Frankfort Native Stands Tall On National Stage

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One of Frankfort's favorite sons is two-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe - producer, director, playwright, composer - who is the long-time artistic director of the New York Public Theater.

Kentucky State University drew a large Frankfort audience with its production of Wolfe's The Colored Museum, which takes a satirical look at African-American culture. The play's setting is a museum with 11 "exhibits", or small stories, performed on a revolving stage.

During an interview for a KET documentary, Wolfe charmed Kentucky audiences with stories of his Frankfort childhood. Frankfort librarian Mary Clay, who saw the documentary, grew up with Wolfe, although he was a few years behind her in school. Clay said she loved the stories Wolfe told because she had many of the same memories. "George talked about Squeezer Brown, who played the guitar and was a 'Pied Piper' to all the neighborhood children. And when Squeezer Brown died, everyone learned he'd spent nearly his entire veteran's pension throughout the years helping children."

According to Clay, Wolfe has not forgotten his hometown friends. Recently, he invited Frankfort residents Stephen Mason and wife, Marilyn, to the HBO premiere of Lackawanna Blues, which was Wolf's film directorial debut. Mason said, "It was the third time George has had us up to New York to see his work."

Mason and Wolf became friends while attending elementary school together at Kentucky State's lab school. "Rosenwald School had an abundance of arts programs," Mason said, "and these were an early impetus to George's interest in theater, writing and music."

Lackawanna Blues is a movie about community, and according to Mason, community is important to Wolfe. He said, "George has probably attended more of our high school reunions than I have. I tell him all the time what an inspiration he is to kids around Frankfort who may not believe they can go places."

Art Galleries

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DeSpain Studio and Gallery
329 West Boardway
502-352-2717

Capital Gallery of Contemporary Art
314 Lewis Street
223-2649

LeRoy Art Gallery
333 W. Broadway
502-223-9946

Arts Organizations Bluegrass Theatre Guild
Contact Sally Jump at 502-695-5830.
www.bluegrass-theatreguild.org
A non-profit musical community theater dedicated to educating and entertaining. Founded in 1982, the Guild produces musicals, sponsors theater trips and workshops, and performs for schools, conventions, civic clubs and festivals. Participation is open to those who are interested.

Capital Area Art Guild
Contact Sallie Clay Lanham, 502-695-4472.  lanham@dcr.net
An organization of local artists which promotes public knowledge and
appreciation of the visual arts. The Guild sponsors educational activities
through art exhibits and provides technique demonstrations at monthly
meetings. Other activities include work shops, art classes, and art appreciation for all ages. The Guild brings together people with an interest in art.

Capital Camera Club
Contact William Adams at 502-331-0159 billybones@bardstown.com
Monthly meetings with guest speakers and member photo competitions.

Capital City Chorale, Inc.
Contact Ethel Lee at 502-227-2073
A community chorus under the direction of Gary Johnson.  The Chorale consists of forty to fifty adults who are interested in keeping in touch with vocal performance skills.  The group presents several concerts each year using a wide variety of music. 

Family Summer Concert Series
Contact Downtown Frankfort, Inc., Sheila White at 502-223-2261
www.downtownfrankfort.com
Find your way to downtown Frankfort on a summer Friday evening and be treated to a series of musical performances by various artists and groups. Fun for the entire family, the lawn of the Old Capitol vibrates with the sounds of musicians while frisbees are thrown and ice cream cones are eaten.

Frankfort Arts Foundation
Contact Patricia Terry Vansant at 502-875-4ART (4278)
www.frankfortarts.com  •  faf@dcr.net
Frankfort / Franklin County's multidisciplinary community arts organization. Performances and events are held at Kentucky State University Bradford Hall as part of a community partnership and in the community.  The foundation presents an annual arts and cultural series of international, national, state, and local performing and visual artists.

Frankfort Children Singers
Contact Linda McKinley at 502-875-3789
A community chorus for young voices.  The chorus performs at Christmas and spring concerts and other community events throughout the year upon invitation, including the Candlelight Tour, Commonwealth Christmas Tree Lighting, Commonwealth Credit Union’s Holiday Gathering, and concerts for residents at The Neighborhood and Ashwood Place.

