Elm City PopFest kicks into gear this week

Thursday, September 15, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

A bevy of New England indie bands are performing in New Haven this week as part of Elm City PopFest, taking place at venues across the city (see schedule below). The entry fee for all shows is $5.

Presented by February Records, New Haven Music and Manic Productions, PopFest is celebrating it’s third year of showcasing independent bands with pop sensibilities. For a free mix-tape featuring bands on the festival line-up, click here. For more information, visit Elm City PopFest online.

Thursday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m. at Popeye’s Garage
28 Degrees Taurus (Allston, Mass.)
EULA (New York City/New Haven)
The Field Recordings (Connecticut)

Friday, Sept. 16, 9 p.m. at Cafe Nine, 250 State St.
The Reducers (New London)
Sidewalk Dave (New Haven)
Dream Diary (New York City)
The Inclined Plane (Hartford)

Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 p.m. at Cafe Nine, 250 State St.
Boy Genius featuring Mr. Ray Neal (New York City)
The Cavemen Go (New Haven/Boston)
The Novels (Northampton, Mass.)
Jamestown, The First Town In America (New Haven)

Categories: Music

The Kingston Trio headed to Downtown Cabaret

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by:Pat Quinn

The Kingston Trio, 2011 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winners, will be coming to the Downtown Cabaret in Bridgeport on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 5 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 16, at 5 p.m.

The group emerged from San Francisco’s North Beach club scene in 1957, bringing the rich tradition of American folk music into the mainstream.

And fifty-four years after “Tom Dooley” shot to the top of the charts, the Trio is still on the road thirty weeks a year. playing such classics “MTA,” “The Reverend Mr. Black,” “Greenback Dollar,” “Scotch and Soda,” “Lemon Tree,” “Tom Dooley,” “Long Black Veil” and “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?”

The Downtown Cabaret Theatre is at 263 Golden Hill St. Reserved tickets are $49.50-$29.50. Group rates start at 16 tickets with a 15-percent discount. Tickets can be reserved at 203-576-1636 or online.

Categories: General, Music

‘Deathly Hallows — Part 2′ hits IMAX at Maritime Aquarium

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

The biggest showdown in wizardry comes to the biggest IMAX screen in Connecticut when “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” hits the IMAX Theater of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on Frday, Sept. 16.

Picking up where “Part 1” left off, the film follows Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) on a dangerous mission to track down three remaining Horcruxes – the keys to evil Lord Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) immortality – and destroy them. Meanwhile, Voldemort’s Death Eaters have control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing anyone who opposes them. Ultimately, Harry must face the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: battle with Voldemort.

Show times are Thursdays and Fridays at 6:10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 6:10 and 9 p.m. through Oct. 30. Tickets — which cost $11.50, $10.50 for seniors 65 and older and $9.50 for children ages 2-12 — can be purchased in advance online. For more information, call 203-852-0700.

Below: Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes star in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.”

Categories: Film

Arts afloat: Exhibitors arrive dockside this week in Greenwich

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by:Christina Hennessy

Above: The SeaFair will dock in Greenwich from Thursday, Sept. 15., to Sunday, Sept. 19. Visitors are invited to come aboard to see art from around the world and attend several art talks. Admission information can be found here.

Nearly 30 international galleries will be taking part in the Art Greenwich art fair, which runs Thursday, Sept. 15 to 19, at the Greenwich Harbor.

Yes, that’s right the harbor.

The art will be aboard a 228-foot exhibition vessel “SeaFair,” which will feature all manner of photography, painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and other items, according to show organizers. The work of masters and emerging talent will be featured, along with unique and eclectic objects.

Visitors will be invited to peruse the art, featured across three decks of the ship, and, perhaps, stop for refreshment at the onboard bars and restaurants. There also will be art lectures, free with admission.

The traveling art fair last visited Greenwich in 2007.

