Northampton Historic Preservation Society’s Walking Tour of Historic Accomac, guided by Drummond Ayres.
View the Greek Revival design and interior frescos of Saint James Episcopal Church. Enjoy this guided walk through the Accomac Historic District significant for the well-preserved architecture of its homes and rich history as an important government center for over 300 years. To quote Kirk Mariner, “It is said among Virginia’s old towns only Williamsburg has more historic architecture than Accomac.” Next, Fitzhugh Godwin, Chairman – The Francis Makemie Society, will highlight the history of the Roman Revival style Francis Makemie Presbyterian Church, (ca. 1837), and share discoveries from a recent archaeological dig at the Makemie Monument Park. At 9:30 am, participants will park their cars and meet at Saint James Episcopal Church then conclude with lunch at 12:30 pm, at Onancock’s Charlotte Hotel & Restaurant (opened for tour). The cost of this tour, including lunch, is $50 per person. Registration is only available on NHPS website and the tour is limited to 25 people. When the program is at capacity, the NHPS website will indicate “sold out.”
Directions for parking and registering using a debit/credit card or PayPal can be found at: www.northamptonhistoricpreservationsociety.com
The play takes place in Victorian England, and follows the trials and exploits of poor and innocent “street children” who navigate a life of poverty and misfortune all the while trying to avoid being sent to the “workhouses”. The miser Ebenezer Scrooge would like to see them all rounded up for the workhouses, but the crafty Martin, leader of the street beggars has other plans. Against this backdrop, two star-crossed lovers hope to escape the dreariness of the London streets, and escape to America where they can become honest citizens finally able to enjoy the fruits of good work.
Due to conflicts, the actors previously cast had to drop out, so the director and producer are looking to fill these roles as quickly as possible. Both roles are open to both men and woman, and if you have never acted on the Palace stage before, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience all the fun and excitement of being part of a live stage performance.
The workshop is led by Alice McEnerney Cook and Linda Blum. Alice is an artist based in New Jersey with multiple years of experience teaching Plein Aire painting and Observational Drawing techniques to Art teachers. Dr. Linda Blum is a professor at the University of Virginia with over 30 years of research experience in coastal ecosystems. The purpose of this offering is to provide primary and secondary school teachers with an opportunity to learn and practice the techniques used in Plein Aire painting along with an introduction to the ecology and environmental issues impacting the diverse habitats of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The program combines classroom discussions of Plein Aire techniques and basic ecology with visits to scenic natural areas where participants have the opportunity to receive one-on-one instruction and practice Plein Aire painting techniques.
The focus this season will again be improv games (they really pay dividends during shows and rehearsals), but we are also going to focus on acting for the camera. Many of our young actors have had fun working with Experimental Film, and they have requested to do more serious work in front of the camera. We are still working out all the details, such as rehearsal schedules, but we will keep you posted.