| By Bob Weaver
"CELEBRATING THE ARTIST IN EVERY PERSON SINCE 1982"
Ensemble group delivers "Who's On First?"
at 12th annual Heartwood December Celebration
Dancers bring high-energy performance to Heartwood audience
Heartwood in the Hills opened their doors Friday and Saturday evening for their 12th annual December Celebration.
The popular community event showcased the work of students and faculty and included a line-up of entertainment that produced smiles, laughter and applause from the audience.
Artistic Director Jude Binder, one of Calhoun's shining stars, welcomed family members and visitors to the event. Absent, likely for the first time, was Heartwood's co-creator Frank Venezia, who had to leave to be with his elderly mother.
Guest artist storyteller Ilene Evans, a returnee to Heartwood, displayed her enormous wealth of talent from storytelling to singing and dancing.
Ilene Evans returns to Heartwood displaying her enormous talent
Masks, music and dance ...
A highlight of the celebration was a presentation of the Acting Class called "Ears, Eyes, Legs, Arms" a musical romp written and directed by Heartwood Artistic Director Jude Binder.
"EARS, EYES, LEGS, ARMS"
The acting class gave a high-energy comedic performance of Harry Gile's Who's On First? made famous by Abbott and Costello, but for this event was arranged by Jude Binder for ensemble performance.
Percussion Discussion lifts the rafters of Barbara's Room
There were outstanding performances by Heartwood's Dance Teams throughout the evening, with drumming by Michael Franek and students from his Fall Percussion Class.
 The popular Heartwood Turtle (pictured right) created by artist-illustrator Gideon Kendall for the 1989 Heartwood production Goldie's Dream, made an appearance both evenings of the Celebration.
Kendall, a Calhoun native, is an illustrator and animator for Cartoon Network whose work can currently be seen in the cartoons Kids Next Door and Pepper Ann.
He resides in Brooklyn with his wife Julie Peppito, a Heartwood resident teacher who created The Sunbird for the Wood Festival in 2001. Her artwork was featured as a backdrop for the Celebration.
Guests of the December Celebration were greeted by Welcome Masks worn by Heartwood students. There were exhibits of many of the beautiful masks made by students of this program and previous programs as well as an exhibit of the artwork of the young students in Heartwood classes.
The December Celebration was a fund-raiser for Heartwood. Money helps to pay expenses to operate the non-profit school for the arts.
For more information about Heartwood, check their website at www.heartwoodinthehills.com
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