Cultural Events
LET SMART ARTS INTO YOUR HEART…
as you connect with dance, theatre, music, and more. This intimate setting provides for the perfect cultural journey, as guests come aboard to enjoy performances, participate in question/answer discussions, and meet artists. Where performance entertains, Smart Arts edu-tains.
Stay tuned for the Smart Arts 2020-2021 season! Discover: Ballet Folklorico Mexico, Aquila Theatre’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ Wand’ring Minstrels, National Players’ A Raisin In The Sun, Kidoons’ Jungle Book, Ice Creative Entertainment’s Spinning Tales of Peter Pan & Cinderella on Ice, Cirque Zuma Zuma, Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra’s Spooky Silents: A Silent Film Halloween, Tomaseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas, Goitse (St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Concert), Tamburitzans, and National Players’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream—all at Westchester Community College!
Smart Arts is just that: first-rate, affordable, and conveniently located with ample free parking and ticket discounts for children, students, and seniors.
At a Glance – Event Calendar
Click here to see the "At a glance" calendar and Virtual Zoom Events
AT A GLANCE: FALL 2020 LINEUP
All Smart Arts Virtual performances are free (however, donations are appreciated). Access is time dated (unless noted otherwise), and exclusive to Smart Arts patrons & WCC students, faculty & staff. Performance links are obtained through the Vikings Newsletter or through emailed
monthly Mailchimp announcements.
Each month, Smart Arts will send private and time dated links to the virtual performances.
(We ask that all private links not be forwarded)
Support the Arts – Donate Now!
Sign up for the Smart Arts Mailchimp!
October
October 1
SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: Hansel and Gretel
(Access: October 1 at 12:01 am — October 31 at 11:59 pm)
October 15
POETS & WRITERS: DR. STEPHEN PEKAR
9:30 – 10:45 am and 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
(ZOOM presentation) For Zoom link/info, contact Christine Timm at: christine.timm@sunywcc.edu
Antarctic explorer, paleoclimatologist, and climate activist Dr. Stephen Pekar will discuss some groundbreaking discoveries on climate change, drawn from his latest expedition to the newly named eighth continent of Zealandia as well as from some his Antarctic scientific trips that have rewritten Earth’s glacial history. Last summer, Dr. Pekar was selected to be on an International Ocean Discovery Expedition. While carrying the Explorer’s Club flag, he joined a team of thirty scientists from around the world that drilled sediment cores from six locations on and near the newly named continent of Zealandia.
CIRQUETACULAR ENTRTAINMENT: Art of Cirque
(Access: October 15 at 12:01 am — October 31 at 11:59 pm)
November
November 1
SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: Peter and the Wolf
(Access: November 1 at 12:01 am — November 30 at 11:59 pm)
November 5
GREAT BOOKS FORUM: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
6:00 – 8:00 pm
(ZOOM discussion) For Zoom link/info, contact James Werner at: james.werner@sunywcc.edu
The theme for Fall 2020 is: The Novels of Jane Austen
Led by Professor Jina Lee
The Great Books Forum offers an opportunity to encounter classic and modern literature in company with interested readers from the college and the community. Along with the works themselves, discussions focus on issues of context and interpretation.
November 15
NY GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAYERS: The Pirates of Penzance
(Access: November 15 at 12:01 am — November 30 at 11:59 pm)
Dr. Stephan Pekar Antarctica explorer, paleo climatologist, and climate activist.
November 19
POETS & WRITERS: DR. DANIEL T. NEELY
9:30 – 10:45 am and 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
(ZOOM presentation) For Zoom link/info, contact Christine Timm at: christine.timm@sunywcc.edu
Dr. Neely will discuss how to spin personal interests into viable scholarship. Students will hear about his personal journey as a writer as well as how they can research and write about their own interests. One summer afternoon in 1999, as Dr. Neely lay on his sofa, annoyed by the ice cream truck music, he wondered: “What is the deal with this damn music?” He asked around and began to write. What started as a short paper grew into a chapter length study. Dr. Neely’s ice cream truck music scholarship is now widely recognized and has been referenced in national newspapers like the New York Times, in various publications, and on websites like Vice and the BBC.
December
December 1
SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: The Nutcracker
(Access: December 1 at 12:01 am — December 31 at 11:59 pm)
December 3
GREAT BOOKS FORUM: PERSUASION
6:00 – 8:00 pm
(ZOOM discussion) For Zoom link/info, contact James Werner at: james.werner@sunywcc.edu
The theme for Fall 2020 is: The Novels of Jane Austen
Led by Professor Paul Wray
The Great Books Forum offers an opportunity to encounter classic and modern literature in company with interested readers from the college and the community. Along with the works themselves, discussions focus on issues of context and interpretation.
December 15 TOMÁSEEN FOLEY’S A Celtic Christmas
(Access: December 15 at 12:01 am — December 31 at 11:59 pm)
SAV Campus Challenges
Ticket Purchase Options:
- Mail-in: Make CHECK payable to FSA/Cultural Affairs and mail to (include a stamped, self-addressed envelope): Office of Cultural Affairs, Hankin Academic Arts Building, Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Rd, Valhalla NY 10595.
- At the door: CASH ONLY – Available 30 minutes prior to show time.
