Artisan Column by Jen Rubinowitz | 8/28/11

As Sarah McQuaid prepares to appear on stage at the Rialto Theater on September 2, it's made me realize just how much work goes into a touring musician's passion.  She spends six months of every year on the road across Europe and the United States appearing at festivals (where the weather is unpredictable), small theaters, and house concerts. In between, she somehow finds time to write songs and record her albums.  She recently finished recording "The Plum Tree and the Rose" should be released by early 2012 but I'm sure we'll get a preview live on stage this Friday.

Her connection with the audience was obvious the last time she was here and I'm sure that's a gift further developed by her heavy touring schedule.  Couple that with an absolutely heavenly voice and beautiful songs and that made her one of my favorite performers in concert last year.  I'm very much looking forward to seeing her again. I've had the greatest luck meeting professional musicians as part of my duties at the theater but very few exhibit the grace and talent Sarah has. 

Please join us in welcoming her back from Ireland at the theater on Friday and help us greet this world traveler, songstress, and great talent. 

Artisan Events:

• Fridays & Saturdays through September 4, 7:30 p.m. - "The Producers" Live on Stage.  Aurora Arts Theatre. Admission: $14.
• Friday, September 2, 7:30 p.m. - "Sarah McQuaid in Concert" The Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Friday, September 2, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - "First Friday - Isle of Man" Exhibit Opening Reception. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free. 
• Fridays & Saturdays, September 2 - 17, 7:30 p.m. - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $6-$16
• Sundays, September 4 - 18, 2:00 p.m. - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $6-$16
• Fridays & Saturdays, September 9 - 24, 7:30 p.m. - "Harvey." Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Sunday, September 25, 2:00 p.m. - "Harvey." The Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Daily through September 28 - "Standing Out: 2011 Merit Artists" Exhibit.  Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.
• Daily through September 30 - "Moods" exhibit by Jackie Anderson & Gary Hansen. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.

Jen Rubinowitz is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker The Ron Brown Company. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line at jen@jenscoastalbend.com.