This was just a toe-tappin good time. Jonathan Edwards, in his signature style, came out bare-foot on stage and played with three other amazing musicians.
The sold-old crowd was rockin and I mean “rockin” to everything Edwards sang, talk about a following. His voice has lost nothing over the years nor has his guitar or harmonica playing. He’s still cranking out the new songs too. The a capella numbers by Edwards and the others were marvelous.
After so many years Edwards has his stage banter down pat, he knows his audience and they know him. Edwards told the crowd he was so impressed with the acoustics at The Kate that he would be coming back. That’s a really great compliment from a guy who has been on stages around the world for more than 40 years.
On the road with Edwards these days is his long time friend and accompanist whom he met in 1969, Stuart Schulman. Schulman plays the bass, piano, fiddle as well as vocals. Also Taylor Armerding, formerly of Northern Lights is an amazing mandolin player.
The “young-in” in the group is banjo player, double bass, guitar, pedal steel and cello player, Charlie Rose.
There were a lot of hands that went up before the start of the concert when Executive Director, Chuck Still asked “how many of you are here for the first time?” We think that’s great that so many are discovering The Kate.
Wow! Anne Heaton was live on the stage at The Kate last Saturday night and she blew the crowd away. The gentleman sitting next to me said “she has a voice like an angel.” He’s right.
Anne Heaton, originally from Illinois, now resides in Boston. Anne told me she is a University of Notre Dame graduate. I grew up in South Bend, Indiana so we immediately hit it off. Some of her Irish Catholic relatives attended the just-across-the-street, Saint Mary’s College as well. How well I know that place.
Anne’s voice truly is amazing, she is a singer song writer. She moved effortlessly from her stand-up keyboard to the sit-down grand piano, singing and playing. She truly has a passion for what she does. Her banter in between songs was very sweet and open.
Anne remarked during her show as so many already have, that she found the acoustics at The Kate to be amazing.
You may not know some of the folks we’re booking at The Kate, but you will. We have so much planned as we head into spring you’re going to want to be a part of it.
It was a sold out crowd for the country rock group, “POCO.” They’ve been rockin for 40 years and are still touring the country.
The group these days consists of Paul Cotton, Jack Sundrud and Rusty Young.
The group played for two hours and were thrilled with the sound in the theater, even thanking our sound man live on stage.
Next musical event is Anne Heaton on January 9th.
Legendary actress, Katharine Hepburn, born in Hartford, Connecticut and who called Old Saybrook, Connecticut her paradise, will be honored this year with a U.S. postal stamp. It will be unveiled on the 4-time Academy Award winning actress’s birthday which is May 12th.
Hepburn made more than 40 films. Hepburn was known for doing it “her” way and paved the way for women to be independent and free thinkers.
It is the hope of those of us on the Board of Trustees of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, that the stamp may be presented at her namesake theater in Old Saybrook.
The Washington Post has a look at all the recipients of stamps this year. Those being honored include Nobel Prize winner, Mother Teresa cowboy, Roy Rogers, Kate Smith of “God Bless America” song fame, and Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge.
Board of Trustee, Member, Elaine Staplins, a native Old Saybrookian, was among the initial select group of folks to help open the theater. Elaine has been keeping a close watch on the Hepburn stamp, she has known it was going to happen for several years. We thank Elaine for all she has done and continues to do, she is amazing.
So keep your fingers crossed that the theater will get national media coverage when the stamp is unveiled this spring.
For more on the Hepburn stamp you can go to Playbill’s blog written by Judy Samelson who is an authority on Miss Hepburn. Thank you so much, Judy!
Get your gift certificates for the holidays to the Kate, it’s not too late!
It’s the perfect gift for that special someone. We have more than 30 shows posted already for 2010 and more are being added all the time. See for yourself right here: http://www.katharinehepburntheater.org/blog/events/
You can purchase these on line or just call the box office. Box office Mgr. Peter Johns is manning the phones!
Box office Holiday hours are December 21-24 from 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. December 29-31st from 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
The Kate is located at 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
This was just a toe-tappin good time. Jonathan Edwards, in his signature style, came out bare-foot on stage and played with three other amazing musicians.
Get your gift certificates for the holidays to the Kate, it’s not too late!
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