E R I Jams Online Magazine

Epiphany Theatre Opens With Hit Play

by Rob Taylor

It was such an honor for me to get to review the first show of the first season at the Epiphany Theatre Troupe, who is currently using the old Director Circle Theatre on the second floor of the Renaissance Building at the corner of East 10th and State Streets.


Their production of locally written “Fine Art Photography” stars Sonia Rosales as Michelle, Chris LeSuer as Toby, Micheal Bitz as Ron, Anna Dhaliwal as Jensen, Jen Sesler/Leah Fox as “The Mother” and last but not least Lauren Harrington as “The Child”. It is directed by 22 year old, Erie native, Katie Sesler. The play starts out with Toby coming home and telling his wife, Michelle, about the bad day he had at work. He works as an accountant who was passed by for a promotion, which was given to a man less than half his age. Michelle has some sympathy and allows him to get a new tripod for his camera. Instead of doing what his wife allowed he buys a $20,000 Hasselblad camera, quits his job and decides to open a child photography studio.

Now, if you have EVER been married you know what a woman will do if you spend that much money without asking her. She’ll freak out and throw your ass to the street. This is exactly what happens. The thing is there is a friend, Ron, who gets caught in the middle and Jensen who sold Toby the camera in the first place and knows that he has the talent to make his dream come true.

Thanks to a puppet things finally get straightened out although not in the way you’d expect. And…guess what…that is all I am telling you. :)

Seriously, I didn’t really expect a lot from Epiphany. After all, they came out of nowhere. No one in the theatre community knew anything about them so I didn’t know what to expect. For all I knew they could have put out pure crap. I was happily surprised. What I saw was a young but very talented production company who took a very emotional play and made it work very, very well. I want to go see it again but I have a feeling that there aren’t going be many seats left.

There is only one bad thing about Epiphany. They are only putting on two, one weekend shows…Fine Art Photography which is showing through the 19th and then Patriot which is running on August 20-23. I know why the short season…Epiphany Director Katie Sesler has to go back to Kenyon College where she studies theatre and anthropology but it is still a shame to see such quality disappear for another year.

Like I said Fine Art Photography is only showing this weekend (July 16-19) and then it will be gone. This is a very realistic vision of male mid-life crisis and well worth the price of admission so call Katie at 814-746-0592…it’s her cell phone but it is also the box office phone…but make it quick before they sell out.

As American As Apple Pie, North East Holds It’s Cherry Festival

By Rob Taylor

This weekend will be the last few days of the 64th Annual North East Firemen’s Cherry Festival which will run through July 18th. Organizers say that year’s festival is going to be the best one yet…featuring midway style rides, delicious cherry pies, their “almost famous” Firemen’s Sausage Sandwich, homemade fries and fun for all ages.

The Cherry Festival has become a tradition in northwestern Pennsylvania…equal to the other events in the country such as Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Championship, The MLB All Star Game and grilling Smith’s Hotdogs on a 4th of July afternoon. It has become so widely known that some plan their summer vacations just to be able to travel to North East to take part in the festivities.

For the fourth year in a row Midway Rides of Utica is handling the midway rides. Ride tickets are available in a few different ways. You can get one ticket for $1.00, 20 tickets for $16.00 or an all day ride-a-rama ticket for $16.00.

Now, in addition to the rides and food there is also a Cherry Queen who will be named. Unlike other festivals the candidates for Cherry Queen are not chosen by the Cherry Festival Committee. Rather they are named by the graduating class of North East High School. Then the committee has multiple interviews to narrow the field down to the five who will appear on stage.
This year’s candidates are (from left to right in the photo to the left - Tarryn Moss, Kati Phillips, Bethany Drab, 2008 Cherry Queen Lily Oberle, Mari Goetz and Jennifer McAuley.

Lastly, the Cherry Festival climaxes with the Cherry Festival Parade which starts at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday July 18th. The parade route starts on North Mill Street, down West Main St and lastly onto Route 89. They do recommend a couple of things…first, get there early to reserve your spot for the parade and second, bring ear protection for little ones. There are fire trucks and other emergency vehicles in the parade and their sirens can be loud…so it is better to be safe that sorry.

For more information about the Cherry Festival check out the www.necherryfestival.com or call organizers at 814-725-5616

All-School Musical Opens This Weekend

2009 All-School Musical, Guys & Dolls, which opens Friday July 17 at Hirt Auditorium, by Blasco library.

Show dates & times are Friday July 17 & Saturday July 18 @ 7:30 p.m., Sunday July 19 @ 2:30 p.m.

