Young Readers Explore the Arts, July 7 - 24

The Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival invites children ages 3 to 11 to explore the arts through literature and movement. The Young Readers Explore the Arts program will take place from July 7 to July 24 at the seven libraries in Monroe County.

In week one, rock out with "Pete the Cat" as you explore the world of dance. Warm up just like professional dancers and learn real ballet, tap and musical theater dance moves. You'll travel through American history to learn the most rockin’ popular dances through the decades.

In week two, join "Opera Cat" for a tour of world-famous opera houses like the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Enjoy listening to opera music and learn how opera singers hit those high notes. Find out who wrote the operas you might already know.

  

In week three, journey to New York City to become a Broadway star. Learn to sing with emotion, act out different characters, and perform a big Broadway dance number. The grand finale will be the world-premiere performance of Muncha, Muncha, Muncha, starring the Young Readers!

For more information about the Young Readers Explore the Arts program, and to download a schedule, description of the books, and bios of the teaching artists, visit the Young Readers page on our website.  

Join Us for a Cabaret Night Cap with Carole J. Bufford

In her critically acclaimed show, Body and Soul, Carole J. Bufford delivers powerful love songs fueled by longing, anger, sorrow and obsession. Culled from the worlds of Broadway, blues, rock 'n' roll, pop and country, the songs teem with emotion and passion. Ms. Bufford’s unique, theatrical style quickly propelled her to stardom. Stephen Holden of The New York Times writes, "The way her voice, with its blues inflections, cut a swath, leaving nothing standing, tempts me to describe her with groveling hyperbole as an earthier, more acerbic 21st-century Barbra Streisand."

Ms. Bufford has performed at Feinstein's at The Loews Regency in New York, The Colony in Palm Beach, and Crazy Coqs in London. She has received Outstanding Vocalist Awards from Nightlife, Bistro and BroadwayWord.

Thursday, August 7


Pocono Community Theater


Performance – 7:30pm 


Talkback – 9:00pm

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Join the Fun at the Swing Gala!

Enjoy dinner, dancing and a silent auction at our Swing Gala, featuring versatile and accomplished vocalist Hilary Gardner. Ms. Gardner will be accompanied by a 10-piece swing band. Proceeds will benefit the Pocono Mountain Medical Center’s Hughes Cancer Center Foundation, East Stroudsburg University Foundation, and the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival.

Ms. Gardner was chosen by the Frank Sinatra estate to appear as the live, onstage singer in Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away. She sang solos and duets with Frank Sinatra in a performance hailed by critics as “wonderful” (Huffington Post), “elegant” (USA Today), and “terrific” (New York Observer). Ms. Gardner performs throughout New York City at such venues as Birdland, Café Carlyle, Symphony Space, and Jazz at Kitano. Her debut album, The Great City, was released in 2012.

Swing Gala

Friday, August 8

6:00pm

Stroudsmoor Country Inn - Terraview

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Julianne Moore Wins Best Actress Award at Cannes

Julianne Moore, a member of the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival's artistic board, received the Award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival last month. Ms. Moore was honored for her work in Map to the Stars. Ms. Moore is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress and children's book author. She is an ambassador for Save the Children's U.S. programs and the founder of the organization's Valentine's Day program. She is active in Planned Parenthood and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

John Dias to Direct "WAS"

John Dias, artistic director of Two River Theater, will direct the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival's production of WAS on August 9 at Notre Dame High School.

Based on Geoff Ryman's celebrated cult novel, WAS uses the tools of modern musical theater to tell the story of young Dorothy Gael, the central character in L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz and the classic 1939 film of the same name. Two story lines, taking place one hundred years apart, are interwoven throughout the evening. WAS explores the human need for fantasy to cope with reality, a timeless theme with universal appeal.

Mr. Dias joined Two River Theater in 2010 after working as a producer and dramaturg in New York for 20 years. Throughout his career, he has been a leading advocate for stimulating productions of the classics and bold new American plays, including the Broadway productions of Shakespeare's The Tempest and Lisa Kron's Well. For 12 seasons, he worked in a variety of capacities at The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, including Associate Producer and Associate Artistic Director.

John Dias

New Works Production: WAS
Book and Lyrics: Barry Kleinbort
Music: Joseph Thalken
Saturday, August 9
Notre Dame High School
Performance: 7:30
Talkback: 9:00

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Broadway Comes to the Pocono Mountains

Patrick Vaccariello, artistic director of the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival, is bringing the excitement of Broadway to the majestic Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania this summer. Mr. Vaccariello will present a tribute to the legendary songwriting team of Kander and Ebb, starring performers and musicians from the Broadway stage, at the Fifth Annual Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival. Mr. Vaccariello is music director for the revival of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret on Broadway and the 68^th Annual Tony Awards.

Mr. Vaccariello’s festival production, Come to the Cabaret! A Celebration of Kander & Ebb, will feature songs selected by John Kander. After the performance, audience members will be invited to join Mr. Vaccariello for an enlightening discussion about the creative process behind the production.