Here are a few of the items you will find if you go, according to publicity materials from show organizers:

Modern masters including works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein

A special exhibition- “Made in China”- presenting the works of 17 contemporary Chinese artists whose works span from the mid-90s to today

Contemporary and emerging artist’s work – paintings, sculpture, and photography

Period 20th century signed jewelry by Verdure, David Webb, Van Cleef & Arpels, Yves St. Laurent, George Jensen, Tiffany & Co., Jean Despres, Cartier and Madame Gripoix Chanel

Parking can be found next to the Delamar Greenwich Harbor hotel, 500 Steamboat Road, where SeaFair will be docked. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16 and 17; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday and Monday, Sept. 18 and 19. Tickets are $20 for a multiday pass or one-day priority admission; $15 for one-day pass. Children under 10 are free (discounts if ordered online). The wine tastings are an additional cost.

For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, take a look here.

And, if you fail to catch the “SeaFair” this week, you can race on ahead and catch it as it heads south, with stops scheduled in North Carolina and Florida.

Categories: Art, Event, General, Local Talent

GOPIO opens Indian film festival this week

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

The Indian independent film scene will hit the Connecticut big screen when the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, Connecticut Chapter, opens its Film Festival 2011 this week.

To be held at venues throughout Lower Fairfield County, the festival kicks off with a screening of “West is West” at the Avon Theater in Stamford on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7.30 p.m.

The sequel to 1999 comedy “East is East,” “West is West” centers on George Khan (Om Puri), a Pakistani expatriate living in England who is worried that his youngest son, Sajid (Aqib Khan), is turning his back on his Pakistani heritage. To reinforce his son’s roots, George takes Sajid for a visit to their native country — and hilarity ensues.

Tickets for each film are $10, $5 for children 12 and younger. For tickets and information, call 203-722-5507 or go online.

The festival line-up is as follows:

“Nauka Dubi” — The story by the renowned Rabindra Nath Tagore is about a husband who goes home with the wrong bride when a storm causes the boats carrying two separate wedding parties, to capsize. Friday, Sept. 16, 8 p.m. Westport Town Hall.

“I am Kalam” — The film centers on the unlikely friendship between a poor boy who wants an education, but must work to support his family, and a young prince. Saturday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave.

“O Maria” — The story about a family estate held for generations now being sought after by big business for commercial use. Saturday, Sept. 17, 9:30 p.m. Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave.

“Ramayana, the story of Rama” — An animated version of the Indian epic about good triumphing over evil. Sunday, Sept. 18. 2 p.m. Fairfield Community Theater, 1424 Post Road.

“Teen Behenein” — Film about three teenage sisters who want to commit suicide because their parents cannot afford a dowry to get them married. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2 p.m. Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave.

Categories: Film

Giving it a whirl: Children invited to audition for ‘Nutcracker’

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by:Christina Hennessy

Above: Brett Raphael, artistic director of Connecticut Ballet, directs a group of 9 to 11- year-olds last year, during open ‘Nutcracker’ auditions. This year’s auditions take place Sunday, Sept. 18, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. at the Connecticut Ballet Center, 20 Acosta St., Stamford. Photo: Keelin Daly/Stamford Advocate

Connecticut Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” may be months away, but the 30-year-old dance company is looking for a few good young dancers (and non-dancers too), to bring the classic tale to life.

The company will hold open auditions for the full-length ballet from 1 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Connecticut Ballet Center, 20 Acosta St., Stamford. For those who are selected, rehearsals will begin in late October.

The auditions will determine who will play the more than 125 characters, who will share the stage with Connecticut Ballet’s professional corps de ballet and guest stars from American Ballet Theatre during Performances set for Dec. 16 to 23, at the Palace Theatre at Stamford Center for the Arts..

Adults and teens also can try for non-dance character parts. And, dance experience is not necessary for younger children, though it is helpful, according to the dance company

Here are the specifics on audition times:

• Children (boys and girls) — 1 to 2 p.m. (4 to 5 year olds); 2 to 3 p.m. (6 to 7); 3 to 4 p.m. (8 to 9); 4 to 5:15 p.m. (10 to 11); 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. (12 to 16).

• Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• Make sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of audition times.

• Hair must be “properly fastened” and dance attire is required.

For more information, call 203-964-1211, or visit Connecticut Ballet’s website.

