Shirley Jones, Mariel Hemingway, Amongst Others Join Honorary Hammerstein Museum Board

-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-

THE OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN MUSEUM
AND THEATRE EDUCATION CENTER ANNOUNCES HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS

Shirley Jones and Mariel Hemingway Are Among the Museum’s Internationally Prominent Supporters

PRESS/MEDIA Contact: Christine Junker hammersteinmuseum@gmail.com

DOYLESTOWN, PA (2/20/2021) – The nonprofit Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center (OHMTEC) today announced that several internationally prominent figures from the stage, film and vocal music world are joining as Honorary Advisory Board members in support of the museum. Musical theatre and Hollywood icon Shirley Jones, actress and author Mariel Hemingway, English actor and performer Gerald Dickens and National Medal of Arts recipient and Grammy-nominated composer Dr. Morten Lauridsen will form the core of the museum’s Honorary Board of Directors.

“That these artists, known and respected around the world, would lend their voices in support of The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center, is a reflection of the depth of impact that Oscar Hammerstein, the lyricist and the man, had on the world and the importance of preserving and sharing his legacy,” said Board President Greg Roth. “We are deeply grateful to Ms. Jones, Mariel, Gerald and Dr. Lauridsen for their advocacy, support and partnership.”

"I owe my career to Oscar Hammerstein,” stated Shirley Jones. “He and Richard Rodgers gave me my first job: the role of Laurie in the motion picture version of Oklahoma! I loved Oscar and am honored to support the preservation of his home and the creation of The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center. This is where so many of his lyrics, known the world over, were created. I am pleased to lend my name and voice to this important project as a member of their Honorary Board.”

Upon graduating from High School, Shirley Jones went to New York to audition for the casting director of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Taken by Shirley’s beautifully trained voice, she was signed as a nurse in the Broadway

production of South Pacific. Within a year, she would be in Hollywood to appear as “Laurie,” the farm girl in love with cowboy Gordon MacRae, Jones’ idol (1955). Following that, Shirley returned to Broadway for the stage production of Oklahoma! before returning to Hollywood to appear as “Julie Jordan” in Carousel (1956). Other major Hollywood roles of that era include “Marion” the librarian in The Music Man (1962) and with the young Ron Howard in The Courtship of Eddie’ s Father (1963). Shirley would be remembered by another generation as “Shirley Partridge” in the television series The Partridge Family (1970), alongside teen idol David Cassidy, and numerous television movies.

Actress, author and film/television producer Mariel Hemingway is the granddaughter of Nobel Prize-laureate novelist Ernest Hemingway. "Coming from a family of creatives, the Arts are incredibly important to me, not to mention my family, and to my outlook on life,” said Hemingway in joining the Honorary Board. “Part of our sense of history comes from our connection to art in all of its forms." Hemingway began acting at age 14 with a Golden Globe-nominated role in “Lipstick” (1976) and received Academy and BAFTA Award nominations for her performance in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” (1979). She is also known for her leading roles in “Personal Best” (1982) and “Star 80” (1983), as well as in the TV series “Civil Wars,” for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. The author of three books,

Gerald Dickens is an English actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his one-man shows based on the novels of his great-great-grandfather, the author Charles Dickens. Dickens is honored to be included in OHMTEC’s Honorary Board, and he reflects fondly on his time performing in Oklahoma! He is eager to see Oscar's home retained as a place of theatre education for future generations.

The music of Dr. Morten Lauridsen occupies a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire of the Twenty- First Century. His eight vocal cycles, instrumental works, art songs and series of sacred Latin motets are performed throughout the world and have been recorded on over two hundred CDs, including several that have received Grammy nominations. Lauridsen commented, “I am honored to be on this very special Board. I have a deep connection to this farm.” Dr. Lauridsen is the recipient of five honorary doctorates and the 2016 ASCAP Foundation “Life in Music” Award. In 2006 Lauridsen was named an “American Choral Master” by the National Endowment for the Arts and in 2007 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest artistic award in the United States, by the President in a White House ceremony “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth that have thrilled audiences worldwide.”

