Something old, something new: Northampton's First Night celebration gets yearly tweaks
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After seven years at the helm of Northampton's First Night wingding, you might think Penny Burke would choose to rely on long-established acts and programming schedules to make planning and executing the annual event as easy as possible.
But, no. Burke, the executive director of the Northampton Center for the Arts who organizes the annual event, is always tweaking something - looking for ways to make the event even bigger and better each year.
Like moving the cherished long-time participant, The Peaceful Little Corner of the World Talent Show, to the day before First Night.
For the first time in its 20-year history, the friendly youth competition that has helped the Valley ring in the New Year will, instead, close out the old.
On Wednesday at 2 p.m., some 16 youth, ages 4 to 18, will take to the stage - for the first time at the Center for the Arts - to dance, play instruments and sing their hearts out.
Why the change? There are a couple of reasons, Burke says. For one thing, it will give the 2-hour-long talent show better exposure, as it won't have to compete with a host of other events that take place on First Night proper. Also, truth be known, Burke had been pining for some time to have the show at the Center. In the past, it has been at The People's Institute, St. Mary's Church, and John M. Greene Hall and Theatre 14 at Smith College. "If you want to know the truth, I wanted to see it myself. I can't do it on the actual day [of First Night]."
A long run
The talent show was first organized in 1989 by local musician Roger Salloom but, since 1993 has been run by Gloria Tuperkeizsis, a long-time director of area pageants and dance competitions. It's a change that made sense, Burke says.
"Gloria has been connected to the dance world for many, many, many years. She's bringing in those people. People all over the area who have stuck with her."
Tuperkeizsis does it, she says, because she's "always loved the arts." She even did a bit of performing herself - some "exhibition dancing" when she served in the U.S. Army. And her daughter, Tammy Thompson, and her grandchildren, Jonathan and Crystal Thompson, are all dancers; Crystal Thompson, who was a Patriot's cheerleader for three years, even competed in the talent show back when she was 9. This year, she'll be a judge, along with Kimberlee Supernau, Miss Bay State 2009.
Other past participants have also gone on to performing arts careers after getting their start on First Night in Northampton, Tuperkeizsis says, including singer/songwriter Sonya Kitchell, who sang in the show when she was 10.
But, Tuperkeizsis stresses that kids don't have to be world-class performers, like Kitchell, to participate. "I try to stress the point that this is not Broadway," Tuperkeizsis said.
Every child gets a certificate of participation signed by Burke and Tuperkeizsis and first, second and third-place winners receive trophies. Should the competition end in a tie, Tuperkeizsis won't break it, she says. Instead, she orders a second trophy then hand-delivers it, after the fact, to the child.
"I try to give every kid a chance to be part of the show. It's a learning experience for them," Tuperkeizsis said. "It's really a big deal for the kids. ... I want to encourage them as opposed to discourage them."
First Night proper
On Thursday, there will be plenty of other tried-and-true First Night acts, like the Festival of Dance at the Academy of Music; musicians Art Steele, Brooks Williams and Greg Alexander; and family-friendly acts like the opening parade, Henry the Juggler and Ed the Balloon Man. There will also be an act or two, like the Young @ Heart Chorus, that have been absent for a while.
Burke has also added plenty of newbies, including Page 6, a dance band; Broadway veterans Jean and Bill McClelland; and the all-new Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra, under the direction of musician and archguitar inventor, Peter Blanchette. Also, the Raging Grannies, a group that has performed informally, outdoors, at past First Nights, will be singing on stage at Theatre 14.
"The poor grannies have been outside," quipped Burke. "We're letting them come indoors this year."
Planning this year was done in spite of funding cuts, which Burke says came as no surprise given the state of the economy. The city reduced its contribution by 12 percent - from $7,000 in past years to a little over $6,000.
"We anticipated (budget cuts) when we recruited performers," said Burke who had to break the news to longtime participants that there would be no increase in remuneration this year.
Never mind, most told her. They would perform anyway.
"I was amazed. They told me, 'We want to do it,' " Burke said. "It was pretty heartwarming. I was pretty overwhelmed."
First Night buttons will be accepted for admission to The Peaceful Little Corner of the World Talent show on Wednesday afternoon. Otherwise, there is a $5 admission price.
For information about First Night Northampton, including a full listing of events, check the First Night 2010 Web site, the First Night Supplement that will be published by the Gazette on Dec. 28, and Friday's Hampshire Life Calendar.
Kathleen Mellen can be reached at kmellen@gazettenet.com.
