WURTSBORO, NY — Welcome the beginning of the holiday season at the Mamakating Library on Tuesday, November 26 with a free performance of “Shorts & Sweets of Gratitude and Humor” by Big Sky Productions. The show starts at 5:30 p.m.

This is a show of all-new short stories and jokes on being thankful for the people, pets and events of our lives. The featured performers are actress Mary Burkart of Ellenville and Big Sky’s artistic director Carol Montana.

Burkart has been active in productions in the region for more than 40 years. She is an actress and a choral and opera singer who has performed in “Angels in America,” “Death of a Salesman,” “The Mikado,” “Pirates of Penzance” and many other shows. She has worked with the Delaware Valley Opera, the Forestburgh Playhouse and many more. 

Most recently Burkart performed for the second time at Carnegie Hall with the Sullivan County Community Chorus, singing Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo. She is a retired teacher/school social worker who just retired as an adjunct professor in the Social Sciences Department at SUNY Sullivan.

Carol Montana is an actress and director who has appeared in “Miracle Worker,” “Blithe Spirit,” “The Front Page,” “’night, Mother,” “Hilarious Hillbilly Massacre,” “The Shadow Box” and several other shows. She’s directed over 60 plays for Big Sky Productions, the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Monticello High School and Sullivan County Community College. Montana is currently the media manager for Action Toward Independence. Her most recent directing job was “Sam Club, Private Eye, and the Case of the Motor Coach Murder”—a sold-out performance.

Admission is free and includes dessert. 

The library is located at 128 Sullivan St. 

Reservations are required by calling 845/888-8004 or by visiting www.mamakatinglibrary.org.