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The Genesee Center for the Arts at Genesee Community College has announced the calendar for live performances for its 19th season at the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

Live Performances in the Stuart Steiner Theatre:

The Forum Players start the spring season with the performance of In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks, a modern interpretation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel, "The Scarlett Letter." The Forum Player's production is set in a post Hurricane Katrina backdrop that follows the daily trials of Hester, an illiterate, single, homeless, African-American woman who must find a way to rise above her situation and care for her five children.

Performance dates are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. onThursday, Feb. 3-5. Ticket prices are: $8 adults; $5 seniors (55+) and students and GCC faculty/staff; $3 GCC students with GCC ID; and a $2 discount for GCC alumni with GCC alumni card.

The Genesee Symphony Orchestra returns to Genesee Community College with its 64th season with two performances at the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

"Love Notes" will be performed at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13, with special guest Michael Ludwig, violin.

"GSO on Broadway" will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 1, featuring the GSO 2011 String Workshop Orchestra.

Ticket prices are: $12 adults; $8 seniors (62+); $5 students (18 & under or GCC students with a valid ID); or $30 per family (parent plus children 12 & under) and are available at the following locations:

Hi-Tek Graphics in Oakfield; Bank of Castile in LeRoy; Roxy's Music Store; GO ART!; The Enchanted Florist; and the Box Office at Genesee Community College in Batavia. Tickets are also available at the door one hour prior to the performance at the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

Two acts of musical talent and originality will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. Tony Brown and the Faithful, with opening act Swati.

Tony Brown is a former member of Upstate NY's infamous Ozone, now touring with his band the Faithful -- a gathering of experienced, eclectic musicians hailing from around the globe. Brown's soulful, powerful voice, along with the acoustic world vibe that his band mates bring, creates a sound that mixes blues, folk and alternative rock.

Opening act Swati, a NYC native who began her musical career in the classical world, plays a 12-string guitar that has been fitted with eight. Ticket prices are: $12 adults; $10 seniors (55+); $5 students (18-) and GCC faculty/staff; $3 GCC students with GCC ID; and a $2 discount for GCC alumni with GCC alumni card.

A concert by the Genesee Chorale and Chorale Orchestra, "AElinor, the Oratorio," is also scheduled this spring at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 6 at the Stuart Steiner Theatre. Words and music by Ann Reid, and conducted by Ric Jones with the Genesee Chorale and the Chorale Orchestra.

This concert storyline takes place in 1147, AElinor, Countess of Poitou, Duchess of Aquitaine, and Queen of the Franks leads a band of women on the Second Crusade. In so doing, she learns about earthly love and her marriage to Louis VII, King of the Franks, is annulled. She runs off with Henry Plantagenet, a penniless lord. Six months later, the penniless lord becomes Henry II, King of England.

Developed in the Lehman Engel Workshop, Los Angeles, this project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Ticket prices are: $10 adults; $8 for seniors (62+) and students (18-); $5 GCC student with GCC ID; and $18 family (parent plus children under 17). Tickets are available at the Box Office at Genesee Community College, GO ART! in Batavia, and from all Chorale members.

The Fine and Performing Arts committee is pleased to have Stone Row returning to the Stuart Steiner Theatre for one performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Stone Row is a fusion of Celtic, folk, country and rock that combines the local talent of four dynamically versatile musicians. Each band member brings a whole new spin with diversified attitudes and styles.

Ticket prices are: $10 adults; $8 seniors (55+); $5 students (18-) and GCC faculty/staff; $3 GCC students with GCC ID; and a $2 discount for GCC alumni with GCC alumni card.

The Genesee Center for the Arts continues its commitment to introducing performing art to children, families, and schools throughout the Western New York area with Nobody Likes Mordacious (And That's How He Likes It), a stage fantasy by veteran children's theatre playwright Jack Stokes.

The Forum Players and local grammar-school students present the audience with a girl who needs to rescue her parents from the stratagems of a very wicked fellow. On an epic quest laced with humor, she encounters genies, shadows, monsters, and pirates, and enlists the aid of a witch-fighting guide in order to restore her family.

Not everyone can be redeemed; sometimes evil is just plain evil; as always, bullies of any stripe must be confronted. These are just a few of the things Orafu learns on her quest. This show is appropriate for any audience, particularly elementary and junior-high students.

Performance dates are scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 24, by invitation only, and there will be one public performance at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25. Ticket prices are: $8 adults; $5 seniors (55+), students, and GCC faculty/staff; and $3 GCC students with GCC ID.

The last live performance at the Stuart Steiner Theatre this spring is Blood Brothers by Willy Russell, performed by the Forum Players. Blood Brothers is one of the longest-running musicals in London theatre, with the 1988 West End production still running.

It is a musical that has a contemporary nature vs. nurture plot, revolving around fraternal twins who were separated at birth. The twins' different backgrounds take them to opposite ends of the social spectrum, leading up to a tragic ending.

