Whether it was drama, music, or comedy, residents in the region became used to seeing celebrities. You can argue that was the case in 2023 as arts and entertainment events saw a much-needed resurgence.

NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

In 2023, The National Comedy Center celebrated and reflected on its five-year anniversary. It’s the go-to place for comedy as it keeps attracting guests and celebrities with its immersive, interactive exhibits.

Because the exhibits flow into one another, and to give the exhibits their due time, Executive Director Journey Gunderson said patrons can expect to spend a lot of time at NCC. Popular exhibits include Johnny Carson: The immersive Experience, and Carolines.

From left Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson stand in front of Iglesias’s jersey from his 2022 sold-out Dodger Stadium performance. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

“The Johnny Carson: The Immersive Experience is presented in a theater environment where visitors are enveloped in the story. It takes you on a journey through the legacy of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show,” Gunderson said.

The exhibit is designed to fully immerse visitors into Johnny Carson’s rich history on The Tonight Show. Gunderson said visitors will be surrounded by storytelling, media and sound. The exhibit features Jimmy Fallon as the hologram host, presenting visitors with a unique experience.

Located within the center’s state-of-the-art museum, the new Carolines exhibition celebrates the 40-year legacy of the iconic Times Square comedy venue — one of the world’s most important venues for showcasing the art of stand-up comedy. The Carolines exhibit features iconic artifacts, including the stage backdrop bearing the world-renowned harlequin Carolines logo, showroom curtains and signage, entry doors and “barfly” stools.

Carolines showcased the world’s greatest comedic talent — first in Chelsea and later at the South Street Seaport, before calling Times Square home in 1992 — playing an integral role in the resurgence of the Times Square district.

Gunderson said that Caroline Hirsch knew how to spot talent, and for Hirsch, it was about the work and it was about the art. Carolines first opened as a small cabaret club in the New York’s Chelsea neighborhood in 1982. Hirsch, a lifelong comedy fan, soon began booking comedians in her room. The comedy acts were a tremendous success, and it wasn’t long before Carolines became a full-fledged comedy club. As the popularity of stand-up surged throughout the 1980s, so did the popularity of Carolines, which was becoming the place to see live comedy in New York City.

Pictured is the lightning bolt cake that was presented to Ace Frehley. It was a marble cake with custard and raspberry filling, and blue icing outlined in silver to pay homage to Frehley’s makeup when he was in KISS. Photo by Chad Ecklof

Aside from the exhibits, in August, NCC holds the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, and attracts noted, and popular comedians to perform at different locations. The three-day festival has more than 50 live events, including stand-up showcases, late night comedy, block parties, Lucy tribute events, kids’ comedy and live music.

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and Taylor Tomlinson both performed at the Northwest Arena.

In August, before his performance, Iglesias gifted his wardrobe, from his 2022 sold-out Dodger Stadium Performance, to NCC. After his tour of the center, he said he may also gift one of his prized Volkswagen Buses to the NCC.

Topspeed.com said Iglesias has a very large collection of VW buses housed in Long Beach, Calif, which has been dubbed “The Fluffy Museum.”

“I’ll put you guys in the will,” Iglesias said. “And that’s a great thing too, because I have been struggling with a business manager, and going back and forth with a trust. It sucks when they tell you to write down a list of all your favorite people in order and figure out what’s going to happen when your gone because nobody wants to have those conversations. I can safely say this (The NCC) is definitely making the list.”

Melody Thomas Scott, star of The Young and The Restless, stopped by Hultquist Place to visit 96-year-old resident Mary Lingenfelter during Scott’s recent visit to Jamestown. Lingenfelter has been watching the CBS daytime drama since it debuted — 50 years ago. When Scott learned of the devoted Y&R fan, she wanted to meet the woman and thank her for her decades of loyal support. Before departing, Scott took a bracelet off her wrist and gave it to Lingenfelter along with an appreciative hug. Submitted photo

10,000 MANIACS

This past year, 10,000 Maniacs saw the departure of two members, and the addition of two new members.

The band learned that longtime members, lead singer and violinist Mary Ramsey, and guitarist Jeff Erickson were leaving.

“After 30 Years and five albums as 10,000 Maniacs lead singer and violist, Mary Ramsey will be taking a step back from her primary role in the band. As we begin to usher in this new era, we will also say goodbye to Maniacs’ guitarist Jeff Erickson after 20 years of touring and recording with the band. Both Mary and Jeff are departing to pursue other interests. The magic they brought to all our lives will live forever in our hearts. They will be missed but, Mary and Jeff will always be a part of the Maniacs’ Family and will always be welcome to play with us in the future,” a statement from maniacs.com said.

So, Armand Petri, the band’s producer stepped up, and found a solution to keep the band together.

Petri called his friend Leigh Nash, who was the former singer with Sixpense None The Richer.

Nash traveled to Jamestown, familiarized herself with the band’s catalog of music, and auditioned for the band.

“While listening to a new track in the Maniacs studio, I mentioned ‘Leigh Nash would be a perfect choice to sing this song.’ I believe that everyone else in the room was thinking the same thing. A phone call was made and Leigh was on her way for an audition within a few weeks. It was obvious after a couple of songs that Leigh was the perfect choice,” Petri said in September.

Founding member and bassist Steve Gustafson agreed.

“We learned in the early months of 2023 that Jeff Erickson and Mary Ramsey would be leaving the band, but the rest of us wanted to continue playing. We were in our studio in March discussing possibilities with our producer, Armand Petri, who managed Sixpence None The Richer when they first started. Armand grabbed his phone, called Leigh and asked her if she’d like to work with 10,000 Maniacs. She said she’d love to and was in Jamestown a month later working on songs with us.” Gustafson said.