Friday July 24 & Saturday July 25th @ 7:30, Sunday July 26th @ 2:30 p.m. Tickets $12 adults, $10 seniors, $6 students, available at the door.

For more information contact Father Jay Schultz @ St. Boniface. jayserie@yahoo.com

The Erie Times News Duathlon at Discover Presque Isle

Sunday, July 26, Presque Isle State Park, 7 a.m. Start

Beach 11 Start/Transition/Finish

Run 5k, Bike 20k, Run 5k - Individual and 2 person relay teams

The race is a 5 kilometer run, a 20 kilometer bike- featuring a full loop of scenic Presque Isle, followed by another 5 kilometer run beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2009 (Discover Presque Isle weekend). This year's race will start and end at the Beach 11 parking lot. The bike race will take place on the park's main road with one lane closed to traffic.

Each participant will receive a high-quality race premium. Pre-registration deadline is Friday, July 17, 2009. Late entries (postmarked after July17) and day-of-race registrations will be accepted at an additional cost of $10 per entrant. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Tom Toale at 814.459.5736 or tm.toale@gmail.com .

Download the 2009 Duathlon Application

Race Information:
1. Race entry fees are non-refundable and are the property of Presque Isle Partnership. The race will not be rescheduled if cancelled due to unsafe road conditions. Premiums will not be sent to no-shows.

2. Bike riders must wear ANSI approved helmets during the entire bike ride segment of the race. PARTICIPANTS MUST BE WEARING HELMETS BEFORE EXITING THE TRANSITION AREA.

3. The race course will not be completely closed to auto, pedestrian or bicycle traffic. Participants must be alert at all times.

4. Bikers must ride in the designated lane with the traffic flow. Crossing into the other lane may result in disqualification.

5. Each run segment will be one loop of a measured 5.0 km course.

6. There will be one aid station near the transition area for runners.

7. Awards will be presented to Overall, Master, Age Group and Relay Team winners.

Breakdown of Awards by Category:

Overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd place each male and female - $100, $75 and $50 gift certificates to Competitive Gear

1st place each male and female master - $75 gift certificates to Competitive Gear

1st and 2nd place each relay division - $30 and $20 gift certificates to Texas Roadhouse restaurant

1st and 2nd place male and female in each age group - $30 and $20 gift certificates to Texas Roadhouse restaurant

Brighid's Haven Event Planned For August 5th

The Covenant of Brighid's Haven's next event is our Open Circle for Lammas will be held on Wednesday, August 5th, 2009, at the Erie UU Church, doors opening at 7pm, rite beginning between 7:30 and 8:00, potluck feast to follow the rite.

Join them as they celebrate the opening of the harvest season and the coming of the corn! The ever-popular potluck feast will follow the rite, so please bring a dish to pass.

What: Open Circle for Lammas
When: Wednesday, 08/05/09
What time: Doors open at 7pm, rite begins between 7:30 -8, feast follows
Where: Erie UU Church, 7180 Perry Highway
What to bring: dish for the potluck feast
What to wear: Please wear bright colors
Please note that a $3.00 donation is requested to help defray the cost of renting the space.

For those who like to plan ahead, Brighid's Haven's next three events, following this event, will be as follows:
Open Circle for Mabon: 09/23/09
Open Circle for Samhain: 10/28/09

Open Circle for Yule: 12/23/09

2009 Erie Pride Weekend On July 25-26

Come walk in the parade on Saturday July 25th!! Meet at the Zone Dance Club 133 West 18th Street @ 12 noon. Parade steps off at 1pm down State Street to Perry’s Square. Show your true colors.

Activities in Perry’s Square begins approximately 1pm with many vendors and displays. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the many local performers.

Plus the newly crowned Miss Erie 2009. From Pittsburgh, singer Jeremiah Clark Headline performer, singer Tom Goss. Sunday, July 26th activities include a church Service at the Erie Community United Church (1101 West 38th Street Erie, PA) @ 11am till 12 noon. Then join us for the 1st Annual Waldameer Park and Water World GLBT day. From 12 noon till park closes. Meet in front of Rainbow Gardens (inside Waladmeer).

For more Pride information or to order your 2009 Pride t-shirt visit www.eriegaypride.org

Night Of Revenge At The Cauley
By Rob Taylor

On June 18th Pro Wrestling Rampage will return once again to the Cauley Auditorium, 215 East 4th St in Erie to settle some scores from last month’s matches.

During June’s matches Russian Ivan Radsky in his own cowardly fashion, attacked fan favorite Lumberjack Laroux nearly putting him in the hospital from the injuries. At that time the PWR commissioner ordered that Radsky and Laroux face each other this month in what is called a “Russian Chain Match.” Because the chain WILL be used as a weapon this promises to be the biggest match of the year.

