By David Lillard

Each July in Jefferson County, the curtain rises on a growing variety of arts, entertainment, and cultural offerings. From the Contemporary American Theater Festival’s five-play repertory to Shepherd University’s quiet historical walks featuring characters in historic dress, from the 10th annual Goose Route Dance Festival to the Over the Mountain summer art show, there’s a lot to see and hear. Plus, there’s a new art gallery in Charles Town, one celebrating its three-year anniversary in Shepherdstown, and a new art school in Shepherdstown. The month ends with an arts and humanities weekend in Shepherdstown called Uniquely Shepherdstown.

CATF 20th Season

The Contemporary American Theater Festival rolls into its 20th season with five plays in rep at three venues. Almost as remarkable as the idea of 20 seasons for CATF is the sense that the festival has remained true to its founding ideals of challenging audiences, being a playwright’s theater, and daring to do the unexpected with faith in the audience to come along.

Enter The Eelwax Jesus 3-D Pop Music Show. For every theatergoer who has wondered aloud, when’s producing director Ed Harendeen going to start doing musicals, Eelwax Jesus was probably not what you had in mind. But unless your taste for music theater storytelling is stuck somewhere in the Austrian Alps—heck, even if it is—this should be a lot of fun. One informal “focus group” likens the tunes to Cuckoo’s Nest meets Monte Python with a soundtrack inspired by Leonard Cohen with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. But even that description is too limiting—and it doesn’t account for the kitch.

It takes place in a “socially isolated group home where residents are fed a daily dose of the charismatic Mr. Shine,” say the CATF liner notes. It’s a CATF world premiere featuring longtime CATF favorite Lee Sellars, who also composed the music. He teamed with Max Baxter, who wrote the book and music. Sellars devotees won’t be surprised by the offbeat humor, but picture this: he’s been playing Officer Krupke in the second year run of Arthur Laurents’ of West Side Story on Broadway.

Eelwax plays at the Frank Center main stage, a venue that was built for music.

The other plays in the five-play season:

Breadcrumbs, by Jennifer Haley. In this CATF world premiere, Alida is a reclusive writer of fiction slowly losing her memories. Reluctantly, she has come to depend on a young caregiver to complete her final book,  an autobiography. The two women wrestle over the nature of language, loneliness, and the essential self.

Inana, by Michele Lowe. On the eve of the U.S. invasion of Baghdad, one man, an Iraqi museum curator, plots to save the statue of Inana, goddess of war, from destruction by the invaders. Fleeing to London with his young bride, he makes a life-altering deal to ensure the statue’s preservation.


Lidless, by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig. Fifteen years after being released from Guantanamo Bay, Bashir walks into the shop of Alice, his former U.S. interrogator. He’s tracked Alice down and wants her to know the emotional and spiritual pain she inflicted upon him. With her past brought to light, how does she explain her actions to her teenage daughter? Can Alice protect her from the truth?

White People, by J.T. Rogers. What does it mean to be a white American? What does it mean for any American to live in a country that is not the one you were promised? This is a controversial and darkly funny play about the lives of three ordinary Americans placed under the spotlight.

For ticket information, see catf.org

Speaking of Milestones, Goose Route

Ask Kitty Clark, director of the Goose Route Art Collaborative, what’s got her most excited about the 10th anniversary Goose Route Dance Festival, and you’ll get the subdued smile of a now seasoned producer. “We’re still here,” she says. “Ten years ago, I couldn’t see beyond getting the first season up.” During that first festival weekend dancers, choreographers, and audience members had a question she hadn’t yet pondered: Have you set the date for next year’s festival?

“It wasn’t until the fourth or fifth year that I allowed myself to think that this truly was an annual festival.” If it took Clark that long to figure it out, her audience and the performers were way ahead of her. Although the festival has matured over the decade, it’s winning formula emerged early on: Welcome the best choreographers and small dance companies to Shepherdstown, and make them truly part of a shared community experience involving audiences of all ages in workshops, discussions, and performance.

“Originally, we arranged for host families to house the dancers out of financial necessity. But the dancers and the families love it,” said Clark. “It’s part of the Goose Route experience. Our dancers go to the farmers market or restaurants, and people who saw them dance the night before want to say hello and chat.”

Offering dance companies memorable experiences like this has helped attract some of the most notable names in modern dance, which in turn has raised the profile of the Goose Route fest even higher in the dance community. Still, despite the success, a big challenge remains. It’s the “I don’t understand dance” crowd. Clark hears it all the time, and her response is always the same: “Don’t try to understand it. Just enjoy it. The dancers are beautiful, their movement is beautiful, and it’s fun to watch.”

Based on the packed houses for nearly every festival performance each year, clearly a lot of people have caught on to modern dance.

