|
Music and Dance
Pioneer Valley Pickers and Grinners host their ACOUSTIC MUSIC PICKING PARTY on Friday, February 21 from 7-9 p.m. at the American Inn, 802 College Highway (Route 10/202) in Southwick, MA. Musicians playing stringed acoustic instruments who are interested in traditional American music are welcome. Non-players are welcome to come and enjoy the music and sing along. Free admission; refreshments will be available. No smoking and no alcohol please. Members of the Resurrection Airmen Band will host this event; for more info call 413-569-3637.
Music for a Change presents NERISSA AND KATRYNA NIELDS on Friday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilde Auditorium of the Harry Jack Gray Center at the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave. in West Hartford. After graduating from college in the early 1990s, sisters Nerissa and Katryna launched their music career on the New England coffeehouse folk circuit. By 1995 they had put together a five-piece folk-rock band and started touring nationally as The Nields. Between 1994 and 2000, they released six CDs and toured all over North America. In 1998, Nerissa and Katryna were asked to play the Lilith Fair without the boys in the band; they began recording their first duo album in fall of 2001. These local favorites continue to gain strength as a musical force to be reckoned with. Tickets are $15; proceeds benefit Hospice and Palliative Care of CT. For more info call 860-768-4228, or 800-274-8587.
Social Connections sponsors a SINGLES SWEETHEART DANCE on Friday, February 21 from 8 p.m.-midnight at Nuchie’s, 164 Central St. in Bristol. Bring your friends and dance the night away to the music of our DJ, Rockin’ Ron. There will be a delicious buffet from 8-9:30 p.m. Admission is $12, dress to impress; there will be door prizes. For more info call Gail at 860-582-8229.
Norfolk Library, Route 44 in Norfolk presents CONCERT: POEM & PIANO featuring speaker Ben Luxon and pianist Frederick Moyer on Saturday, February 22 at 4 p.m. Continuing a collaboration that started over ten years ago with a performance of Schubert's "Die Schone Mullerin" at Tanglewood, Luxon and Moyer have now turned to the little-explored genre of music for piano and speaker. The poem, "Enoch Arden" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, tells a heart-wrenching story of friendship, love, separation and sacrifice. Strauss' masterful score creates a powerful soundtrack to Tennyson's saga. Benjamin Luxon was one of Great Britain's major international singers whose career of some 30 years displayed an unusual versatility; he was equally renowned as recitalist, concert and opera singer. Free, but reservations are requested; for more info call 860-542-5075.
Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Rd. in Canton presents STAN SULLIVAN and RACHAEL DAVIS on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. Described as "Leo Kottke crossed with Lightnin’ Hopkins," Stan Sullivan is a remarkable guitarist who has also won songwriting awards at national folk festivals. With his warm baritone voice and easy stage manner, Stan offers selections from his five recordings. Rachael Davis is a rising artist whose amazing voice suggests the best nuances of legendary singers from Edith Piaf to Ella and Joni Mitchell as she articulates moving folk, blues and jazz-tinged passages. Playing guitar and banjo, she is accompanied by superb guitarist Brett Hartenbach. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door; advance reservations are recommended. For more info call 860-693-0263.
Manchester Pipe Band presents A CELTIC WINTER CONCERT on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Theater of the Performing Arts, located on the Learning Corridor campus, 359 Washington St. in Hartford. The concert will feature several of the group’s highland bagpipe and Scottish smallpipe soloists, as well as performances by well-known Celtic singer Charlie Zahm, the Golden Harp Dancers’ Irish step-dancing and award-winning harpist Terrence Coe. The band was founded in 1914 and is one of the leading competition bagpipe and drum bands, with more than thirty pipers and fifteen drummers. This concert is a fundraiser to help the band travel to Scotland to compete in 2004. Tickets are $18 adults, $12 children (12 and under); for more info call 860-757-6388.
Nutmeg Square and Round Dance Club holds a Plus Level SQUARE AND ROUND DANCE on Saturday, February 22 from 8-10:30 p.m. at Judson School, Hamilton Lane in Watertown. Caller is Randy Page, with cuer Shirley Underwood. The dance is held in a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment; spectators are always welcome. Fee charged for dancers, no fee for spectators; refreshments will be served. For more info call Mary at 860-283-9943, or Rich and Ellen at 860-274-6876.
