PENTANGLE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

IN JUST SIX MONTHS, PENTANGLE DELIVERED AN IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF EVENTSFROM NEW INITIATIVES TO BELOVED TRADITIONS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: THE PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF TANGO TONIGHT SIX MUSIC BY THE RIVER CONCERTS, DRAWING RECORD WEEKLY AUDIENCES OF NEARLY 400 ATTENDEES A FIRST-EVER COSTUME PARADE AND RAFFLE DURING THE WICKED MOVIE CELEBRATION PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL FAVORITES THE DROP OFFS AND THE FREEZE BROTHERS A RECORD TURNOUT FOR THE VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT SASKADENA SIX VERMONT CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS AT THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH A NEW WASSAIL WEEKEND TRADITION: A CANDLELIT COMMUNITY WALK AT DUSK WITH CIDER ON THE GREEN THE ANNUAL MESSIAH AT OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS CATHOLIC CHURCHA CHERISHED COMMUNITY RITUALADDITIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED CONCERTS BY TROY RAMEY AND HOUSTON BERNARD; A FUNDRAISER FEATURING THE AMERICAN ALL-STAR VINYL BAND FOR THE LUCY MACKENZIE HUMANE SOCIETY; RENEWED COLLABORATION WITH BOOKSTOCK FEATURING AUTHORS LISA GENOVA AND MELONIE WINAWER; AND THE RETURN OF LOCAL PERFORMER OLIVIA ZERPHY WITH HER INTERNATIONAL TROUPE VOLOZ IN THE MAN WHO THOUGHT HE KNEW TOO MUCH. OUR PERFORMING ARTS CAMP WITH SHARON GROBLICKI CONTINUED TO THRIVE, AND WE CELEBRATED PENTANGLE'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY BY WELCOMING BACK NEARLY 50 ARTISTS WHO HAVE PERFORMED ON OUR STAGE OVER THE DECADES.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, PENTANGLE ARTS HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN REVITALIZING THE HISTORIC WOODSTOCK TOWN HALL THEATRE WHILE EXPANDING ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT ENRICHES OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AFTER 40 YEARS, THE LOBBY AND THEATRE RECEIVED LONG-AWAITED UPDATES, INCLUDING FRESH PAINT, RESTORED ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, AND THE REOPENING OF THE ORIGINAL THEATRE WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN SIX DECADES. WE ALSO INTRODUCED A MORE WELCOMING GATHERING SPACE BY OFFERING WINE, BEER, AND LOCALLY SOURCED FARE AT EVENTS AND FILM SCREENINGS. WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS TO PLYMOUTH CHEESE, BLAKE HILL PRESERVES, FARMHOUSE POTTERY, AND SIMON PEARCE FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS.THESE IMPROVEMENTS SUPPORT OUR VISION OF TOWN HALL AS A TRUE COMMUNITY HUBA PLACE TO GATHER, CONNECT, AND CELEBRATE THE ARTS. OUR LOBBY NOW OPENS ONE HOUR BEFORE SHOWS, GIVING PATRONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND ENJOY REFRESHMENTS BEFORE PERFORMANCES.THIS PAST SEASON, PENTANGLE LAUNCHED VERMONT AFTER-HOURS, A NEW SERIES DESIGNED TO BRING MORE VIBRANT EVENING PROGRAMMING TO DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK WHILE STILL GETTING PEOPLE HOME BEFORE MIDNIGHT. THE SERIES DEBUTED ON FEBRUARY 14 WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY MYRA FLYNN AND CONTINUES WITH A DIVERSE SLATE OF PERFORMERS, INCLUDING FRIGG (NORDIC FOLK FUSION) ON MARCH 6 AND COLD CHOCOLATE (AMERICANA BLUEGRASS) ON APRIL 4.TOWN HALL CONTINUES TO SERVE AS AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING ZACK'S PLACE, THE LUCY MACKENZIE HUMANE SOCIETY, AND THE VERMONT MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION. WE ARE ALSO PREPARING TO LAUNCH EXCITING NEW INITIATIVES, SUCH AS ART IN FILM, A COLLABORATION WITH THE HALL ART FOUNDATION; AN EXPANDED CINEMA CLUB; ENHANCED YOUTH EDUCATION AND CHORAL OPPORTUNITIES; AND AN EXPANDED MUDSTOCK WEEKEND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROTARY CLUB.WE ARE ALSO PREPARING TO UNVEIL A REDESIGNED WEBSITE TO BETTER INFORM, ENGAGE, AND SERVE OUR AUDIENCE. AND AS PENTANGLE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE, MORE THAN 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN OUR RECENT SURVEY, OFFERING VALUABLE INSIGHT THAT WILL HELP SHAPE OUR VISION FOR 2026 AND BEYOND.