As in past seasons, world-renowned professional musicians will present opera, jazz, musical theater, cabaret, chamber music, and dance performances during the festival, which will take place from July 25 to August 10.

Following are this season’s highlights:

Musical Theater

• Come to the Cabaret! A Celebration of Kander & Ebb – The festival’s esteemed artistic director Patrick Vaccariello will direct this tribute to Kander & Ebb, starring performers from the Broadway stage and featuring the festival’s student chorus. Saturday, July 26, 7:30pm, Pocono Mountain East High School.

• New Works Production: WAS - Based on Geoff Ryman’s celebrated cult novel, WAS uses the tools of the modern musical theater to tell the story of young Dorothy Gael, the central character in L. Frank Baum’s legendary tale The Wizard of Oz and the classic 1939 film version. Saturday, August 9, 7:30pm, Notre Dame High School.

• Prairie Songs: The festival’s talented chorus will perform Prairie Songs from Grammy Award-winning composer Mike Reid, who will provide the narration. Friday, August 1, 8:30pm, Skytop Lodge.

Dance

• The Paul Taylor Dance Company - This sought-after ensemble travels the globe, bringing Mr. Taylor’s ever-burgeoning repertoire to theaters and venues of every size. Saturday, August 2, 7:30pm, Pocono Mountain East High School.

Opera

• Bon Appétit - The captivating Victoria Livengood will star in this delectable one-act opera based on a classic episode of master chef Julia Child’s popular cooking show. Friday, August 1, 7:30pm, Skytop Lodge.

Chamber Music

• Shuffle Concert - In this innovative musical celebration, the audience chooses the pieces to be performed. Sunday, July 27, 7:30pm, Tennis Tea, Buck Hill Falls.

• Members of America’s Dream Chamber Artists – ADCA is spurring a resurgence of the great chamber music masterworks with renewed and energized freedom and expression. Sunday, August 3, 11:00am, Skytop Lodge.

Jazz

• Tony DeSare - Critically acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter Tony DeSare will perform classic standards and sophisticated original compositions with infectious joy, wry playfulness, and robust musicality. Sunday, August 3, 7:30pm, Skytop Lodge.

• The Peter and Will Anderson Sextet - Journey to the streets of Paris and the French countryside with sounds of swing and gypsy jazz in Peter and Will Anderson’s show Le Jazz Hot - How the French Saved Jazz. Sunday, July 27, 11:00am, Skytop Lodge.

• Hilary Gardner – Enjoy dinner, dancing and a silent auction at our Swing Gala featuring versatile and accomplished vocalist Hilary Gardner. Proceeds benefit the Pocono Mountain Medical Center’s Hughes Cancer Center, East Stoudsburg University, and the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival. Friday, August 8, 6:00pm, Stroudsmoor Country Inn.

Cabaret

• Carole J. Bufford - In her critically acclaimed show, Body and Soul, Carole J. Bufford sings powerful loves songs fueled by longing, anger, sorrow and obsession. Thursday, August 7, 7:30pm, Pocono Community Theater.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit buckhillskytopfest.org.

Patrick Vaccariello Named Music Director for Tonys

Patrick Vaccariello, artistic director of the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival, has been appointed music director and conductor for the Tony Awards. His appointment represents the show's first change in music directors since 1965.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be doing this TV show,” Mr. Vaccariello said.  

Mr. Vaccariello will be involved in developing the show and creating the musical arrangements for host Hugh Jackman. He previously worked with Mr. Jackman on the production Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway. The 68^th Annual Tony Awards will be televised live on Sunday, June 8, on CBS.

Mr. Vaccariello is music director for the revival of Cabaret, which opened at Studio 54 in April. The show stars Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams in her Broadway debut as nightclub entertainer Sally Bowles and Alan Cumming reprising his Tony Award-winning role as the Emcee. 

At the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival this summer, Mr. Vaccariello will present a concert honoring the legendary songwriting team of Kander and Ebb, composers of Cabaret. The production, Come to the Cabaret! A Celebration of Kander & Ebb, will star performers and musicians from the Broadway stage. After the performance, audience members will be invited to join Mr. Vaccariello for a discussion about the creative process behind the production. 

Mr. Vaccariello is a sought after music director, conductor and arranger, both on Broadway and internationally. He has served as music director or music supervisor for the Broadway and National Tour productions of Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, West Side Story, Come Fly Away, Lend Me a Tenor, Gypsy (with Patti LuPone and Bernadette Peters), A Chorus Line, La Cage Aux Follies, The Boy from Oz, Cabaret, and many others. Internationally, Mr. Vaccariello has conducted The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber worldwide.

The Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival, now in its fifth season, will present world-renowned musicians in the fields of opera, jazz, musical theater, cabaret, chamber music, and dance. The festival will take place from July 25 to August 10 in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania.