Welcome to 2011. This past year has been filled with new projects that included working with Broadway legend and Tony Award winning actress Marian Seldes to building a new branch of ART in Portland, Oregon that has produced 3 readings in collaboration with the Beaverton Arts Commission. ART/Portland resides in the studios of the Portland Festival Ballet. Spring of 2011 will bring John Magnus and two professional dancers (Portland Festival Ballet) to Milford, PA in a new ballet based on John Steinbeck’s THE PEARL for the Writer’s Project. The Writer’s Project will be sponsored by a generous grant from the Dime Bank and the Wayne Bank in PA. John Magnus is the Artistic Director of the Portland Festival Ballet as well as ART Board President. He will also be directing his Magnus Midwest Dance workshop in Flint Michigan with over 100 talented classical ballet dancers from throughout the USA Summer of 2011. I will be directing THE COCKTAIL HOUR for the Portland Civic Theatre Guild once again and teaching Master Acting Classes for the Portland Center Stage, Portland Festival Ballet, and the Magnus Midwest. I also will remain as the Chair of Theatre/Drama at the National Arts Club in NYC and the Artistic Director of the Presby Players in Port Jervis, NY. ART Program Director Jennifer Hamill is currently writing the grant proposal for the BIG READ May 2012. ART has selected two works by Thornton Wilder. The BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY and OUR TOWN which will be read during the entire month of May in Pike County. Jenni’s experience as a professional grant writer has taken ART to another level and I am very grateful to have her in our ART family. Film historian and local writer John DiLeo has become a ART Board member. ART is proud and honored to have him in our company. Although it has not been easy wearing so many hats at the same time I have enjoyed the pressure of being constantly creative. With the help of friends old and new I feel blessed and excited about the coming year. Please keep returning to this site to learn more about ART future programs. Hold date May 6th Friday at 7pm for the WRITER’S PROJECT Presentation Night at the DVHS in Milford.