Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

CHURCHILL DOWNS INC. HAS a market capitalization that touches $8 billion.

That's a nice number for a corporation that specializes in little more than gaming pies in the sky and shareholder value.

But its bosses can no longer get this crazy little thing called horse racing right.

In Arlington Heights, Euclid Avenue has turned into a death row as one of the most lush turf courses on the planet awaits extinction.

There is no compelling reason that Arlington Park isn't up and running this summer.

Other than perhaps that CDI CEO Bunker Bill Carstanjen and crew might not have been able to gather their kind of Insane Clown Posse to hover around it.

So this past weekend, the Arlington Million was moved to Churchill Downs, site of one of the most troublesome grass surfaces in America.

And in the end, matching Million Day '21 at Arlington, the event was nothing more than an embarrassment for Carstanjen and Co.

LAST AUGUST AT AP, with the honorable Dick Duchossois approaching his 100th and final earthly birthday, Carstanjen's crew tried to get clever.

They're not very good at that.

The cut the purse of The Million to $600,000. And, to "honor" Duchossois with the cheapened centerpiece, they renamed the race "The Mr. D Stakes."

But they still billed the afternoon as "Million Day" -- without a Million.

Had Duchossois been in his prime, anyone who came up with such low-rent distortion at a staff meeting would have been unemployed within hours.

Instead, the lame event went on. Few really cared about it.

TO CAP THE BIZARRE FAREWELL, a track hireling named Anthony Petrillo petulantly stormed into the press box approximately 90 minutes after "The Mr. D" and ordered nine members of the media -- almost all working on deadline -- out.

No coherent reason for the snit was given since there was no coherent reason.

Petrillo, CDI and Arlington were national laughingstocks.

Again, Insane Clown Posse stuff.

SO, THE TABLE WAS SET for transplanted Million Day '22 in Louisville.

That despite dangerous irregularities with Churchill's re-sod turf course.

A new top was planted last October. Racing on it this spring proved highly problematic.

Those flaws reached tragic proportion in June when a $50K claimer named Gingrich was coasting to victory and his legs suddenly slid out from underneath him.

Jockey Jimmy Graham did his best to avoid catastrophe.

But it wasn't enough for the crippled horse. He was vanned off and "humanely" destroyed.

And turf racing at CD was suspended -- until last Saturday.

INITIALLY, CARSTANJEN AND HIGHWAYMEN planned to move the Million, the Bev D., the Secretariat and the Pucker Up to their base track.

But the Secretariat and the Pucker Up were quietly ditched.

Then, rather than being run consecutively -- as had been tradition at Arlington -- the Million and the Bev D. were spaced 3 hours apart.

That was so the entire turf rail could be moved approximately 24 feet in after the Bev D.

In theory, that would give the eight Million starters fresh -- and safer -- primary lanes to run on.

TO PROMOTE THE BIG DAY, Carstanjen underling Tonya Abeln -- who appears to have power alleys of racetrack recipes and paddock hats -- announced that the oval would be offering "Chicago-style hot dogs" and "Italians beef sandwiches."

Apparently blown away by such imaginative inducements, an on-site paid attendance of less than 3,000 was reported by authoritative sources.

This at a Camptown that regularly claimed pre-pandemic Kentucky Derby attendances of 150,000-plus.

THE CD MILLION ITSELF came across as a colossal afterthought.

The turf looked awful.

The tarnished relic played out as "a merry-go-round race."

That means a few speed horses got out and no one made any chancy moves.

A race like that suggests jockeys were prioritizing their own safety.

A 4-year-old named Santin was among the leaders from the start. He made a mild move to first down the stretch and won.

As racetrack theater, the nine-furlong exhibition was about as exciting as watching Abeln stir up a pot of burgoo on a morning TV show in Kentuckiana.

SO, CARSTANJEN AND SUITE MATES apparently think they've preserved the legacy of the Arlington Million.

They haven't. Last weekend, travesty prevailed.

It's a lot easier to program slots with return rates of 94% or so.

