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From
out of Shadowland, a Shining Light for Ellenville
By M.R. Smith
CONTINUE....
As
Burke puts it, “It’s easy to say: I’m going to
give my money to the arts, it’s really one of our important
priorities. But, the thing I’m starting to see more and more
of around here, is that we serve as an economic catalyst as well.The
reality is that 700 people will be in town this weekend, for THIS
place, and they gotta eat.” Fortunately for theatre patrons,
choices abound in Ellenville, notably Aroma Thyme Bistro, just two
doors down the street.
A cursory glance around the streets of Ellenville still shows much
of the same kind of slow decay evident in so many of the older Upstate
towns. The Norbury still stands a street over, now not much more
than a taxi stand. But a closer look reveals new businesses sprouting
up around the area of Shadowland: restaurants, service, retail.
The town seems to be shaking off a 50-year nap, and finding itself
to be a desirable community with an truly artistic soul. Shadowland
is the little theatre that could, providing a living heartbeat to
this farm town, as it once did at it’s inception back in the
‘20’s, and is well worth making that beautiful drive
down Rt. 208, alongside the Shawangunks. If the script plays as
written, it looks like the story of Shadowland will be of the happily-ever-after
variety.
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