St. Anthony’s School in Winsted holds a "BLAST FROM THE PAST" SNOW BALL on Saturday, February 22 from 8 p.m.-midnight. Music will be provided by the Dick Cyr Band. Proceeds benefit the school. Tickets are $30 per couple; tickets may be purchased at Nichols Sporting Goods or by calling 860-379-9628.
Norfolk Library, Route 44 in Norfolk presents a cultural mix with the innovative sounds of David Roger's IMAGINARY HOMELAND on Wednesday, February 26 at 3:20 p.m. This performance is a soulful blend of African rhythms and American jazz. These compositions join saxophone and bass with African xylophone, talking drums, and the sounds of fiddle music from Appalachia to the Sahara. These four remarkably gifted improvisers enjoy all the hallmarks of a well-honed working band: spontaneity, cohesion, and a propulsive sense of rhythm. Free and open to the public; for more info call 860-542-5075.
Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Rd. in Canton presents an OPEN MIKE on Wednesday, February 26 at 7 p.m.; sign up by 6:45 p.m. Featured performer Doug Hardy will play originals "Borrowed Time" and "The Postcard" as well as covers by Bruce Springsteen to Chris Smither. Tickets are $5; for more info call 860-693-0263.
The World of Arts, People & Joy, hosted by Wilbert Boles on WAPJ 89.9 FM, presents guest CHRISTINE PARISELLA on Thursday, February 27 from 7-8 p.m. For more info call the studio at 860-489-9033.
Drama and Comedy
The Warner Theatre, 68 Main St. in Torrington presents "JEKYLL & HYDE: THE MUSICAL" on Friday and Saturday, February 21-22 at 8 p.m. A gothic musical that explores the epic battle between good and evil, this Broadway adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic horror tale features a lush, romantic score by Frank Wildhorn with edgy, insightful book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. This high drama and heartbreaking love story, directed by Dick Terhune, keeps pulses pounding. Tickets are $22, $19 and $16; for more info call 860-489-7180.
Trinity Art Series presents "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM" on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 220 Prospect St. in Torrington. Shakespeare & Company, the Lenox, Massachusetts theater company which has been performing the classics for 25 years, presents a seven-member cast in this rollicking, 90-minute "Bare Bard"-style production of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy/ fantasy, a hilarious tale of romance and intrigue set in ancient Athens. Tickets are $10 general, $20 for priority seating; for reservations or more info, call 860-482-4411.
Barrington Stage Company presents "ELEEMOSYNARY" by Pulitzer-nominated author Lee Blessing through February 23 at the BSC’s new Studio Theatre, 18 Elm Court in Sheffield (directly behind the Wheeler & Taylor office building on Main Street); performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. A moving and powerful story, witty and astute, with richly multi-dimensional characters, "Eleemosynary" brings to life three generations of women: adolescent Echo; her brilliant mother, Artie; and the strong-willed, eccentric grandmother, Dorothea. Tickets are $25-$30, with a 20% discount offered to seniors and students at Thursday evening and Sunday matinee performances; for more info call 413-528-8888.
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave. in Hartford presents A NIGHT WITH DAME EDNA through February 23 in Mortensen Hall; performances are Thursday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The incomparable international superstar and diva of comedy is back. If you haven’t yet joined the legions of Dame Edna fans, find out why her website declares, "Dame Edna Everage is probably the most popular and gifted woman in the world today" and critic Joyce Kulhawick calls her "the funniest woman on the planet." Tickets are $15-$60; for more info call 860-987-5900.
Seven Angels Theatre, located at Hamilton Park Pavilion on Plank Road in Waterbury presents "DANCING AT LUGHNASA" through March 16; performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. "Dancing At Lughnasa" portrays the five Mundy sisters and their family in an Irish village in 1936 as they get caught up in the changes of the early 20th century—changes that threaten to unravel their lives. Brian Friel’s play is at once quintessentially Irish and universally human, as the play echoes the dreams and hopes of love felt by people in small towns anywhere in the world. For ticket info and reservations, call 203-757-4676.