They took the one day of the Arlington season that meant the most to Dick Duchossois and diced it into disrespectful tripe.

On their quarterly earnings calls, the CDI scavengers may continually boast of increased profits and fertile new gaming jurisdictions.

But Carstanjen, Abeln and carnivores will never have the one thing that set Richard Louis Duchossois apart.

And that's class.

Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears Sunday and Thursday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com.

Originally posted here:
O'Donnell: With "Louisville Million," Churchill Inc. dissed the legacy of Dick Duchossois - Daily Herald

What a really silly thing for Darwin Nunez to do. He was probably just frustrated that Liverpool were sh*t.

Dont you just hate it when you accidentally headbutt somebody?We can only really start in one place, and that place is a murky area between fan and journalist which has only got murkier as more outlets have basically become something akin to fanzines. Which is how you arrive here from the Daily Mirrors Merseyside correspondent

He didnt actually mean it! He had literally tried to headbutt Joachim Andersen literally ten seconds before which earned him that shove in the back but he didnt actually mean it just a few seconds later.

If anything, he just turned around too quickly, Jeff.

Frustration!And David Maddock continued that theme in his piece from Anfield on Monday night, as he opened with statistics about Liverpool conceding the first goal far too often and arrived quickly here:

The pressure of trailing so often was painfully evident in the frustrated reaction of Darwin Nunez guilty of missing at least three proper chances when he placed his head into the face of Joachim Andersen, to be dismissed on his home debut.

Leaving aside both the stupidity of that, AND the overreaction of the Palace defender, it all came about because of the home sides inability to take the many chances they createdand the pressure that brings.

So, so much to unpick here.

Firstly, why was Nunez feeling the pressure of trailing so often in literally his second competitive appearance for the club?

Secondly, placed his head!? He headbutted him. He literally headbutted him.

Thirdly, the overreaction of the Palace defender? Now Mediawatch has thankfully never been headbutted but we suspect we might fall down. At the very least we might stumble. It looks like it might smart.

And no, it did not all come about because of thehome sides inability to take the many chances they created. It came about because a man-child lost his temper and needlessly smashed somebody in the face with his head.

Were caught in a trapHeres the headline on MailOnline:

Darwin Nunez endured a nightmare Anfield bow as he fell into Palaces trap with a STUPID headbutt. The meltdown was coming he hasnt yet got the technical mastery of Roberto Firmino

How clever of Crystal Palace to set a trap that gave Nunez almost no choice but to headbutt a fellow footballer.

Crazy, stupid loveThe Liverpool Echo do admit that it was a silly, stupid and mindless sending-off, though at this point we wonder why nobody is condemning Nunez for an act of violence rather than just being silly and stupid, which makes a 23-year-old man sound like a child.

How silly of him to headbutt a man in the face. The big daft sod.

Here is Ian Doyles description:

Eight minutes into the second half, Joachim Andersen had taken umbrage with Nunez and prodded his finger towards the Liverpool striker before invading his personal space. Unwise, yes. But that still wasnt sufficient reason for Nunez to then plant a headbutt on the Crystal Palace defender, who needed no invitation to hit the ground and ensure the inevitable sending-off.

The idea that there is a concept of invading personal space within a contact sport is simply wonderful. And when we say simply wonderful we mean absolute bollocks.

And why had Andersen taken umbrage with Nunez? Why, because he had literally just tried to headbutt him but missed. He really is a silly, silly man.

Defensive masterclassUnlike some of the Liverpool fans masquerading as journalists, Jurgen Klopp had no doubt that Nunez was in the wrong with his headbutt, that did not stop some outlets claiming otherwise. This was Eurosport

HE WAS PROVOKED LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN KLOPP DEFENDS DARWIN NUNEZ AFTER HIS HEADBUTT RED CARD

He really f***ing didnt.

Read the gloomThe Sun website have moved on from Liverpool because the laws of Our Game decree that there can only be one crisis club at any one time and that club is currently Manchester United.

And their biggest story this giddy Tuesday?

