Casting call for student film roles
This is a project that may be of interest to our some of our young actors. We were contacted by Bobby Housel, a student of film and business at the University of Michigan, who is casting two roles in a short student film:
“Some fellow college screenwriting students and I have put together a project for a script we’ve written, entitled ‘Rabbit.’ We are looking to cast two boys to play characters around the 10-15 age range. Rabbit is a roughly 10 minute short film, a coming of age story about a young boy who goes on an adventure through the forest with his (imaginary) friend. There will be two days of shooting on a weekend sometime in Mid-December.
If you/your son/any young boy you know is interested in auditioning/learning more about one of the two parts we’re casting, please let me know, and I’ll set up a time for my co-producer and I to meet with you and your parent(s) over Zoom. Note that previous acting experience is preferred, but not required by any means. This is a great experience for young actors looking to be involved with a high production project and get into the film/tv acting world, as well as develop their portfolio and acting reel.
It should be noted that all relevant Covid Masking and Social Distancing guidelines will be followed in the creation of this project.
Anyone who is interested or has any questions is encouraged to reach out to me at 440-221-8710 or at bhousel@umich.edu.
Also, if interested, a sample of my most recent work can be found at https://youtu.be/wRue9C1cl8Y “
Nutcracker 2020 has been cancelled
Many of you probably know that we’ve been working on an adapted production of The Nutcracker that we were going to make available via livestream. Today, we made the decision to cancel that production. We know this is a disappointment, but we don’t feel it’s safe or responsible to continue rehearsals given the level of community spread of COVID in our county. Our first priority is the safety of our students and patrons. The Arts Center isn’t going anywhere, and there will be a Nutcracker next year. We need everyone to stay healthy now so they can come back for it.
With that said, we need to offer some thanks for the work that has gone into this process, even though the final production won’t happen. First of all, thank you to our Ballet Theatre Ashtabula dancers. These kids have rolled with some pretty hard punches this year, and have met a really daunting set of extra challenges with flexibility and determination. We would have liked to be able to give them their Nutcracker, but hopefully they’ll be able to have their Spring Dance Concert. They are a fantastic group of young artists, and we’re so thankful we have them.
Next, thank you to Bob Lebzelter, our volunteer videographer, who gives us his time and skills for any video we ask of him. Thanks to Bob we’ll have some fun behind-the-scenes moments from the rehearsal process to share with you all.
Thank you to Mike Brenneman and Jayson Gage, who volunteered their time and knowledge to help us with the technical side of this year’s Nutcracker.
Thank you to Lea Nesbitt of Buckeye and Dave Miller of Lakeside, who gave so much of their time and expertise helping us produce the livestream.
And finally, thank you to Clover Robinson, our director of dance, who leads the charge on Nutcracker every year. Clover wanted her students to have as much of a technical, artistic experience as was possible this year, and did a lot of soul-searching to decide what was best for these kids at every step of the process.
Hang in there, everyone. That curtain is going to go up again. Stay safe.
Accepted artists and winners in “Hope in Artistry”
Accepted Artists:
Candace Barr
Julie Cook
Michael DiFranco
Mattie Dramis
Sharon Dundee
Angel Kaiser
Dani Klein
Jim Loomis
Nancy Nelson-Brotz
Bridget Sherman
Mardi Snyder
Winners:
Best in Show: Candace Barr – “Hope for an Early Spring” (acrylic on canvas, $350)
First Place: Mattie Dramis – “Everybody Hurts” (batik, $150)
Second Place: Bridget Sherman – “Altered Perception” (digital photography printed on canvas, altered with acrylic paints and glitter, NFS)
Third Place: Jim Loomis – “Enso It Grows” (porcelain, NFS)
Honorable Mention: Mardi Snyder – “Young” (acrylic on canvas, $100)
Varying hours through November 15
Due to limited staff, the Arts Center’s hours will vary for the next two weeks. All private lessons will continue as scheduled, as will any visual arts workshops. If you will be visiting the Arts Center for reasons other than attending a class or lesson, please call (440) 964-3396 to confirm a staff member will be here to help you.
Art Wellness workshop series delayed until January — new dates TBA
Art Wellness Workshop Series
with Heather Denning
This workshop series is designed to use art as a way to cope with stress and find greater wellness in the midst of the COVID pandemic. All materials will be provided and transportation support may be available; call (440) 990-1734 for more information or to register. (Please note that you do not register through the Arts Center for these workshops.) You can also register at accaa.org.
There is no cost to register, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. If you register, please plan to attend all 8 weeks.
COVID safety protocols will be observed.
Outdoor Open Mic Night on September 26
Open Mic Night
Saturday, September 26
5-7:30 p.m.
