Victoria Chertok

Nan Mann as Mother Ginger, with her little Polichinelles (Elizabeth Kersten, Leah Hurst, Phoebe McIntyre, Eliza McIntyre, and Maude Gitelson).

A holiday staple

Brattleboro School of Dance presents ‘The Nutcracker,’ a community production with professional guests

BRATTLEBORO-For the 12th time in almost 24 years, Brattleboro School of Dance presents The Nutcracker ballet this weekend.

"The Nutcracker is one of those iconic ballets that has charmed and uplifted audiences across North America seemingly since we can remember," Bridget Struthers, the school's director said in a recent phone call with The Commons....

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Costuming through the generations

Kathi Keller, the founder of the Brattleboro School of Dance, talks about the multigenerational impact of ‘The Nutcracker’ and the popularity of a ballet that is all about girl power

BRATTLEBORO-Kathi Keller, 77, founder of Brattleboro School of Dance (BSD), is the master costumer who has designed, sourced, and created - by hand - all of the costumes for its performances over five decades. The Commons met with Keller at the BSD studio recently to see firsthand the hundreds...

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‘It’s three hours of pure mayhem’

A Frank Zappa tribute band — which includes musicians who performed with the storied rocker — takes the stage at the Stone Church

BRATTLEBORO-Banned from Utopia, a Frank Zappa tribute band featuring more of the late musician's former band members than any other group currently touring, will roll into the Stone Church for a throwdown on Saturday, Aug. 3. "I know of another four Zappa tribute acts - they are all over...

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Collaboration at its best

BRATTLEBORO-The members of the band Deadgrass - a group of seasoned musical pros exploring the life works of Jerry Garcia on the instruments that first inspired him - will play their inaugural Stone Church show on the second night of their The Days Between tour with their show on Friday, Aug. 2. The name of the show refers to Aug. 1–9. Jerry Garcia, cofounder of the Grateful Dead, was born on Aug. 1, 1942, and he died on Aug. 9,

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‘The lights go on in the circus tent, and it’s magic’

BRATTLEBORO-This summer's One-Man Circus-in-a-Suitcase tour - the work of performing artist and circus teacher Kevin O'Keefe - rolls into Living Memorial Park on Friday, July 12, at 10 a.m. According to publicity materials, this free show, sponsored by the Brattleboro Parks and Recreation Department, has been performed more than 500 times around the globe "for family theater audiences and school assemblies alike and gives everyone an opportunity to participate in an enthralling, whimsical celebration of the imagination." O'Keefe, 65, founded...

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‘You will find a lot at this little market’

PUTNEY-The Putney Farmers' Market - "a localvore marketplace, located in the heart of downtown Putney," as described by its manager, Jill Green - celebrates its 15th season as a place for customers to connect directly with food producers and farmers from the region. Green, who has sold goods at farmers markets for 14 years and has served as an assistant manager and co-manager of the Brattleboro markets, describes her role in Putney as "truly my dream job." The 40 vendors...

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Music that’s ‘much more part of the public consciousness’

PUTNEY-Keith Murphy's latest release, Bright as Amber, self-released nearly one year ago, will be played in its entirety by a special band of musicians for its debut performance at Next Stage Arts. For many years, the artist, who has lived in Brattleboro for 30 years, has been "forging a distinctive sound in the world of traditional song." Murphy grew up in Newfoundland surrounded by the rich musical traditions of the British Isles. "The songs that I often sing are songs...

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Vendors offer produce, crafts, other products

Morse Brook Farm This is our third year at the Putney Farmers' Market. We like it because it is truly local and we are vending next to our neighbors. It has a very relaxed and welcoming feel and we have a very pleasant group of vendors who support the market and each other. We are a hill farm on the eastern slope of the highest ridge in Westminster, with a view of the Connecticut River Valley. We have 80 open...

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