Glum Man Utd flops arrive at training as Cristiano Ronaldo and Co look to end horror start to season against Liverpool

So in short, some men have arrived at work and they werent grinning as they arrived at work.

CRISTIANO RONALDO cut a glum figure as he rolled through the gates for Manchester United training this morning.

And his Red Devils team-mates didnt look particularly happy either as they reported for duty at the clubs Carrington HQ.

Lets imagine for a second the headlines if they had looked particularly happy.

Mediawatch did really enjoy the description of Ronaldo arriving behind the wheel of a beefy Cadillac 44. Suddenly, we are craving crisps.

How much is that alleged rapist in the window?Onto more serious matters and we arrive at the front page of The Sun:

If Benjamin Mendy did indeed rape three women in 24 hours then he is simply an evil man. What the actual f*** has that got to do with his transfer fee? Its as irrelevant as his waist measurement.

Follow this link:
What did Darwin Nunez do to get a red card? He turned around too quickly, the daft sod - Football365

It only takes one spur-of-the-moment storm derailing your cookout plans before you start Googling questions like Can I barbecue underneath an umbrella? or Is a rain-soaked pot roast still safe to eat? But what you really need to ask is: How much does it cost to cover a patio?

First, be prepared to budget based on the material (do you prefer aluminum or wood?) and the cover size (a basic 10-by-10-foot pergola, for instance), among other factors. For estimate breakdowns considering these specifications and more, we tapped professional DIYer and woodworker Dondra Howard of Matriarchy Build. Read on for the details.

The average patio cover costs anywhere from $4,000 to $8,500. However, DIY projects or structures constructed with less expensive materials like aluminum or canvas can cost as little as $700. Other factors that influence the overall price include but arent limited to: cover type; materials; location (costs vary for freestanding or attached patios); permits; and accessories like retractability, outdoor ceiling fans, light installation, and electrical outlets.

Vinyl is among the most cost-effective patio cover materials; it can range from $5 to $13 per square foot (or anywhere from $2,520 to $6,300, Howard notes) and is durable and low-maintenance.

A wood cover, such as a pergola, is also relatively affordable, costing anywhere between $15 and $35 per square foot, with the potential to add up to as much as $18,900, Howard says. But it can be subject to rotting, cracking, and peeling due to the elements, and youll need to factor in a fresh coat of paint or new stain application every couple of years.

Prepare to shell out from $16 to $39 per square foot on fiberglass, a relatively lightweight, UV-resistant surface that stands up to harsh weather. Want a transparent shield? Expect to spend between $25 and $45 per square foot on a glass-covered patio.

Howard suggests aluminum ($20 to $70 per square foot) because of its protective, durable propertiesit wont crack or warpbut recommends to use it in less sunnier settings since it conducts heat easily. If the rays are beating down on it, you can opt for an insulated cover for $26 to $59 per square foot; Howard estimates that an insulated aluminum patio cover can cost anywhere from $3,280 to $7,028, before factoring in size, location, and the condition of the patio space.

An awning installation averages between $380 and $700, but that figure goes up to $3,400 depending on if the structure is retractable or fixed.

Pergolas are some of the more eye-catching patio coverslike gazebos, they can be either freestanding or attached to a main structure. Theyre also fully open to the outside (no walls) and consist of a lattice grid of rafters and beams supported by columns. The price of owning one of these backyard beauties? Howard estimates that a 10-by-10-foot pergola with a retractable canvas patio cover comes in at between $1,746 and $2,870. Overall, depending on accessories, size, location, and labor, its safe to budget for $30 to $60 per square foot.

As the most intricate of the bunch, gazebos can be fully customized, but the bulk of the price boils down to sizeanticipate a bill in the ballpark of $75 to $100 per square foot.

Depending on your location, you may have to factor in the cost of a building permit, which averages between $60 and $150. The project total increases with add-ons. A fancy outdoor lighting setup might end up averaging between $2,000 and $4,000 (but you could easily slash this number by hanging string lights or adding a soft glow to your space with lanterns or torches). Planning to keep it cool beneath the cover? Add an extra $100 to $300 for a ceiling fan installation.