The Ashtabula Arts Center will hold an outdoor open mic night on Saturday, September 26 from 5-7:30 p.m. Anyone who wants to sign up to perform needs to call the Arts Center at (440) 964-3396 or email Mandi Frazier at marketing@ashtabulaartscenter.org with the subject line Open Mic Night Sign Up. The deadline to sign up to perform is Thursday, September 17 at 6 p.m. Participants can perform a maximum of two songs each (any genre), and will need to let the Arts Center know what instrument, if any, they will be playing, and how many mics they’ll need. Debra Fleming will be available as accompanist; performers will need to send their own sheet music in advance if using accompaniment (contact info will be provided at signup).
This event will be free to attend, however space will be limited, so attendees must make a reservation, either at (440) 964-3396, or online at ashtabulaartscenter.org, and let the Arts Center know how many will be in their group. Attendees wishing to make a donation to the Arts Center may do so at the event or at ashtabulaartscenter.org. Seating will be outside on the lawn, and attendees should bring lawn chairs or a blanket. No concessions will be sold, but attendees are welcome to bring their own snacks or picnics. The building will be open for restroom access – masks are required when inside. A seating grid will be marked out on the lawn to ensure safe social distance between groups is maintained.
Call for artists for November exhibit: “Hope in Artistry”
The Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Ashtabula County LOSS Team, in collaboration with the Ashtabula Arts Center, are seeking art submissions for the fourth annual suicide awareness and prevention show, “Hope in Artistry,” which will be on display in our gallery in November. This is a great opportunity for artists in Ashtabula County and Northeast Ohio to show your work, support survivors of suicide, reduce stigma, and raise awareness to help prevent suicide.
Find details and submission instructions in the application: Hope in Artistry 2020 artist application
KeyBank virtual learning scholarships available
We are very excited about this news! Thanks to a $5000 sponsorship from KeyBank Ashtabula supporting virtual learning, we are now able to offer scholarships for our virtual classes. This includes our current virtual offerings, and those that will be coming in our fall schedule (and possibly beyond). This sponsorship allows us to help those in our community who want to take part in virtual arts learning, but have faced financial difficulty during the COVID pandemic.
Aanyone registering for virtual classes can take advantage of this scholarship program. When you visit our website to sign up for a virtual class, you’ll see two options at checkout: “Tuition Cost” and “KeyBank Sponsored Scholarship.” If you are able to support us by paying the regular tuition cost, we’re very appreciative. If the scholarship option will help your family out, just select it at checkout, and the cost of the class or workshop will be covered. That’s all there is to it — no application, no process to qualify. If you need it, use it. We’ll make this option available for virtual classes as long as there are scholarship funds remaining. You can find our virtual classes here. This list will be expanded when our fall schedule of classes is set; those classes will be posted online in early August.
Many thanks to KeyBank for this sponsorship!
Reservations for Dining for the Arts will open Monday, July 6 at noon
You can make reservations for this year’s Dining for the Arts events, which are all carry-out from local restaurants & wineries, beginning Monday, July 6 at noon. Purchase here or call (440) 964-3396. Contact the restaurant to arrange pickup.
Dining for the Arts Menus:
DftA 2020 menu flyer
Reserve your meal below, or call (440) 964-3396.
Crosswinds Grille
Reserve Now
The Arts Center will partially reopen on July 6!
We are very happy to announce that the Arts Center will partially reopen on Monday, July 6, for in-person classes and some private music lessons. Our temporary operating hours will be Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Payments for classes and lessons should be made through our website, by phone, or by mailed check before the student’s start date — not in person. Our front desk will only be intermittently staffed.
We require anyone entering the building to wear a mask the entire time they’re inside, and to check in at the front desk. The kitchenette in the front of the building will be used only as a handwashing station (no food prep permitted — dancers, please note); we ask that everyone wash hands upon entry. Parents of students: unless your child requires assistance, please do not accompany them into the building for their class/lesson. If you or anyone in your household is sick/running a fever, please do not enter the building.
Class capacity will be lowered to allow for social distancing, and private music lessons will be held in large, alternate spaces rather than the music rooms, to maintain necessary space between students and teachers. We ask that all students arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before their lesson/class. At this time, voice lessons will remain virtual, as will string lessons with Carol Linsenmeier. Teaching spaces (pianos/benches/chairs/barres/tables) will be sanitized after each class/lesson. Spaces will be marked out to maintain distance.
Dancers: please wear a mask and bring a spare in case your first gets wet. Please arrive dressed for class, and bring a full water bottle marked with your name — the water fountains are shut off. Any snacks that you bring need to be ready-to-eat (granola bars, veggies, etc.) — the kitchen will be locked and the front microwave/fridge will not be in use. No hands-on correction will be given, and class will not include contact between dancers.
Virtual Theater & Music classes are now open for registration!
Our virtual classes now include Theater and Music classes! Find them here. Register online or at (440) 964-3396.
Virtual gallery show for June available to view now
Check out the virtual gallery show for our June featured artist, Jennifer Overholser, here.
