BlackRock Center for the Arts will once again be filled with the sounds of families attending performances and classes this Saturday, Sept. 18. After more than a year of virtual programming, BlackRock will host an open house from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tickets are not needed to attend the open house, but registration is required for the educational classes and workshops. Anyone entering the facility must wear a mask, and those over the age of 12 must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
“After a year of near silence in our halls, we are reopening our doors to the unimaginable joy of what arts can bring to upcounty. We’ll have free performances, free classes, a scavenger hunt, activities, vendors, giveaways, and films,” says Lynn Andreas Arndt, CEO of BlackRock.
The open house includes three free performances, demonstrations, workshops, exhibits, and an art scavenger hunt. Find the full schedule of events with links to register for classes below.
Schedule of events
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Puppets with Ms. Dottie
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Youth Yoga Workshop
Free, registration is required.
10:30 a.m. – Noon: STEP with Deidra Workshop
Free, registration is required.
11:00 a.m.: PanLara Free Performance
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Tunes4Tots Workshop
Free, registration is required.
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Yarn Critters with Ms. Jenna
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.: Spit2Skit: Find Your Voice! Workshop
Free, registration is required.
1:00 p.m.: Domenic Cicala & Thensome
1:30 – 3:00 p.m.: BlackRock’s Secret Garden
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Improv Workshop – Paid registration required
8:00 p.m.: Shrek The Musical Film
Performances
The open house includes three free performances. First, at 11 a.m., the PanLara Youth Steel Orchestra shares their African Caribbean culture through steel pan music. The group conducts seminars in local schools, churches and nursing homes to teach the steel drum instrument.
Listen to the sounds of the steel pan in this video of the Panlara Youth Steel Orchestra performing at the Kennedy Center in 2018.
The second performance by Domenic Cicala & Thensome starts at 1 p.m. Cicala is a local singer/songwriter with a love for the 3 minute song. He is a Roots Rock/Americana artist who performs his own compositions.
The final performance takes place at 8 p.m. and is an outdoor screening of Shrek the Musical. Outside food is allowed, but no outside beverages are permitted. Concessions will be available for purchase. Patrons should remain socially distanced and wear a mask when not in their group’s area. This performance is weather permitting.
