Here you’ll find the latest news from Bennington County’s arts and entertainment landscape. With the holiday season here at last, there’s no shortage of ways to soak up local culture.<\/p>\n
Taconic Music Thanksgiving concert features works by Mendelssohn, Bach, and Dankner<\/strong><\/p>\n Taconic Music will present its tenth annual Thanksgiving concert on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Manchester Community Library in Manchester Center, Vermont. The Taconic String Quartet (Deborah Buck and Joana Genova, violins; Ariel Rudiakov, viola; John Dunlop, cello) will perform Felix Mendelssohn\u2019s String Quartet No. 1 in E Flat Major, op. 12 and Stephen Dankner\u2019s String Quartet No. 18. John Dunlop will perform J.S. Bach\u2019s unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, in memory of Ariel\u2019s father, cellist Michael Rudiakov, who died 25 years ago this month. The senior Rudiakov, together with his wife, Judith, was instrumental in establishing and developing year-round performance and educational programs in Manchester from the 1970s until his passing in 2000.<\/p>\n Ariel Rudiakov, Co-Artistic Director of Taconic Music, observes that \u201cthe three composers\u2019 works are reflective of many aspects of Michael\u2019s career. Stephen Dankner (b. 1944) heard Michael perform in the late 1960s at Columbia University, where the Composers Quartet was in residence. J.S.Bach\u2019s unaccompanied cello suites were a touchstone for Michael, and the last recording he ever made is of three of them. And Felix Mendelssohn\u2019s music remains a generational favorite in the Rudiakov family to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n The Thanksgiving concert is open to all, with a suggested donation at the door of $15 for adults; students and kids free. For more information about Taconic\u2019s Thanksgiving concert, year-round offerings, and summer festival, visit taconicmusic.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Dorset Players presents ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr.’<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen\u2026but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?\u201d The Dorset Players, Inc., along with Charlie\u2019s Caf\u00e9 & Coffee House and Main Street Dental, will present the enduring holiday classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr.,” performed entirely by the Dorset Players\u2019 local youth ensemble.<\/p>\n The beloved story soars off the screen and onto the stage in this Broadway Junior, 60-minute musical adaptation of the well-known television special. The show is directed by Michelle Cox, with musical direction by Rob Ellis and choreography by Ren\u00e9e Wymer.<\/p>\n Music and lyrics are by Johnny Marks with Script Adaptation by Robert Penola. Arrangements are by Timothy Splain with Orchestration by William C. White.<\/p>\n Show Sponsors for this production are Baierlein Landscaping, Dorset Physio, Just Kitchen & Bath, Northshire Living, and The Bank of Bennington.<\/p>\n Performance dates are Dec. 5, 6 and 12 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 7, 13 and 14 at 2 p.m. at The Dorset Playhouse, 104 Cheney Rd. in Dorset, VT. For tickets, please call the Box Office at (802) 867-5777 or visit dorsetplayers.org<\/a>. You may also purchase tickets in person on the day of show if there are seats available.<\/p>\n UCS presents client art show at SVAC<\/strong><\/p>\n United Counseling Service (UCS) presents a show of client artwork at Southern Vermont Arts Center\u2019s (SVAC) Arkell Pavilion from Dec. 9 through 11, with a closing reception on Dec. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. The show can be viewed during SVAC open hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.<\/p>\n The show\u2019s theme is Shine Your Light and celebrates the artistic expression and unique voices of UCS clients and students of Bennington County Head Start. UCS invites the public to the closing reception. Refreshments will be provided.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited to share this artwork with our community,\u201d says Heidi French, Director of Community Relations and Development at UCS. \u201cThis show celebrates the power of art to connect, inspire, and remind us that everyone has a light worth sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n