Then theres custom sizing, mechanical retraction, and the list goes on. If youre starting from scratch, tack on the price of cover installation to the overall cost of building a patio.

If the project is simple and straightforward, and youre comfortable with basic woodworking, using a skill saw, measuring accurately, and climbing a ladder, you can probably install a simple patio cover, Howard says. Another must-be-able-to-do? The ability to problem-solve on the fly, because as she notes, every project presents its own set of unforeseen challenges.

Above all else, Howard advises that patio cover shoppers base their decision on budget, needs, and personal preference, and take into account the strengths and weaknesses of each material. None of the materials are perfect and all have flaws, she explains. You have to find a balance between functionality and aesthetics and what will serve you for a long time.

Link:
How Much Does It Cost to Cover a Patio? We Have the Answer for All You Shade Seekers - Domino

A wedding for the ages.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are set to seal the deal with an elaborate fireworks show at their wedding this weekend.

The couple will say I do for the second time at Afflecks riverside estate in Georgia in front of their famous friends and family.

New images from the plantation home show a large barge floating near what looks like their reception area equipped with dozens of fireworks to celebrate the newlyweds.

Tables and chairs are already set up under a waterside gazebo, including two pink chairs for the bride and groom to have some alone time while enjoying the live music.

People have been working around the clock at the sprawling 87-acre Riceboro estate getting ready for the star-studded event.

BACKGRID

BACKGRID

BACKGRID

"I found out a few days before my wedding that...

On Thursday, employees were seen constructing a marquee near the main home for the three-day festivities.

The celebrations will kick off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday night, followed by aJay Shetty-officiated ceremonyat the estate on Saturday. The next day, guests are invited to stay for a send-off barbecue to finish the weekend off strong.

While workers prepared for the lavish nuptials, guests were welcomed with ATV rides and a bonfire, according to the Daily Mail.

However, plans were thrown off course on Friday when the grooms mother, Christopher Anne Boldt,was rushed to the hospital after falling off the dock and cutting her leg, the Daily Mail also reported.

Pictures showed an ambulance departing the actors property to head to St. Joseph Candler childrens hospital in Savannah where the Argo actor and Lopez rushed to check on Boldt.

Aside from the mayhem Friday morning, Lopez, 53, and Affleck, 50 seemed relaxed in the days leading up to the big event.

The couple was seenshopping in town and going on a stroll with their blended family.

Affleck kept things casual in a tan button-up shirt with the same color cap, jeans and sneakers while his bride matched in a beige crop top, wide-leg linen pants and wedges.

Lopez will step things up when she walks down the aisle in a custom Ralph Lauren gown.

The Wedding Planner actress already wore two dresses a simple Alexander McQueen stylethat she saved for so many yearsand an elaborate lace Zuhair Murad wedding gown for their surpriseLas Vegas weddingin July.

Originally posted here:
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck's wedding to feature fireworks and live music - Page Six

The annual Ox Cart Days Ice Cream Social was held at the University of Minnesota Crookston Campus Mall and Gazebo on Wednesday afternoon. UMC staff ran a booth serving bowls of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream with water and lemonade with music performed by the wind ensemble Windblown in the gazebo as people enjoyed their cold treat on a warm summer day. Children were allowed to play around in the mall fields or could also pet some sheep, thanks to Crookston Ambulance running Animals on the Mall.

At 4:00 p.m., the United Way of Crookston, with the help of the Crookston Fire Department, commenced their Golf Ball Drop fundraiser off the ladder of one of their fire trucks, raining down hundreds of golf balls towards a hula hoop with a small hole in the center below it. The closest person was Mallorie Zapata, who won a $100 gift certificate to Hugos Family Marketplace, with Robbie Nobles and Kayla Smith coming in second and third.

Pictures of the social and Golf Ball Drop can be seen below.

Original post:
UMC HOSTS ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND UNITED WAY GOLF BALL DROP - kroxam.com

WOOD RIVER I was in the mood for the classics.