- Online: CREDIT CARD – Click on the “Buy Tickets” link (Print out and bring emailed purchase confirmation for admission)
Tickets for Smart Arts events can now be purchased online. Click here to purchase tickets. Click here to view the seating chart for the Academic Arts Theater.
SMART ARTS & SMARTS ARTS PERFORMANCE ACADEMY (SAPA)
The Office of Cultural Affairs has established the SMART ARTS PERFORMANCE ACADEMY (SAPA) for Westchester’s aspiring artists in the Pre-College and College Divisions. SAPA offers a great platform for young creatives to perform their works and the works of others in: music, dance, voice, drama, film, and literary arts. Also, master workshops are conducted by noted professionals in the performing arts to allow students to hone their performance skills, to learn about the creative process, and to engage with artists in the field. SAPA is artistic exploration, professional development, along with cultural, social and community engagement!
CULTURAL UPDATES
SMART ARTS VIRTUAL: The Sage Stage
The Office of Cultural Affairs has adapted its Smart Arts programming to virtual programming to keep you connected with the arts: dance, theatre, music, and more. Smart Arts Virtual: The Sage Stage provides a cultural journey, for guests of all ages to enjoy pre-recorded live performances and be inspired to participate in Smart Arts Virtual Challenges. Smart Arts Virtual aims to “edu-tain.”
Through a special arrangement and customized collaboration with national and international performing artists, SMART ARTS VIRTUAL: THE Sage Stage at SUNY/Westchester Community College, presents a series of virtual performances, accessible for a limited time on the Smart Arts YouTube channel. This is exclusively, free of charge, for our Smart Arts patrons and Westchester Community College’s family of students, staff, faculty, and administrators. The virtual performances will be accompanied by Smart Arts Challenges, an opportunity for viewers to put their skills and imagination to the test in creative contests and seasonal activities. These submissions will be shared on Smart Arts social media: @smartartswcc
Each month, Smart Arts will send private and time dated links to the virtual performances.
(We ask that all private links not be forwarded).
SMART ARTS VIRTUAL SCHEDULE:
SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: Sound of Music (Sept 1), Ballet Folklorico de Sinaloa (Sept 15), SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: Hansel & Gretel (Oct 1), CIRQUETACULAR ENTERTAINMENT: Art of Circus (Oct 15), SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: Peter & the Wolf (Nov 1), NEW YORK GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAYERS: The Pirates of Penzance (Nov 15), SALZBURG MARIONETTE THEATRE: The Nutcracker (dec 1), TOMASEEN FOLEY’s A Celtic Christmas (Dec 15).
CULTURAL UPDATES
ACCESS: Beat Poetry & Jazz (Editions 1 & 2) and all Smart Arts Virtual Showcases are currently available and on demand.
Smart Arts Virtual: The Sage Stage, in collaboration with WCC’S Poets & Writers series, presents BEAT POETRY & JAZZ.
BEAT POETRY & JAZZ (1st edition) is a compilation of poetry written and spoken by George Wallace, first Poet Laureate of Suffolk County, and music improvisations performed by father/son jazz duo Edward (Skip) (on piano) & Jonah Weinstock (on drums). Both George Wallace and Edward (Skip) Weinstock are Adjunct Professors of English at Westchester Community College. Enjoy the rhythms of both poetry and jazz!
BEAT POETRY & JAZZ (2nd edition) is a compilation of poetry written and spoken by George Wallace, first Poet Laureate of Suffolk County, and music improvisations performed by father/son jazz duo Edward (Skip) (on piano) & Jonah Weinstock (on drums). In a special section is George Wallace performing the poetry of other poets—notably Walt Whitman, Woodie Guthrie, and Ainsley Burrows. Both George Wallace and Edward (Skip) Weinstock are Adjunct Professors of English at Westchester Community College. Enjoy the rhythms of both poetry and jazz!
SMARTS ARTS PERFORMANCE ACADEMY GOES VIRTUAL
The Office of Cultural Affairs has established the SMART ARTS PERFORMANCE ACADEMY (SAPA) for Westchester’s aspiring artists in the Pre-College and College Divisions. SAPA offers a great platform for young creatives to perform their works and the works of others in: music, dance, voice, drama, film, and literary arts.
Smart Arts, in conjunction with the Smart Arts Performance Academy (SAPA), has provided a platform for creatives at SUNY/Westchester Community College to present their talents with a variety of virtual showcases. In the Spring 2020, the Smart Arts Performance Academy adapted, and the Smart Art Virtual Showcases were initiated.
SAPA presents its first ever Performing Arts Virtual Showcase. The talents of WCC students and faculty are displayed through song, poetry, and film.
In collaboration with the WCC Film Club, Smart Arts hosts its first Documentary Short Films Virtual Showcase and Narrative Short Films Virtual Showcase. The compilations feature contributions by WCC’s talented film students!
Smart Arts presents its Visual Arts Virtual Showcase. Featured are works by WCC students in various visual arts mediums, as well as, film shorts related to the creative process within the visual arts.
In collaboration with the Fashion Design & Merchandising Program, Smart Arts presents the Fashion Design Virtual Showcase, a compilation of works by fashion design students at WCC. This is a look into some of the students’ design process towards finished products.
For inquiries about the Smart Arts program and/or the Smart Arts Performance Academy, please contact us by email at: smartarts@sunywcc.edu or by telephone at: (914) 606 – 6262.