Declan Ryan

Some readers may recall the “heartache and the thousand natural shocks” from Hamlet’s third act soliloquy. In “Natural Shocks,” a one-woman drama by Lauren Gunderson, the phrase refers literally to the protagonist hiding in the basement because of a tornado outside. Summer Sattora stars as Angela, who lets the audience in on the story of […]

George Eastman’s legacy includes changing the way the world experienced color, as technologies like Kodakchome and Eastmancolor defined generations of still and motion pictures. His drive to innovate may have been inspired by an 1895 bicycle trip through The Netherlands, where a young Eastman began a lifelong fascination with brilliantly colored tulips. Throughout his tenure […]

Since its founding in 2002, Empire State Wrestling has been promoting professional wrestling events featuring local talent around Western New York. Though the spectacle is typically associated with mega-stars and national stadium tours, pro wrestling has a long history of regional promotions that develop tomorrow’s top talent in front of crowds of die-hard fans. Many […]

The genre of paintings of painters has a surprisingly rich history. From Picasso’s portraits of Dora Maar to Kahlo’s portraits of Diego Rivera, the act of painting another painter challenges an artist to capture something outside the realm of what can be done with self-portraiture. Clifton Springs’ Main Street Arts is following up last month’s […]

The inspireDANCE festival is a community-driven event hosted by the Program of Movement and Dance at the University of Rochester. Now in its tenth year, the festival offers a chance for hundreds of students and professional dancers from around the Rochester area to learn together, share ideas, and experience performances. The festival features nearly 40 […]

One of the most infamous cases in the history of New York’s criminal justice system is that of the Central Park Five. After an investment banker was assaulted while jogging in Central Park in 1989, a number of juvenile suspects were rounded up and interrogated for hours without counsel. Sensational media coverage and an inflammatory […]

Arc of Monroe has been offering enriching programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Rochester area for more than 60 years. Local arts advocacy group OFC Creations has partnered with a variety of local artists and creative organizations to deliver “Roc the Love,” an upcoming variety show fundraiser to benefit […]

“Always in Season” is an award-winning documentary that examines the history of lynching in America by following the grim particulars of one family’s experience. African-American teenager Lennon Lacy was found hanged from a swing set in Bladenboro, North Carolina in 2014. His death was ruled a suicide by officials and went uninvestigated despite circumstances that […]

Cumming Nature Center in Naples is a 900-acre wilderness preserve that features six miles of trails. This weekend the center is hosting its annual NordicFest event to benefit the Genesee Valley Nordic Ski Patrol, which keeps these trails safe year-round. The family-friendly event runs all day Saturday, and features a number of educational activities including […]

Now in its 6th year, the Bronze Collective Theater Fest is a week-long winter festival of African American theater works. This year’s theme is “Moving Forward,” and some of the shows offer an early look at productions Rochester audiences can see throughout the 2020 calendar. While the lineup includes something for everybody, fans of Rochester […]

Emmett Till’s 1955 murder in Mississippi was a galvanizing event in the early days of the Civil Rights movement. The 14-year-old was killed by vigilantes after being falsely accused of making advances toward a white woman. His murderers were never indicted despite admitting to the killing. Two years later, Harlem-born acclaimed author James Baldwin returned […]