Armonk Summer Concert Series to Return to Wampus Brook Park
There will be singing and dancing again in the park this summer in Armonk.
The Small Town Theatre Company’s popular free summer concert series at Wampus Brook Park will return this year after a one-year break with four weekend shows scheduled for alternating Saturdays in July and August.
Last summer the series was canceled after concerns arose that the floor in the park’s gazebo, which serves as the stage, was not strong enough to support the performers and their equipment, said Sam Morell, Small Town Theatre’s founder.
North Castle officials indicated that gazebo improvements will be done in time for the first concert on July 12. Money was set aside in this year’s town budget to pay for the work.
‘The (town) board has been very supportive of this venture and I thank them for that,” Morell said.
Unlike previous years when the concerts were held early on Sunday evenings, all of the performances have been scheduled for Saturday night at 8 p.m., Morell said.
Kicking off the series on July 12 will be Dynamite Di and Destruction, a blues and swing group. They will be followed by The Hager Family singing their repertoire of Broadway melodies on July 26. On Aug. 9, the Our Town Quartet will be performing classic American selections. The series concludes on Aug. 23 with an appearance by The Swingeroos, a jazz and swing ensemble.
Residents can bring lawn chairs or blankets and picnic baskets to have a comfortable spot for the concerts. Beascakes Bakery & Breads in Armonk will once again be donating free pastries and beverages.
Morell said that despite funding being in place from the town to pay for the gazebo improvements and ancillary costs, The Small Town Theatre is continuing to look for sponsors to donate money to help defray expenses. He also mentioned that the gazebo work was not done solely for the benefit of the theater company and the concerts. Throughout the year, there are a number of groups that hold functions there, including the Lions Club for the Fol de Rol in June, the Cider and Donut Festival in September and the town’s Christmas tree lighting on Frosty Day.
“It’s not just a Small Town Theatre project,” he said. “The gazebo is used by so many other organizations.”
Morell said he was also seeking donations of small lights to be placed around the gazebo, and more importantly, on the park’s walking path and footbridge to illuminate the area and help residents watch their step as they leave the park.
For more information on the concerts, visit www.smalltowntheatrecompany.com.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
