JANUARY 2012
Opera House Live Bluegrass To Ballet
by David Lillard It’s a Thursday night at
the Opera House in Shephers town, and regional favorite The Acoustic Burgoo is open- ing for Richmond-based The Hot Seats. Burgoo has the crowd whooping and holler- ing to their genre-bending mix of bluegrass, swing, and other ingredients that make up their eponymous highly seasoned musical stew. Between numbers, lead
singer and songwriter Melissa Wright plays conductor in a friendly ban- ter between the audience and the band. It’s vintage Opera House Live, a place where musi- cians want to play—and the audience are not mere spec- tators. They call out yeahs and
go-girls
like so many Amens in a tent revival. By the time The Hot Seats take the stage with their fast- paced grassed, the room al- ready has entered hyper-drive. In the little more than a
In 2011, the Opera House
hosted venerable performers like Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band and Southern Culture on the Skids. On January 27, Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass make their Opera House debut. Paisley has been a household name in traditional bluegrass for years in both the U.S. and Europe, building a reputation that has attracted the praise of even bigger names like Alison Krauss.
there was a Vaudeville perfor- mance last autumn featuring nationally known next-gen burlesque and cabaret artists. From time to time, Cumbo
Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass appear at the Opera House in Shep- herdstown January 27
Cumbo has a knack for mix-
year since filmmaker Lawrence Cumbo took over the House, he’s managed to fashion one of the region’s hottest musical venues. He’s done it by invest- ing in a killer sound and light- ing system and creating a scene that both showcases nationally known artists and celebrates the best of the region. For na- tional acts, the Opera House offers a chance to relax in an intimate setting; for perform- ers known primarily within a hundred miles or so, it presents a rare chance to play in a con- cert hall built for sound.
ing things up with a diverse ar- ray of performances—including actual opera and ballet at the Opera House. On January 8, it’s “Coppelia at the Bolshoi.” And
will show sports events on the big screen with free-admission evenings like the upcoming B.C.S. National Championship football game between L.S.U vs. Alabama, January 9 (a night made sweeter for Louisiana na- tives Cumbo and his wife Julie). And, lest we forget, the films. The tradition of screening independent films and clas- sics continues with a twist. The Opera House Kids Club shows Saturday mati- nees featuring films for kids. The club mem- bership en- ables members to see an un- limited num- ber of films each month. The member- ship is open to people of all ages, but for many parents
the matinees offer a chance to drop the kids and run Satur- day errands—in effect, making Cumbo’s silver screen one of the most popular babysitters in Jefferson County.
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Happy Birthday Shepherdstown, WV! A Yearlong Celebration!
Get your 250 Gear online or at the Shepherd University Bookstore:
www.shepherdbook.com
Give the gift of Shepherdstown
250 Years of History What is Shepherdstown 250?
Shepherdstown 250 is a yearlong celebration of the 1762 founding of Shepherdstown, WV. We will take the year to remember our past, celebrate our present and imagine our future!
When is the Celebration?
Organizations, businesses, restaurants and shops will be hosting events, parades, and cel- ebrations througout the year that got underway Thanksgiving 2011 and will continue through November 2012.
How Can I Learn More?
“Like”
facebook.com/shepherdstown.250 to stay current on upcoming events or check out
Shepherdstown250.com & event calendar for lots more information!
What’s it Like to Visit Shepherdstown? An eclectic and charming historic town with a modern appeal, unique downtown shopping, a variety of great dining options, entertainment, and live music, Shepherdstown appeals to visitors and locals all year round. The town prides itself as one of Jefferson County’s Arts and Culture hubs.
www.shepherdstown250.com
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