THANK YOU BREAKFAST FOR JCL VOLUNTEERS

LINDA FRIEDLAENDER, SENIOR CURATOR AT THE YALE BRITISH ART GALLERY

Saying thank you is a positive way to show your appreciation and the Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL) is ready to give a shout out 180 times. That's the number of literacy volunteers who are being feted on Thursday, May 14 at the Jewish Community Center, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge at 9:30 a.m.  Abel Catering is donating breakfast.

A love of reading and learning is imparted to each child at every one hour visit to New Haven Public Schools' seven partner sites all through the school year.  The JCL is the proud recipient of the Superintendent's Award from the New Haven Network for Public Education for its outstanding contributions to public education.  In addition, JCL is an award-winning project of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

The adult volunteers are from a diversity of faiths and educational backgrounds who meet one-on-one with students to encourage improving skills in conversation and reading.  Dedicated volunteers help provide individualized sessions, filling the gap when resources in classrooms are not adequate.

This year Linda Friedlaender, the Senior Curator of the Yale British Art Museum, will be the keynote speaker.  Her topic will be "Do You See What I See?," dealing with how to enhance observational skills to improve clinical diagnostic procedures.  She co-produced this program that has been adopted by over 50 medical schools and has been used to measure learning outcomes in museum settings utilizing original works of art as visual text.  It has also been instrumental in helping with a local community of adults with social and cognitive disorders as well as for children with autism.  Krista Bergin, Literacy Intervention Facilitator on the New Haven Board of Education, will preside over the morning's activities.

To measure the impact of these dedicated volunteers, all one has to do is listen to the teachers who see "our students grow tremendously in their self-esteem, experience increased motivation to read by sharing one on one time with an adult who comes to read with them every week.. .students increased  their vocabulary, which helps them express themselves more clearly...students reading comprehension as well as interest in reading have greatly progressed...wonderful hearing students enthusiastically talk about what they are reading with their volunteer."

Clearly the JCL volunteers "make the children feel like they are the center of the  universe, make the 'teaching' and learning fun-no test and no pressure-just reading and working with words for the love and enjoyment of it."

For a reservation to this event, free and open to the public, call Brenda Brenner at 203-387-2424, ext. 308 or online at bbrenner@jewishnewhaven.org.  Maybe you will be inspired  to  join this proud troupe of giving and caring individuals.

SUPERMAN FLYING INTO THE CT. CABARET

From Middletown to Mozambique to Metropolis, being labeled as a "man of steel" can be as much a blessing as a burden.  Being a hero is a responsibility one cannot ignore or take lightly. Just ask Clark Kent whose alter ego is the incredible caped crusader Superman who saves people and buildings with a cavalier nonchalance reserved for common folk to order a latte at Starbucks.

To get into the complicated lives of Clark, a reporter for the Daily Planet and his secret identity Superman, take a quick leap of fun and faith by heading to the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre in Berlin for the musical comedy "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" playing weekends until Saturday, May 30.

Penned by David Newman and Robert Benton with lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse, it's a comic strip come to life.  The hand painted wooden cutouts of skyscrapers, sub machine guns and sayings (like pow, bam, zonk and ka-pow) only add to the mood, designed by James J. Moran, who also gets credit for the energetic choreography.

Rick Bennett takes double bows for his portrayal of the meek and mild Clark as well as the masculine and muscled super hero.  As the man of the hour, he is admired and revered by the ladies, principally the newspaper staff of Lois Lane, a spunky Kaite Corda, whom he rescued more than a baker's dozen times and Sydney, a fast talking Ashley Ayala who is quite vocal in her adoration.

Not everyone is as smitten, however, by Superman's deeds of daring.  Max Mencken , a crafty Jon Escobar, is determined to take Superman off his pedestal and he is conveniently aided by the mad scientist Dr. Sedgwick, a revenge driven Robert Schultz, who feels he deserves the Nobel Prize and like Susan Lucci and her lack of a Lead Actress Emmy is determined to win one.

With the help of Dr. Sedgwick's assistant Jim (Kevin Ladd) and a troupe of Chinese acrobats who feel Superman has stolen their talented tricks (Russell Fish, Chris Brooks, James J. Moran, William Moskaluk, Carleigh Schultz and Brianna Zuk), Dr. Sedgwick cleverly plots Superman's disgrace.  The good citizens of Metropolis (Tracey Brown and Linda Kelly) find their faith shaken by Sedgwick's deviousness.  Kris McMurray directs this catchy tale of criminals and crusaders with style.

