The local winter arts scene

Cash prizes are on the table for the best gingerbread house architect. The cash prize is made possible by a $1000 anonymous donation. The first prize winner in the School/Nonprofit and Family/Individual/Amateur categories will receive $500. The second prize in both types is $200. Businesses compete for the coveted traveling Ginger Trophy. The deadline for entry forms is November 25.

The event will be held online at www.adamsarts.org on December 4-6. The public is invited to view the delicious houses online and select the winners by voting with dollars for their favorite gingerbread creations. Entry forms and more information are available online at www.adamsarts, by calling 717-334-5006, or visiting the Arts Education Center, 125 S. Washington St. Gettysburg.

The Gettysburg Majestic Theater closed back in March, and it has made it through the past several months with the community's support. However, now they have been given an opportunity to launch an online fundraising campaign due to the receipt of a wonderfully generous birthday gift. The J. William Warehime Foundation of Hanover awarded the Majestic a matching grant of $100,000 to start a dedicated endowment fund for the continuous upgrading of the theater's theatrical equipment.

The Majestic reopened on its 80th anniversary in November 2005 following a renovation costing $16.5 million. Since then, the Majestic Theater continues to transform the cultural life of Adams County and exists as a cornerstone of downtown Gettysburg's economic vitality. The Majestic Theater Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by Gettysburg College as a cultural treasure for its campus and community. It draws over 45,000 visitors a year from throughout the United States and brings to the flourishing arts community of Adams County acclaimed artists in drama, comedy, music, dance, and film.

"In order to continually attract well-known performers after it's safe to return to live, indoor performances, we must keep up with the latest technological advances," remarked the theater's founding executive director Jeffrey Gabel, "and as anyone knows who owns a computer or iPhone, they're obsolete after 7 to 10 years."

Thanks to the Warehime Foundation's visionary philanthropy, every contribution made in November to this crowdfunding operation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. For more information or to contribute, visit www.gettysburgmajestic.org starting November 1. The campaign will run through Giving Tuesday, December 1.

The Gettysburg Community Theater continues to remain closed. However, the theatre is still providing live streaming of performances. Over the past several months, the GCT has been offering online classes, improv shows, Shakespeare readings, and other online performances streamed to their audience via zoom. There is an upcoming Zoom performance of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors on November 20 at 7 p.m. For more information or to donate for a performance: www.gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org

As reported last month, the Totem Pole Playhouse has rescheduled its 2020 season, 70th anniversary, and will be offering the same line-up in 2021.

After their successful reopening starting with Disney & Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre is relaunching its 2021 season. With five new shows for the New Year, the dinner theatre is looking forward to delighting audiences with their Broadway-style performances. The Pajama Game (January 8 – March 6) starts the season off, followed by Oliver! (March 19 – June 5), the musical adaptation of one of Charles Dickens' most famous novels. Next summer, we can look forward to Jerry Herman's boisterous, feel-good musical Hello, Dolly! (June 18 – August 28). Fall of 2021 Way Off Broadway will premiere the hilarious new play Clue: On Stage (September 10 – October 30) before finishing out the 2021 season with the original holiday musical That Christmas Spirit (November 19 – December 19).

However, the 2020 holidays are right around the corner, and The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre is thrilled to start the festive season with "A Holiday Who Dunnit?"

The Christmas time mystery is thrilling and fun. "No one can argue with the fact that the holidays are an extremely stressful time of the year. So, when someone puts Santa's chief elf "on ice," it's up to the audience to help figure out who's been naughty and who's been nice. From Jack Frost to the Sugar Plum Fairy, everyone is a suspect!" Tickets are $43 per person with performances on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. Doors open both evenings for dinner at 6 p.m.

Way Off Broadway's holiday line-up also includes A Christmas Special Christmas Show, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Musical (November 28 - December 27), and the theatre's 19th Annual Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus) (December 24).

The Weinberg Center has joined the almost 3,000 independent venues nationwide in the National Independent Venue Association. This organization is a collection of theaters and arts/performance venues that were hit hardest by the pandemic. Their goal is to fight for legislation that will help in keeping afloat these places which were "first to close, last to open" so that they survive the aftermath of this past year.

As a part of the "Save Our Stages" fundraising initiative, the Weinberg Center for the Arts, the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, and the New Spires Arts are bringing a concert to their supporters. These Frederick venues present the bluegrass sensations, The Seldom Scene, Sunday, November 15 at 4 p.m. at Showtime at the Drive-In located at the Frederick Fairgrounds. The Seldom Scene will have the Hogslop String Band open for them at this live drive in concert.

Join the music for this "family-friendly fundraising event featuring two great bluegrass bands who will provide fans the opportunity to hoop and holler in a safe and socially distanced outdoor environment. The Seldom Scene, a band from Bethesda, have been instrumental in starting the progressive bluegrass movement with shows that include bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even pop. Musical talent, a signature sound, a solid repertoire, and a sheer sense of fun have been The Seldom Scene's recipe for success for more almost 50 years."