Pennsylvania Magazine, a PA Magazine for Art, Music ...

By Allison Mowatt

Harmony Presents in the Hawley Silk Mill is generating a buzz locally and throughout the surrounding area as a central hub for music, art, poetry, lectures, workshops, theatrical performances and other forms of entertainment.

bringing her vision alive in the town she grew up in. Located next to the Lake Region Fitness Center, Harmony Presents is the brainchild of Jill Carletti, 27, a Hawley native who as an artist and musician herself has a passion for live performances and engaging people in this experience. Harmony is an intimate performance space and is ?a place for the community to gather, be imaginative and creative, and share unique performances and experiences,? said Jill.

As a Hawley resident who grew up in an artistic household, Jill wanted the quaint and charming town to be a destination for all artists.? With a Bachelors of Science degree in Art Education from Penn State, Jill honed her already creative nature even further.? She recognized the need for a venue like Harmony locally and realized there are many talented people interested in supporting the performing arts.? ?So many people want these enriching experiences, and we?re starting to make it happen.? It?s a novel experience and it?s always evolving.?

Harmony Presents officially opened last year.? The space seats about 50 people, making it an ideal gathering spot for performers and audience members to share their combined experiences.? The room bathes the senses and draws people in to its artistic quality.? It is bright, airy, and cheerful with windows facing the rushing waterfalls and hardwood floors lending the venue a rustic warmth.? The walls are painted shades of periwinkle and midnight blue, and Jill?s own unique and thought-provoking artwork covers the walls and ceilings.? Paper mach? faces, top hat lanterns, spherical string orbital light fixtures, colorful and leafy mobiles, and other pieces of note draw the eye.

All musical genres grace Harmony?s stage, including folk, jazz, modern rock, bluegrass, and classical.? Talented writers share what they do through spoken word, poetry, and short stories while aspiring actors perform entertaining skits.? Since Harmony opened, many local, gifted people have presented their work, including Stephen Faubel, Jason Brian Merrill, Flutter (a folk rock/bluegrass band), Benya Barshai, and Ken Platt.

Each month, Harmony hosts ongoing events, including a lecture series, scheduled weekend performances, and an Open Floor Night.? The lecture series is held Thursday evenings and cover important topics ranging from health to the law.? This month, the topic will be ?Haiti Relief.??? Open Floor Nights are usually held the last Saturday of the month, and the venue is open to any performer who would like to share their craft with the public, whether it is a song, poem, short story, or skit.? Open Floor is a free event, but donations are encouraged.? All other events cost between $10 and $20, and people are invited to bring their own bottle of wine or other adult beverage of choice during all events.? In addition, light refreshments provided by the Cocoon Coffee House are available for a small fee.? As the weather gets warmer, larger performances will occasionally be held outside of Harmony and around the Hawley Silk Mill Campus.

At Harmony Presents, the atmosphere is thrilling as people gather and relate to one another through a language we all understand?the arts in all forms.? ?The connection between a live performer and the audience is essential and something we need as humans,? said Jill.

Summer Performances:

June 2^nd 7:30 p.m.- Dorothy Stone, World renowned opera singer

June 8^th 7:30 p.m.-Martha Lorin and Bill Pernice perform jazz standards and improvs.

June 15^th 7:30 p.m.- Marlene and Me, Marlene Swedelson and Peter Daniel perform jazz standards.

June 16^th at 7:30 p.m.- Poetry Reading, Instructions for modern fireside English featuring Jason Macey, KK Gordon and Greg Russick.? This event is followed by an open mic portion.

June 22^nd 7:30 p.m.-Marc Von Em and KJ Denhert, Urban Folk Night, Dynamic Duo in the Round

June 23^rd 8 p.m.- Bill Donnelly is conducting a reading of his off Broadway play ?Again?, a comedy about a playful, flirtatious encounter between a sensuous forty something woman and a sizzling 30 something man.? Wine and cheese will be available.? A question and answer portion will follow. This event benefits the Harmony Presents and the Wayne County Arts Alliance.

June 29^th 7:30 p.m.-The Jazz Assassins

June 30^th 7 to 10 p.m.?Open Floor Night

This July and August, The French Woods Performing Arts Summer Theater camp students will present various theatrical productions in and around the Hawley Silk Mill Campus. Some of the shows include ?Ragtime,? ?Parade,? ?The Survivor,? and ?Cabaret.?

People are encouraged to attend the Open Floor nights and share their talent.? Visit www.silkmillharmony.com or like Harmony Presents on Facebook for more information about Harmony Presents and for updates on future performances.? Email Jill at jill@silkmillharmony.com if you are interested in having your own performance, would like to recommend a performer, or would like to be added to the mailing list.

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