A Review of Pendragon Theatre’s Twelfth Night

by Tim Rowland

The age of video-game technology allowed us to ask mind-bending questions that never could have been knowable before, such as, what if the Battle of Britain had been fought over Las Vegas? Now, Pendragon Theatre has answered an equally delectable question, viz., what if Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night had been set in Saranac Lake?

In a brilliant adaptation by Pendragon’s Michael Aguirre, the boisterous Elizabethan rom-com takes place not in Illyria on the Adriatic Coast, but at Great Camps in Illyria Lake. Instead of rapiers and silver flasks, we have canoe paddles and IPAs from Hex and Hop.

The classic story of mistaken identities and boozy hijinks remains the same, and even those who might be passing the park for the first time will be entertained, even if not privy to some of the insider references — the playbill helpfully includes a glossary of Adirondack icons, so those from, say, North Carolina will understand that The Elephant has been replaced by Grizzle T’s.

Read the full review HERE.

Image: The Company of Twelfth Night. Production photo by Burdette Parks.

Tahawus Gallery presents

Through Different Lenses

Saturday, August 9 – 

Opening reception August 9, 4 – 6 pm

Photography that whispers, shouts, and speaks to the soul—from Adirondack roots to NYC activism. The four photographers: Rob Fountain, Carl Marxer, Tammy Rose, and Alexandra Thomas.

Tahawus Gallery, 2nd floor, 14234 Rt 9N (Main Street), Au Sable Forks

Jay Day

Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council presents

RECREATE, an exhibition by LARAC Members

Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, September 7

Opening reception Friday, August 8, 3 – 4:30 pm

Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council presents a pop-up exhibit of works by LARAC members at The Hyde Collection. The artwork is inspired by how we embrace and celebrate the outdoors throughout our region.

More details HERE.

The Hyde Collection, 161 Warren Street, Glens Falls

Downtown Artist Cellar presents

Two Exhibits Exploring Time

Timeless Moments: Works by Mary Woodcock Johnson and Angela Nephew (Main Gallery)  

and,

A Conceptual Leap: Photographs by Michael Hart (Small Gallery)

Thru Saturday, September 13

Opning Reception August 1, 5 – 7 pm

Timeless Moments invites you to experience the present moment through luminous paintings and intricate fused glass works. Their pieces capture fleeting instants of beauty and stillness, encouraging you to slow down and simply be.

A Conceptual Leap transforms rescued early 20th-century glass plate negatives through layered tones, textures, and color, offering a reflection on ancestry, memory, and the shifting nature of time.

Additional info HERE.

Downtown Artist Cellar, 410 East Main St, Malone

The Lake Placid – North Elba Historical Society Presents

Lake Placid Institute in partnership with LPCA presents 

The Arts as Catalyst: Connecting Culture, Economy, and Community, with Juan Souki, MidAtlantic Arts Executive Director

The John C. Bogle Adirondack Roundtable

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 am

Mid Atlantic Arts Executive Director Juan Souki examines the national funding landscape for arts and culture—where we stand today and what we can anticipate moving forward—as the field continues to adapt in today’s dynamic economic and social climate. Juan will offer a national perspective on how the arts intersect with broader economic and community development efforts, and why a vibrant cultural sector is essential to a healthy society.

Additional info and purchase tickets HERE.

Cambria Hotel, 2127 Saranac Ave., Lake Placid

Adirondack Community Story Project Celebrates 400 Story Milestone

Saturday, August 9, 2 – 3 pm

Town of Keene residents and guests will gather at the Keene Valley Library to celebrate the 400 stories available through Adirondack Community: Capturing, Retaining, and Communicating the Stories of Who We Are, the first OurStoryBridge Partner Project. All are welcome.

Adirondack Community, available HERE, is sponsored by the Keene Valley Library. Adirondack Community is a multi-year local history project that collects and organizes 3- to 5-minute audio stories and related photographs from Town of Keene community members through an online platform to share the rich social and cultural history of this community located in New York state’s Adirondack Mountains. This project is the model used by the national nonprofit, OurStoryBridge Inc., to support 42 Partner Projects in 15 states and one territory. 

Full details HERE.

Keene Valley Library, 1796 NY-73, Keene Valley

Great Camp Santanoni presents

Art and Music Day 2025

Saturday, August 9, 9 am – 5 pm

From evening songs around the campfire and drawings in guest books to Ned Pruyn’s plein-air paintings and Anna Pruyn’s photographs and nature terrariums, art and music played a central role in the Pruyn era at Camp Santanoni. We invite you to join us at Santanoni to celebrate art and music across the historic site.

This event features art and music tours at the Main Camp, special art and activity tables, and guest artists and musicians across the site. All skill levels are welcome as we celebrate the intersection of art, music, history, and nature in the Adirondacks.

Find out more HERE.

Great Camp Santanoni, 58 Newcomb Lake Rd, Newcomb

The Sembrich Presents

Percussion Workshop with Jomion & The Uklos

Thursday, August 7, 2025, 11 am

Jomion & The Uklos, a celebrated family band from West Africa, will present an interactive workshop and performance for the Bolton community on Thursday, August 7th at 11 am at the Pavilion in Rogers Park. This hour-long presentation invites the participation of children, aged 6 through 12, though all are welcome to attend.

The program begins with an introduction to the band’s hometown of Benin in West Africa, illustrated with photos, and includes descriptions of different African foods, the weather and the seasons, the cultural highlights and the country’s tourist attractions (including the Temple of Pythons)! Next, the band will introduce the audience to the traditional rhythms from Benin and will teach a pair of “call and response” interactive songs, including a tune entitled Kakagbo (bamboo). Children will be invited to join in the music-making with bamboo sticks and other percussion instruments. Join us and experience first-hand the culture of West Africa, led by these ambassadors of music, Samuel “Jomion” Gnonlonfoun, with his brothers JB, Mathieu and his daughter Rose. An entertaining, culturally enriching program – and a fun time for one and all!

RSVP HERE.

Rogers Park – Outdoors, 4922 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing

Full Moon Fun At The Bark Eater

When Women Were Birds: Martha Gallagher in Concert

Saturday, August 9, 7:30

Martha Gallagher, The Adirondack Harper, shares an uplifting evening of songs, stories, poetry and in-the-moment inspirations. From exuberant to contemplative, from thoughtful to playful, Martha interweaves inspirations from daily life, creating a joyful tapestry of music and more.

Keene Valley Congregational Church, 1791 NY-73, Keene Valley