comes to the development position, she can articulate what this mission is about. When you see how [BBBSCR] relationships are affecting kids and families, then we know the funding will come. And in Mary, we found someone to share our story with her heart.”

Over the Edge

Meantime, Braddy, of Harrisburg, taught for 28 years in the Harrisburg and Central Dauphin school districts, but calls her hiring by BBBSCR “totally accidental.”

She was dreaming of starting up a program to help area youth, and she fatefully shared her ideas with a friend who had recently become a “big” for BBBSCR. That friend suggested Braddy reach out to Rote.

“For me, what really sold me on this program was the opportunity to use my background in curriculum development,” said Braddy. “And I had a different viewpoint—being a woman of color gives you the opportunity to look at the kids you’re serving and connect with them, because you look like they do.”

In her prior teaching roles, Braddy had felt the frustration of trying to teach students things like the finer points of MLA Style for research papers, juxtaposed against their struggles with life skills. Things, it turns out, an organization focused on mentorship might impart.

“She not only had the educational background, but that commitment and dedication to kids—she has a passion for connections with children,” Rote said of Braddy.

With the leadership team in place, and engaged board members devising fundraising events to make up for the longstanding but pandemic-canceled Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Rote hired one more key person—Rich Carroll as events and engagement manager.

Carroll, with a background in nonprofits and events, was given a tall task as his first assignment—planning Over the Edge, a fundraising adventure challenge in which participants rappel 21 stories down the Fulton Bank building.

“I’ve never done anything like it,” said Carroll, of Etters. “I’ve gone through National Guard training and obstacle courses, but certainly not rappelling 21 stories. But it’s important to participate in events I’m working, so I’m going to do it.”

As 76 brave individuals go Over the Edge (spaces are still available) on Oct. 29, Carroll is aiming high with a $100,000 fundraising goal. BBBSCR’s annual operating budget is $1 million.

Perhaps the height of the building illustrates the growth Rote sees on the nonprofit’s horizon.

A new BBBSCR program, “Harrisburg Youth Rise: Stand Together,” begins meeting at Whitaker Center in October to bridge gaps in technology and match middle school “littles” with BIPOC community leader “bigs.”

At a time when Rote feels all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place for BBBSCR, the organization is also gearing up for its 40th anniversary celebration on Dec. 7.

“I want to celebrate 40 years of people who have been part of our family—we are a network. As soon as you say Big Brothers Big Sisters, people understand,” said Rote. “Many of our kids who were ‘littles’ went toward their dreams and came back to the organization as ‘bigs.’ We have mentors who ended up hiring their ‘littles’ into their companies. We have so many stories to celebrate.”

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, including Over the Edge, see capbigs.org.

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Safe & Sounds: Harrisburg Symphony opens its live music season, in a new space, with safety in mind.

September 30, 2021 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

The symphonic hall is again alive.

This month, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra opens its 2021-22 season, having shared with many arts organizations the need to go virtual last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But, as it geared up for its first live concerts since February 2020, HSO faced an additional challenge. Renovations to the 90-year-old Forum in the Capitol Complex, its long-time home, forced it to seek another, temporary performance space for the season.

Right from the beginning, HSO has endured substantial challenges. When a group of music lovers decided to establish a symphony in Harrisburg, the country was in the throes of the Great Depression. Nevertheless, the founders moved ahead, with the first concert at Harrisburg’s William Penn High School on March 19, 1931, with a move to the Forum soon after.

Luckily, the search for a new, temporary home to resume live concerts was not as daunting as some expected.

“Even as it became possible to perform live again, HSO had to find a performance space large enough and attractive enough to substitute for the awe-inspiring Forum space,” said Matthew Herren, the symphony’s executive director. “Fortunately, we found a replacement in the Scottish Rite Theatre, which is a hidden gem near Italian Lake in Uptown Harrisburg.”

Built in 1954, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, at 2701 N. 3rd St., offers an entertainment venue that seats nearly 1,200 people, with 800 convenient parking spaces.

“It has a welcoming atmosphere, a large stage for our orchestra, and plenty of comfortable seating for our patrons,” Herren said.

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services, which operates the Forum, is “looking forward to the return of the HSO and its patrons to its historic auditorium after renovations are completed,” said Curt Topper, secretary of the department. “For nearly a century, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra has called the Forum auditorium home.’

Of course, the heart of the symphony’s new season is the live music, noted Stuart Malina, music director and maestro.

“I’m very excited to be returning to live performances for a live audience,” he said.

For the season, HSO will present two series—Masterworks and the Capital Blue Pops.

Masterworks begins the weekend of Oct. 2-3 with the theme of “Picture Perfect.” The pieces to be performed include “Three Latin-American Dances” by Gabriela Lena Frank, a lush new piano concerto by HSO composer-in- residence Jonathan Leshnoff, and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

The opening Pops concert, the weekend of Oct. 23-24, is a tribute to John Williams, one of the leading film composers.

