​Originals & Traditionals Open Mic 

Calling all songwriters, fiddle players, poets,
stand-up comics, slam storytellers, and all you
creatives with something to share! 

Whether you’re a veteran performer or a
first timer at the mic – consider yourself cordially invited
to MSA’s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic Night. 

​This monthly event is about community, about gathering with fellow artists and arts appreciators, about meeting
​up with old friends, and about meeting someone new.  Come to share, to listen, ​to find inspiration – but come!  

All material should be original or ‘traditional’ (i.e. in the public domain).  Two songs or ten minutes (whichever comes first) per performer.  

 
Every 4th Friday of the month 7 PM
Sign up: 6:30 PM

Fall Session
​September 21 – November 30
No rehearsals: October 12 & November 23
Yulefest Performance: December 6, 4 PM

With Valerie Kosednar
​
Ages 0-6
Fridays, September 18 – October 30
9-9:45 AM

Registrations by donation!

The MSA Children’s Chorus is a fun and welcoming place for kids who love to sing. We’ll learn songs together, play musical games, and practice using our voices in a healthy, happy way. Along the way, singers build confidence, make new friends, and share their music in a final concert for family and friends. No experience needed. Just bring your voice and your joy.
​
Ages 7 +
​Wednesdays from 3:45–4:45 PM
 September 16 – December 2
Final Concert December 2, 5 PM
Yulefest Concert December 6, 4 PM
​

With Paulin Lukombo Sinu

Mondays, September 14-October 19

​For ages 8-13 - 3:45-4:45 PM
​&
For ages 14+ - 5:30-6:30 PM

$100/$115/$130 ($20 for drop-ins)

Thursdays, October 15-November 19
5:00 PM-6:15 PM
$75/$100/$125

With Andrea Bredbeck

This is a writing class. Interactive by design, you will be writing a short piece during the week before our class meetings. Our actual time together will be spent sharing our work, giving and receiving constructive critique, asking and receiving thoughtful questions, and most importantly, respectfully sharing (some of) our work, our thoughts, our experiences, and our stories.

With Rachael Shaw
Wednesdays, 5–6 PM
September 9-30
$72/4 sessions
​Walk-ins are welcome at $20 per class, though we recommend joining the registration list to receive any updates!

With Paulin Lukombo Sinu

This event is an interactive musical gathering where participants bring their own instruments or use those provided to explore rhythm, movement, and creative expression together. Simple rhythms are introduced and guided, with dance encouraged as a natural part of the experience. Families, musicians, and beginners all share the same welcoming space, creating an atmosphere of connection, joy, and community through music.

$20/Person - $5 for additional family member

​Summer Feldenkrais® Workshops with Paris – Move, Learn, Discover
August 15, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
$60 pre-registration/$65 to drop-in

While regular classes take a summer break, join Paris for two special workshops featuring fresh, playful, and engaging lessons.
Each workshop is designed to meet you where you are—whether you’re brand new or looking to deepen your experience. Explore new possibilities in thinking, sensing, and moving in a way that’s both accessible and transformative.
 Perfect as an introduction or a powerful next step
 Supportive, adaptable, and inspiring for all levels
 Discover new ease, awareness, and enjoyment in movement

Sign up for both workshops and enjoy a special discount!
Come curious—leave refreshed, empowered, and moving with greater freedom.

Bonus: You're welcome to bring your phone to record the lessons and practice at home!

Legacy, Resilience & Reckoning (LRR) Workshop Series

What constitutes a legacy? What stories do we carry, and which ones do we choose to preserve?

The Legacy, Resilience & Reckoning (LRR) Workshop Series invites participants to explore their personal and cultural narratives through guided reflection, art, meditation, and storytelling. Together, we will examine our cultural lenses, consider the experiences that have shaped us, and reflect on questions such as:

• What have you had to reckon with?

• How have you been resilient?

• What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

Through discussion and creative practice, participants will explore the fragility of cultural memory, the power of oral storytelling, and the importance of preserving our stories for future generations. Whether you're interested in writing a memoir, creating art from personal experience, or simply reconnecting with yourself, this series offers a supportive space for reflection and growth.

Participants will be encouraged to write the book they want to read, honor their own version of their life story, and discover how culture shapes identity, awareness, and belonging.

Join us for a meaningful journey of self-discovery, creative expression, and cultural preservation.

Performances: July 31 & August 1 at 7 PM
Tickets by donation

Join us for a magical evening as our Main Street Arts campers present The Elven Sorcerers' Consortium!​

 At the annual gathering of elven sorcerers, it comes to light that one member of the consortium is in fact nothing but a low-down, no-good, magical-power-less human.  To identify the imposter, the Head Sorcerer puts each member to a test of their magical powers: shapeshifting, telepathy, and psychokinesis. As the group begins to figure out who the imposter is, they must decide whether the rules and principles of Elven tradition are more important than the bonds of friendship. A mixture of comedy, action, and stage magic, this play is an exploration of the marvels of being an elf, but also, about the marvels of being human.

