Gossip: Art Center residency and updates on Seacoast Rep, Dive In productions – Seacoastonline.com

Art Center offers residency

If you missed the recent deadline for a four-month Artist in Residence slot at The Art Center in Dover, you’re not alone, and not out of luck.

The first of three deadlines for a four-month opportunity passed on Jan. 13. But there are two more to come.

The project came together fairly fast with Art Center owner Rebecca Proctor and collaborator Peter Henry of Market Square Jewelers deciding to “just get a move on,” Proctor says.

It all started as a casual conversation.

“This actually happened overnight pretty much – last month,” Proctor says. “Peter has been a very good friend for years. We started talking, and I mentioned I had an open studio available. Together the two of us thought it was a wonderful opportunity for an artist to come in and … have their own studio to create art.”

“I put together a program. Peter liked it. He said, as soon as you get the artist let’s start it.”

The program is full-range more than just studio space.

The recipient is expected to work at least 20 hours a week, and produce six to eight works during their tenure. The art will be exhibited in an all-intern show in February 2021, Proctor explains.

In return, they get the studio, training in the business of art, and mentorship.

“They’ll have an opportunity to coordinate two artist’s reception while they’re here. They’ll work side by side with me learning how to put on a reception, the exhibit, even hang the exhibit, … and PR. Everything I do, they’ll have an opportunity to do hands-on.”

Resident artists will attend any workshops offered during their tenure, and have a chance to be mentored by a center resident artist.

This year, they’re looking for artists from the broader New England region. The artist must be 18 or older. They maybe at any stage in their career. Students are welcome. The only other criteria is “it has to be someone who is really pursuing their art, not just as a hobby,” she says.

Each package is valued at $2,500. The future blocks are June 1 through Sept. 30, and Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2021. New deadlines will be posted on The Art Center’s website. For complete information and to apply for each residency, visit The Art Center website at www.theartcenterdover.com or call (603) 978-6702.

“It’s exciting for the art center and community,” she says, “and hopefully some artist.”

Seacoast Repertory Theatre update

In late 2019, Seacoast Repertory Theatre relaunched its Teen Internship Program. The company started it in 2017, but discontinued in 2018 to concentrate on rebuilding its Artist in Residency program. Once that was steadied, late last year, it resumed the internship program while working to further refine the program, which has already its shown value.

The company has received news that Brendan Callahan, its 2017 intern, landed a role in the original Broadway cast of “Sing Street.” The play had its start at the New York Theatre Workshop, which Callahan took part in, and was picked up by Lyceum Theater, where it officially opens this spring.

“He was a performing intern for 2017, and then he was in a few things in 2018,” Director of Marketing and Development Brian Kelly says. “We’re really proud of him.”

A Massachusetts resident, Callahan appeared in “Spring Awakening,” “Tommy,” “Spamalot,” and other shows at the Rep, and performed in “The Little Mermaid” at Prescott Park Arts Festival.

This year’s Youth Resident is Bay Goulet, a Seacoast teen.

The program includes instruction and professional work, Kelly says.

“We really want to prepare people for a professional track whether college or other regional theaters or Broadway,” he says. “(Boulet) will be taking classes. She’s also Velma in the teen ‘Chicago High School Edition,’ and she’s slated for some upcoming mainstage productions.” (“Chicago” runs through Saturday, Jan. 18 at the theater, visit seacoastrep.org/chicago/)

The company is working on formalizing its submission process, and creating a detailed outline of the program. What it aims for is “making it prestigious” by offering intense skill training and development, Kelly says.

On another front, the Rep’s renovations are moving right along. It has all but completed its required sprinkler system and renovated its inner lobby. Now it’s time for the outer lobby: ceiling, walls and all.

Hopefully the steel roof is up next, replacing the leaky, heat-sucking glass one, Kelly says. “Guests will see the increase of comfort and aesthetics.” This leg of the renovations includes a remodeled bar, and expanded restrooms.

To date they’ve raised about $300,000, with a remaining $90,000 needed to reach their goal.

“We have it slated to be completed by the end of this year or early 2021,” Kelly says.

“We didn’t expect to be able to move this quickly to the rest of the projects, but next after that is the grid. Also … every dollar we spend improving the space comes off of the price to buy the space from the Bow Street Theatre Trust,” Kelly adds. “We have a a 10-year lease with them that we’re two years into.”

The theater recently recognized Capital Campaign Chairpersons Bob Thoresen and Sue Thoresen with its Second Annual Sumner Winebaum Award for their outstanding work done on the Capital Campaign and their years of support and involvement.

Dive In Productions growing quickly

Dive In Productions led by Founding Executive Director Marina Altschiller and Artistic Director Jordan Formicelli made a spot in this column’s 2019 round-up for its fast moves since reforming as a Seacoast company two years ago. They’re heading into 2020 full steam ahead, with more to tell.

Dive In just landed a regular gig at Jupiter Hall in Manchester where it will present a monthly cabaret. It will produce “A Song Cycle” in March in Newmarket, and present a reworked “Some Holiday” in Concord. The company added to its core team, and has other projects in the works and under wraps.

The young company did a trial concert in late ’19, Altschiller says.

“After the show we saw it could be a unique opportunity,” she says. “I told them I’d love to work with them as much as they proposed, and they proposed the monthly set-up.”

The project has already drawn artists from the broader Seacoast, central N.H. and Mass., “so kind of widespread.”

Next up is “A Song Cycle” slated for the Newmarket Millspace in March. The show was written by Nathan Schwartzberg of Bedford, N.H., a friend and former co-worker of Altschiller’s.

A contemporary song cycle piece, the songs are linked by a common theme, not necessarily a plot.

“This is the second time we have produced it,” she says. “The first time was in 2015 at Emerson College. Since then, new songs have been added, some pieces have been re-orchestrated and we are casting it in a completely different way.”

Auditions for “Song Cycle” are Saturday, Jan. 18 at PPMtv studios, 9 a.m. to noon. All ages, races, genders, “everyone” are welcome,” she says. For information, write [email protected].

Then there’s the return of “Some Holiday,” an original with book by Scarelli and music and lyrics by Altschiller and Scarelli, which premiered at The Players’ Ring in November and December of 2019. It’s slated for The Hatbox, in Concord, in the July and August timeframe.

“We’re bringing the same cast, but an updated version of the show,” she says. “We’re rewriting plot points, adding songs and taking some out. … We’re very excited about the changes honestly.”

Planning still more, the company has added to its staff. Scarelli is now the marketing and promotions director and Meghan Flynn is now the company’s technical director.

Dive In will also pitch at the upcoming Players’ Ring “The Ring Toss” (formerly called the Producers’ Meeting) in February for its 2021 season. And there’s still other projects they’re not ready to make public.

“I’m honestly still amazed at how fast we’ve grown,” Altschiller says. “I think the thing that’s been so important to me, that’s kept people sticking around is people feel supported and welcome to explore their art and to grow as an artist.”

Jeann McCartin keeps her eyes and ears open for gossip at [email protected].

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