The Masterworks series continues Nov. 13-14 with a theme of “Sweeping Landscapes.” Pieces to be performed include “Sinfonietta No. 1” by Mieczyslaw Weinberg, David Ludwig’s “Pictures from the Floating World,” with bassoonist Joseph Grimmer, and Jean Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 1.”

For the season, HSO tried hard—and succeeded—to maintain much of the programming that had been planned for 2020-21.

“Some changes had to be made, mostly due to ongoing COVID concerns,” Malina said. “For example, we are delaying any choral work and scheduling. But we kept the bulk of the existing programming.”

As of now, HSO is planning to keep to the announced program, “barring any major downturn,” he added.

Another point of excitement is that several composers represented in the symphony’s Masterworks series are not heard often in the concert hall, Herren said. These include Valerie Coleman, Carlos Simon and Gabriela Lena Frank.

Along with the renewed live concerts, HSO is emphasizing the development of its youth orchestra programs and its increased efforts toward diversity, inclusivity and equality, according to Pat Ferris, the new chair of the board.

In addition, the HSO Symphony Society, the fundraising arm, will sponsor a gala at Ashcombe Mansion in Mechanicsburg in April.

Of course, there is likely one more thing on concert attendees’ minds, aside from enthusiasm over the return of live music.

On its website, HSO states that it “strongly recommends” vaccinations for audience members and “masks for those at risk.” It also states that they will “continue to monitor CDC and state/local government guidelines.”

“We’re trying to ensure a safe environment for everyone,” Herren said. “Some people may have reservations about being in a large environment, and we understand. This is a deeply personal choice.”

For more information on the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, including tickets, visit www.harrisburgsymphony.org or call the box office at 717-545-5598.

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Leveling Down: High cholesterol remains a quieter community health crisis.

September 30, 2021 | by Capital Blue Cross Staff

COVID-19 is the ever-evolving public crisis we talk about daily. But there is another widespread, enduring and far-quieter potential killer still gripping our country and communities.

High cholesterol comes without symptoms until—if left untreated—it’s too late.

That’s part of the reason it continues to afflict nearly 40%, or roughly 93 million, of American adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So, despite a dramatic drop since 2000 in the number of Americans with high cholesterol—the CDC says about a third fewer Americans have high cholesterol now than in 2000—it’s clearly still a crisis impacting our communities. It’s not just an adult crisis, either. Though most common among men 45 and over and women over 55, 7% of U.S. children age 6 to 19 also have perilous levels of the plaque-like substance that can clog arteries and restrict blood flow.

Consequences can be dire. According to a 2020 America’s Health Rankings’ (AHR) report, elevated LDL—or “bad”—cholesterol doubles the risk of heart disease, the country’s leading cause of death. It’s also a major risk factor for stroke, the fifth-leading killer.

That’s because too much LDL can build up to eventually block a coronary artery and cause a heart attack or limit blood flow to the brain and trigger a stroke.

The CDC reports that heart disease and strokes combine to claim more than 868,000 American lives each year, deaths made all the more tragic by how preventable they are.

“We know with confidence that there are many steps we can take to help modify our cholesterol levels,” said Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross. “Regular screenings, a healthier diet, weight loss, more exercise, and prescribed medications can all dramatically lower our cholesterol levels and our risk.”

Testing, Treatment

Because high cholesterol comes without symptoms until it’s sometimes too late, it too often goes untreated. An illustration: the CDC says that only 55% of adults who could benefit from proven cholesterol-lowering medications, the most passive approach to controlling the problem, actually take them.

That’s part of why the American Heart Association urges adults 20 and older to get bloodwork every four to six years to check cholesterol levels. Should screenings reveal dangerous ranges, experts across the board share certain recommendations to lower cholesterol:

Cholesterol-lowering medications when prescribed. These include those in the widely used statin family.
Diets low in saturated fats. Saturated, or “bad,” fats are the main culprits leading to high LDL.
Effective weight management programs. Excess body fat makes it harder for the body to eliminate bad cholesterol from the blood. So discuss with your doctor a food and fitness plan that gets you to, or keeps you at, your ideal weight.
Quitting smoking. Smoking makes LDL “stickier,” meaning it is more prone to cling and clog arteries. It also lowers HDL, or “good,” cholesterol, which tends to carry cholesterol away from artery walls. So, quitting helps on two levels.

Largely due to a marked increase in Americans who take cholesterol-lowering medication, watch their diets, and no longer smoke, the percentage of U.S. adults with high LDL more than halved from 1976 to 2010, reports the CDC, with those age 65 to 74 making the most progress. Just 30% of them had high LDL by 2010, down from 72% in the late ’70s.