Tunes like "We Need Him," "Revenge," and "You've Got Possibilities" help propel the plot with fun lyrics.  For tickets ($30), call the CT Cabaret Theatre, 31-33 Webster Square Road, Berlin at 860-829-1248 or online at www.ctcabaret.com.  Remember to pack goodies to share at your table or plan to buy dessert and drinks at the handy concession stand.

Use your x-ray vision to see all the possibilities for frolic and fun as Superman "flies" literally and figuratively into town.

SPICY NEW VERSION OF CINDERELLA COMES TO MILFORD

 

If you marry a classic fairy tale with a specific family history, title it "Cinderella Italiano," you might expect a glass slipper filled with spaghetti.  Until Saturday, May 9, Pantochino Productions invites you to take a magic ride to the sunny Italian countryside for frolic and fun, courtesy of Bert Bernardi for book and lyrics and Justin Rugg for music.

Caution:  don't come to the show hungry, unless you have reservations at an Italian restaurant nearby.  The show is at the Milford Center for the Arts so plan ahead.  As tradition dictates, a much overworked and unappreciated Cinderella, adorably captured by Mary Mannix, has a hard life trying 

to please her impossible stepmother, the demanding Shelly Marsh Poggio, and her disagreeable stepsisters brought to less than charming life by Jimmy Johansmeyer and Jeremy Tortotora (you should be laughing already).

Of course, the villagers (all the eligible young women, that is, like Kylie Poggio, Peyton Iott, Meg Cardi and Cassie Gerace) are all agog over the sudden appearance of the most eligible bachelor Prince Spaghetti, handsomely presented in the personage of Justin Rugg.  His mama, Queen Regina, regally prominent thanks to Maria Berte, wants only the best for her son and heir.

To that end, when he spies a lovely lass but fails to learn her name or where she lives (Cinderella, of course), the Queen schedules a ball (a grand dance, not the sports game kind) in the hopes the mystery maiden will appear. Thanks to an ingenious and slightly devious Godmother (note the lack of the word Fairy in her name), in the clever character of George Spelvin, Cinderella is able to get her dance card filled with the Prince's name.

With a lot of inspired singing and dancing, incredible costumes by Jimmy Johansmeyer and the mention of every Italian food from manicotti to meatballs to mascarpone, "Cinderella Italiano" is a pure and spicy delight, garlic cloves and all.  There's even a magic ingredient to help Cinderalls get her man.

For tickets ($18 online, $20 at the door), call Pantochino Productions at 203-937-6206 or online at www.pantochino.com.  Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.  Take note that Tuesday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to Wednesday, May 6 at 8 p.m. is The Great Give 2015 where you can pledge financial support to this great and deserving 501C3 non-profit.  Go to www.thegreatgive.org.  Every dollar donated with be matched.

So what if you're sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese instead of fairy dust, this spoof of Cinderella is sure to please everyone in the family, capeesh?

LOVE RUNS MERRILY AMOK IN THE FOREST OF ARDEN

If Cupid had a mischievous twin brother, his name might be Puck.  While the former is busy shooting off arrows of affection, the latter indulges in placing eye drops of purple passion flowers that cause mismatched lovers to become inappropriate pairings. For William Shakespeare, who believes "all's fair in love and war," the chance to play matchmaker is too delicious not to indulge in with crazy and comical results.

On the Summer Soltice, known for being long and hot by day and short and warm by night, causing "midsummer madness," the Bard has created his most popular comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream."  Until Sunday, May 3, the Connecticut Repertory Theatre on the campus of the University of Connecticut will take you delightfully into Arden Forest, moved to circa 1905, in Europe.

Triangles of romance abound.  Hermia (Juliana Bears) loves Lysander (Michael Bobenhausen) and vice versa, but Demetrius (Bryce Wood) also has cast his affections upon her.  To complicate matters, Hermia's father Egeus (Derrick Holmes) forbids her to wed any suitor but Demetrius, with the pain of death or exile to a nunnery if she disobeys.  The Duke (Kent Coleman) who is himself about to marry Hippolyta (Susannah Resnikoff) decrees Hermia must obey her father.

The fair Helena (Arlene Bozich) is facing a similar problem: she loves Demetrius, in vain.  When she hears her friend Hermia is running away from Athens to the forest to secretly wed Lysander, Helena determines to follow.  Meanwhile an amateur troupe of actors, including carpenters, weavers and tailors, is busy practicing a play to entertain at the wedding of the Duke.  Led by Quince (John Manning Jr), he rehearses his men (Jeff DeSisto, Joon Ho Oh, Brian Patrick Sullivan and Sam Kebede) and the play's hero, Nick Bottom (Michael Patrick Kane).