Performance dates are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 9. A matinee is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10. Ticket prices are: $8 adults; $5 seniors (55+), students, and GCC faculty/staff; $3 GCC students with GCC ID; and a $2 discount for GCC alumni with GCC Alumni card.

For more ticket information or reservations, contact the Genesee Center for the Arts Box Office at 585/343-6814 or by email at <http://boxoffice@genesee.edu>. All seating is general admission.

The Genesee Center for the Arts Box Office accepts cash and checks only, credit cards are not accepted. For door-to-door directions, sent via email, visit http://www.genesee.edu/

 

Attention music lovers: The Batavia Concert Band is currently seeking additional board members.

The board meets every other month and oversees band management officers in preparation for the annual summer concert season.

If you are interested, please contact Pam Frisby at 343-8560.

 

The International Collectors Association presents the Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow at the Comfort Inn in Batavia next week.

Collectors anticipate $300,000 in sales from local residents wanting cash for their antiques, collectibles, and gold and silver items.

The Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow travels across the globe in search of rare and unique items. During this event, people will have the exciting opportunity to sit with experts from around the world and sell their items to collectors if they wish to do so.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Jan. 11-14. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15.

The Comfort Inn is located at 4371 Federal Drive.

"Greening Your Business" is the focus of a free workshop on incentive programs for improving energy efficiency in your business.

It will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at the Generation Center, 15 Center St. in Downtown Batavia (across from the Smoke House restaurant).

It is sponsored by the Batavia Business Improvement District Management Association, Inc.

Participants will learn about National Grid's Small Business Program. This is for business customers with an average demand use of 100 kW or less. National Grid can help you reduce your company's energy costs by installing energy efficient equipment.

It can provide a free energy audit and report of recommended energy efficiency improvements. The program pays up to 70 percent of the cost of installing energy efficient equipment and can finance your share of the cost, interest free for up to 24 months.

Cost-cutting, energy efficient equipment available through this program include: lighting upgrades, occupancy sensors and walk-in cooler measures.

NYSERDA offers Pre-Qualified Incentives to encourage applicants to purchase and install more energy-efficient equipment for small-sized energy projects and equipment replacement projects.

These incentives are available on a $/unit basis for pre-qualified energy efficiency measures. Applicants can receive up to $60,000 in pre-qualified incentives ($30,000 – electric, $30,000 – natural gas) per facility per calendar year.

National Fuel Gas customers using less than 12,000 Mcf per year can receive a maximum natural gas incentive of $25,000 per facility per calendar year.

Also learn about the Energy Audit Program, which provides energy audits to small businesses and other facilities to help them make informed electrical energy decisions and implement energy-efficiency strategies. Audits help identify economically viable improvements that yield substantial annual energy savings.

RSVP by Friday, Jan. 14 by calling Don Burkel at the BID office at 585-344-0900. Or e-mail him at: dburkel@downtownbataviany.com

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Genesee County Department of Motor Vehicles will provide an overview of its agency and explain the services it provides. This is a free information session for everyone and it runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Genesee County Office for the Aging/NY Connects.

The overview will include:

• Documents that are processed and recorded documents that are of “public record”;
• ID and authorization needed to obtain information birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates;
• Passports vs. Enhanced Driver’s License Senior Driver Testing.

NOTE: If you have specific questions, send them ahead of time to: ofa@co.genesee.ny.us

The Genesee County Office for the Aging/NY Connects is located at 2 Bank St. in Batavia. Phone is 343-1611. Please call to make a reservation. Seating is limited!

This program is made available through grants from the New York State Office for the Aging, the Federal Older Americans Act and the support of the Genesee County Legislature.

The agencies involved offer special thanks to the Genesee County Clerk's Office.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has new exhibits in Genesee County for January and February.

GO ART! Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia – An exhibit entitled “A Retrospective of Roz Hayes” is on display. It features 50-60 works by the late Rosalind Zeis Hayes, most of which are available for purchase.

An Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, from 2-4 p.m. Exhibit dates: Friday, Jan. 7 through Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and by appointment.

GO ART! Batavia Satellite Gallery, Genesee County Senior Center, 2 Bank St., Batavia – “Young at Art,” an exhibit by the “senior” students in Lorie Longhany’s classes held at this location is on display.

A Meet-the-Artists Reception will be held on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 5-7 p.m. Exhibit dates: Monday, Jan. 10 through Thursday, Feb. 24. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

GO ART! exhibits are made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency. For more information, contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313, info@GOart.org or visit www.GOart.org.

John and Margaret Volpe, husband and wife, and teachers for more than 20 years at St. Joseph School in Batavia, will be honored later this month at a WNY Catholic Education Dinner.

They will receive the "Making a Difference Award" on Thursday, Jan. 27 at the Adam's Mark Hotel, Buffalo.

The award was established by Buffalo native and NBC newsman Tim Russert, as a way of honoring his former teachers for the difference they made in his life. It is given to a Catholic schoolteacher in the Buffalo diocese.

This is the first time two teachers will be recipients.