Were you are-full this week?

Did you watch a show, hear a concert, visit a gallery? Please share your reflections.

Early Serling play gets a staged reading

Heidi Weeks, Jim Hull

By George Basler

The night of Jan. 12, 1955, was one that changed Rod Serling’s life.

On that night, his teleplay, “Patterns,” appeared on the Kraft Television Theatre during what is  now called “the Golden Age” of live television. The play, which focuses on psychological bloodletting in the corporate boardroom, was an immediate smash hit and won Serling the first of his six Emmy Awards, said Larry Kassan, director of special projects for the Binghamton City School District and founder and director of the Rod Serling Video Festival.

Almost overnight, Serling, who grew up in Binghamton, went from being a struggling writer to a hot commodity in the television world. He would follow up the success a year later with another Emmy Award-winning drama, “Requiem for the Heavyweight,” and would be on his way to a stellar, two decade-long writing career, tragically cut shot by a heart attack in 1975.

Audiences will get a chance to view Serling’s early success this Thursday and Friday (Oct. 11 and 12) when the Rod Serling Video Festival and Southern Tier Actors Read present a staged reading of “Patterns” in Binghamton High School’s Black Box Theatre. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Get ‘A Taste of Broadway’ at BHS

By George Basler

For one night only, Binghamton High School’s main cafeteria is going to be turned into a cabaret. After a scoring a big hit last year, the Rod Serling School of Fine Arts in association with the high school’s culinary arts class is again presenting “A Taste of Broadway.” On the bill next Wednesday (May 23) will be s a sampling of tasty desserts and a selection of show tunes.

Gorman adds gravitas to BHS production of ‘Our Town’

By Barb Van Atta

In the hours before the curtain rises Friday night (Nov. 18) at the Helen Foley Theatre, eager Our Town cast members will be getting into character, getting into costumes and, with the help of makeup technicians, getting older – all except for the performer playing the pivotal role of the Stage Manager. The lines of age and the graying hair don’t have to be painted on Bill Gorman, the longtime Cider Mill Playhouse actor invited to join the Binghamton High School cast. Gorman first played the Stage Manager in the 1970s and gradually has grown into and refined his characterization, most recently performing the role about five years ago at the Cider Mill. He also directed a student production while a teacher at Vestal High School.