When Puck (Gabriel Apres, Conor Donnally, Scott Redmond), a trio of acrobatic and wily fairies, goes wild with dousing eyelids with potions of love, at the insistence of Oberon the King of the Fairies (Curtis Longfellow), the results are comical and farcical.  Oberon is having problems of his own, love-wise, with his Queen Titania (Natalia Cuevas), and he plots to have her awaken, after her eyelids have been doused, so the first person she sees is Nick Bottom, who has been transformed into a donkey.

The physical comedy on stage is wonderfully wild:  think The Three Stooges Meet Lucy and Desi.  Fairies are plentiful, in magical array, flitting hither and yon. The costume department, led by Pat Ubaldi-Nurnberger, performs double duty as many of the creations, put together with snap tape, have to be resewn after every performance.  The extreme physicality causes †he costumes to literally fall apart. Dale AJ Rose directs this merry mixup of mismatched mates with a clever hand, on a set designed by Luke Miller and Abigail Copeland, one perfect for uphill and downhill chases.

For tickets ($7-30), call the CT Rep Theatre at 860-486-2113 or online at www.crt.uconn.edu.  Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jorgensen Theatre.  The ticket box office is at the Nafe Katter Theatre on Bolton Road.

Let yourself be sprinkled with fairy dust and enjoy all the complications and complexities as lovers run off into the forest, unaware that wild and crazy things can happen there...even if none of them are lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Actually there is a lion, but he's harmless.

COME TO THE WATERBURY PALACE'S PARTY OF THE DECADE

If you're the type of person who gets excited when you receive an invitation to a big party, imagine your level of ecstasy if that one party magically became six!  The Palace Theater in Waterbury is throwing a grand shindig in celebration of its milestone tenth anniversary and you're invited to join the crowd of well wishers.

Starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1 with an outdoor pre-party on the loading dock and lasting until the wee hours of midnight, the Palace is rolling out the red carpet to all areas of this grand and exotic facade.  Termed "The Party of the Decade," guests will be encouraged to wander freely from the gilded majestic foyer to the cozy Poli Club, make a quick stop at a Tiki Bar, pause at a food truck, go night clubbing on the stage and have yourself a ball, all for a good cause:  the Palace's tenth anniversary.

On the loading dock at 5 p.m., you'll discover a bevy of food trucks like Fryborg where everything is fried to a crispy perfection all the way to Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes that are a delectable delight.  Crosseyed Cat, a popular local group, will start the evening off with a musical bang until 8 p.m.

The next venue will start at 6 p.m. with the opening of the luxury lounge of the Palace's Grand Foyer.  Guests will enjoy trays of passed hors d'oeuvres, specialty drinks of bourbon and martinis and the smooth sounds of The Jazz Trio.  A few marble steps away, up in the Poli Club, grab a plate of delicious nibbles, a cocktail, and sit back and enjoy a list of award-winning jazz artists from 7 p.m. to the bewitching hour.  Fancy yourself a cool tropical drink, the mezzanine lobby will feature a Tiki Bar.  Find a seat under a palm tree and enjoy the selections from a live DJ from Powerstation Events starting at 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Put your dancing shoes on and glide across the elegant Palace stage in a unique night club atmosphere as local recording artist Timmy Maia performs with Bock and Blu starting at 7:30 p.m. for the next four hours. If you're into karaoke, the Keys to the City's dueling piano show will lure you to the orchestra lobby from 10 p.m. on, to hear contemporary pop tunes.  What a great interactive crowd pleaser!

The brainchild of Development Officer Natalie Lawlor and CEO of the Palace Frank Tavera, this plethora of parties has something for everyone and will showcase all the venues the Palace has to offer, with food stations, craft beers, specialty bars, desserts and tons of live entertainment.  For tickets ($65), which includes everything offered and 2 drink vouchers, call the Palace, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury at 203-346-2000 or online at www.palacetheaterct.org.  Leave your tuxedos and gowns in the closet as the evening is relaxed, casual dress.

For parties with a capital P, with the Palace shining in the spotlight, come celebrate the Palace 10.0 on Friday, May 1!

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

     PHOTOGRAPH BY PAUL DUDA AT SILK ROAD ART GALLERY



After attending three funerals in eight days (with no weddings in sight), the message was clear:  every day is a present, appreciate the daily gift.

On Saturday, April 18, I began the day on Audubon Street in New Haven at the Creative Arts Workshop attending a really neat and fun event, Edible Books.  An international occurrence every April 1 or thereabouts, it invites children and adults to make a food offering applauding a favorite book, one that can be admired and then eaten.

