SAM GOODYEAR

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ART BEAT

In the shifting sands of the arts, when organizations sometimes falter and even suddenly disappear altogether, it is always good to learn of the rekindling of the creative flame somewhere else in our midst.
When one considers that there are some 50 performing arts groups of one kind or another in our immediate tri-county area (Chenango, Delaware, Otsego), the emergence of a new enterprise is not all that surprising.
Is it the clean air we breathe, the seductive landscape, the magic vapors of the lakes?
Whatever it is, citizens in this Garden of Eden of ours seem driven to put their creative juices to use for the good of others.
The most recent impresario to appear on the horizon is Oneonta actor/lawyer Andy Puritz, a man of singular congeniality who radiates what are known among the hip as “positive vibes.”
You may have seen him in productions of Orpheus Theatre and Leatherstocking Theatre Company. You will have the chance to see him in the role of Atticus in the Foothills Performing Arts center production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” this coming October.
He is now taking his love of performing and art one step further with the creation of White Knuckle Productions.
White Knuckle Productions will present plays, readings, dance, debates, musical performances, variety acts, performance art and more. The organization’s promotional materials state the goals as follows:
“Reliable output, every six to eight weeks something good in live entertainment.
“Low prices, to expand the audience of people who enjoy live performance.
“Pay for the performers, who shouldn’t have to give of their time, talent and energy, and be expected as well to support the arts out of their own pocket.
“Can Puritz do this? Well.. that’s the White Knuckle part.”
The first test is coming up at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, in the Belden Auditorium of Oneonta High School. Norman Fox and the New York City-based Rob Roys will charge the air with original soulful ballads, sweet harmony doo-wop and R&B.
In the mood for “Tell Me Why, Pizza Pie,” “Dream Girl,” “Blue Moon”? Show up at OHS. Tickets ($12) will be available at the door.
Looking ahead, WKP (let’s go ahead and acronymize it; why not?) will mount a debate before the elections, featuring real people with informed opinions, given the time to make their case. This will be novel.
“Thirty-second sound bites needn’t apply, “ says Puritz. Also on the drawing board, a production of “Twelve Angry Men,” a superb play about jurors locked into a room as they deliberate the fate of a young man convicted of murder.
So, what do you say? Support a brave new venture? Nurture the artistic spirit? I vote YES.

Sam Goodyear’s column on the arts in Otsego County appears weekly.

Labels: Andy Puritz, Art Beat, Glimmerglass, Sam Goodyear