Hartford Stage Company, 50 Church St. in Hartford presents Horton Foote’s "THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL" through March 23 with performances on Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; as well as matinees on selected dates. This 50th anniversary of Horton Foote’s best-loved play is directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Director Michael Wilson under the personal supervision of Mr. Foote, whose works have received the Academy Award and the Pulitzer Prize. "The Trip to Bountiful" is the humorous and touching story of a woman’s journey to her childhood home. Dee Maaske will play the role of Mrs. Carrie Watts, and the greatest interpreter of Mr. Foote’s work, his daughter Hallie Foote, will play the role of the overbearing daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae. Tickets are $22-$60; for more info call 860-527-5151.
TheaterWorks, 223 Pearl St. in Hartford presents "MONDO MANGIA," created and performed by Jilline Ringle through March 23; performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. This delightful comedy-cabaret by Hartford-area native Jilline Ringle has played to ecstatic audiences throughout the Northeast. "Mondo Mangia" is like being invited into the kitchen of a wildly entertaining but slightly nutty next-door neighbor. Jilline cooks an Italian dinner in a working kitchen right on stage every night. While the sauce simmers and the pasta water boils, she tells stories about growing up with her Italian relatives, sings songs and then serves up whatever she’s cooked to some very lucky members of the audience. Tickets are $30; $40 for Fridays and Saturday; add $10 for center section reserved seats and $20 for front row cabaret seats (with wine and a full plate of whatever Jilline cooks up). For more info call 860-527-7838.
The Warner Theatre holds AUDITIONS for its May production of "My Fair Lady" on Sunday, February 23 at the Warner Studio Theatre, 69 Main St. in Torrington. All those auditioning must be over 16. Auditions for the ensemble are open and will be held between from 2-3 p.m. Auditions for speaking roles are by appointment only and will be held from 3-7 p.m. Actors should come prepared to read and sing; musical selections do not have to be from the show, but should demonstrate vocal range. For appointments or more info, call 860-489-7180.
Thomaston Opera House, 158 Main St. in Thomaston holds OPEN AUDITIONS for its May Arts Center production of "’night, Mother" directed by George Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 25-26 from 7-9 p.m. Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning script is an eloquent, enthralling and ultimately shattering portrayal of the final hour in the life of a young woman who has decided that life is no longer worth living. At first her mother refuses to take her seriously, but, as the younger woman continues tidying the house and making arrangements as though she were leaving on vacation, it becomes apparent that she will not be dissuaded. Casting requirements call for two women: one late 20s to late 30s, the other 50s to 60s; all roles are open to audition. Auditioners will be asked to read from the script. For more info call 860-283-6250.
Art Exhibits
Artwell Gallery, 19 Water St. in Torrington presents RECYCLED AGAIN from February 22 through March 2. This show features works created from found objects, which is to say anything that was once part of something else may be imaginatively incorporated into one of these original designs. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, February 22 from 6-8 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from 1-8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.; for more info call 860-482-5122.
Artwell Gallery, 19 Water St. in Torrington is ACCEPTING ARTWORK for its "Contrasts" exhibition. All artists are invited to participate. The artwork must deal directly or indirectly with the theme "Contrasts." Dark/ light, hard/ soft, yin/ yang—our world is defined by the tension created through contrast. Artwork will be accepted at the gallery on Sunday, March 2 from 5-7 p.m.; the artwork, a maximum of three pieces, must be ready to hang. The exhibit will open with a reception on Saturday, March 8 from 6-8 p.m. and run through Sunday, April 6. The gallery audience will participate by voting for their favorite piece of work; a $50 People’s Choice Award will be presented. For more info call Stewart Wilson at 860-482-5122.
Lectures and Presentations
Norfolk Library, Route 44 in Norfolk hosts a talk by mystery authors LESLIE WHEELER and LESLIE O’GRADY on Friday, February 21 at 4 p.m. Wheeler, a Cambridge, Massachusetts resident and a Mayflower descendant, has written extensively about American history. Her novel "Murder at Plimoth Plantation" features a heroine, Miranda Lewis, who must go beyond her work as a writer of historical textbooks when the recreated colonial village is the scene of quarrels and a murder. O’Grady’s "The Grateful Undead" features a twenty-something former actress, Wanda LaFortuna, who returns to her Connecticut hometown and becomes a private detective’s assistant. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public, but reservations are requested; for more info call 860-542-5075.
