The Rustic Mechanicals present MACBETH

November 10, 2025
at 12:30 p.m.
At Point Pleasant Jr./Sr. High School
280 Scenic Drive Point Pleasant, WV
Tickets available at the door.

The Rustic Mechanicals’ 2025 Vaulting Ambition Tour of William Shakespeare’s

MACBETH!

Murder! Prophecy! Witches! …and, surprisingly, Love!

The power of a prophecy tempts the ambitious General Macbeth and his passionately persuasive wife to accelerate their road to royalty.

Something wicked this way comes when the real-life husband and wife founders of the Rustic Mechanicals play the original power couple whose vaulting ambition unravels their love and their lives.

Sponsored by the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre

ABOUT THE TOURING COMPANY

Directed by Jim Warren, alongside Intimacy Director Jessica Morgan, Fight Choreographer Millie Omps, Voice & Text Coach Bridget Rue Esterhuizen, and Dramaturgy by John Shirley, with Technical Direction by Seret Cole, Production Design by Jason A Young, SFX Design by Len Batson, and Production Management by Niki DeWitt, the Mechanicals featured in this production include Josh Brooks, Justin Grow, Derek Hess, Asa Krinov, Kyia McGill, Stephen Phillips, Sinead Tobin, Jason A Young, and Sarah Young.

ABOUT THE TROUPE
Founded in the summer of 2014, The Rustic Mechanicals is the only troupe of actors in the state dedicated to touring the works of William Shakespeare and other classical playwrights.

ROMANTIC SPRING, The Ohio Valley Symphony

April 26, 2025
at 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

Max Bruch’s Concerto for Clarinet and Viola will feature two OVS members, Laura Sabo on clarinet and Bernard Di Gregorio on viola, in Romantic Spring. Maestro Scott Woodward leads the orchestra in African-American composer William Grant Still’s Woodnotes, Howard Hansen’s Symphony No. 2, the “Romantic,” and other selections.

Dr. Scott E. Woodard, conductor
Dr. Scott E. Woodard was born in Huntington, WV and is proud to be a life-long West Virginian. He is the Music Director of the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra in Hamilton, Ohio, the Founding Music Director of the West Virginia State Philharmonic Orchestra of Charleston, WV, the Principal Guest Conductor of the Rimini Chamber Orchestra in Rimini, Italy, and the former Cover Conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. His primary teachers were Dr. Leonid Korchmar of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory of Music and the Mariinsky Theatre and Dr. Oleg Proskuryna. Scott is the recipient of First Prizes at the International Conductor’s Workshop Competition (Macon, GA) and the International Academy of Advanced Conducting (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation).

2025 Gallipolis River Rec Pageants

In association with the Gallia County Chamber of Commence…

JUNE 7, 2025
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

LITTLE MISS/MR. PAGEANT
Pageant at 1:00 pm, ticket prices $7-$10, doors open at 8:30pm

GALLIPOLIS RIVER REC QUEEN PAGEANT
Pageant at 6:00 pm, ticket prices $10-$18, doors open at 5:30pm

Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of Gallia County youth and purchase your tickets today!

Helping contestants to grow their self-confidence while preparing them for their future what the Chamber’s River Rec program is all about. Our Royalty will have the opportunity to represent Gallia County while visiting fairs and festivals; all while learning social and public speaking skills.

VIP seats are available for Rows A-F.
This is a Gallia Co. Chamber of Commerce production.

For more information visit the River Rec Pageants website.

Be sure to visit the local Gallipolis sponsors of this fantastic community event!
Baskets Delight • El Toril Mexican Restaurant
God’s Hands at Work • J&J Gowns and Tuxedos
University of Rio Grande

Only bottled water is permitted in the historic auditorium, no food or other beverages.

Dr. Mel Simón, In Memoriam

Dr. Mel P. Simon, Age 89 of Gallipolis, Ohio Passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025, in Evanston, Illinois, surrounded by his loving family.

A Life Well-Lived

Dr. Mel P. Simon was born on October 29, 1935, in Angadanon, Isabela, Philippines, to Lucrecia Palatao Simon and Melecio G. Simon. He was the eight of twelve children.

