Summer of Love

“Sixties attire encouraged.”

Take a trip, man, back in time to those groovy days of grooviness with Summer of Love, a three-day art love-in, er, exhibit, held at (and to raise money for) Albany Center Galleries. The art: “Hundreds of 5 x 5 inch square original artworks, and dozens of 12 x 12 inch square original artworks will be sold and displayed throughout a three-day period.”

Today (Thursday, June 5), from 6 to 8 PM, is the VIP Preview Reception. There will be “mellow yellow music,” a cash bar and “munchies.” This is the night the art is trés expensive—$100 and $50—but that means you get your pick. Call right now to RSVP. Tomorrow (Friday, June 6) is the Bash from 5 to 10 PM. Admission is $25, and you get to take home one of the smaller-size works. There will be more tasty snacks, and a “trippy” light show by Sara Ayers and Roxanne Storms. Finally, Saturday (June 7) from noon to 5 PM, the show is free (just like Woodstock was, after the Who played and got paid). The prices of the remaining works will be $35 and $15 each. MotherJudge will host an open mic, and the CDFI will provide a craft derby.

Summer of Love will be held today (Thursday) through Saturday at the Albany Center Galleries (39 Columbia St., Albany). For more info, call 462-4775.

Gutenberg! The Musical

What could possibly be better than a musical about the invention of the printing press? A musical about making a musical about the invention of the printing press!

Gutenberg! The Musical opened in London in 2006. Later that year, the new spoof won awards for Best Book and Best Performance at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Gutenberg! went on to garner nominations for the Outer Critics Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Musical.

So, what makes the seemingly absurd idea of a musical about making a musical about the inventor of the printing press so delightful? Like a musical Waiting for Guffman, it is a chaotic, two-man musical spoof on history and the theatre industry. In an attempt to win themselves a Broadway contract, writers Bud and Doug sing and dance their way through every part in their elaborate, 30-character musical epic.

Called a “smashing success” by The New York Times, It is a production that Bud and Doug themselves declare, “The most amazing musical about Johann Gutenberg (performed by its authors) Ever!”

Gutenberg! The Musical previews at 7:30 PM Wednesday (June 11) at Stageworks/Hudson (41-A Cross St., Hudson), and opens Friday (June 13) at 8 PM. Tickets are $16-27, $14-$25 for seniors, and $8-13 for students. For more detailed showtimes, or to purchase tickets, call the Stageworks box office at 822-9667.

Dennis DeYoung

For the 19th summer in a row, Albany’s Alive at Five music series will offer free concerts every Thursday night by artists of local, national and international renown. And to kick off this year’s season of outdoor entertainment, Albany has called in the big boys: classic rock legend Dennis DeYoung and the music of Styx.

Just in case there is anyone out there who doesn’t hear those words and immediately start crooning “Laaaaaaaaady” in the soundtrack of their mind: Styx was the first band in the known universe to have four consecutive albums certified multi-platinum. DeYoung penned and performed eight of the band’s nine Top 10 singles, including “Come Sail Away,” the aforementioned “Lady,” and the futuristic über-theatrical-rock ballad “Mr. Roboto.”

After a three-and-a-half-decade tenure as the lead singer- songwriter-keyboardist-record producer for Styx, DeYoung has built himself a hearty solo career, releasing new albums, performing musical theater, and performing 30 years of classic rock on tour with his seven-piece band. If you need another reason to hit up this free show, all the summer fixin’s will be there, from barbeque to fresh-squeezed lemonade.

DeYoung will perform tonight (Thursday, June 5) at Albany Riverfront Park (Corning Preserve, Albany). Melodrome kick things off at 5 PM. The concert, as always, is free. For more info call 434-2032.