Sharon Audubon Center sponsors a talk on BEARS IN CONNECTICUT on Friday, February 21 at 7 p.m. at Salisbury Congregational Church. Bear sightings are on the rise in the Northwest Corner. How many bears are in Connecticut and what should you do if you see one? Speaker Paul Rego, an expert on black bears who has been with the CT Department of Environmental Protection for 15 years, will talk about the biology and management of this fascinating species. Free and open to the public.
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Ave. in Hartford presents CHINA—THE 21ST CENTURY with Buddy Hatton on Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m. in the Belding Theater. See the revolutionary positive changes that have occurred over the past five years in China. Gone are the drab blue Mao uniforms, government enterprises, government-appointed apartments and lack of freedoms. The Chinese now wear Western attire, have private business and property ownership, and are free to travel throughout their own country. In this program, you will visit Shanghai to see China's largest metropolis, and also experience the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and the Three Gorges, which will soon be flooded by the Great Dam project. Tickets are $6.50-$7.50; for more info call 860-987-5900.
Canton Historical Museum presents a talk on "CANTON’S DISTRICT SCHOOLS: Tales of the One-Room Schools" on Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m. at the Library/ Community Center on Dyer Ave. in Canton. Speaker is Dr. Lawrence Carlton, historian and researcher. Admission is $3 members, $4 non-members; for more info call 860-693-2793.
New Hartford Land Trust holds its ANNUAL MEETING on Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m. in the Senior Center at the New Hartford Town Hall. Guest speaker will be Put Brown from the Granby Land Trust. New Hartford is at a crucial stage in its life as a rural community, facing great pressure to develop, both residentially and commercially. The land trust has a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in encouraging sustainable growth, promoting land conservation as an integral part of any plan of development, and educating residents about the benefits and importance of the preservation of open space. Members, friends and others who are curious about the land trust are invited to attend.
Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Road in Farmington holds a VOLUNTEERS SHOWCASE AND FENG SHUI PRESENTATION on Tuesday, February 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the museum’s Makeshift Theater. Feng shui expert Ned Farrell will lead a discussion on applying the principles of feng shui to the organization and use of personal space and office environments. This program is open to current and prospective Hill-Stead volunteers and will begin with an informational coffee about volunteer opportunities at the museum. For more info call Kathy Lindroth, president of the Hill-Steaders volunteer group, at 860-677-4807.
Simons Rock College presents "FREEDOM ON MY MIND" as part of its Spring Film Series on Tuesday, February 25 at 6 p.m. at the Triplex Cinema in Great Barrington. This film follows the story of Bob Moses, a young Harvard student who came to Mississippi in 1961 to head up the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee's voter registration drive. By 1964, organizers had recruited 1,000 (mostly white) college students from around the country to join them for Freedom Summer. Despite three students being murdered, the drive signed up 80,000 members for the insurgent Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and helped transform political power in the South forever, leading to passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. "Freedom on My Mind" has been nominated for an Academy Award. Admission is $5; for more info call 413-528-7395.
Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St. (Route 10) in Simsbury hosts a scholar-led book discussion on the AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. on Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. Moderator will be Dr. Jack Chatfield of Trinity College. For more info call the Reference Desk at 860-658-7663.
Tunxis Community College, at the junction of Routes 6 & 177 in Farmington hosts a POETRY SLAM with the Bulanians, a performing poetry group, on Tuesday, February 25 from 7-10 p.m. in Whit’s Place (cafeteria). Listen to the Bulanians and others perform their works, or bring a reading or original work to share. For more info call 860-679-9590.
The Stanley-Whitman House presents a lecture on 18TH-CENTURY SMALLPOX OUTBREAKS and Farmington’s "Hospital Rock" on Thursday, February 27 at 7 p.m. at Farmington’s Community Center, 321 New Britain Ave. in Unionville; snow date is March 6. Speakers will be Dr. Charles Leach and Dr. Ralph Arcari. Admission is $3; reservations are required. For reservations or more info, call 860-677-9222.
