Fanwood Performance Series Hopes for Children's Programming, More Classical Shows in Coming Season

As the Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series gets ready to launch its upcoming season this Saturday, the committee behind it is actively working to book new, improved programming to build upon the success of their inaugural season last year.

This Friday, the committee will meet with Mayor Colleen Mahr to start planning a children's component to the programming. While the performance series strived last season to offer music accessible to families of all ages, this new segment would offer entertainment targeted specifically for the younger set.

"We have a number of parents in town who have children who do professional acting in New York and would like to offer them a less work, more fun, theater experience," said David Blechinger, the performance series director. "We're starting this Friday by meeting with the mayor and council to set that up. We'd also like to do some non-music performance things, like we have a couple of local magicians that would like to perform."

The Fanwood Performance Series began in 2009 as a way to offer quality music experiences locally. This year the committee is hoping its new tagline — "experience great performances in a historical setting right in our own backyard"  — will really sell the idea to the community.

"This sums it all up," Blechinger said. "The whole thing is to experience professional grade musicianship or performances in this historic old building right in our own backyard, and it's basically free."

The series asks for a $7 donation (or $5 for seniors and students) at each performance, which the committee likes to point out is notably less than the cost of programs in New York City.

Blechinger said the committee really strives to book talented and experienced performers that are sure to entertain. Last season, the series featured 13 musicians and groups, including a few Fanwood natives.

"Ideally it would be all local musicians if we could because it's a small little local series," he said. "But at same time, there is a standard the committee tries to uphold for quality."

Thus far, a good number of the musicians booked have been folk performers, which Blechinger noted is simply a matter of cost. The artists are given a small flat rate — $50 each if there are three of them, or $75 if there are two — then 85 percent of all donations given at the door.

"The reason we mostly do folk is because you can find good, quality performers that will play for a very small amount of money," he said. "Classical musicians need a larger cut because there's so many of them in a group."

The committee was awarded a Union County Heart Grant last year, though, that helped pay for a classical group performance. Blechinger said he hopes to be able to receive that grant again this year.

Overall, the director said, the committee tries to book one notable performer per program, along with a more local artist who's looking for exposure.

The series' first performance of the 2010 season, which will be held this Saturday at 7 p.m., will feature musicians Kathy Moser and Tom Bowes.

Moser is a songwriter, performer, teacher and social artist, working to bring positive change to the world through music. She performs and tours nationally and has appeared at well-known folk venues such as Club Passim and Godfrey Daniels, as well as colleges, churches, coffeehouses, prisons, and benefits.

Known for her poetic lyrics, driving guitar style and goofy stage presence, Moser's songs confront a variety of topics ranging from world peace to lawn mowers, dysfunctional families to shopping malls, drug addiction to the wisdom of trading in your car for a horse.

Bowes has been a premier vocalist as well as a talented songwriter within the music industry for years. The former frontman of Tower of Power, Bowes has had the opportunity and to work with hundreds of musicians on everything from jingles and voice-overs to live concerts, CDs and film.

The Fanwood Performance Series will continue with programs on May 8 and June 12, then take the summer off before gearing up with more shows in the fall.

Blechinger said the committee is still fine-tuning its May lineup – which they hope will include a notable folk singer – then June will feature the high school's jazz group.

"We'll see how well we do with those shows, then hopefully we can pay a little more to get some more jazz performers," he said.

All performances are held at the Patricia M. Kuran Cultural Arts Center, more commonly known as the Carriage House. For more information, go here.