During his last year in medical school, he met his Valentine sweetheart, Lydia Sarzaba, a young nurse who would become the love of his life. In 1959, when Dr. Simon traveled to the United States for medical training, he arranged to be on Lydia’s flight, knowing that she was also heading to the U.S. for a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. They married that same year and soon arranged to work at the same hospital. (Click “Read More” below to read Dr. Simon’s obituary)

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mel’s name to:
Ariel Opera House
www.arieloperahouse.org
Ohio Valley Symphony
PO Box 424 Gallipolis, OH 45631

DARING DANCES, The Ohio Valley Symphony

March 15, 2025
at 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

Daring Dances will move you with a selection of dazzling dance music under the baton of conductor Michael Chertock leading the OVS through Ravel’s La Valse and Bolero. Even more dazzling, Michael will also be the piano soloist on Leroy Anderson’s Piano Concerto. Talk about multi-tasking! This concert is sponsored In Memory of Clare E. Gettles.

Michael Chertock, conductor & pianist
Conductor and pianist Michael Chertock has fashioned a successful career as an orchestral soloist, collaborating with conductors such as James Conlon, Jaime Laredo, and Keith Lockhart.

His orchestral appearances include solo performances with, among others, The Philadelphia Orchestra, l’Orchestre Symphonique du Montreal, the Toronto Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Naples Philharmonic, the Dayton Philharmonic, and The Ohio Valley Symphony. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1999 with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, performing Duke Ellington’s New World A’Comin’.

Michael first performed publicly at the age of 11 and by age 17, he performed the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 with Andrew Litton. He has garnered numerous awards at major competitions, among them the top prize in the 1989 Joanna Hodges Int’l Piano Competition (Brahms Division) and the grand prize in the 1993 St. Charles International Piano Competition.

Ariel’s Merry TUBACHRISTMAS 2024

Join the fun at the ARIEL’S MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS!
December 14, 2024 at 2 pm
FREE CONCERT!

MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS is celebrating its 51st Anniversary (1974-2024). Created by Harvey Phillips, MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS 2024 will be presented in over 300 cities throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. TUBACHRISTMAS ensembles may attract participants aged 8 to over 90 years! The warm, rich organ-like sound of tuba-euphonium choir has won the ears and hearts of every audience!

Come and Listen 100% FREE!
TUBACHRISTMAS is 100% FREE for audience members who just want to come into our hall and experience the event. No tickets are necessary. It’s sure to be loads of fun, and will get you in the Christmas Spirit! Always the second Saturday in December at 2 pm.

-OR-
Join in the Fun and PLAY ALONG!

Pre-Register to Participate Today!

Bring your Tuba, Baritone, Euphonium, or other big brass buddy and join in the fun at the Ariel Theatre! Participants pay  $10 to participate and will receive a 2024 commemorative button! Plus there are lots of souvenirs and music books available for purchase! Register at the door, or save time and Pre-Register here and we’ll have everything ready for you when you arrive!

Registration begins at 10:30am ~ Rehearsal begins at 11:00am

Maestro for a Moment FUN-draiser 2024

Congratulations to our 2024 Maestra for a Moment Teresa Ford!
And thank you to all of our candidates and patrons for your support!

The Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Cultural & Performing Arts Centre and The Ohio Valley Symphony are 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, Federal Tax ID# 31-1273779

Learn more about our candidates by clicking “Read More”

THE CHRISTMAS SHOW! The Ohio Valley Symphony

December 7, 2024
at 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

The Ohio Valley Symphony’s annual Christmas Show is a perennial favorite to set the tone for the holiday season. Always on the first Saturday in December, Maestro Steven Huang selects an enticing blend of musical holiday treats. Also featured is our annual fundraiser Maestro for a Moment when you’ll want to join in the fun and donate for your chosen candidate. Subscribers, be sure to purchase extra subscriber-discounted tickets for friends and family with your season subscriptions, this concert sells out early!

Steven Huang, conductor
Maestro Steven Huang is thrilled to return to Southeastern Ohio to the podium of The Ohio Valley Symphony, a Christmas tradition since 2018.

Mr. Huang has conducted orchestras and operas across the country and around the world. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Huang served as Music Director of the Bach Society Orchestra of Harvard University, where he received his undergraduate degree. While at Harvard, Mr. Huang also directed the Lowell House Opera (the oldest continuously running opera company in New England). Recently, he successfully concluded a sixteen-year appointment as Associate Professor and Director of Orchestras at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he brought the program to new achievements, including earning competitive accolades and awards, through over 200 performances that included symphonic concerts, opera, musical theater, and Halloween pops.