Simsbury Public Library, Hopmeadow St. (Route 10) in Simsbury presents a viewing of the film "ROBOTICS: INTO THE BODY" on Thursday, February 27 from 7-9 p.m. This is the second meeting in a film and discussion series called the "Research Revolution: Science and the Shaping of Modern Life," which aims to increase the community's understanding of scientific discovery and technological transformation in the 20th century. Facilitator is Stephen Goddard, award-winning writer and national authority on the history and social impact of transportation in America. Mr. Goddard has spoken to audiences from coast to coast; he is also the co-founder of All Aboard, an advocacy group formed to press for a regional public transit system. Free and open to the public; to register call the Adult Reference Desk at 860-658-7663.
Simons Rock College in Great Barrington presents the documentary film "METAL OF DISHONOR—The Pentagon's Secret Weapon" on Thursday, February 27 at 7 p.m. in the Clark Auditorium of the Fisher Science Center. This film is an expose of the Pentagon's use of depleted uranium weapons that have compromised the health of tens of thousands of military personnel and civilians both in the U.S. and in the Gulf region. It contains interviews with Dr. Helen Caldicott, Dr. Michio Kaku and former Attorney General Ramsey Clark. The film pays particular attention to the Pentagon's use of uranium radioactive weapons and covers the history of much of the nuclear cycle, from the thousands of exposures among the Marshall Islanders and the atomic veterans, to the effects of mining on Native reservations in the U.S. Free and open to the public; for more info call 413-528-7209.
Classes and Workshops
Berkshire Botanical Garden, Routes 102 & 183 in Stockbridge holds a lecture on GARDENS FOR BIRDS, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES on Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m.-noon. Designing a garden for butterflies, birds and pollinators is a great way to promote a healthy garden environment and encourage beneficial wildlife as well as offer hours of fascinating nature study. Learn how to create fauna friendly habitats in your garden through plant choices, gardening practices, a simple container garden and a few practical tricks. Instructor Robin Wilkerson is a garden designer and horticultural educator. Cost is $15 members, $20 non-members; to register call 413-298-3926.
IS183, Art School of the Berkshires, 13 Willard Hill Road in Stockbridge (just off Route 183 via Trask Lane) offers EXPLORING PASTEL, a six-week course on Saturdays, February 22 through April 5 (no class on March 8) from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The class explores the wide range of pastel through the use of color, both warm and cool, value and design, with strong encouragement for self expression. The color, feel, variety, adaptability and durability of pastels will be discussed, and students will be exposed to different surfaces and the use of acrylic and gouache. Students will work from still lifes, and photos may be brought in for inspiration as well. Instructor is June Parker, an award-winning pastel artist and a signature member of the Connecticut Pastel Society. Participants should have some drawing experience. Cost is $180 plus a $10 materials fee; needs-based tuition assistance is available. For more info call 413-298-5252, ext 100.
Canton Parks and Recreation holds a STRETCH AND TONING EXERCISE CLASS on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-10 a.m. at the Canton Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave. in Canton. Improve muscle tone, flexibility and balance through simple exercises. Work with your schedule to come to as many or as few classes as you would like. Classes are for low to mid fitness abilities. Cost per class is $3; for more info call 860-693-5808.
Mason Library, Main St. in Great Barrington hosts SELF-DEFENSE FOR EVERY DAY, a workshop with local author and Aikido Sensei Mary Eastland on Sunday, March 2 from 2-3:30 p.m. Topics covered will include self-awareness, centering, breathing, relaxation, posture, verbal boundaries and simple self-defense techniques that can be modified for all ages and physical conditions. Free and open to the public; for more info call 413-528-2403.
Canton Parks and Recreation holds a CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP at the Canton Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave. in Canton; two sessions will be offered: Mondays, March 3-April 14 from 7-8:30 p.m.; and Tuesdays, March 4-April 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. The workshop will focus on writing personal essays, memoirs and fiction. A weekly assignment will be handed out, and the works will be read aloud followed by gentle critiquing and discussion. Participants should bring a pen, a notebook and any works in progress. Cost is $65, $60 for adults 55 and older; for more info call 860-693-5808.
Outdoors
Sharon Audubon Center, 325 Cornwall Bridge Rd. (Route 4) in Sharon holds a training workshop for MAPLE SUGARING SEASON VOLUNTEERS on Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The sugarhouse at Sharon Audubon is a popular destination for visitors on March weekends —including MapleFest on Saturday, March 22—and for school groups during the week. Volunteers play a vital role in helping with syrup production and with the educational programs (on forest ecology and also the history and process of syrup making). Sugaring is a lot of fun, especially when there is a team in the sugarhouse keeping the evaporator going, preparing the wood and bottling the syrup. Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to attend this training workshop. To sign up or for more info, call Joseph at 860-364-0520.