OHMTEC is in the midst of a fundraising campaign and has been recently awarded a $500,000 matching grant through the Pennsylvania State Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program (RACP). The Museum will use the funding to purchase, restore, and preserve Oscar Hammerstein II’s former home and creative epicenter at Highland Farm in Doylestown, PA. The goal is to create a multifaceted and dynamic museum experience, with a strong theatre education component, that will serve as a place of inspiration for Broadway fans and humanitarians alike, from Hammerstein’s backyard and across the world.

Oscar and his wife, Dorothy, lived with their family at Highland Farm in for the last 20 years of his life. This is the place where he forged his legendary partnership with Richard Rodgers and that inspired many of their greatest musical works, including The Sound of Music, Carousel, The King and I, Showboat, Oklahoma! and South Pacific. It is also the place where Hammerstein mentored a young Stephen Sondheim, and where he contributed to society by increasing our awareness of social issues and the need for tolerance of diversity.

Mariel Hemingway is a health advocate who has spent a lifetime studying how mental and physical health are linked. Her work is focused on what to do to transform negative messages and influences into healing that becomes radiant energy, full of purpose and balance.

The initial fundraising target, which will secure the property and ensure its preservation into the future, has been set at $2 million.

Donations of any amount are welcome and can be made by check, credit card or appreciated

securities. Special naming opportunities are also available. Please contact Christine Junker, Treasurer, for details

hammersteinmuseum@gmail.com

www.HammersteinMuseum.org

To contribute to the effort to #SaveOscarsHome, please visit
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PRESS/MEDIA Contact: Christine Junker hammersteinmuseum@gmail.com

Events Magazine Amongst Others, Celebrity Chef Restaurant Reveal - This March

Mandee K. Hammerstein wrote an article in a highly-regarded industry publication for the region and she’s super excited about it! Be on the look-out for Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine, where you’ll get to learn about trends and current affairs, all related to the business of events, tourism, and restaurants. You’ll also discover details about Mandee’s client, Celebrity Chef Nick Liberato, from Restaurants on the Edge. Liberato is launching a new & totally unique restaurant concept that he and his fellow innovative partners are working tirelessly on and is sure to please!

Photo Above: Celebrity Chef Nick Liberato in his partner’s “test kitchen”, prepping for a Sunrise Show cooking segment. Photo by Mandee K. Hammerstein

The Buzz is already in motion with what Nick “has cooking” as small reveals have been shared with a trusted few.  Nick’s restaurant will be one of the hippest and most delicious spots to experience in our scenic area! Stay tuned to find out more as the next issue of Events Magazine comes out mid-March! Special thanks to the team Mandee’s been closely working with and help grow, and lots of sincere appreciation to the press friends and social media influencers who are working on great stories with us, just in time for Nick’s opening this Spring!

Find Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine at: https://www.eventsmagazine.com

#LoveToLaunchMKH #MidAtlanticEventsMagazine

Is Freelancing for You? Temple University & The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute Event

Monday, February 8th at 5pm

Don’t Miss “Is Freelancing For You” - this is part of a routine, complimentary offering by Temple University and the Innovation & Entrepreneur Institute

Click the Digital Poster below to register for this informative event! At the end of the Month, Mandee K. Hammerstein will be working with Temple and the Institute on an exciting new program for Entrepreneurs just starting out! More details TBA

William Penn Bank Summer Music Fest Announced for Summer 2021 and through 2023 – Special Thanks to Sponsors, Supporters and Friends

Photos Above: Contributed by William Penn Bank, Bristol Riverside Theatre and Mandee K. Hammerstein

Mandee K. Hammerstein continuously supports the arts through original initiatives to help uplift and inspire the broader creative community. Hammerstein also creates and shares various art news on her website, blog, social media, and popular e-newsletter, Arts News Now, featuring independent artists and non-profit arts organizations. Through following these platforms, performer, creative-writer, and director Sarah LeClair found the perfect opportunity to connect Hammerstein to Ken Stephon, an equally passionate arts-supporter.

