There’s music in the air this early summer as our favorite community choir presents their first concert of 2025. Donations will be highly appreciated. The money raised is needed for purchasing of the music sheets, paying the accompanist, etc. Thank you!

R'ville Stage Creations’ Artistic Director, Tara McCormick-Hostash, has started a new initiative to increase our community's confidence and playfulness. The format is similar to an open mic, but through a theatre lens. Tailored to adult and teen players, we start with a short physical warmup, and always play a few improv games. Other activities have included script read-throughs, one act plays, body as instrument, creating story and exploring environment with lots of shame & judgement-free play.

Adults and Teens are welcome. No experience required.

Join us for Folklore Dances from Around the World, presented by Paul Rosenberg.

Paul will introduce us to international folk dances from more than 50 countries and African-American singing and play-party games as well as community dances from the Hudson Valley, United Kingdom, Appalachia, and New England.

Come kick up your heels to live fiddle music. We get everyone involved – from ages 2 to 102 — especially those who have not danced before. Besides fiddle, instruments in a family dance could include banjo, mandolin, flute, pennywhistle, clarinet, guitar, piano, recorder, accordion, dulcimer, percussion, and more. While participation in the dancing is encouraged — and it’s hard to sit still — it’s fun to just listen to the music and watch too!

A freewill donation will be appreciated.

All musical genres, spoken word, and performance art are welcome. We'll begin and/or end the night with a jam.

If you're not a performer, we're sure you would make a great audience!

Sign-Up: 6:30 pm

Performances: 7:00

Amy & Joe will be hosting. Admission is free. Equipment is provided.

Donations to the Conkling Café Open Mic fund are always welcome.

An extraordinary evening with Chimera, featuring Iva Bittová, Steve Gorn, Timothy Hill, Michael Bisio and a special guest, Antonín Fajt.

The artists in this collective ensemble are all master musicians, innovators, composers and improvisors. 

They have deeply immersed themselves in streams of avant-garde jazz, Indian raga, Moravian folk music, overtone singing, as well as early and modern European classical, American folk, etc.

Individually they have performed with a stunning array of influential creative artists, such as Fred Frith, Bang-on-a-Can All-Stars, ETHEL, Paul Winter, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Simon, David Hykes, Pauline Oliveros, Bill Frisell, Matthew Shipp, Tani Tabbal, Joe McPhee, to name a few.

All this they leave at the door as they enter the shared space to meet in the moment, sharing a deep respect of each other’s experience and perspective, anticipating fresh expressions of deep feeling, awestruck beauty and sheer delight.

Together they explore new territory to create music that defies description. 

Door opens at 6:00 PM.

Tickets online or at the door.

R'ville Stage Creations’ Artistic Director, Tara McCormick-Hostash, has started a new initiative to increase our community's confidence and playfulness. The format is similar to an open mic, but through a theatre lens. Tailored to adult and teen players, we start with a short physical warmup, and always play a few improv games. Other activities have included script read-throughs, one act plays, body as instrument, creating story and exploring environment with lots of shame & judgement-free play.

Adults and Teens are welcome. No experience required.

All musical genres, spoken word, and performance art are welcome. We'll begin and/or end the night with a jam.

If you're not a performer, we're sure you would make a great audience!

Sign-Up: 6:30 pm

Performances: 7:00

Amy & Joe will be hosting. Admission is free. Equipment is provided.

Donations to the Conkling Café Open Mic fund are always welcome.

The Rensselaerville Library and Conkling Hall invite you to a celebration of poetry and community at our 20th annual Favorite Poem Project – led by our friend Rev. Claire North and featuring local poets, musicians, and YOU (our friends and neighbors).

Share your favorite poem or song. Listen to your friends and neighbors as they share theirs!

The Favorite Poem Project in Rensselaerville has often drawn more than 50 readers (including adults and children of all ages), and poems have ranged from the hilarious to the somber; from poems by children’s poet Shel Silverstein to selections from Tennyson and Keats; to poems by 20th & 21st century poets Billy Collins, Lucille Clifton, Tracy K Smith, Mary Oliver, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Claudia Rankine among many, many others; to song lyrics (often performed); as well as original poems written and performed by local poets.

Register here.

R'ville Stage Creations’ Artistic Director, Tara McCormick-Hostash, has started a new initiative to increase our community's confidence and playfulness. The format is similar to an open mic, but through a theatre lens. Tailored to adult and teen players, we start with a short physical warmup, and always play a few improv games. Other activities have included script read-throughs, one act plays, body as instrument, creating story and exploring environment with lots of shame & judgement-free play.

