Arts Around Town: Children’s performer Miss Maggie sings to educate our next generation

Oley's Peggy Gernerd believes that when times get tough, the way to pull through is to write a song. It works for her and her husband, Eric, penning their lyrics as faithfully as writing in a diary or keeping a blog. During the 2011 Halloween snowstorm, they were inspired to write a song about losing power for two weeks. Songwriting and performing provide endless sources of inspiration for this Berks County musical duo, with nicknames "Maggie" and "Spike," respectively. Whether Peggy performs as Miss Maggie Sings! or Peggy and Eric perform as Maggie Spike, one thing's for sure – they enjoy the experience of sharing their songs with others in an entertaining and meaningful way.

Miss Maggie Sings!, nominated for Best Children’s Performer at the 2011 Lehigh Valley Music Awards, will appear Sat., Jan. 28, from 11 a.m. to noon, as part of the Peas & Q's Family Hour at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks' Creativity Commons in Bethlehem.

Maggie Spike, nominated for Best Americana Live and Most Entertaining Duo, will perform Fri., Jan. 27 from 8 to 11 p.m., at Creativity Commons. The duo often performs at the Listen Live open mic night held monthly and now at a new venue – the Macungie Institute on Main Street (Route 100) in Macungie, Lehigh Co. The next open mic night is scheduled for this Sat., Jan. 14, at 7 p.m.

As Miss Maggie, Peggy has appeared locally at Mayfair Festival of the Arts, Musikfest, Historic Bethlehem’s Blueberry Festival, and the Crayola Experience (formerly the Crayola Factory). She's also performed at the GoggleWorks, the Reading Public Museum, and Berks County Parks and Recreation events, as well as schools and libraries throughout the Reading area. She combines singing, guitar, percussion, poems and stories to entertain and teach children.

The mother of two sons, ages 10 and 7, Peggy said she got her original start for performing kids' shows about seven years ago when she began entertaining for her son’s preschool classes.

"When I bring Miss Maggie to school assemblies, I make it a show with relevant topics in a format that’s educational and fun for the kids," she said.

Peggy, who hails from Wilson, Northampton Co., was active in theater at Wilson High School. She majored in Related Arts (theater, music, movement and literature) at Kutztown University and studied children's theater and street theater with Touchstone Theatre founder Bill George, formerly with People's Theatre Company in Bethlehem. She also studied in New York City at Gately/Poole Conservatory (Meisner Acting Technique),The Actor's Movement Studio, and the Herbert Berghof Studio (musical theater/cabaret with Elizabeth Hodes). She also worked as a job developer for adults with special needs.

Her 2011 "Library Summer Reading Show," with its worldly flair, reached libraries throughout Berks and Lebanon counties and preschools, summer camps and community events. She wrote and performed "Miss Maggie's Mother Earth Show" for the 2009 Pennsylvania Renewable Energy Festival in Kempton, targeting topics of recycling, renewable energy, and plant and animal care. "Stay Healthy with Miss Maggie" aims at elementary-aged students on the topics of good eating, exercise and hygiene. She is currently completing her first children’s CD of the same title.

New for 2012 will be an original show Peggy developed for the Lancaster Public Library System and made possible through a grant from the PNC Foundation. Titled "Spend, Save and Share," her creation teaches preschool children about money management skills as it incorporates song, poetry, puppets and audience participation. She also hopes to develop a "Maggie Sings" cabaret show for adult audiences and senior centers.

As Maggie Spike, Peggy does vocals, guitar, percussion and vocal harmony, while Eric, whom she describes as "most encouraging" of her work,  does vocals, guitar, banjo, penny whistle, percussion, harmonica and vocal harmony. She described their sound as "a mixed bag of folk, world music and Celtic influences." She added that a Celtic-inspired CD is in the works with music of the British Isles and more traditional songs. Eric, employed by Service Access Management in Reading, serves as producer of their CD recordings, including "Passenger Station" and "Sol Paradise." The duo has worked with such local artists as Bruce Siekmann, Kenny Garrett, Skip Azzalina, and Kevin Soffera.

