Behind the Scenes: VERSOFEST 23 at Westport Library
My inclusion in VERSOFEST was initiated by Christine Ohlman, the Beehive Queen, who pointed me out during her concert at the Westport Library in Westport, Connecticut. When you hear “library,” you think of bookshelves and “shhh!” That’s not the Westport Library. The Westport Library is a fantastic venue with a movie screen behind a stage with a rock and roll-worthy P.A.
Christine's introduction led to a meeting where I had several suggestions:
A concert
A book signing
Dr. Dreary’s Snakes Museum of Rare Alice Cooper Artifacts
Screening Live From the Astroturf, Alice Cooper
The Westport Library staff said yes to everything.
Blue Coupe with Tish and Snooky kicked off the Versofest promotion with a concert on the same stage where the Beehive Queen had performed. The show was exceptional because Blue Coupe coordinated efforts for projections of graphic images and live camera shots of the band on the big screen during our show. (Did I mention that the library has its own film studio and recording facility?)
A couple weeks later, the library was filled with events based on various aspects of music. Vinyl album experts spoke and sold records. Other events featured notable music producers, music business experts, local stars of Hip Hop, and even a working model of the Grateful Dead's legendary massive P.A.
The library arranged to get our team, the Astroturf Posse, to town to help pull off my events. We had done many film festivals together, but this was our long-anticipated, post-pandemic reunion. The museum was chock-full of rare Alice Cooper items from our high school daze up through our induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, highlighted by the dazzling stage costumes designed by Cindy Smith Dunaway.
Every person on the Posse and the library staff was talented and a joy to work with. And it was a monumental amount of work. But the turnout of smiling faces, for the entertainment aspect and valuable insights from the pros, was our heart-warming reward. And it was a great benefit to the amazing Westport Library.
Steph Paynes (Lez Zeppelin guitarist) stopped by the "Snakes Museum of Rare Alice Cooper artifacts" to say hi. Always great to see her. Photo by Cindy Dunaway.
Cindy Smith Dunaway and DJ Grandmaster Supreme. From Cindy: “So amazing to see the talents in the TREFZ Forum "Legends, Beats, and Grooves Hip Hop 50th Anniversary" panel discussion and vinyl demonstrations! DJ Grandmaster Supreme made my head spin—crazy amazing!” Photo by Dennis Dunaway.
Dennis on the big screen. Photo by Cindy Smith Dunaway.
Live From the Astroturf! Alice Cooper panel discussion. Steve Gaddis, and Dennis Dunaway. Photo by Cindy Smith Dunaway.