White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Rd. (off Route 202) in Litchfield presents WINTER WATERFOWL with Dave Rosgen on Saturday, February 22; meet at Point Folly at 2 p.m. Free and open to the public; for more info call 860-567-0857.
Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Rd. in Canton offers MAPLE SUGARING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD on Sunday, February 23. This demonstration will help you get ready for the sugaring season—from identifying maple trees to tasting the final product. Cost is $2 members, $4 non-members, half price for children under 12. Pre-registration is not required; for more info call 860-693-0263.
Sports
Tunxis Community College, at the junction of Routes 6 & 177 in Farmington hosts a lecture on the GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ESPN on Monday, February 24 at 1 p.m. in Fisher Hall. Amy Wildhack, publicist at ESPN, will give a behind-the-scenes look at how the station has grown into a media giant offering worldwide coverage. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Lifelong Learning Association, a campus organization for active learners age 55 and older. Free for LLA members; requested donation for non-members is $2. For more info call 860-679-9590.
Kids
Licia and Mason Beekley Community Library, Central Ave. and Town Hill Rd. in New Hartford hosts WINTER ON BOG MEADOW on Friday, February 21 at 4 p.m. Presented by the Sharon Audubon Center, this winter puppet show gives children a chance to see how animals prepare for winter in New England. A bear, a squirrel, a hare turtle and a beaver will all be featured in this program specially created for children in pre-K through 2nd grade. Free and open to the public; for more info call 860-379-7235.
Artists Collective, 1200 Albany Ave. (at Woodland St.) in Hartford presents the WATOTO THEATRE WEEKEND with "Over the Rainbow" on Saturday, February 22 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m. Watoto (pronounced wa-toe-toe) is a Swahili word meaning "children." More than 100 Artists Collective students will be featured in "Over the Rainbow," an adaptation of "The Wiz" and "The Wizard of Oz." Choreographer Kriscia Hudgen-Grace began her formal dance study at the Artists Collective and went on to receive a full scholarship to from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and perform as a principle dancer with the Nanette Bearden Dance Company before returning to Artists Collective to teach. Tickets are $8 advance general admission, $5 advance members, students and seniors, and $10 at the door; for more info call 860-527-3205.
Thomaston Opera House, 158 Main St. in Thomaston presents TWO TALES BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN on Saturday and Sunday, February 22-23 and Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. A favorite children’s author for generations, Hans Christian Andersen wrote as many as 350 stories. Two of the best-known will be presented here—"The Emperor’s New Clothes" and "The Princess and the Pea"—in a production that is sure to appeal to adults and children alike. Tickets are $6; for more info call 860-283-6250.
Burlington Public Library, Route 4 in Burlington holds a FAMILY BOOK VOYAGE program on Tuesday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m.; pizza and beverage will be served at 6 p.m. This on-going reading-based discussion program is designed for children (ages 6-10) and their families. Leader is Jan Brennan of Avon. Participants are asked to register and pick up materials at the library in advance. For more info call 860-673-3331.
Canton Parks and Recreation offers an IRISH MUSIC AND CULTURE CLASS for children in grades K-3 on Tuesdays, February 25 through March 18 from 3:20-4:20 p.m. at Cherry Brook School. Instructor Julee Glaub, well-known in the area for her performances of both authentic and original Irish music, will introduce the class to Irish culture, songs, poetry, instruments, fairy tales and more. Cost is $40; to register or for more info, call 860-693-5808.
Northwest YMCA in Torrington and Winsted begins its winter session of YOUTH CLASSES including swim lessons, gym classes, golf, racquetball instruction and more beginning on Monday, March 3. To register call the Torrington branch at 860-489-3133, or the Winsted branch at 860-379-0708.
And More
Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Rd. (Route 202) in Litchfield hosts a COMMUNITY POTLUCK LUNCHEON AND MOVIE on Monday, February 24, with lunch at noon followed by the film "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" at 1 p.m. Please bring a favorite dish, casserole or salad to share with other guests; beverage and cake will be provided. RSVP by February 21 by calling 860-567-8302.
|
|