"Music is date night with Eric," Peggy said. "We just have so much fun writing, recording and performing. We feel really privileged to be doing what we do."

For further info: artsquest.org/family      missmaggiesings.com     maggiespike.com

Arts Roundup:

There are lessons to be learned from Aesop’s Fables, those short stories that have been entertaining children of all ages through the ages. With animal characters acting and speaking just as men, there can always be found a moral at the end of each fable. Five of Aesop's Fables spring to life on stage at the Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem on Sun., Jan. 15 at 3 p.m., when the acclaimed modern dance company, Rioult, premiers its new ballet, "Fables," with commissioned music composed by Lehigh University's own Paul Salerni (right). The production, based on five of Aesop's Fables, including "The Tortoise and the Hare," and "The Ant and the Grasshopper," will feature local children who were selected through an audition process. A pre-show lecture at 2 p.m. has Salerni discussing the creative process of composing the music for "Fables."

Also on the program will be the return of Steven Sametz's "Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions," commissioned by Zoellner and based on an original poem, "Don’t Go Too Far," by the venue's artistic director Deborah Sacarakis. The poem tells the story of a young boy's desire to dance, his father's disapproval, and the journey that leads to the transforming power of love. Sametz is Lehigh’s director of choral arts.

According to Salerni, founder Pascal Rioult (left) choreographed "Fables" in the 1990s, and wanted fresh music this time around. He commissioned Salerni to compose the original music which will be performed live by the Monocacy Chamber Orchestra conducted by Donald Spieth. Salerni added that Rioult will be taking "Fables," complete with its adult dancers and Salerni’s recorded music, to tour France following its Zoellner engagement.

Salerni said he had "a lot of fun" composing the music, which touches on such issues as compassion and bullying and "keeps viewers intellectually and emotionally challenged. Rioult was specific in what he wanted," he explained. "The music for 'Fables' ranges from lyrical to spiritual, from Baroque to electronic. It was a stylistic challenge."

Salerni said there were some time constraints by Rioult regarding music for certain fables and there were compromises to be made, but all in all, "the rehearsals were spectacular. It was a unique process. …The audience should be very entertained, as well as moved, by the music." Salerni's two sons, violinist Domenic, 24, and percussionist Miles, 21, will join the Monocacy Chamber Orchestra for the production. 

Salerni teaches composition and theory at Lehigh and directs its Very Modern Ensemble (LUVME). He also is founder and artistic director of the Monocacy Chamber Orchestra. Many of his commissioned orchestral and chamber music works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and China. His one-act opera, "Tony Caruso's Final Broadcast" (2008), with a libretto by Dana Gioia, won the National Opera Association's Chamber Opera competition. His second one-act, "The Life and Love of Joe Coogan" (2010), is adapted from a "Dick Van Dyke TV show" episode. The original screenplay was written by Carl Reiner and adapted by librettist Kate Light.

For further info: zoellnerartscenter.org

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A one-night, sold-out stint at a New York City club by six hot male voices back in June 2005 resulted in the "symphony of sound" known today as The Broadway Boys. Well, 'the boys are back' with Broadway standards infused with harmonies of pop, funk, gospel, jazz and folk. They'll be performing Fri., Jan. 13 at 8 p.m., at the State Theatre in Easton. Their new CD, "Lullaby of Broadway," was released in June on the PS Classics label.

For further info: statetheatre.org

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Do you know of an arts organization or individual whose achievements have had a significant and positive impact on the citizens of Allentown and the quality of life in the Allentown cultural community? Nominations from the public are being sought by Jan. 20, with awards presented at the Allentown Arts Commission's 24^th annual 2012 Arts Ovation luncheon on Thurs., May 3 at noon, at the Center City Holiday Inn in Allentown. Award recipients will be selected from nominations received by the Arts Ovation Committee; only fully completed forms will be accepted for nominations. The categories are visual, performing, literary arts, service and/or contribution, and emerging artist for emerging talent.

For further info and forms: susanrutt@aol.com or 610-791-3497.