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Arts on the Lake Extends Open Mouth Nights
Word of mouth among young and old has spread and standup theater at its best is in full swing at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center. As a result, the well-attended Arts on the Lake Open Mouth Nights have been extended through September and renowned performers and musicians are signing up in advance to secure their time slots.
This Friday, Aug.10, world renowned musicians David Amram and Midhat Serbagi are already scheduled to perform.
Amram, a conductor, composer, multi-instrumentalist and author, (his third book Upbeat: Nine Lives of a Musical Cat, is to be published this month) is familiar to many Putnam residents. Amram's most recent performance in his home county was at the Putnam County 4-H Fair. It was his 21st consecutive appearance at the county's annual event.
Amram said he was delighted when Serbaji asked him to perform at Open Mouth Night. He said he and Serbaji met 50 years ago while serving in the military. Each played in the 7th Army Symphony. They've remained friends and performed together numerous times.
Amram said he was "happy to lend his support." He said he believes there are more talented people now than ever before. He credits the worldwide web with bringing forth artists who had packed away their instruments in frustration.
"They're getting their instruments out of boxes and playing them again independent of the music industry. It's art," he said. "Music ought to be fun."
Serbagi, son of a middleeastern singer, was for many years a member of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra where he played the viola. Now retired, he and his wife Susan, live in the Sedgewood Club. Serbagi said he first heard about Arts on the Lake from Arthur Singer who attended Serbagi's Classical Planet Concert at Gilead Presbyterian Church last year. Serbagi welcomed not only the idea of Arts on the Lake but jumped at the chance to participate. He recently toured the old Lake Carmel firehouse on Route 52.
"It's a beautiful venue," he said. "It's exciting to see what is happening there. I certainly hope all that they envision comes to fruition. This could be big."
Other Arts on the Lake events to be held at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center include a Rock on the Lake battle of the bands, the Sept.7 Open Mouth Night, Sept. 9 afternoon of jazz with vocalist Michelle LeBlanc and the Second Community Art Exhibit scheduled to open on Sunday, Oct. 7. For detailed information on these events visit www.artsonthelake.org.
Open Mouth Night will begin at 8pm on Friday, August 10. For reservations e-mail rsvp@artsonthelake.org or call (845) 225-3856. Admission: $6; AotL members: $5. Performers: free.
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