Immediately upon their introduction, Hammerstein and Stephon dove in to discuss like-minded, arts-ideas and networking opportunities. Instantly, the two arrived at the thought of a potential partnership between William Penn Bank, where Stephon is President, and Bristol Riverside Theatre, where Hammerstein is a Board member. "I was so fortunate to be introduced to Mandee through a mutual friend of ours!” says Stephon. “When Mandee learned that my bank, William Penn Bank, had recently moved into Bristol Borough and that we were eager to help promote the arts in the community, she introduced me to Amy and Ken Kaissar at the Bristol Riverside Theatre. We were all immediately able to brainstorm various ideas to support the community by enhancing the presentation of what will be known as the William Penn Bank Summer Music Fest! We are very grateful to Mandee for recognizing and coordinating this perfect match!"

Fast forward, Mandee K. Hammerstein is delighted to share the latest news about the official corporate partnership between Bristol Riverside Theatre and William Penn Bank. As LeClair muses, considering the ways creatives find one another: “The projects in development in 2021 are a testament to everyone’s thirst for performance experiences. I’m so happy to be on the cusp of many more upcoming announcements, as we come together again and celebrate what the arts can achieve!”

Read the official release below or visit William Penn Bank’s website at WilliamPenn.Bank

William Penn Bank and Bristol Riverside Theatre Announce New Partnership 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Bristol, PA, February 1, 2021) –– Bristol Riverside Theatre – Bucks County’s preeminent theatre, whose mission is to engage audiences and artists alike with exceptional performances, inspired writing and superior productions that motivate audiences to think harder, to feel more deeply, to laugh more joyfully, and to reflect on ourselves and the world in which we live–announced that their popular summer concert festival will be sponsored exclusively by William Penn Bank through 2023.

The summer series has been a staple of the theatre’s programming for over 25 years, and will be presented live in the summer of 2021.  With fond childhood memories of summer concerts, William Penn Bank’s Chairman and CEO Ken Stephon approached Bristol Riverside Theatre about becoming involved as a corporate sponsor.

“Contributing to the quality of life for our friends and neighbors in the Bristol community is a priority for William Penn Bank,” said Stephon, “and we think that promoting the arts through this exclusive sponsorship with Bristol Riverside Theatre is a wonderful way to accomplish that.”

BRT Co-Producing Director Amy Kaissar explained further, “From our first conversation it was clear that there was a real match in the community centric ethos of our companies and a recognition that together we could offer something very special for this shared community. We are overjoyed to be announcing this great partnership and investment in live performance in Bristol. We’re thrilled to welcome William Penn Bank to the Bristol family.”

The BRT Summer Music Fest will be rebranded the William Penn Bank BRT Summer Music Fest.  Musical Director Keith Baker is in the process of curating the 2021 series of three concerts, and titles will be announced in the early spring.  Last summer the Summer Music Fest consisted of a celebration of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jerry Herman called From Phantom to Mame, followed by a salute to Hollywood movies, called A Night at the Movies, followed by the annual Broadway Summer Spectacular.

“By June of 2021, we think people will be anxious to get out of their homes and attend a live concert after 15 months of not being able to do so and we’re confident that we’ll be able to do so safely by then,” said BRT Co-Producing Director Ken Kaissar.

“We hope that the William Penn Bank Summer Music Fest will provide joyous times and lasting memories for members of our community,” said Stephon.

William Penn Bank has provided community banking services to individuals and small- to medium-sized businesses in the Delaware Valley area since 1870.  The Bank conducts business through its twelve branch offices located in Bucks and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania and Burlington and Camden Counties in New Jersey.  In 2019, the Bank decided to move its headquarters to the town of Bristol, Bucks County to be part of the vibrant and growing community.

In 2020, William Penn acquired its neighboring bank, Fidelity Savings and Loan Association of Bucks County, as well as Washington Savings Bank in Philadelphia.  The acquisition of Fidelity Savings helped to solidify the Bank’s roots in Bristol Borough.

