Dear Ashwabay Alliance Community,
Last week, a donor asked me a question that made me smile—and pause: “So… who actually runs the Ashwabay Alliance?”
It’s a fair question. And one I thought was worth sharing.
The Ashwabay Alliance is home to Mt. Ashwabay, Big Top Chautauqua, The Backstage, and StageNorth. On paper, we’re a nonprofit. In practice, we’re a working organization that has to make smart decisions so the moments you love—groomed trails, good music, and nights that just feel right—can keep happening year after year.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated Board of Directors helps guide the big picture. They bring financial oversight, long-term thinking, and a steady hand—so when you show up, things feel welcoming, thoughtful, and well-run. That kind of structure isn’t flashy, but it’s what allows creativity and community to flourish.
My role as executive director is to connect that leadership with the day-to-day work—turning plans into action. From there, our staff and volunteers bring it to life through live entertainment, outdoor recreation, and shared experiences that feel familiar and meaningful.
And really, that’s the point.
This place doesn’t run on spreadsheets alone. It runs on people—volunteers who show up early, artists who feel cared for, families who come back year after year, and a community that believes these spaces matter.
I’m grateful for our board, our staff, and for you—together, making the Ashwabay Alliance more than a collection of venues. It’s a community. And it’s one we’re proud to steward together, helping create the magic we all share.
Respectfully,
Garry Schalla
Wednesday Night Chalet Social: Board Game Night at Mt. Ashwabay February 11 | 6–8 PM
For all the ways we stay connected these days—texts, group chats, social feeds—many of us are still craving something simpler: time that isn’t rushed, conversations that feel light, and meaningful connection that fills you up. The kind where you don’t even think about checking your phone.
That’s the spirit behind Mt. Ashwabay’s Chalet Socials, including our upcoming Board Game Night, hosted in partnership with Play Unplugged. This midweek gathering is an easy invitation to slow down, gather around a table, and spend a winter evening together—without screens.
Inside the Chalet, the lights are warm, the fireplace is lit, and the sound of laughter and conversation mixes with the shuffle of cards and the clack of game pieces on recycled school lunch tables. It’s cozy and familiar—the kind of night that brings friendly rivalries, big wins, and the occasional dramatic defeat.
We’ll have a mix of games on hand—from quick, laugh-out-loud favorites to strategy games you can sink into. A few staff favorites? Quickle, Monopoly, Sequence, Cribbage, and Speed Uno, or anything that sparks a little friendly competition.
Whether you come with friends, family, or on your own, Board Game Night is a reminder that the best connection happens when you unplug together.
Love Is: An Evening with the Blue Canvas Orchestra on Valentine’s Day
The noise never really stops. Headlines, alerts, and the constant hum of the outside world have a way of following us everywhere—even into moments meant for rest. Slowing down can feel harder than ever.
That’s what makes Love Is, a Valentine’s Day evening with the Blue Canvas Orchestra (BCO), such a welcome pause. At The Backstage, you’re invited to leave the noise at the door, settle in at a high-top table, and let the music take over.
The room glows with a relaxed, club-like warmth. Glasses clink softly. Conversations quiet as the first notes rise. It’s an intimate setting—designed for listening, for leaning in, and for getting lost in the sound.
Members of the BCO create a lyrical night of beauty, romance, and unabashed love—wrapped, as they put it, in a heart-shaped music box. Songstresses Yazmin Bowers and Danielle Diamond fill the February air with song, joined by the familiar trio of hopeless romantics Tom Mitchell, Nate Bean, and Ed Willett.
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or simply craving a night of beauty and connection, Love Is offers the chance to slow down, soften the edges of winter, and melt into the music.
People Who Make It Happen: Meet Zoe Blackman, Talent & Program Director for Big Top Chautauqua
Every season within the Ashwabay Alliance is shaped by the people behind the scenes—the ones who pour their time, talent, and heart into making this place feel like home. This month, we’re excited to introduce someone who embodies that spirit: Zoe Blackman, Talent & Program Director for Big Top Chautauqua.
Zoe didn’t just find her way into the music world—she was born into it.
Her childhood was spent running through the hallways of recording studios and backstages across the U.S., tagging along with her dad, a recording engineer. He worked with artists like Run DMC, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, and many others in New York and London. She followed him as he transitioned into live television, music licensing (including the early days of cell-phone ringtones), and even collaborations with Snoop Dogg.
Zoe’s stepmom worked closely with major labels and later became Shakira’s manager throughout much of Zoe’s adolescence. Today, she serves as Executive Director of Clive Davis’s office at Sony—yes, that Clive Davis.
Many of Zoe’s cousins tour in bands. She has uncles deeply rooted in the recording industry. Being surrounded by artists wasn’t unusual for Zoe—it was everyday life.
That early exposure taught her how to speak the language of musicians, understand their world, and recognize what makes a venue not just good—but unforgettable. It gave Zoe a rare blend of industry fluency and grounded, human connection.
Zoe joined the Ashwabay Alliance in March 2025, initially managing The Backstage and StageNorth, and quickly grew into her role as Talent & Program Director.
Her vision is to help make our region known as a place where artists come to reconnect with what they love about performing—connection, community, and a breath of fresh air from the touring grind.
And she’s already making it happen. Agents talk. Artists share stories. Whether it’s bands raving about the hospitality team’s homemade meals (more than one artist has cried over Anna Christina’s cooking), or a first-ever cold plunge in Lake Superior, Zoe sees firsthand how Big Top leaves a lasting mark.
As she puts it, “We may not be the place you’ll sell the most tickets of your career. But we’ll be the place you remember.”
This summer’s season reflects that intention—with a nod to Big Top’s 40th anniversary, a renewed Chautauqua spirit, and a lineup that blends fan favorites with a few thoughtful surprises. We’ll be sharing more soon, so keep an eye out as the Summer 2026 schedule is announced.