Here to Help

Despite the dramatic progress over the past several decades, there’s still plenty of ground to cover in the fight against high cholesterol. Having health insurance that covers cholesterol screening, counseling and treatment can really help.

Capital Blue Cross, for instance, offers a variety of preventive services with no cost share to members who have standard benefit coverage. Services related to healthy cholesterol levels may include:

An annual preventive visit to review health, as well as family and personal risk factors.
Preventive medications such as statins. See a full covered medication list at capbluecross.com.
A lab test, called a lipid panel, to check cholesterol levels.
Blood pressure screenings.
Behavioral counseling for cardiovascular disease prevention.

“High cholesterol doesn’t have to remain the potentially deadly risk it is for so many,” Dr. Chambers said. “There’s a lot we can do to decrease dangerous levels relatively quickly if we recognize the danger in letting it go unchecked and make a commitment to managing it.”

For more information about Capital Blue Cross, visit www.capbluecross.com.

This column is sponsored by Capital Blue Cross.

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A Better Check-Up: Fundraiser to assist Hall Manor health clinic.

September 30, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Like many organizations, the Community Check-Up Center has been through a lot since COVID hit. As a healthcare-based nonprofit, it may have endured even more than most.

Now, with a big fundraiser on tap, it’s looking to rebound for its beneficiaries—the underserved health community in Harrisburg.

For nearly 30 years, the Community Check-Up Center has offered quality medical care in the Hall Manor community for children and adults who may not be accepted elsewhere due to a lack of insurance or available funds. The nonprofit’s stated mission is to welcome, respect and treat all who come for care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Currently, the center serves a growing roster of around 2,000 pediatric and women care patients, said Holly Leggett, who serves as co-president of the nonprofit’s board of directors, along with Diane Voda.

“I’m an advocate for available quality care for everyone,” said Leggett, who first became involved with the center around 10 years ago. “We see patients whether they can pay or not. The health of one citizen in the area can affect all the rest of the community.”

The clinic was started in 1994 by four frustrated Head Start moms, long tired of hitting brick walls while seeking medical care for their children within their means. Initially, the facility offered only pediatric care but later expanded to include gynecological and family planning services, based on community need.

Today, the center’s busy staff includes two doctors, two licensed nurse practitioners, three administrators and four medical assistants. More staff is needed, however, as patient numbers continue to increase, Leggett said. Volunteers are restricted from assisting with patient care due to federal health rules, so instead tend to outside grounds or housekeeping, read to visiting children and other tasks.

Local author, teacher and photographer Deanne Burch began serving on the center’s board of directors and development committee around two years ago.

“I knew people on the board and was really interested in it,” she recalled.

Burch helps to organize fundraiser events benefiting the Check-Up Center, which includes an upcoming event on Nov. 13. An invitation-only fundraiser dinner kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Vrai restaurant and bar in Lemoyne.

Vrai owner Shelly Page, who is Burch’s neighbor, serves on the Check-Up Center’s leadership council and is donating the restaurant’s food, beverages and service for the event, which she hopes will raise $100,000 and gain new sponsors for the facility. Joining the effort is Shelly’s husband, Mike Page, who retired in July as a general surgeon with UPMC.

Leggett said that the center “operates on a prayer that we continue every day,” garnering 60% of its funding through community support such as foundations, local businesses and individuals. Its remaining portion is funded through state Medicaid reimbursements and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, a private, nonprofit “dedicated to improving health, preventing disease and promoting wellness,” according to its Facebook page.

Shelly Page initiated the upcoming Vrai fundraiser with a focus on Burch’s “inspiring” book, “Journey Through Fire and Ice: Shattered Dreams Above The Arctic Circle,” which was published earlier this year.

“I had read Deanne’s book and thought it would be a great thing for people to come and talk about it,” she said. “The story just has so many elements.”

In her book, Burch writes about a life-changing ordeal she endured as a young woman more than 50 years ago when accompanying her husband Tiger to a remote Alaska village near the Arctic Circle. The couple remained there for months while Tiger conducted a study of the area, making do without basic plumbing and electricity.

Within a span of days there, the Burches narrowly escaped death while camping, followed by Tiger suffering severe burns when their house caught fire. Despite a three-month hospital stay, Tiger’s seared lungs never recovered, Burch writes.

“I thought I had a good story because I’ve been through a lot,” Burch reflected. “It’s a story about overcoming tragedy.”

Burch will be on hand selling copies of her book at the upcoming Vrai fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting Community Check-Up Center.

“When you get involved like this, you’re helping the people in Hall Manor,” Burch noted. “An ex-director told me our greatest need (at the center) is staffing, but in general, I believe our greatest need is getting all people vaccinated.”

The Community Check-Up Center also serves as a conduit that refers individuals to outside agencies for other needs. Leggett cited clients’ “greatest needs” as “an assurance that they have a roof over their head, food on the table, medical care and a chance for life.”