Performances: July 31 & August 1 at 7 PM
Tickets by donation

Join us for a magical evening as our Main Street Arts campers present The Elven Sorcerers' Consortium!​

 At the annual gathering of elven sorcerers, it comes to light that one member of the consortium is in fact nothing but a low-down, no-good, magical-power-less human.  To identify the imposter, the Head Sorcerer puts each member to a test of their magical powers: shapeshifting, telepathy, and psychokinesis. As the group begins to figure out who the imposter is, they must decide whether the rules and principles of Elven tradition are more important than the bonds of friendship. A mixture of comedy, action, and stage magic, this play is an exploration of the marvels of being an elf, but also, about the marvels of being human.

With his annual fundraising gala approaching, where is the councilman’s daughter? If the papers find out she’s playing “Shipyard Sally” with those bohemians down by the docks, his campaign is finished! Will Otto, the hired gun, rescue her in time? Will Louisa the maid claim the reward for herself? Can they do it before the banker demolishes their historic hotel headquarters? Action, intrigue, romance, international affairs, and so much more! “My Lady of Whims” has it all! Come watch The Vermont Suitcase Company unravel threads and tie up loose ends in this silent film adaptation.

​Originals & Traditionals Open Mic 

Calling all songwriters, fiddle players, poets,
stand-up comics, slam storytellers, and all you
creatives with something to share! 

Whether you’re a veteran performer or a
first timer at the mic – consider yourself cordially invited
to MSA’s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic Night. 

​This monthly event is about community, about gathering with fellow artists and arts appreciators, about meeting
​up with old friends, and about meeting someone new.  Come to share, to listen, ​to find inspiration – but come!  

All material should be original or ‘traditional’ (i.e. in the public domain).  Two songs or ten minutes (whichever comes first) per performer.  


Every 4th Friday of the month 7pm 
Sign up: 6:30 PM

May 22, June 26

What does it mean to love a forest?

In this talk, Ethan Tapper, a forester, bestselling author and digital storyteller from Vermont, will draw from his work as a forester and his book How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World to discuss what it means to care for forests and other ecosystems at this moment in time. How do we respond to the harmful legacies of the past? How do we use our species' incredible power to heal rather than to harm? How do we reach toward a better future? In a time in which many believe that “protecting” ecosystems means protecting them from ourselves, Ethan argues that humans must take action to help ecosystems heal and to move into a more abundant future, and that to do so is an act of care and compassion – of love.

Ethan’s message is at once compassionate and pragmatic, clear-eyed and hopeful, sobering and inspiring – a powerful new vision for how we can build a world that works for all of its ecosystems and all of its people.

Learn more here!

Bill will discuss the state of the climate crisis and the critical role we as educators play in helping the next generation to become informed and to feel inspired and empowered to take action.
 
Bill McKibben is a founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 to work on climate, democracy, and racial justice. He founded the first global grassroots climate campaign, 350.org, and serves as the Schumann Distinguished Professor in Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. In 2014 he was awarded the Right Livelihood Prize, sometimes called the ‘alternative Nobel,’ in the Swedish Parliament. He’s also won the Gandhi Peace Award, and honorary degrees from 19 colleges and universities. He has written over a dozen books about the environment, including his first, The End of Nature, published in 1989. His most recently released book is The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at his Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened.

Learn More Here!

What is New Clothes?
​
New Clothes is a feature film adaptation of a Hans Christian Andersen fable as told by a touring theatre company from Vermont. It was shot in seven days on the fourth floor of an apartment building in downtown Brattleboro. The action takes place in a timeless kingdom where painted canvas and cardboard live comfortably next to refrigerators and radiators. Two poor swindlers set out to scheme their way into the royal palace, where they will attempt to get rich by tricking the Emperor and his court out of the clothes on their backs.

Learn more here!

Join us in celebrating our Creative Aging and after-school program!

• Snacks & refreshments

• Performances

• Art display

​Originals & Traditionals Open Mic 

Calling all songwriters, fiddle players, poets,
stand-up comics, slam storytellers, and all you
creatives with something to share! 

Whether you’re a veteran performer or a
first timer at the mic – consider yourself cordially invited
to MSA’s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic Night. 

​This monthly event is about community, about gathering with fellow artists and arts appreciators, about meeting
​up with old friends, and about meeting someone new.  Come to share, to listen, ​to find inspiration – but come!  

All material should be original or ‘traditional’ (i.e. in the public domain).  Two songs or ten minutes (whichever comes first) per performer.  


