Programming Updates
ELECTRIFYING!
Due to some last-minute scheduling conflicts, the Victorian Chautauqua program has been updated. The upside is that new and exceptional talent will fulfill any expectations.
Maryland’s Poet Laureate, Lady Brion, will not be performing on Saturday, July 12, at 2:00. For those who were looking forward to the award-winning woman of words, plans are already underway to book her for a later date this year. In her place, and without compromise, will be the notable magician Peter Wood, who has twice appeared on the television show Penn & Teller: Fool US! Peter’s first paid gig performing magic was at the age of 10, after which he continued to refine his love of illusion and mentalism. Utilizing his talents, he funded his college education and launched an early career as a highly sought-after professional. Prepare to be amazed as Peter performs confounding magic under the Martin Tent. This will be a one-time event and is suitable for the whole family.
“These last-minute scheduling zigs and zags can be challenging,” said Mark Stutzman, chair of the program committee. “When cancellations happen, the last thing you want is a hole in the schedule. We were very fortunate to find not only substitutes but enthusiastic a-listers on very short notice. The show must go on!”
The programming committee is continually seeking quality performers and presenters to impress Victorian Chautauqua audiences. The 2025 schedule marks the fifth year of programming, and new stellar talent continues to emerge each year, according to Stutzman. The committee’s goal, as he puts it, is to book talent who are passionate and potentially unexpected, tapping into the imaginations of everyone in attendance.
HALO, the all-female barbershop quartet, will also be replaced by two separate musical groups who will perform under the Martin Tent. On Saturday at 3:30, audiences will delight in an eclectic program of American music from Soup Camel. The group led by Roland Hunn appeared for Vaudeville in the Street in 2022 with rousing music that includes guitar, clarinet, and an occasional washboard. The spirited selections are a journey through an array of old-time favorites that define America’s musical influence.
On Sunday at 3:00, Smith & Roberts will perform a reunion set featuring their extensive list of original music and regional favorites. Their long friendship began in 1978 when they recorded their first album, Buffalo Run. They later added band members to form an ever-popular group under the same name as their first album. This return to their roots will undoubtedly produce a heartfelt program that includes Garrett County Time, which is considered a local anthem and the official song of Garrett County, Maryland. They also have other notable songs, such as Lovers and Friends, Papa's Bones, and Sailing Ships, Appalachian Love Song. Their music is consistently inspired by the mountaintop community they call home.
Vaudeville in the Street is a smaller, 30-minute performance venue that keeps the festival lively while the other tents are being broken down and set up for the next presentation. In the Vaudeville tradition, the stage presents a diverse range of talent, from music to unusual acts. Set up in the round, the stage allows people to gather in an intimate setting, allowing them to connect closely with the performers.
Among this year’s Vaudeville in the Street acts was the duo, Arco & Aire, which features the bandoneon and cello. They will be replaced by the impressive violinist Holly Nelson. Holly will be performing from her favorite collection of music from the early 20th century. She was recently named the new concertmaster of the Pan-American Symphony Orchestra, a Washington, D.C.-based orchestra devoted to performing Latin American symphonic repertoire. Holly has appeared in concert as a recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician throughout the United States, including residencies at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Jazz at Lincoln Center as a violin fellow with The Orchestra Now. She will perform both Saturday at 4:30 and Sunday at 2:30.
“I want to thank those who filled our program holes in the eleventh hour,” Stutzman said. “It’s truly heartwarming when performers are willing to drop everything to save the day for our festival.”