The Community Check-Up Center is open weekdays at 38 Hall Manor Pl., Harrisburg. For information, visit www.communitycheckupcenter.org or call 717-233-1700.

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A Season of Their Own: For the 2021-22 mainstage, Gamut Theatre exclusively features women directors.

September 30, 2021 | by Carolina Nicholson

Rachita Menon, Melissa Nicholson, Sharia Benn, Francesca Amendolia

For the first time in its nearly 30-year history, Gamut Theatre will have all female directors for its mainstage season.

The directors of Gamut’s 29th season are a powerful and unique group of women. Each will bring her own vision to the Select Medical Mainstage over the course of the year.

Season 29 will open with back-to-back direction from Gamut’s Executive Director Melissa Nicholson. First up is a public showing of the 2021-22 educational engagement production “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which has been adapted by Melissa and Clark Nicholson.

Though it is her fifth time directing the play, Melissa Nicholson is still finding new and exciting ways to introduce the next generation to Shakespeare.

“I don’t even mind going through the play again,” she said. “I’m always finding something in the source material that I didn’t find last time.”

“Midsummer,” running Oct. 8 to 17, is a pinnacle example of a magical story, which really sets the tone for the rest of the season. In fact, “a little bit of magic” seems to be the theme at Gamut this year.

Next comes “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass,” an adaptation of the absurd and delightful books by Lewis Carroll. While “Alice’s Adventures” will be very different from other classic children’s stories (because there is no specific lesson at the end), Nicholson feels there is a greater meaning available—when you take the time to notice it.

“I feel that Alice is universally relatable for most of us who grew up with her story,” she said. “As a woman who broke the mold a few times in my life, it is especially meaningful to watch this young girl who can’t seem to fit in anywhere or get herself out of trouble.”

Sometimes, that spark of creativity and being different leads people to their “ultimate station in life,” she added.

“But some of this story is purely just good fun,” Nicholson said, laughing.

You’ll have a chance to see the giant Cheshire Cat puppet and the full cast of playful characters, Nov. 6 to 28.

In 2022, the magical shows get more intentional and earnest. Gamut will celebrate Black history by partnering with Sankofa African-American Theatre Company.

“Echoes of Voices of the Eighth,” an expansion of the show from 2019, will debut Feb. 11 to 20. Written and directed by Sankofa’s Executive Artistic Director Sharia Benn, this play uses the stage to connect a present teenager with generations past. Benn brings to life the people who once lived in the Old Eighth Ward, where part of Harrisburg’s Capitol Complex now sits.

“When you know your past—for yourself—you have strength and truth for the journey ahead of you,” Benn said.

The show encourages celebration of the self and one’s history, especially in Harrisburg, where many are unfamiliar with the roots directly under their feet. Benn brings this history alive for current and future generations with her new script.

In March, Gamut will present “Orlando,” directed by Francesca Amendolia. It’s a story that transforms itself and its characters and brings audiences along on a journey through centuries.

Orlando, a young nobleman in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, yearns for love and adventure and to find his place in the world. So strong is his longing that he becomes untethered in time. Two hundred years of adventures and love later, Orlando, who is now only 30, awakes from a weeklong sleep to discover he has become a woman. Transformed and yet essentially the same person, Orlando still hungers for adventure and love and understanding.

Adapted from the novel Virginia Woolf wrote for her lover, Vita Sackville-West, Sarah Ruhl’s “Orlando” is a hilarious, tender and joyful celebration of queer love, gender and the complicated and beautiful journey we all must take to discover our true selves.

“‘Orlando’ tells us that people do not need to be defined or confined by gender, fashion, society, or even time itself,” Amendolia said. “Orlando does not age or die because they are so determined to figure out who they are, to find their voice, and that means they must discard their assigned gender to explore more of what it means to be fully Orlando.”

Rachita Menon will co-direct the Young Acting Company’s “Panchatantra Tales” with Melissa Nicholson this spring. The show, portrayed by students ages 8 to 18, will detail a compilation of lessons-turned-stories from India.

“My entire childhood flashes in front of me when I think about these stories and what they meant to me growing up,” Menon said.

It will come to the Gamut stage April 8 to 10 for four performances only, complete with animals, dances, adorable faces and a little bit of magic.

The directors of this season will bring a combination of warmth, excellence, synergy and fearlessness to the mainstage, which in turn will create one of Gamut’s most diverse seasons yet.

Gamut Theatre is located at 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, call 717-238-4111 or visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

Special Events
at Gamut Theatre

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
By William Shakespeare
Oct. 8 to 17
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to the performance.
Tickets are “pick your price.” You can choose the recommended $38 ticket or a discounted ticket price of $26 or $14.

TMI Improv
Friday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Tickets are $10.

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