On Nash’s recommendation, the band also hired Sixpense None The Richer guitarist Matt Slocum.

CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION

In the summer months, it’s nice to see an outdoor concert, especially if there is a roof over your head.

That describes the Amphitheater on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution.

The institution always brings good artists to the stage. Some of the musical acts that performed in 2023 were Bonnie Raitt, Snarky Puppy, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Melissa Etheridge, Patti Labelle, Natalie Merchant and Alison Brown.

In July, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz led the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra to accompany Natalie Merchant.

Chafetz said more acts are using an orchestra during live performances.

“It’s common now. With (The Chautauqua Symphony) Orchestra Pops, we are pretty much used to having headlining acts,” Chafetz said. “Yeah, it’s wonderful. What’s great about it is that the Chautauqua Symphony is a diverse group of players where they go from Beethoven one day to Natalie Merchant the next day.”

Brown performed at the Amphitheater in August, and she said on her new release, she collaborated with Steve Martin, who is a famous comedian, but also a very gifted banjo player as well, mandolinist Sierra Hall, clarinetist Anat Cohen, the Kronos Quartet, classical guitarist Sharon Isbin, and fiddle player Stuart Duncan.

“I like to take the banjo in a lot of different directions – jazz, latin and classical (music),” Brown said.

REG LENNA CENTER FOR THE ARTS

From movies to concerts, each year, The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is a place where arts happen.

In 2023, guitarist Ace Frehley, a founding member of KISS, celebrated a belated 72nd birthday with a lightning bolt cake baked by Chad Ecklof of Ecklof Bakery.

Even though Chad Ecklof didn’t get to present Ace Frehley with the lightning bolt cake for his birthday celebration, Ecklof knew that the former KISS lead guitarist enjoyed the cake immensely.

Before the April show, Frehley’s staff trying to figure how to surprise the original Spaceman. Ecklof delivered the marble cake with custard and raspberry filling, and blue icing outlined in silver to pay homage to Frehley’s persona when he was in KISS.

Talk about taking the cake.

Other 2023 noteworthy performances were “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” “The Lightning Thief,” Lea Zeppelin and the Wizards of Winter.

When Steph Paynes first formed Lez Zeppelin in 2004, she thought it would be a novelty. The novelty wore off – quickly. Since forming the all-girl band, Paynes said they have been performing and been featured on shows that aired on TV networks, BBC, ABC, CBS, MTV, VH-1, FOX, and radio shows which aired on Sirius XM, and NPR networks.

Lez Zeppelin performs songs by Led Zeppelin, but it’s not a tribute band, but more of members paying homage while performing on stage.

Wizards guitarist Steve Brown said the show, is “an incredible, incredible holiday sensory overload.

With “The Lightning Thief,” students from area schools filled the seats to enjoyed the musical which like the book, tells how Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, is about to be kicked out of school. He attends Camp Half-Blood and learns of his identity. That’s the least of his troubles as Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy has 10 days to catch the true thief, solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend. He must embark on a journey to find the lighting bolt, and prevent a war among the gods.

And Michelle Azar spent a lot of time watching videos about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The videos helped Azar prepare for the main role as the late United States Supreme Court Justice.

The best part of the performance, Azar said, is the audience.

“The audience every time. Whether or not I’m tired, or whether or not it’s been a rush rehearsal, it’s the audience’s response. And, every now and then afterwards, I’ll go out and say ‘hello’ to somebody in the audience. And then I get to hear people say ‘thank you,'” Azar said in May.

LUCILLE BALL LITTLE THEATRE OF JAMESTOWN

Melody Thomas Scott is no stranger to Jamestown. And in 2023 to help raise funds for LBLTJ, she reflected on her career and shared personal photos and videos of some of her most memorable Hollywood moments while interacting with LBLTJ audience members and answering their questions.

Scott is known for her portrayal as Nikki Newman on the daytime soap opera “The Young & The Restless,” and she never thought she would play the same role for almost 45 years.

“When I first accepted the role of Nikki, I never dreamed I would still be playing her almost forty-five years later. I attribute the success of Nikki to the strong foundation for the character and rich storylines written by our creator, William J. Bell,” she said.

LBLTJ had a strong 2023 and included the shows Jersey Boys, The Play That Goes Wrong, Spamalot, School of Rock, A Christmas Story, Annie Jr., and Little Women.

Executive Director Holly Weston said that post pandemic, audiences wanted to see shows, and actors wanted to be on stage.

SPIRE THEATER

The Spire Theater is another venue in Jamestown that holds many local events. From hosting Chautauqua’s Got Talent, to hosting local bands, Spire Theater Artistic Director and Producer Angelino Valentino really likes being a part of the arts atmosphere. Valentino also wants to redefine the live performance experience by bridging a gap between musicians and the audience- a Back Stage Jam.

“Back Stage Jam was born out of a desire to transform the traditional concert experience. The idea was to create an event that not only showcased incredible musical talent but also allowed the audience to connect more intimately with the performers. By filming the event in front of a live studio audience, we aimed to capture the raw energy and authenticity of live music, bridging the gap between artists and their fans,” Valentino said.

Back Stage Jam takes place at Studio Metro Underground Theater, 316 E. Fourth St., Jamestown, Valentino added. The location is at the back entrance of the InSpire Development Center behind the Spire Theater, 317 E. Third St. Live performances are recorded on video to capture the energy and passion that radiate from artists, fostering an authentic and electrifying atmosphere, Valentino said.

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