Categories: Art , Dance , Event , General , Local Talent | More

‘Shakespeare For My Father’ to be on stage in New Milford

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by:Linda Tuccio-Koonz

Above: Susan Pettibone as Lynn Redgrave in Redgrave’s autobiographical play, “Shakespeare For My Father.”

TheatreWorks New Milford begins its four-week presentation of legendary actress Lynn Redgrave’s playwriting debut, “Shakespeare For My Father,” on Friday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m.

Lynn Redgrave, who passed away last year, had been acting on both stage and screen since the 1950s prior to writing “Shakespeare For My Father” in 1993. This autobiographical one-woman tale of Redgrave’s memories has been crafted into a moving portrait of a child’s longing for the love of Sir Michael Redgrave – the charismatic Shakespearean actor who was her father.

“Shakespeare For My Father” weaves scenes from the Bard that delightfully fuse with events in Lynn Redgrave’s young life, eliciting memories of Sir Michael and impressions of the celebrated stars who frequented the Redgrave’s home and lives.

The play’s director, Jane Farnol of Gaylordsville, had become well-acquainted with the renowned actress over the past few years as they had several things in common.

“We both lived in Kent, Connecticut at the time, we’re both English, and she adored my mum,” Farnol said.

She continued: “I recall a time when Lynn and I went to see ‘Guys and Dolls’ at New Milford High School and she leaned over to me and said, ‘This was dad’s favorite song.’ It fascinates me, because here we are mounting the first play she ever wrote, and Susan Pettibone, who’s doing an outstanding job portraying Lynn, speaks of Sir Michael Redgrave’s love of American musicals in the play. I get goose bumps thinking about it.”

“When I first knew I was going to be playing Lynn Redgrave, I was very nervous and considered it a daunting task,” said actress Pettibone, of New Milford. “What’s made it so incredibly special is working with Jane (Farnol)…she has such insight and is such a wonderful director, plus she knew Lynn personally. So needless to say, I was honored she chose me for this part. The more I delve into the character of Ms. Redgrave, my respect for Lynn as a person and an actress reaches new heights. It’s been a very moving experience.”

“Shakespeare For My Father” opened on Broadway at The Helen Hayes Theatre on April 26, 1993. The New York Post called the play “An enormously entertaining biographical voyage.”

“Shakespeare For My Father” runs Sept. 16,17 23,24 30, October 1,2 7,8. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee on Oct. 2. Tickets for all shows are $20 for reserved seating. On Thursday, Sept. 15, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m., is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket.

Reservations can be made online or by calling the box office at 860-350-6863.

Categories: General, Theater

FLA Gallery showcases work by Colombia’s John J. Bedoya

Monday, September 12, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Pictured: Guests enjoyed the landscape paintings of Colombian artist John J. Bedoya at a recent exhibition opening at the Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery in Stamford. (Photos/Bob Albert).

More than 100 art lovers sipped wine, ate hors de’oeuvres and marveled at the work of an up-and-coming Latin American artist at the Friday, Sept. 9 opening of “Beyond Technique: John J. Bedoya” at the Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery in Stamford.

Guests, including myself, admired the 14 large-scale Bedoya pieces, made from such materials as ash, sand, glass, earth and acrylic paints. “By using the actual raw materials of the landscapes he is conveying on his canvas, (Bedoya’s) work takes on a particularly organic feel,” wrote staff writer Christina Hennessy in a story for the Stamford Advocate last week.

Bedoya, of Colombia, was not present for the opening; however, he is slated to take up residence at the FLA Gallery as the next member of the Sprouting Spaces program, a project that aims to transform empty commercial properties into open artist studios.

Visitors also enjoyed an intimate live performance by Stamford-based Latin rock band PANA! while munching on pizzas from Remo’s Brick Oven Pizza.

(On a personal note: if you haven’t been out to the FLA Gallery, on Bedford Street, yet, it’s definitely worth a trip. The openings, in particular, are something I look forward to — to satiate my appetite for both cultural experience and social interaction.)

Categories: Art

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