Inaugural New Hope Colony Artist Residency Announced

Pictured Above, L-R: Sarah Walko, Soraya Sharghi, Meenakshi Ramamurthy, Marianna Peragallo, Malika Oyetimein, Lisa Hunt, Marianne McGinnis, Miriam Carpenter, Rachel Barnard

Official Release:

PHILLIPS MILL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS NAMES THE FELLOWS ACCEPTED INTO ITS INAUGURAL NEW HOPE COLONY ARTIST RESIDENCY

“THE FIRST TEN” | APRIL 2021

January 21, 2021, NEW HOPE, PA. The newly-formed Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts in New Hope, Pennsylvania, has announced the outstanding, interdisciplinary women artists of diverse backgrounds and practices who will participate in its inaugural New Hope Colony Artist Residency—​The First Ten​—in April 2021. This first cohort of outstanding female artists in the fields of visual and public art, film, television, writing and directing were nominated for the honor by its new Artist Residency Council of esteemed female leaders these fields: architect ​Deborah Berke​, visual artists ​Marilyn Minter and ​Miya Ando​, furniture maker ​Mira Nakashima​, filmmaker ​DeMane Davis​, gallerist ​Leila Heller​, sculptor ​Malene Barnett​, artist, designer and writer ​Rebecca Moses​, and stage, television and film director ​Liesl Tommy​.

THE FIRST TEN Fellows include: public artist ​Rachel Barnard​, contemporary artist and furniture designer ​Miriam Carpenter​, artist ​Lisa Hunt​, artist ​Marianne McGinnis​, theater director ​Malika Oyetimein​, artist ​Marianna Peragallo​, comedy writer and director ​Meenakshi Ramamurthy​, artist ​Soraya Sharghi​ and artist, director, curator and writer ​Sarah Walko​.

This First Ten inaugural residency was inspired by the women artists of the original New Hope Colony who went on to form the Philadelphia Ten. Considered the birthplace of Pennsylvania Impressionism, the original New Hope Colony and its artist residency was founded almost 100 years ago by the renowned painters William Lathrop, Edward Redfield and Daniel Garber, along with the artist and architect Morgan Colt. It was Colt who built the iconic English Village at Phillips Mill. It was on these bucolic grounds along the Delaware River that artists came to paint ​en plein air​ and eventually an artist residence was formalized in the 1920s.

The First Ten artist residency will be virtual in April. The second cohort scheduled for July 2021 and all others to follow, will be broadly inclusive. ​What distinguishes the New Hope Colony Artist Residency is that this 4-week creative and professional ecosystem will offer serious artists working across a wide range of disciplines, a robust, incubator-like environment, designed to engage and support each artist’s individual needs. More than just a ‘time away’ residency, Fellows will engage robustly with mentors, participate in critical discourse with their peers and benefit from active professional development while working on their artistic endeavors and receiving a stipend.

Pictured Above: Katie Albert, the Founding Artist Residency and Creative Director

The Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts has appointed ​Katie Albert as the Founding Artist Residency and Creative Director. Katie envisioned and initiated the inaugural FIRST TEN residency. Going forward, she will direct and manage the New Hope Colony Artist Residency and its engagement with PMFA members and the art world community. Her career in the art world and non-profit organizations—notably the New York Academy of Art and the Tribeca Film Festival, as well as her art coaching consultancy, Modern Pilgrim—will be an asset to the vision and management of the residency. Her expertise in mentorship programs will be incorporated into the unique, artist’s development approach of the New Hope Colony Artist Residency.

"My hope for all the work I do is to connect artists to audiences. I am deeply aware and supportive of the needs and passions of creatives, cultivated through a lifelong tour of living and working with artists. The opportunity to build and lead the New Hope Colony, and to address these needs for our Fellows in an informed, holistic, innovative environment, is truly an honor of a lifetime.”

About the Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts:

The mission of the Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts is to save, preserve, restore and reactivate the artist community of Phillips Mill in New Hope, PA. through the creation of a new, contemporary global artist colony at the birthplace of Pennsylvania Impressionism and the New Hope School of Art. The community of artists which started here at the dawn of the 20th Century by William Lathrop, Edward Redfield and Daniel Garber inspired the formation of the Foundation in 2018 as a new non-profit dedicated to these aims. The restored New Hope Colony is being rebuilt to become an international destination for contemporary art study and experience, while also serving the local community. Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. ​www.phillipsmillfoundation.org

Press Contact​:
Amy Rosi
(917) 940-9763