Adults and Teens are welcome. No experience required.

All musical genres, spoken word, and performance art are welcome. We'll begin and/or end the night with a jam.

If you're not a performer, we're sure you would make a great audience!

Sign-Up: 6:30 pm

Performances: 7:00

Amy & Joe will be hosting. Admission is free. Equipment is provided.

Donations to the Conkling Café Open Mic fund are always welcome.

Join us for the annual celebration of Irish arts. Claire North will lead us through the afternoon of performances by our fellow friends and neighbors.

Sign up to share a favorite work of Irish literature or song, or your own Irish-inspired works. (or email us to get on the list)

Afraid of the spotlight? Come by to enjoy everyone else's choices, and to enjoy the celebratory vibe!

We ask that you keep your presentation under eight minutes, thank you.

Potluck - bring an Irish snack! Please bring a dish to share.

Please join us to honor beloved community member Jan Bishop, who passed away in August.

From 2-4, we will offer music and remembrances, featuring Village Voices and several other musicians singing and playing music Jan loved, with reminiscences from friends.

The event will be streamed live on Conkling Hall's Facebook page.

A reception will follow.

R'ville Stage Creations’ Artistic Director, Tara McCormick-Hostash, has started a new initiative to increase our community's confidence and playfulness. The format is similar to an open mic, but through a theatre lens. Tailored to adult and teen players, we start with a short physical warmup, and always play a few improv games. Other activities have included script read-throughs, one act plays, body as instrument, creating story and exploring environment with lots of shame & judgement-free play.

Adults and Teens are welcome. No experience required.

R'ville Stage Creations’ Artistic Director, Tara McCormick-Hostash, has started a new initiative to increase our community's confidence and playfulness. The format is similar to an open mic, but through a theatre lens. Tailored to adult and teen players, we start with a short physical warmup, and always play a few improv games. Other activities have included script read-throughs, one act plays, body as instrument, creating story and exploring environment with lots of shame & judgement-free play.

Adults and Teens are welcome. No experience required.

Admission is Free. Donations are appreciated.

All musical genres, spoken word, and performance art are welcome. We'll begin and/or end the night with a jam.

If you're not a performer, we're sure you would make a great audience!

Sign-Up: 6:30 pm

Performances: 7:00

Amy & Joe will be hosting. Admission is free. Equipment is provided.

Donations to the Conkling Café Open Mic fund are always welcome.

Join us for the annual New Year’s Day Potluck sponsored by Rensselaerville Historical District Association and Friends of Conkling Hall.

Bring a dish to share, enjoy tasty food, great company and maybe even some music!

Cash bar for beer, wine, and prosecco.

Admission is free. Donations are always appreciated!

All musical genres, spoken word, and performance art are welcome. We'll begin and/or end the night with a jam.

If you're not a performer, we're sure you would make a great audience!

Sign-Up: 6:30 pm

Performances: 7:00

Amy & Joe will be hosting. Admission is free. Equipment is provided.

Donations to the Conkling Café Open Mic fund are always welcome.

Experience the magic of the winter solstice with an immersive sound bath celebration performed by Wisdom Roots Wellness. Sign up by emailing info@wisdomrootswellness.com.

Bring a mat, blanket and comfortable clothes.

Donations will be welcomed.

Come to join us for the annual Hamlet Holiday Concert featuring Village Voices and Friends. Enjoy a variety of musical performances. The concert is sponsored by Conkling Hall.

Doors open at 6:00, concert starts at 6:30.

Refreshments and drinks will be available.

Free admission. Donations will be very much appreciated.

Come to enjoy the annual Village Voices concert.

Door opens at 6:30 PM, concert starts at 7 PM.

Beverages available at the bar, open reception to follow after the concert.

No admission. Free will donation will be appreciated.

All musical genres, spoken word, and performance art are welcome. We'll begin and/or end the night with a jam.

If you're not a performer, we're sure you would make a great audience!

Sign-Up: 6:30 pm

Performances: 7:00

Amy & Joe will be hosting. Admission is free. Equipment is provided.

Donations to the Conkling Café Open Mic fund are always welcome.

Join us as we wrap up #ConklingHallWeek — our celebration of Conkling Hall and its community — with the perfect Autumn Sunday enjoying chili, pies, music, friends!

Try different homemade chilis, followed up with a slice (or more) of pie, and enjoy the music of local bluegrass band Moonshine Mule, all while making your last-minute bids on our Silent Auction!