You can't get any more classic than Wood River's King Louie's Drive-In, 315 S. 6th St. I went classic everything: King Louie burger, famous French fries, a large homemade root beer and a real strawberry shake. Thanks to longtime server Jamie DeGerlia I ordered a shake. The power of suggestion is a good thing, especially coming from someone as friendly, pretty and bubbly as DeGerlia.

"It's fun. I enjoy coming here," said DeGerlia, who has worked at King Louie's for 14 years and has a regular following.

I was excited to realize that King Louie's has homemade root beer. I always got this beverage at the old Mini Corral, when I lived nearby, about a half a mile from the Corral in Alton's Milton neighborhood when I first started working in the city. I moved to Alton in spring 2006, not liking the commute from the Maplewood neighborhood in St. Louis.

I had a great lunch from King Louie Monday that I took to Wood River's iconic Roundhouse, 633 N. Wood River Ave., just four minutes away, and ate it under the gazebo, in perfect weather. You can eat curbside with a tray, inside or take out at King Louie's.

Situated in the main front entrance to the Roundhouse, from the gazebo you can clearly see the unusual shape of the building, for a building, and Central Park's playground across the way.

The classic King Louie burger (which you can order in a double or triple) comes with lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickle and onion, to which I added a slice of American cheese and ketchup. Sure, I had ketchup packets with the fries, but who wants to mess up their amazing loaded burger by lifting the top bun. The all-beef patty is slightly oversized, but the bun totally fits on top of it all. It's a delight for the taste buds that doesn't fall apart.

King Louie's French fries are the best! They were super hot in a good way and I started eating them right out of the classic brown paper sack while driving to the Roundhouse. No salt, no ketchup needed. They are the perfect French fry, in my humble opinion.

The homemade root beer had a definite "kick," as in I could taste the caramel-ly undertone, which is my favorite kind of root beer just scrumptious, and goes great with the fries. I felt like I was literally "At The Hop."

The icing on the proverbial cake was the strawberry shake, because it's made with real strawberries, a surprising treat.

Visit link:
Wood River's King Louie's Drive-In at the Roundhouse - Alton Telegraph

Fort at No. 4. Photo taken from Charlestown Old Home Days Facebook page

CHARLESTOWN, N.H. For the first time since 2015, Charlestown will be hosting their Old Home Days on Friday, Aug. 19, Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. There are a wide host of activities and events planned, including fireworks, a fishing derby, a parade, food vendors, live music, carriage tours, and historical open houses. The festival will begin Friday afternoon and run until Sunday night.

FRIDAY

Flight Park Events Ziplining and Laser Tag will run from 9 a.m. 7 p.m. Call to make a reservation and mention the OHD discount at 603-542-4416.

Morningside Flight Park Tours at 4, 5, 6, and 7 p.m.

Games, 7 p.m. Water pistol fun, giant Yahtzee, and cornhole.

Music, 7:309 p.m. Rebecca Mae and Jamey Live Band Music.

Kids Events

56 p.m. 13 and under Fishing Derby. Bring a pole.

68 p.m. Touch-a-Truck at the Recreation Department.

8 p.m. Kids free prize drawing.

Food, 57 p.m. Rescue Dawgs, Winnies Wagon, AJs Fried Dough, and free root beer floats at Life Fellowship from 68 p.m.

Side Events

23:30 p.m. Open Basketball Shoot at the Middle School Gym.

48 p.m. Reunion of Classes at the Senior Center.

68 p.m. Misting Tent at the Fire Department.

8 p.m. Campfire Smores.

Atlas Fireworks, 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Flight Park Events Ziplining and Laser Tag will run from 9 a.m. 7 p.m. Call to make a reservation and mention the OHD discount at 603-542-4416.

Parade

9 a.m. Line up (primary).

9:30 a.m. Kids parade line up (middle school).

10 a.m. Parade starts, moving from Main Street through Sullivan Street and ending on East Street.