Every 4th Friday of the month 7pm 
Sign up: 6:30 PM

May 22, June 26

Artists and writers have long borrowed from, responded to, and inspired each other across centuries; tap into that irresistible pull to be in conversation across time and mediums with this generative writing circle. In two nourishing hours, we'll play our way into a new piece of writing: no formal art or writing experience necessary.
 
Starting with a playful writing exercise to shake loose whatever you’ve carried in the door, we’ll settle into a meditative reading on the place where visual art, performance, and the written word meet. With fresh inspiration, we’ll write independently then come together to share in a structured feedback session guided by the question, “what is beautiful here?” Sharing is always an invitation, never a requirement.
 
For writers of all genres and experience levels, and for artists of any discipline looking to encounter their medium in a new way. Whether you're a poet, a journaler, a novelist, a painter, a dancer, or simply someone who has felt the pull to make a mark on paper, this is a place for you.

​Originals & Traditionals Open Mic 

Calling all songwriters, fiddle players, poets,
stand-up comics, slam storytellers, and all you
creatives with something to share! 

Whether you’re a veteran performer or a
first timer at the mic – consider yourself cordially invited
to MSA’s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic Night. 

​This monthly event is about community, about gathering with fellow artists and arts appreciators, about meeting
​up with old friends, and about meeting someone new.  Come to share, to listen, ​to find inspiration – but come!  

All material should be original or ‘traditional’ (i.e. in the public domain).  Two songs or ten minutes (whichever comes first) per performer.  

 
Every 4th Friday of the month 7pm 
Sign up: 6:30 PM
February 27, March 27, April 24, May 22, June 26

Join us for a benefit supporting the Migrant Justice Center, empowering immigrant farmworkers to organize for economic justice and human rights.

Friday, April 17th @ 6:30 PM
Tickets: Sliding scale $10-$25 tickets

Doozy Jane breathes fresh life into classic sounds with their four-part treble harmonies and contemporary feminist existence. Inspired by some of the great vocal harmonizers of popular music and Americana, Doozy Jane performs compositions by primarily female, nonbinary, and queer artists. Their repertoire is curated, arranged, and sometimes composed by Anna Patton (clarinet, tenor guitar), and features Sarah Hadley Yakir (fiddle), Julia Read (fiddle, guitar), and Haley Anderson (bass).

Announcing Main Street Art's Winter Youth Play
A Comedy Performance
Written by Ford Ainsworth
Directed by Trish Roberts

Announcing Main Street Art's Winter Youth Play
A Comedy Performance
Written by Ford Ainsworth
Directed by Trish Roberts

Announcing Main Street Art's Winter Youth Play
A Comedy Performance
Written by Ford Ainsworth
Directed by Trish Roberts

Announcing Main Street Art's Winter Youth Play
A Comedy Performance
Written by Ford Ainsworth
Directed by Trish Roberts

​Originals & Traditionals Open Mic 
Calling all songwriters, fiddle players, poets,
stand-up comics, slam storytellers, and all you
creatives with something to share! 

Whether you’re a veteran performer or a
first timer at the mic – consider yourself cordially invited
to MSA’s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic Night. 

​This monthly event is about community, about gathering with fellow artists and arts appreciators, about meeting
​up with old friends, and about meeting someone new.  Come to share, to listen, ​to find inspiration – but come!  

All material should be original or ‘traditional’ (i.e. in the public domain).  Two songs or ten minutes (whichever comes first) per performer.  

Every 4th Friday of the month 7pm 
Sign up: 6:30 PM

Hosted by Putnam Smith

Making Pearls
A workshop integrating creative and somatic practices

“And the day came when the pain of staying tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to open.” — Anaïs Nin

Simulating the slow, patient work of a pearl forming, this workshop invites you on a gentle journey through light and shadow — discomfort and joy, grief and gratitude — toward the discovery and tending of your inner light, your precious pearl.I will guide you through a blend of creative and somatic practices designed to reset the nervous system and invite clarity and alignment. We’ll combine writing, watercolors, breathwork, guided imagery, sound, and energy-based practices to cultivate grounding and expansion. Together we’ll create tools and experiences that help your inner light stay bright through the deep winter days — and beyond.
​
Details
When: Saturday, February 7
Time: 12:00 – 3:30 PM
$95

​Originals & Traditionals Open Mic 
Calling all songwriters, fiddle players, poets,
stand-up comics, slam storytellers, and all you
creatives with something to share! 

Whether you’re a veteran performer or a
first timer at the mic – consider yourself cordially invited
to MSA’s Originals and Traditionals Open Mic Night. 

​This monthly event is about community, about gathering with fellow artists and arts appreciators, about meeting
​up with old friends, and about meeting someone new.  Come to share, to listen, ​to find inspiration – but come!  

All material should be original or ‘traditional’ (i.e. in the public domain).  Two songs or ten minutes (whichever comes first) per performer.  

Every 4th Friday of the month 7pm 
Sign up: 6:30 PM

Hosted by Putnam Smith