Musical Arts Downtown (MAD)
Contact Roy Nance at 502-227-7430
Frankfort’s annual community music day camp for children (students entering the second through the eighth grades).  Downtown churches take turns hosting the camp, usually held the last week of June.  Classes include choir, Orff, handbells, art, drama and special classes that relate to the year’s theme.

Save the Grand, Inc.
Contact Bill Cull at 502-226-4157
www.SaveTheGrand.org  •  billcull@aol.com
This arts advocacy group purchased in 2005 the Grand Theatre on St. Clair Street.  The Grand Theatre is once again becoming a remarkable showcase for the visual and performing arts, seating up to 400 persons.

Annual Events

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April
Buffalo Trace Easter Egg Hunt 223-7641
May
Summer Concert Series May - October. Live entertainment on the lawn of the Old State Capitol. Sponsor: Downtown Frankfort, Inc. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Downtown Mini-Van Tour May - September. 696-0607	Summer Theater at Liberty Hall May - August. 227-2560	Fort Hill Events May - October. Frankfort Parks Dept. 696-0607
Governor's Downtown Derby Celebration Downtown Frankfort 564-4930/875-8687/223-2261	Railroad Walking Tours 227-2436	Capital City Classic Cars May - June 223-3836
June
Boone Day at Frankfort Cemetary www.visitfrankfort.com 875-8687	Capital Expo First weekend of June, Thursday through Saturday. Arts and crafts, entertainment, carnival rides, food. www.capitalexpofestival.com	Kentucky Herb Festival Lakeview Park. 695-8431	Picnic in the Park Entertainment fund raiser for Franklin County Council on Family Abuse
July
Franklin County Fair Six-day event with beauty pageants, baby and children's contest, carnival rides, exhibits, horse shows. 695-8431 695-9035	Civil War Tour Frnakfort Parks Dept. 696-0607	Great Buffalo Chase Sponsored by Buffalo Trace Distillery 223-7641	4th of July Riverfest 5-K run sponsored by Buffalo Trace Distillery; parade; food, arts and crafts booths; activities throughout downtown; fireworks sponsored by VFW Post 4075
August
Barrel Rolling and Classic Car Cruise-In Buffalo Trace Distillery 223-7641	Capital City Bluegrass Festival Lakeview Park www.bbfestival.com 875-8687
September
Autumn in the Park Aviation Day Capital City Airport. 875-8687, 223-2261, 607-1916	Bridgeport Ruritan Day Saturday after Labor Day. Food, arts and crafts, entertainment.	Kentucky Folk Life Festival Kentucky Historical Society folklife.ky.gov 564-1792	Swallowfield Days Food, arts and crafts, entertainment
Switzer Covered Bridge Day Held at the Switzer Covered Bridge. Food, arts and crafts, entertainment
October
Halloween Cruise-In Haunting of the Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery. 223-7641	Ghost of Frankfort Tours at Liberty Hall Liberty Hall Historic Site and Fort Hill Civil War Site 227-2560, 696-0607	Kentucky State University Homecoming www.kysu.edu 597-6000	Murder and Mayhem Tour Frankfort Parks Dept. 696-0607
Rocktober Fest and Black Cat Chase October 28. Opening entertainment for Pumpkin Festival. Downtown Frankfort, Inc. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Pumpkin Festival Downtown Frankfort, Inc. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Salato Walk with the Animals Salato Wildlife Education Center fw.ky.gov 564-7863
November
A Very Brilliant Party at Liberty Hall Liberty Hall Historic Site. 227-2560	Candlelight Tour Sponsored by Downtown Frankfort, Inc. Downtown shops are open for the evening to begin the Christmas shopping season.  Lots of entertainment events and food. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Kentucky Book Fair Frankfort Convention Center www.frankfortconventioncenter.com 564-8300
December
1864 Christmas on Fort Hill Frankfort Parks Dept. 696-0607	Frankfort Christmas Parade and Governor's Tree Lighting The Governor and First Lady light the state Christmas tree. www.visitfrankfort.com 875-8687