For Dohn Schildkraut, vice president of operations at the Gold Coast Arts Center and longtime Chapin fan, helping get the entire Chapin family together for a show might be a dream come true.
Schildkraut said that over the last few years he had been attending many shows by Tom Chapin and members of the Chapin family, which in turn led to him speaking with them and, ultimately, setting up the concert.
Now the Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington, partnered with the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck, will present the Chapin Family Live in Concert on Oct. 7.
“We’re actually very excited about a partnership because part of our mission is to do outreach to bring the arts to as many people as we can,” said Regina Gil, director of the Gold Coast Arts Center.
Organizers said that having parts of the family come together is not uncommon, but featuring all of the Chapins together for a performance is rather rare.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am,” Schildkraut said.
The Chapins have been a fixture for both Long Island and folk music since the 1970s. In addition to establishing Long Island Cares, a food bank serving over 300,000 Long Islanders, they have been constant performers.
Laura Mogul, executive director of Landmark on Main Street, said that this event coordinates well with their ideals of community, family, collaboration and helping the planet.
“As a family, they really reflect the same set of values that we have, and giving us the opportunity to work with Gold Coast also, it’s just an unbeatable proposition,” Mogul said.
The concert will feature Tom Chapin, the soloist, folk trio Jen Chapin, Jamie Fox and Stephan Crump, sisters Abigail and Lily Chapin, and the Harry Chapin band, led by Steve and Jonathan Chapin with family friends “Big John” Wallace, Howard Fields and Clark Wallace.
Mogul said that while the venue is smaller than some other theaters, it provides a greater degree of intimacy. There will be a lot of people and equipment on stage, minimal staging and a powerful sound system, she said.
“It’s kind of free form when it comes down to it, but really the focus on our stage will be on the performers as it always is,” Mogul said.
Concert sponsors include the Schildkraut family, Joe and Maureen Wekselblatt, Harriet and Eugene Becker, the Tilles family and Shiela Yellin.
For the general public, premium seats cost $90, select seats are $70, and standard seats are $60. For Gold Coast Arts Center film subscribers and members, as well as friends of Landmark, the prices are $85, $65 and $45, respectively.
Tickets went on sale the general public on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Ticket sales began for friends of Landmark and film subscribers and members on July 7.
“[Those] 425 seats are going to be sold out before we turn our heads,” Schildkraut said, comparing the coming event to previous performances in larger venues that were well attended.