The festival opens July 16 and runs through July 25 with eight performances, two kids’ shows, six classes for adults and teens, three classes for children, and four post-performance discussions. Nearly all the events take place at the War Memorial Building, 102 East German Street, Shepherdstown. The full schedule and tickets are available at www.gooseroute.org

Over the Mountain Studio Tour Summer Show

Craftspeople and artists of Jefferson County’s Over the Mountain Studio Tour, which takes place in November, will preview their works at a special summer show during “Uniquely Shepherdstown,” the weekend of July 30, 31, and August 1.

Five different venues in town will present the art and craft of 20 artists. You can experience the diversity of Jefferson County’s craft and culture by artists who have been working cooperatively for over 20 years. The work these artists produce reflects the special quality of life that Jefferson County offers.

At the Bavarian Inn overlooking the Potomac River, heritage furniture maker Thomas McGarry, Birnum Wood Joinery, will be joined by Rebecca Jones, fiber, collage, and wood artist. Potter Joy Bridy’s special wood fired pots will complement the work of blacksmith Eric Johnson of Southwood Farm Forge.

At the CraftsWorks In Town studio, corner of Duke and Washington streets, Isabelle Truchon, creator of modern-day Byzantine arts, will be joined by Sheila Brannan, stained glass artist, and Linda Wright, with decorative painting on furniture, and Nancy Streeter, wood carver.

Greg Didden Associates at 107 West German street will host folk artists Pat Langerhans, who will be joined by quilter Elaine Mosel and photographer Teressa Blickenstaff-Kitts.

At Dickenson & Wait, Tara Bell presents “Dream Circle Art,” colored pencils drawings, collage, and prints.

The historic Entler Hotel rounds out the summer tour with fine silver artist and jeweler Carrie Singer, painter and printmaker Doug Kinnett, Anne Bowers’ Heirloom Baskets, Fran Brolle’s hot glass and silver jewelry, and Ren and Pam Parziale of Sycamore Pottery, with stoneware, salt, and redware.

The weekend show offers a glimpse into the incredible diversity of art from Jefferson County. Hours are 2pm to 7pm Friday, noon till 7pm Saturday, and Sunday 10am to 3pm. Check out www.studiotourwv.org for details.

Charles Town’s New Gallery

As Paul Pritchard’s involvement grew with the Arts & Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County (AHA!), it became clear to him and his wife Susan Ford Pritchard that local artisans needed a permanent space in Charles Town to showcase and sell their work. After a meeting with local artists in late 2009, the concept of using space in the Pritchard’s historic building in downtown Charles Town reached a fevered pitch.

The result of this inspiration? The recently opened Washington Street Gallery & Gift, an arts oasis showcasing the juried work of 40 local painters, jewelers, potters, sculptors, photographers, and other artists. The gallery held its grand opening during the last weekend of June.

Ford Pritchard sees the purpose of the gallery as two-fold: “to bring art to the community and bring the community to art. We both feel so fortunate to be living in an area that brims with all forms of art.”

And this is a truly democratic space. Whether people are buying or just window-shopping, whether they take a class—the gallery offers yoga instruction and art lessons—or get a piece of art framed, there is something that will appeal to nearly every price point.

“Without exception,” says Ford Pritchard, “people say this is just what Charles Town needs: a place dedicated to local artists and artisans and a place where people can purchase a quality, one-of-a-kind gift.”

Washington Street Gallery & Gift, 235 W. Washington St., Charles Town; 304-724-2090; WStreetGallery.com.

Birthday at Bridge

The Bridge Gallery is beginning its third year in business, and owner Kathryn Burns is looking forward to bringing in new and exciting artists and offering expanded framing services to the community.

The birthday year begins with an exhibit of new work by three exciting young artists. Local painter and Schuler School of Fine Art graduate Michael Davis will show new still life and portrait work as well as a series of life drawings. Jacob Stilley, a graduate of the Maryland Institute in Baltimore and heading to the New York Studio School to work on an MFA, is presenting a series of intimate interior spaces painted from life. Also on exhibit will be new sculpture by Frederick artist Gavin Gardner with a debut presentation of “Summer Bath,” a classically modeled full-size figure. Gardner lives outside Frederick, Md., and is working on private commissions in bronze. The summer exhibit opens Saturday July 10 with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30pm. The exhibit runs through August 1. Special pre-CATF show refreshments will be available on weekends.

The Bridge Gallery features local and regional art and offers full framing, design, and art consulting services. 8566 Shepherdstown Pike (Route 230), Shepherdstown WV 25443. For information, (304) 876-2300 or www.bridgegalleryandframing.com.

Doug Vaira contributed to the reporting on this piece.