Produced by Run Rabbit Run Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was performed at Grandale Farm / 868 Estate Vineyards on August 3, 2012 (and other dates). Using newly developed outdoor space, the audience was treated to seating under tent, with various stages and settings sprawled out before them. The natural rolling hills that meandered into the horizon served as a perfect backdrop for the setting.

Shakespeare was called for this on dreamy night, one that began with the sun setting behind the stages. Understood to have been written between 1590 and 1596, this layered play involves a royal wedding and a band of actors who are controlled by faeries of the wood. The outdoor setting was well laid out and featured colored lighting on key trees and vegetation, helping to make the environment dreamy. Large tress allows characters to seemingly appear, as if they might in a dream.

This last performance in the series was boosted from the actors and actresses plainly enjoying themselves during the show. The roles were performed with great passion and appropriate amounts of whimsy. Scenery and costumes came together with flowing textures, saturated light colors and simple, but effective props. 

Some of the Midsummer Night’s roles were lengthy and complex. Couple this with the level of passion expected by some of these roles, the mostly young actors did a terrific job with the performance on this night. In addition to coping with mouthfuls of Shakespeare’s complex narratives, the outdoor environment posed it’s own challenges to the actors. However, this caused no distraction to the audience. One wonders how those in costume, outdoors, at night, can navigate roots, branches and vegetation all in the name of a providing an entertaining experience.

If this performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is any indication of the potential behind Loudoun’s newest venue for drama, then we the community are lucky indeed. This revelation, along with the success of the Run Rabbit Run Theatre Company, Grandale Farm promises to become the place to go for an exhilarating dinner theater experience. Meredith McMath, the Producer, commented there were some rough edges in the earlier performances, but these related specifically to the new outdoor environment. The night of this performance went smooth as silk.

If I had to make suggestions for improvement, I’d want to replace the pebbles on the ground in the seating area. They make much noise when someone transverses them. Also, at times the tent rigging’s blocked views, depending on where you were seated. The food was tasty and reasonable priced. The sound and lighting were good, and will likely improve over time. At times, the actors came directly under the tent in front of the audience. This offered a heightened level of engagement.

Overall, this was a terrific experience that I recommend to everyone. It gets a ten on the value meter, a nine on the performance and an eight on the new venue. I see all of these going to eleven in the very near future.

Unistock is June 29th and 30th, 2012. $35 weekend pass, $20 per night. Located at 20943 Furr Rd, Round Hill, VA. Visit www.theacousticburgoo.com for more information.

The dedication for the new mural happened this past weekend at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center in Purcellville, VA. The inaugural mural is themed around ‘Loudoun County Symbols’, Designed by Erica Wujcik. Created as a classroom project by students of the Art Institute of Washington– Dulles; taught by Courtney Murphy.

ABOUT:

The Franklin Park Arts Center (FPAC) is pleased to announce an exciting new program, an ongoing extension of a recent Girl Scout Gold project originally created by Purcellville resident, Hannah Backman. Hannah created her original mural of historic Purcellville in the summer of 2011. The Arts Center then committed to continue to feature murals created by Loudoun residents or students, rotating the designs approximately twice a year.

The new mural was selected through a design competition of 17 designs submitted by local artists. Two designs were selected from students of the Art Institute of Washington-Dulles. One of those designs, Loudoun County Symbols, was selected for this installation.

The designer and artists who helped create the mural were in attendance along with representatives of The Arts Center and The Art Institute of Washington- Dulles.  This dedication coincided with the Western Loudoun Artist Studio Tour.

One camp session is for novices – no clogging or dance experience needed!  These camps will start with basic Appalachian dancing and progress to clogging routines.  Ages 8-adult are welcome in the Novice Camp July 16-20.  $50/week.

LOCATION: Waterford, VA

Monday through Friday from 9AM-12PM

More info: http://www.brtc.us/Summer_Camp.html

Experienced Clogging Camp

The second camp is open to experienced cloggers.  Experienced dancers will not start with the “basics” but will be taught with their level of experience in mind.  Ages 8-adult are welcome in the Experienced Camp July 30-Aug 3.  $50/week.

LOCATION: Waterford, VA

Monday through Friday from 9AM-12PM
More info: http://www.brtc.us/Summer_Camp.html

Creative Dance Center Announces May 2012 Opening of New Dance and Fitness Studio in South Riding.

South Riding, VA – Creative Dance Center is proud to announce the opening of their Dance and Fitness Studio in South Riding, Virginia in May 2012. It boasts four spacious dance and fitness studios with raised professional dance floors. Curved walls and benches encourage parents to stay and observe their children during class through one way viewing windows.

Creative Dance Center South Riding is holding an Open House May 30 and 31 from 4:00 to 7:30. Come tour the facility, meet the director and instructors, and learn more about the classes offered.

The adult fitness classes will include Belly Dance Workout, Core Conditioning, Barre Fitness, Cardio Funk, Power Yoga, Mat Pilates, and Zumba taught by certified instructors.

Children?s dance classes are offered to boys and girls ages 18 months to 18 years. Classes will include jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, and ballet. The studio will also feature a competition team and Baby Ballerina sessions. The studio is currently registering for Summer Camps featuring all boys hip hop, mini hip hop, princess ballet, cheer and pom, dance team jazz, and more.

Creative Dance Center South Riding
43130 Amberwood Plaza, #110
South Riding, VA
703-542-2008

For more information about Creative Dance Center and its three locations, email us at info@cdcdance.com, or visit us at http://www.cdcdance.com/.

Studio Tour Weekend is June 9 and 10
Loudoun Artists Will Display Arts and Crafts

The annual Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour (WLAST) is June 9 and 10. Paintings, photography, sculpture, glassworks, jewelry, fabric art, artist demonstrations and children’s activities are on order for two full days as visitors enjoy talking personally with the artists and watching them work, purchasing original art and winning door prizes!

Now in its 7th year, this self-guided tour is weekend of art fun for the entire family. You can visit dozens of studio artists as you wind your way through Loudoun’s countryside and quaint historic villages. You can talk to these artists, watch them create and even make your own art! The tour is an ideal way to shop for fine arts and crafts.
The tour is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC! Hours are Saturday and Sunday June 9 and 10 from 10am to 5pm. Tour booklets with maps will be available at sponsoring sites, tourist information outlets, artist studios and online at www.wlast.org and by calling 540-338-7973.

You can get a jump start on the tour by visiting the website – wlast.org – which lists all of the artists on the tour as well as information about each artist. Download the map and chart your course!

About WLAST
The 7th annual Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour (WLAST) promises a full weekend of artistic fun with more than 50 artist studios located throughout the beautiful Loudoun countryside. The tour promotes Loudoun art and artists while it also draws attention to the county as a cultural and scenic destination. WLAST is a joint project of Franklin Park Arts Center, Friends of Franklin Park Arts Center, ArtSquare/Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation and Round Hill Arts Center.

For more information: contact
WLAST, P.O. Box 653, Round Hill, Virginia 20142
540-338-7973 or www.wlast.org

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Gale Waldron

Fine Art Consultant
703-771-0127 (home office)