The second main event of the evening is going to be Shane Taylor fighting fan favorite Big Time Bill Collier for the PWR Heavyweight Championship.

Also, in the match ERI Jams video taped last month (above), J-Rocc turned his back on his tag-team partner Brittney Force during a match against PWR tag team champions Angel Dust and Sassy Steph. It is possible that, unless J-Rocc kissed some major butt in the dressing room, there may be a match between the two former partners.

The doors open at 7:00 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and students (high school and college).

For more information check out www.wrestlingrampage.com.

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Galleries

Erie Art Museum - 411 State St., Erie - (814) 459-5477

Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays

Admission is $4 for adults,
Seniors Citizens and Students is $3
Children under 12 are $2

Admission is free to Erie Art Museum members
Free Admission to all on Wednesdays.

July's Calendar

Eden Revisited: The Ceramic Art of Kurt Weiser
A Weiser retrospective, from his early sculptural abstractions to more recent work featuring fine china painting on porcelain. Weiser explores themes of nature and human desire, combining images of lush flora and fauna with smoothly expressionistic figures.

Now through September 13, 2009

Frame Shop Gallery and Annex Gallery: 423 State Street
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Takezasa-Do
In the Annex Gallery
Woodblock prints in the 1,200-year-old Kyoto tradition by master printer Kenji Takenaka, his apprentice Yuko Harada, Finnish book artist Tuula Moilanen, and American printmaker William Mathie.

July 10, 2009 – September 26, 2009

Glass Growers Gallery

10 East 5th St., Erie

(814) 453-3758

William Roschy driftwood collages and Brian Pardini sculptures through July 22.

Gallery Hours: Monday ~ Friday 10-6/Saturday 10-5

Theatres

Station Dinner Theatre - 4940 Peach St., Erie - www.canterburyfeast.com

Roger & Hammerstein's
Some Enchanted Evening - July 14 - 30

Tue/Wed Noon, Fri 7pm, Thur 4pm , Sat 6pm, Sun 2:30pm

The Riverside Inn - 1 Fountain Ave., Cambridge Springs - www.theriversideinn.com

Where The Girls Are - July 7 - 29

Jr's Last Laugh Comedy Club - 1402 State St., Erie (814) 461-0911

Ryan Dalton - July 16-18

with special guest Keith Barany

Cinemark Tinseltown 17

1910 Rotunda Rd, Erie

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince new! (PG, No Passes)
11:30am 12:20 1:10 2:00 2:50 3:40 4:30 5:20 6:10 7:00 7:50 8:40 9:30 10:20

Bruno new! (R, No Passes)
11:15am 1:25 3:35 5:45 7:55 10:15

I Love You, Beth Cooper new! (PG-13, No Passes)
7:10 9:40

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG)

12:40 3:00 5:25 7:45 10:05

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 3D (PG)
11:25am 1:45 4:05 7:05 9:25

Public Enemies (R)
11:40am 12:45 2:35 2:55 4:00 6:15 7:15 8:45 9:35 10:25

My Sister's Keeper (PG-13)
11:35am 2:10 4:55 7:30 10:10

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13)
11:20am 12:30 1:40 2:45 4:05 5:10 6:20 7:40 8:30 9:50

The Proposal (PG-13)
11:10am 12:00 1:50 4:25 5:55 7:20 10:00

The Hangover (R)
11:45am 2:15 4:40 7:25 9:55

Up (PG)
11:00am 1:30 4:10

Millcreek Mall Cinema 6

5800 Peach St. Erie

Land of the Lost (PG-13)
12:20 2:50 5:10 7:40 10:10

Dance Flick (PG-13)12:30 5:05 9:50

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG)
12:10 2:35 5:00 7:30 10:00

Angels & Demons (PG-13)
12:40 4:00 7:00 10:05

The Brothers Bloom (PG-13)
2:30 7:15

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (PG-13) 2:20 4:40 7:20 9:40

Hannah Montana: The Movie (G) 12:00

Monsters vs. Aliens (PG)
11:50am 2:10 4:30 7:10 9:30

VIRTUAL NEW YORK

by Chuck Joy

around the corner
from Club Poetry, between
the Eagle deli and the dry cleaners:
Schlurp's, Rick's favorite bar
in their West Village neighborhood
if not the entire city

Schlurp's, the place
to drink a velvety porter,
the color of pumpernickle,
waiting for your thoughts
to clear, a bartender
older than your father
at the far end of the long bar,
reading Newsday

the stage, even farther
back, empty, at that hour,
midafternoon, a piano,
untended, patient, silent,
the small dancefloor dark

Schlurp's, a long mirror
behind the bar, the other wall
hung with travel posters
from Germany, above a row
of mahogany booth-tables,
one step up from the tile floor

FREE AREA EVENTS

(Click Links for More Information)

Thursday, July 16

07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Arts at the Arboretum

Free concerts presented by LEAF (Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier park). All concerts are Thursday nights at the outdoor amphitheatre in Frontier Park located behind the tennis courts (and down the hill) on West 6th Street. Parking is by the tennis courts and off Sixth Street or in the lot behind Greengarden Tavern. Concert goers may want to bring a blanket or lawn chair.

