The Monroe Township Arts Commission and the Ponds Resident Big Dance Band shared a milestone May 18 when the band’s performance attracted a capacity crowd to the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.
By:Al Wicklund
MONROE The Monroe Township Arts Commission and the Ponds Resident Big Dance Band shared a milestone May 18 when the band’s performance attracted a capacity crowd to the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.
"We had to turn people away. It was great to see the band do so well, but it also was an uncomfortable experience having to deny admission to the overflow crowd," Maria Naumik, chairwoman of the commission, said last week.
Ms. Naumik said the commission has enjoyed other sizable audiences at its events in the high school before, but the Ponds band’s performance of music of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s drew the commission’s first-ever capacity crowd in that auditorium. The high school’s Richard P. Marasco Performing Arts Center seats about 1,000.
She said, in dealing with people who couldn’t get into the auditorium, it helped that the Ponds band will be part of the commission’s music-in-the-park series of summer concerts.
"We were able to tell people the band will be playing in Thompson Park July 19, and we were able to take names and addresses to add to our mailing list," Ms. Naumik said.
Harold Ladell, the leader of the band, said the band’s performance and the audience and its response was more than he could have hoped for.
"For the band members, it was a well-played event," the leader said. "For me, it was the kind of evening I’ve been anticipating since we started the band."
Created three years ago, following the recommendation of a League of Women Voters of Monroe Towsnhip study group, the Cultural Arts Commission’s early history has been marked by its variety of presentations and the steady development of its overall program.
"I’m pleased with the growth of the commission’s program and look forward to continued growth," Ms. Naumik said.
She said the audience attracted by the Ponds band was a testament to the band’s drawing power and a suggestion of what future commission progams may be able to do.
But the size of an audience is not the lone measure of the commission’s success.
"The goal of the commission is to supply affordable cultural opportunities to the communty at large," Ms. Naumik said.
Further, she said, the commission wants to have varied offerings that will extend to all ages and interests.
"The commision has been consistent in this effort since its first major event, the Intergenerational Orchestra performance at the high school more than two years ago," Ms. Naumik said.
Lee Farber, the Township Council liaison to the commission, said the commission has done a spectacular job in a relatively short time.
"The commission has a dynamic chairwoman and enthusiastic and knowledgeable members who work well as a team. They bring township residents high-quality, professional programs with no charge or a minimal charge," Ms. Farber said.
The councilwoman said the commission also is developing a fund-raising arm, The Patrons of the Arts, that will generate more money to bring in top-flight artists.
Nancie Gunkelman, a member of the commission, said the commission was created to bring the community and the community’s artists together.
"The commission is planning a juried art show for the fall that will provide equal access to every artist in the township from school-age children to retirement community residents," Ms. Gunkelman said.
She said the commission’s work has been in visual and performing arts and included obtaining the sculpture in the wooded setting in front of the library.
Commissioner Ina Bondy said upcoming events sponsored by the commission include The Cashore Marionettes at the library 2 p.m. June 16.
The summer concert series in Thompson Park will provide a variety of musical styles every week in July, she said.
The series will open July 6 with the Pocono Mountain group and itsbluegrass music. Following them will be Kindred, a classic rock and roll group, July 13; the Ponds dance band, July 19; and Rock ‘n’ Rythym, a doo-wop group, July 27.
In addition to Ms. Naumik, Ms. Gunkelman and Ms. Bondy, the commissionmembers are Greg Finkelstein, David Kaplan, Shirley Knight, Paul Treatman, Ruth Fischer and Linda Reynolds.
The commission usually meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month.