At this year's display, the tenth or eleventh in a row, there were quiches to note "Julia and Julie," the prize chef and her fan, as well as a tasty egg concoction of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea to commemorate "Exodus." The children's table featured a trio of chocolate cakes to illustrate "Moby Dick," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and a typewriter to recognize a children's book about cows who type.  Get your fork and plate ready. Eat!  What a super way to promote reading. Kudos to Paulette Rosen for organizing the morning and for making her yummy chicken soup in honor of Maurice Sendek. Ms. Rosen, an artist herself, will have an exhibit  entitled "In Passing" at the City Gallery, 994 State Street, New Haven until Sunday, April 26.

Long Wharf Theatre inaugurated a weekend of new play readings sponsored by The Lord/Kubler Fund for New Works.  Three plays, "Contemporary American Voices Festival," celebrated works by Janine Nabors, Julia Cho and Samuel D. Hunter who all took part in a symposium hosted by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting, with the addition of Joe DiPietro whose world premiere play "The Second Mrs. Wilson" will grace the Main Stage from May 6-31. I attended Janine Nabors' emotionally shattering "Serial Black Face" that echoed the Atlanta children's murders of 1979 as well as the symposium of playwrights.

On Sunday, April 19, Julia Cho's "Aubergine" was presented as a reading, followed by Samuel D. Hunter's "Clarkston."  In the fall a companion piece, the world premiere play "Lewiston" will be offered at Long Wharf, directed by Eric Ting. I trekked back to Audubon Street to visit the Silk Road Art Gallery for a trio of photographers:  Phyllis Crowley, Roy Money and Paul Duda.  All the photos were inspired by nature and personal visits to Shanghai, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. They offered views of walls and water,  pines and rice paddies, in a soft lyrical manner.

That night the mood of seriousness lifted as the Palace Theater in Waterbury welcomed actress and comedienne Vicki Lawrence and her favorite persona, the sassy and sharp tongued Mama, a character shaped on The Carol Burnett Show.  The night ended with a lot of laughter.

What a day and night!  How wonderful to share in such talent in so many disciplines. Color me technicolor and grateful.

YOU'RE INVITED TO VISIT THE "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS"

 

If you garden, you know that having a green thumb is a distinct advantage.  If your plants have a liking for blood instead of the traditional water, plant fertilizer and sunshine, possessing a red thumb might be more of a help.  Just ask  the giant person-eating plant that grows and grows and grows larger and hungrier in Howard Ashman, book and lyrics, with Alan Menken's music, in the decidedly distinctive musical comedy "Little Shop of Horrors" inhabiting the stage of the Melissa and Doug Stage at the  Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk until Sunday, May 3.

If you own a florist shop where no one purchases a bunch of daisies or daffodils, where pots of petunias wilt right before your eyes, when red roses are not requested even on Valentine's Day, you might be tempted to make a pact with the Jolly Green Devil to make your store profitable and plant happy.  When Audrey II makes a sudden appearance at Mr. Mushnik's Floral Skid Row Shop, everything looks like it's finally coming up roses.  Just at the moment when Mushnik (Lou Ursone) is ready to throw in his pruning shears, his meek and mild but intensely loyal clerk Seymour (Anthony DiCostanzo) shows him an unusual plant he has been cultivating, one that he found in Chinatown during a total eclipse of the sun. Seymour feels this new seedling is so different that it will attract visitors and, more importantly, customers, into the frequently empty store.

Seymour has a secret crush on the other employee, Audrey (Elissa DeMaria) so he names his new creation Audrey II.  The object of his affection has an unfortunate relationship with Orin (Tony Lawson, who takes a multitude of roles), a sadistic dentist of the first order of torture and drills.  His physical abuse makes him the perfect primary candidate as plant food when the ever expanding and always hungry Audrey Ii screams "Feed Me!"  Audrey Ii has been cleverly designed by Erin Flanagan Lind and Corey T. Lind, voiced by Peter McClung and puppeted by Will Strong.  To say that Audrey Ii commands the center of attention is a colorful understatement.

Accompanying this scientifically challenging tale is a Greek chorus of energetic singers - Inuka Ivaska, Kristian Espiritu and Gabrielle Lee - who have a lot of fun and flair in music and dance.  Tunes like Audrey's dream of "Somewhere That's Green," Orin's devilishly triumph of "Dentist!" and Seymour's emergence in the spotlight in "Suddenly, Seymour" help the story advance.  Kevin Connors directs this perfectly in tune and talented cast through this decidedly different musical offering.

For tickets ($30-50, $5 off for seniors and students), call MTC, 509 Westport Avenue, Norwalk (behind Nine West and Jones New York) at 203-454-3883 or online at www.musictheatreofct.com.  Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Think Venus Flytrap morphs into Moby Dick's mouth as Audrey II grows more and more demanding and Seymour tries frantically to answer her call.  Please keep all bandaged fingers safely tucked away.