A Celebration 125 Years in the Making!
By Susan Stone
Established in 1898, the Pawling Shakespeare Club was part of the cultural movement of the 19th century, providing discussion and debate about Shakespeare’s works. Today, if Pawlingites haven’t heard by now, the Pawling Shakespeare Club is celebrating its 125th year of continuous enlightenment and merriment, and this lively band of the Bard’s devotees are presently putting the final touches on a once-in-a-lifetime event in honor of the club’s illustrious past, to take place on Saturday, December 2nd at Lathrop at Lakeside from noon to 4 pm.
Though tickets are limited, there are still some available, according to event co-chair Carol-Lee Kantor. Anyone with interest in attending should secure tickets soon! Those who have been lucky enough to already procure “seats at the table” can expect an afternoon of food, fun, entertainment, music, raffles, and a silent auction of items donated by local artists and artisans. All proceeds will benefit the club’s college scholarship program.
Festivities will include a casual luncheon of menu items with a nod to Elizabethan favorites and a special appearance by Davis McCallum, artistic director of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, who will bring a surprise guest! A fascinating historical narrative about the club and its place in the community will be offered by Robert Reilly, Town of Pawling historian; and Marie DiLorenzo, past president of the Pawling Shakespeare Club; as well as a sonnet reading by actor/director Roger Simon and author Marian Grudko. Members and friends of the club, including Veronica Caruso, Carol-Lee Kantor, current club president Bernie Kaplan, Annie Ohara, David Onsie, Amy Kornfeld, Stephanie Rogers, Susan Stone, and Anne Testa, will perform some amusing and insightful entertainment.
General admission is $25.00; students and seniors are $10.00. Children under 5 are free. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended no later than November 27th . For further information and to reserve tickets, please contact co-chairpersons Carol-Lee Kantor, jckantor@comcast.net (845-661- 5333) or Marie Di Lorenzo, mardlrnz@aol.com (845-855-9594).
