Rain makes for one-of-a-kind Arts Jubilee concert [08/02/2008]

Fireworks rescheduled for Aug. 14 Big Band concert

Mother Nature may have moved the Arts Jubliee concert inside, but she couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the 225 folks who were treated to a one-of-a-kind event. The evening started with light, intermittent rain, followed by constant showers that turned to an outright downpour just as the symphony was playing the final work; fortunately everyone was insidedry.Representatives of Arts Jubilee met with staff of host sponsor, Cranmore Mountain Resort, starting early in the morning. A contingency plan was developed to accommodate about 225 symphonic fans inside the 10th Mountain Pavilion if wet weather caused a cancelation of the outdoor festivities. At the time the plan was developed, even the mountain's General Manager, Ben Wilcox, didn't expect that it would ever need to be implemented.However, wave after wave of storm cells passed over North Conway bringing various degrees of rain, and at 6:15 p.m. when a final decision had to be made, it was raining with no relief in sight.That's when a group effort went into motion, reports Arts Jubilee executive director Cindy Russell. Cranmore crew, Arts Jubilee board members and eager audience members all worked together to turn the pavilion into an indoor venue for the Northeast Symphony performance, accommodating the full 50-piece blend of musicians and an audience limited to about 225 people.Audience members sat an arm's length away from the performers and it was a one-of-a-kind opportunity, said Russell.The concert featured such numbers as March of the Toreadors from Carmen to music from West Side Story and a jazz set featuring alto saxophone player, Mark Pinto. And it ended with the familiar 'good by' melody familiar to all Arts Jubilee Symphony Pops concerts: The Stars and Stripes Forever, with the audience clapping along.The fireworks that were to be a part of the concert were re-scheduled for the conclusion of the next Arts Jubilee concert on Aug. 14, featuring a Tribute to the Big Band Era. This will be the last of the free summer concerts and will feature the familiar tunes of the big bands including vocalist, Steve Marvin, who performs the famous tunes of Frank Sinatra. Full concert details are posted on the web at www.mwvevents.com ."We'll plan to end with a jazzy rendition of Stars and Stripes Forever at that concert, said Clayton Poole, the conductor of both the Northeast Symphony and the big band scheduled to perform on Aug. 14. "That will lead right into the fireworks and present the grand finale to the evening."A highlight of Thursday night show was the guest conducting performed by Conway Police Chief Ed Wagner, who took over from where North Conway Fire Chief Pat Preece left off last year, Russell said. The audience enjoyed it immensely, she said.The early show performance by local entertainers Dennis and Davey was canceled due to the weather, but they have promised, however, to return for a special Arts Jubilee performance later this year, Russell said.