July 16th music by Selah Praise Band - a Christian band from Our Lady of Peace parish with several CD's to their name, 'We are One Body' and 'Love has Come'.

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Smith Carillon Concert Series at Penn State Behrend

Dennis Curry
Carillonneur, Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Penn State Behrend
4205 College Dr.
Erie, PA 16563

All Day Event
North East Cherry Festival

All Day Event
Presque Isle Pontoon Rides

Presque Isle State Park
Boat Livery, near Perry Monument
Erie, PA

Friday, July 17

07:30 AM - 09:00 PM
Friday Bird Walks

Asbury Woods Nature Center - Brown's Farm
4105 Asbury Road
Erie, PA

12:00 PM
Thunder on the Isle Motorcycle Ride

Departs from Harley-Davidson Erie at 3pm, pre-party from 12-3pm Join Erie's Mayor for a motorcycle ride around Presque Isle State Park.

08:00 PM - 09:30 PM
Ghosts & Legends Walking Tours (Friday Nights)

08:15 PM
Movies at the Arboretum

Movie - Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa

Frontier Park
West 8th and Bayfront Parkway
Erie, PA

08:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Friday Flicks - Free Outdoor Movies

Feature Film - Remember the Titans

Edinboro University
Behind the Student Center
Edinboro, PA

All Day Event
Presque Isle Pontoon Rides

Presque Isle State Park
Boat Livery, near Perry Monument
Erie, PA

All Day Event
Waterford Heritage Days

Saturday, July 18

10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Frozen Safari

There is no cooler place to be than at the Erie Zoo during Frozen Safari! Each guest will receive a safari passport that takes you to the 'coolest spots' around the Zoo where a sweet treat will be waiting for you. But our visitors aren't the only ones who get to cool off during a hot summer day. the animals do too! Norton and Patches, our resident polar bears, will get fish-sicles and the spider monkeys on Monkey Island will get to enjoy fruit-sicles.

Cost: with Zoo admission

Erie Zoo
423 West 38th Street
Erie, PA

05:00 PM
Lake Erie Speedway Racing

All Day Event
Presque Isle Pontoon Rides

Presque Isle State Park
Boat Livery, near Perry Monument
Erie, PA

All Day Event
Waterford Heritage Days

Sunday, July 19

01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Insect Hike

All Day Event
Presque Isle Pontoon Rides

Presque Isle State Park
Boat Livery, near Perry Monument
Erie, PA

All Day Event
Waterford Heritage Days

July

20, 27 – Cruise the Bay/ Car Classics
16 - 18 – Roar on the Shore
25 – Beer on the Bay

August

3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Cruise the Bay/ Car Classics
7,8 – Key West Phest / The Presque Isle Parrothead Club
23 – Gospel Extravaganza

September

12 – Erie County Historical Society Presents Erie’s Heritage Festival
19 – American Heart Association Walk
14, 21, 28 – Cruise the Bay/ Car Classics

Aug 7 (Fri) - G2H2 - Erie Gay Business Alliance social get together (Sandbar Draft House and Grill, 2835 W 8th St, Erie, PA 16505) 6 PM - 8 PM. Gay Guy/Girl Happy Hour (G2H2) is a monthly get together for GLBT professionals and their colleagues and friends meet for networking. You can also sign up for the Erie Gay Business Alliance email list. Browse to Facebook Page

Aug 22 (Sat) - AGLBTOA Family Picnic (Geneva State Park, 4499 Padanarum Road, Geneva, OH 44031) 1 PM - 6 PM. Sponsored by Ashtabula GLBT Outreach Alliance. Bring a covered dish if possible, your own place settings and drinks! Hotdogs will be provided! We will also have a talent show, karaoke, games and a ton of fun! RSVP at www.ashtabulaglbt.org! Contact: Jayson Nadolny. Phone: (440) 536-6221. Email: jaysonn@ashtabulaglbt.org. Browse to www.ashtabulaglbt.org.