Our auction will go live online Oct 7th, so bid early and bid often!

If you like Alanis Morissette, Brandi Carlisle, and crying in public, you’re going to love Girl Blue. Writing deeply emotional songs with strong singable hooks, singer-songwriter Arielle O’Keefe is absolutely one to watch.

She’s been featured on top Spotify playlists (New Music Friday) and charts (#2 on US Viral Charts), in national commercials, and on top blogs like the Huffington Post. She has received 7 Thomas Edison Music Awards, twice receiving Songwriter of the Year and Solo Act of the Year. It’s been said “she…has the kind of spark that makes stars” and, most especially as a live performer, she has an authenticity that regularly moves audience members to tears.

She is based outside of Saratoga Springs, NY. She records all her own music at home with her partner/producer Jimi W. and is funded entirely by her community of fans on Patreon and across social media.

Conkling Hall kicks off its annual Conkling Hall Weekend with a live performance by Girl Blue.

Doors open at 6:45, and the show starts at 7:30. Come early to have drinks and snacks and check out our silent auction items!

General Admission: $20, available online and at the door.

In this workshop we will explore storytelling through various improvisation games and drama activities. Learning about strong and purposeful movement for storytelling, and honing our improvisation skills, students will gain confidence and understanding of the stage and theatre space.  We will also play with exercises for vocal production, character development and story building. 

A native daughter of Rensselaerville, New York, Tara McCormick-Hostash is the founder and Contract Artistic Director of R'ville Stage Creations. A proud storyteller and bard, Tara has been a natural performer since she began whistling at the tender age of two. After studying vocal performance at Schenectady County Community College and musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's conservatory program in New York City, she returned to her hometown to build a family and help grow the local theatre community.

Find more information about Tara at https://www.hilltownbard.com/

Please complete the two-step registration process:

1.Use the form below to sign up for the workshop: Sign up Form

2.Admission: online

$25.00 per Individual Child

$20.00 Family Discount per Child

$20.00 Family Discount per Bring-A-Friend

In this workshop we will explore storytelling through various improvisation games and drama activities. Learning about strong and purposeful movement for storytelling, and honing our improvisation skills, students will gain confidence and understanding of the stage and theatre space.  We will also play with exercises for vocal production, character development and story building. 

A native daughter of Rensselaerville, New York, Tara McCormick-Hostash is the founder and Contract Artistic Director of R'ville Stage Creations. A proud storyteller and bard, Tara has been a natural performer since she began whistling at the tender age of two. After studying vocal performance at Schenectady County Community College and musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's conservatory program in New York City, she returned to her hometown to build a family and help grow the local theatre community.

Find more information about Tara at https://www.hilltownbard.com/

Please complete the two-step registration process:

1.Use the form below to sign up for the workshop: Sign up Form

2.Admission: online

$25.00 per Individual Child

$20.00 Family Discount per Child

$20.00 Family Discount per Bring-A-Friend

An original and very participating historic musical storytelling for all ages.

A participatory Folk Operetta of New York's Grand Erie Canal featuring authentic historic instruments, music, costumes, tall tales, sing-alongs, and characters for an unforgettable experience in New York State's History. Heritage instruments include squeezeboxes, fiddle, banjo, and hurdy gurdy.

To enrich the children’s understanding and appreciation of the craft behind a staged opera performance, the artists enjoy presenting a show-and-tell as they are setting up for their show.

Captain Simon Slick and Irish cook Sallie Waters meet up with Sal, a truly amazing Mule, to set off on a rollicking journey down The Grand Erie Canal, 8th Wonder of the World! But oh me, oh my…where did the water go? Tall Tales and Riddles come to the Rescue! Great characters, great stories, and everyone sings in this unforgettable historic enrichment experience.

Sponsored by the Rensselaerville Library and Conkling Hall.

More information here.

Doors open at 6:00 pm.

Admission Free / Donations Welcome.

Show your support and love for Scott Green and Tim Lippert! Join us for a fundraiser on Sunday September 22, 12pm-4pm.

The fundraiser includes a luncheon featuring Crosby Farm pig roast and sides, cash bar, Sweet Desserts Chance Auction, 50/50 raffle, and live music.

Free will donation at the door or through Gofundme, by using the link below:

https://gofund.me/4eb94037   
Donations are most gratefully accepted but are not tax-deductible.

To volunteer, please email friendsofscott922@gmail.com.