Food, 123 p.m. Rescue Dawgs, Winnies Wagon, AJs Fried Dough, grilled sausages, free waffle cones with ice cream, and ice cream cones BOGO.

Music, 11 a.m. 2 p.m. Firehouse Six, Hills Bandwagon, Karen Bays, and All Country Band will play at the library.

Main Street Events

11 a.m. 2p.m. Historical Society Open House at the Bakery Building; St. Lukes Mission Open House; Anglican Church of the Good Shepard, tours of the vault and story of the 1850 Bungled Burglary; Lawn games; Face painting.

11 a.m. 3 p.m. Free train rides; Craft fair; Charlestown Art Show; Charlestown Conservation Commission Booth; Inflatable axe throwing; free rock wall and bungee trampoline.

11:30 a.m. 2 p.m. Kids Corner on the library lawn. Dr. Seuss.

123 p.m. Charlestown Historical Society Carriage Tours at 12, 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

12:301:10 p.m. Hocus Pocus Magic Show at Silsby Library.

12 p.m. Wildlife Encounters at St. Lukes Church.

36 p.m. Drop off decorated cupcakes in Community Room.

69 p.m. Town Youth Dance at the Gazebo Court.

SUNDAY

Food

710 a.m. Pancake breakfast at the Town Hall.

122 p.m. Community pot luck with free watermelon at the Library/Community Room. Bring your own dish to share.

Music

910:30 a.m. Gospel Music Concert at the library.

123 p.m. Open karaoke.

Main Street Events

7 a.m. 5K race. Meet at the pool. No pre-registration required.

89 a.m. Drop off decorated cupcakes in Community Room.

9 a.m. 2 p.m. Public voting for Best Cupcake.

9 a.m. 3 p.m. Baby goats at the library.

11:15 a.m. Family Magician Dylan Tenny at the library.

11 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Open House Fort #4.

11 a.m. 4 p.m. Open pool day with childrens activities.

See the original post here:
Charlestown Old Home Days - The Vermont Journal & The Shopper - Vermont Journal

By Sarah BrownLebanon Local

Visitors flocked to Academy Square for Lebanons annual National Night Out on Aug. 2. It was the second year the Lebanon police and fire departments included a Robber Duck scavenger hunt for the kids. Fifty rubber duckies were hidden throughout the park; 49 were decorated in police attire, but whoever found the one dressed as a robber won a prize.

This was the first year National Night Out hosted a doughnut-eating contest as a fund raiser for Furniture Share. Lebanon police, Linn County deputies and community members raced to see who could consume a dozen doughnuts. Many dropped out of the competition early until David Noble was left for the win with only three donuts left. He earned bragging rights and a donut-mug-handcuff trophy. Two runners-up earned themselves a doughnut trophy.

Also at the event, the Optimist Club held a special dedication ceremony for Shawn Turrentine who passed away last year. A bench was placed in his name at the gazebo that Turrentine helped install, and a set of balloons were released in his memory.

The purpose of NNO, Community Policing Officer Dala Johnson said, is to bring law enforcement and the community together.

We are here to partner with the community, she said. We need to have that positive reinforcement from both sides. This is a way for our community to see the other side of our officers.

She proved her point by noting that Police Chief Frank Stevenson was seen scarfing down doughnuts and getting soaked in the dunk tank by children.

Doughnuts, ducks and dunk tanks

Follow this link:
Night Out in the park - lebanonlocalnews.com

The first thing you notice is all the windows. Why so many windows? Well, you're right there on the river, close to Rochester in Oronoco. So windows are a must. Liste price?$699,000.

Ronald Wightman with WightmanBrock Real Estate Advisors

It's a gorgeous property, on the North fork of the Zumbro in Oronoco, Minnesota, with piles of space inside. Nice roomie kitchen to not get into 'you keep bumping into me' fights. The living space, with a huge fireplace, just screams, "Fire + snow + river = romance novel!"

