EPAC’s ‘Sweet Charity’ has something for everyone

EDITOR’S NOTE: A regular attendee of Endicott Performing Arts Center shows shared with BAMirror the comments he posted on EPAC’s Facebook site following last week’s opening weekend of Sweet Charity. Performances conclude tomorrow (Sunday, March 24).

Reviewed by Ed Arnold

Another fine evening’s entertainment was provided by the cast and tech crew of EPAC for the musical Sweet Charity. When I go out for an evening, I want to be entertained with comedy, dancing, live music, and this show had it all.

EPAC ‘Fiddler’ hits all the right notes

Reviewed by George Basler

Fiddler on the Roof, being performed this weekend and next by the Endicott Performing Arts Center (EPAC) Repertory Company,  is a superb production of one of Broadway’s greatest musicals.

What makes the musical great, besides the obvious elements of  top-notch songs and writing, is its underlying theme.

EPAC keeps growing to bring arts to community

By Ralph Hall

EPAC as a work in progress

Throughout the Americas and Europe, there are hundreds of community theaters, but there is only one Endicott Performing Arts Center (EPAC)! EPAC is a unique, comprehensive and community-committed not-for-profit organization serving the Broome County area and making a difference in economics, the arts and education. The activities of this company are so very diverse in serving many age groups, varied arts pursuits (i.e. acting, dance, backstage, etc.) in a setting that positively affects the economics of Washington Avenue, Endicott and Broome County.

The venue, formerly known as the Lyric Theater, was built 1916-1917 as a vaudeville theater, and a few years later was transformed to a motion picture theater. In 1993 the owners closed the theater, and it began to deteriorate. Fortunately for the community, Lou Ligouri (Executive Director) and Pat Foti (Artistic Director) met in 1991 and within a few years created a vision that was to become EPAC. The first performance in 1999 was Visions of Vaudeville, produced and performed with the St. Anthony Players. In 2010, the name of the theater was changed to “Robert Eckert Theatre” to honor Robert Eckert, an Endicott native who has been active in professional and community theater for many years.

Maureen McGovern dazzles EPAC audience

Reviewed by Tony Villecco

Pop singer, jazz artist, Grammy nominee and Broadway star Maureen McGovern gave a thrilling and emotion-packed concert last Saturday (Oct. 17) at the Endicott Performing Arts Center. What was even more amazing is that, when she heard about the flood here she decided to donate her concert fee to the community. Pretty classy lady, huh?

EPAC’s ‘Superstar’ is great theater

Reviewed by Nicholas Linnehan

Between Broadway Theatre League’s The Color Purple and the Endicott Performing Arts Center’s Jesus Christ Superstar, its been a very spiritual week of theater for me. EPAC’s version of Jesus Christ Superstar is moving and tender. The message of this timeless story is delivered profoundly, as the cast is clearly connected to the “bigger message” that this musical clearly spreads.

Did you ‘spring’ into the arts this weekend?

Did you visit a gallery, attend a concert or like, Nick Linnehan, check out the kids at EPAC (see comment)? Join the conversation — no registration required (see below) — and talk about the arts in your life.

Share your thoughts with HOTA honorees

Do you have a story to tell about Heart of the Arts Awards honorees Lou Ligouri, Pam Ondrusek and Billy Carroll or about  Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Pokey Crocker? Please share it here. You also can use this space to offer your congratulations to the BCAC’s “Class of 2010.”

Carroll, Ligouri, Ondrusek named 2010 HOTA Honorees

One came to the arts through his career, another changed careers to commit to the arts, a third juggles a career and arts volunteering, but all three 2010 Heart of the Arts Awards honorees have enriched the cultural landscape of Broome County.

At a press conference this morning (Oct. 1) at the Broome County Arts Council’s downtown Binghamton office, council Executive Director Sharon Ball and board chairman Fred Xlander announced that this year’s HOTA Awards will go to veteran union stagehand William “Billy” Carroll; Lou Ligouri, executive director of the Endicott Performing Arts Center, and Pam Ondrusek, president of the board of directors of S.R.O. Productions III. Also nominated were René Neville, artistic director of Dance Stories, and DJ and children’s entertainer Johnny Only.

BAMirror asked each honoree how he or she got into the arts, and why.

Profile: 2010 Heart of the Arts Award nominee Lou Ligouri

Solo or part of a troupe, onstage or behind the scenes, paid or volunteer, each of the five 2010 Heart of the Arts Award nominees gives 100 percent to the bright and varied world of arts and entertainment in Broome County. All this week BAMirror will be providing biographical background about the nominees. We’re also offering you an opportunity to congratulate the nominees and to share a story or two. Today we feature Lou Ligouri, executive director of the Endicott Performing Arts Center.