Rusty Dewees and 'The Logger' Kicks Off Season at The Chandler

Rusty Dewees and 'The Logger' Kicks Off Season at The Chandler

Rusty Dewees will tape a "Logger DVD" at Chandler. (Herald photo / Bob Eddy)

Described by one Vermont newspaper as "possibly the funniest human being Vemont has produced in the last 37 years," Rusty Dewees will kick off the 2005-6 season at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph.

Dewees will bring the latest reincarnation of his hit solo show, "The Logger," with two perfromances next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Dewees' appearance initiates another ambitious season at Chandler Music Hall, whose reputation as a top-notch venue continues to expand in Vermont and beyond. The season will contain no fewer than 17 evening performances, five afternoon shows, and five performances for area schools.

Dewees will use his two Chandler shows this month to record the raw material for his long-awaited third "Logger" DVD, Dewees told The Herald in an interview.

His first two DVDs have sold 70,000 copies, he said, and he promised that, with the third recording, "Chandler Music Hall is going to be all over the world."

He's buffed up "The Logger" with a lot of new material over the last three years, he said, so that those who saw him here several years ago won't be having a deja-vu experience. The multiple personalities in the show have changed a bit, and there will be "more jokes per minute" as he trains for a stint at New York City comedy clubs.

Dewees is no stranger in New York. During several years there in the 90s, he found himself in TV shows like "Law & Order" (twice), "All My Children" and several other soaps, and Saturday Night Live. He's also had a part in a dozen movies, including "Black Dog," with with Patrick Swayze and Randy Travis.

And he does promise laughs at Chandler Music Hall next weekend.

"I would not be shooting a DVD if I didn't think it was really funny," he said, noting in an aside that the $15 ticket price means you get him and fiddler Don Commo for just "$7.50 an hour."

The shooting for the DVD will be outside the hall as well as inside, he noted. And he advised villagers to keep an eye out Friday afternoon for "Uncle Sherman," one of The Logger's characters, who will arrive in a pickup truck for some pre-show action.

(Tickets for Dewees and all Chandler performances may be purchased by callint 728-6464.)

Just the Beginning

The Headliner for Chandler's 2005-6 season year is "The Capitol Steps," the Washington, D.C.-based comedy team with a national reputation—23 albums and appearances on all the major networks.

The Capitol Steps will play Thursday, Oct. 13.

"We have wanted to have them here forever," explained Chandler program director Rebecca McMeekin.

The rest of the season ranges widely.

For theater, the acclaimed Weston Playhouse brings its "Cyrano" to town Oct. 29, and Gould and Stearns bring their touching "Peasant of El Salvador" in March.

Chandler continues to champion traditional music from Canada, partly as a result of a scouting trip McMeekin took to Cape Breton a year ago. That resulted in the booking of Le Vent du Nord and Beolach, next January and February.

Also for those whose appetite is whetted by the music at the New World Festival, the French-influenced music of Le Bon Vent, featuring

Jeremiah McLane, plays the hall Sept. 30.

Other popular music offerings include The Starline Rhythm Boys Nov. 5, the Vermont Jazz Ensemble Feb. 24, and folksinger John Gorka March 24.

The "Comedy and Pet Theatre," one of last year's most popular offerings, will return Jan. 29 and the ever-popular Mud Season Variety Show holds forth April 21 and 22.

"This will be the last time for the Comedy Pet Theater," McMeekin warned. The show is being discontinued in favor of a bigger Vegas-style entertainment, she noted. "They did so well here that we wanted to do it just one more time," she declared.

Classical, Too

Even with all of the above offerings, the Chandler Season still includes more classical music than practically any other venue in Vermont.

The star this year is expected to be the Eroica Trio, a nationally-renowned ensemble that doesn't mind trading on the fact that they look as spectacular as their music sounds.

Other classical offerings will include the return of the Chiara String Quartet Oct. 15 and pianist Angela Jia Kim April 8.

McMeekin said her board is proud of the variety of events that are programmed here. The area responds to that, she said, noting that "The first two tickets we sold were for the Logger and for the Eroica Trio."

There are several ways of getting discounts. For instance, gallery volunteers can receive a $15 voucher for shows, and discounted or free tickets are made available through social service agencies.