Pretty traditional layout for the three bedrooms and 2.5 baths...but it's inside those rooms where you'll say, "Oh, I need that!" For instance, the primary bedroom has sliding glass doors to the outside! Would that not be just the coolest thing in the morning for your early walk, coffee, or just watching the river in the AM?

Scroll through the gallery for more details and views on this Oronoco home.

10842 Riverbend Ln NW, Oronoco, MN 55960

List Price: $699,000

Presented by:

Built in 1988, and sold in 1990 for $136,000, the current asking price is $699,000. If you're curious, math-wise, I think it works out to about $19,000 a year in increased value.

This home is all kinds of fancy pantsy. You know how your eyes felt loved and relaxed looking at the river views on the Oronoco property? Here your eyes will say, "What the what?"

This home that's for sale in Edina, Minnesota is definitely 'extra'. Take a look at the pictures and you'll see why for yourself.

As always, if you have a comment, complaint, or concern about something I wrote here, please let me know: james.rabe@townsquaremedia.com

Listen On-Demand with the Y105FM app, and on the following podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

Link:
Terrific River Views Will Make You Drool 12 Miles from Rochester - Y105FM

LEWISBURG William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream will come to life in Hufnagle Park, thanks to a local theater company.

Gaspipe Theatre Company will perform the classic comedy at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of its Shakespeare in the Park program.

A Midsummer Nights Dream is kind of a tradition for Gaspipe, said Stefan Eisenhower, director. It was the first play we did for Shakespeare in the Park in 2000 and its been revisited every five years.

The play, published in the 17th century, is about two Athenian couples who run away to the forest, an amateur group of actors rehearsing for a production and a mischievous fairy named Puck, whose spells create a love triangle among the Athenians and makes the fairy queen fall in love with Bottom, an actor who has been magicked so he unknowingly has the head of a donkey.

In the theater industry, A Midsummers Nights Dream is a widely performed play and Eisenhower said each production has a way to make the show unique to them.

Gaspipe sticks close to the source text, but we do put a little spin on it through costumes and the set, he said. This year has a slight steampunk theme but tries not to distract from the original material.

In addition to its history with the Gaspipe Theatre Company, A Midsummer Nights Dream was chosen because it has a large cast and has a relatively fair distribution of lines, so more actors get a chance to speak.

The play lets new and old actors try Shakespeare and be introduced to it, Eisenhower said.

Andrew Shaffer, who plays Bottom and has performed in all of Gaspipes Shakespeare in the Park productions, said the play has a lot of appeal at different levels.

Theres a love triangle that turns into zany stuff, theres fairies, magic and music, but a lot of intricate word play and historical references, he said. Shakespeare survived for so long because its entertaining.

Eisenhower noted the cast has a wide range of age and experience.

He said one of his favorite things as a director is watching his cast go deep into their roles and find all the little pieces they can pull from the text to affect their portrayals.

Even actors who are familiar with their roles learn something new about their characters.

Shaffer has played Bottom an actor magicked to have a donkeys head and is the recipient of fairy queen Titanias affection six times total.

Shaffer is still finding new things about Bottoms character, Eisenhower said.

Shaffer first portrayed Bottom in 1999 at Lewisburg Area High School and has returned to the role every time Gaspipe performs the play.

Bottom gets to be the clown, and be silly and wear the donkey head and sing, Shaffer said. Hes a really fun character.

Hes also performed in every Shakespeare in the Park.

Shakespeare is classic for a reason, Shaffer said.

This years production also marks a return to Gaspipes outdoor roots after a year off in 2020 due to COVID and a relocation in 2021 due to construction at Hufnagle Park. A Midsummer Nights Dream will be performed at the gazebo, a familiar location for the company.

We didnt have Shakespeare in the Park in 2020 because of the pandemic, but we called it Taming of the flu, Eisenhower said with a laugh.

Typically, the company performs each night of the show at different parks in the Valley, but opted to do all three performances at Hufnagle this year.

Were glad to be back, said Shaffer.

Read the rest here:
Gaspipe Theatre Company bringing Shakespeare to life with 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - Sunbury Daily Item