This year, the Pawling Shakespeare Club celebrated 126 years of continuous operation with a joyous holiday celebration in the beautifully renovated barn at the home of Marie DiLorenzo, the club’s former president. Nestled on Quaker Hill, Ms. DiLorenzo’s “barn” has hosted many Shakespeare Club events. Her love for hosting at this impressive venue is evident. She was happy to report, “It had always been a dream of mine to renovate a barn to host these types of occasions with food, performance and merriment. It is particularly meaningful to me now, especially since this is the first gathering here since my husband, Tino, passed away. He would have been thrilled to see such a joyful event happening again at the Barn.”

       Twenty-seven members and guests savored the luncheon organized by long time club member Margaret Hubert and catered by Vinny’s Deli and Pasta in Pawling, with appetizers and an impressive array of desserts provided by club members. There was laughter and applause as several members entertained with song and performance, and Secret Santa gifts were exchanged.

Ms. DiLorenzo, along with Bernie Kaplan, current club president, welcomed guests. Ms. DiLorenzo and Carol-Lee Kantor (who both worked on the Yuletide celebration committee along with Ms. Hubert, Judith deToth, and Kathy Tiso) acted as Mistresses of Ceremonies, introducing the afternoon’s entertainment. Richard Hoffman, an honorary club member, accompanied several musical numbers on the piano and regaled all with Christmas caroling favorites. Other performances included seasonal and humorous poetry readings, musical ditties with sing-along choruses, and original songs and song parodies written and performed by talented members Bernie Kaplan and Amy Z. Kornfeld, accompanied by their deft guitar playing. Additionally, an inspiring essay, written by New York Times opinion columnist Nicholas Kristoff about the importance of dedicated teachers who see the potential in their students, was read by Sheila Kaplan.

Current membership of the Pawling Shakespeare Club includes those mentioned above as well as Terry Ariano, Reed Asher, Diane Bristol, Veronica Caruso, Sandra Duffy, Ingrid Gherson, Irma Harkins, Margot Jacobs, Joe Kantor, Medina Khalil, Dale Kolenko, Kathy Peck Marks, Cynthia O’Connor, Stephanie Rogers, Vince Sottile, Susan Stone, Susan Taylor and Anne Testa.

Ms. Kantor summed up the mission of this historic and quite accessible club nicely when she shared, “Pawling Shakespeare Club is so very blessed to have arrived at 126 years having experienced many wonderful friendships while studying the fine wordsmanship and intelligence of the Bard…and the many actors who joined theatrical pursuits of yore, telling his stories for all to enjoy. We savor [them] to this day and will continue to do so well into the future.”

Currently, PSC is working with the Pawling Free Library on a six-part series in loving memory of James Earl Jones which will begin in March 2025. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be read in the spring by the PSC. Inquiries about membership in the PSC may be addressed to Marie DiLorenzo at ma******@*ol.com or Caro-lee Kantor at: jc******@*****st.net.

–by Susan Stone