Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/arts-entertainment/theater)
Drama in and around Darien
Darien Library invites you to Open Mic Night this Friday. Come recite poetry, play music, or dazzle us with any other talent. — an announcement from Darien Library
All ages are welcome to perform or to support our creatives as part of the audience. If You’re Going … This event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Jan.
Meet and sing along with characters from New Paradigm Theatre’s upcoming production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” – and learn how marine debris affects the real creatures of the ocean realm – during “Under the Sea Saturday” on June 25 in The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite princess, prince or pirate for this special day. Highlights at the Aquarium on June 25 include three sing-alongs and meet-and-greets with the cast, a scavenger hunt and more. — an announcement from The Maritime Aquarium. As The Maritime Aquarium continues to incorporate the arts into its exhibits and educational programs, it is partnering with the non-profit theater company for its 2022 production of “The Little Mermaid,” with the theme of “Recycle, Repurpose and Reuse.”
Teen and adult board members of the theater company have joined the Aquarium’s teen volunteers this spring for beach cleanups that — in addition to cleaning the environment — have collected items used in “Little Mermaid” costumes and sets.
Darien High School’s Theatre 308 will present its spring musical, The Addams Family, with performances from Thursday, March 17 through Saturday, March 19 at 7 p.m., along with an additional matinee show at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 19. — an announcement from Theatre 308. The Addams Family, directed by Tim Sorensen, is a musical comedy that follows the well-known characters from Charles Addams’s original cartoons as they face Wednesday Addams’ coming-of-age and budding romance with a “normal” boy from Ohio. After secrets are revealed and both families are thrown into turmoil, The Addams Family tells a story of family, love, and embracing the comfort of one’s own darkness. Tickets can be bought online at Theatre308.org or at the door.
Darien High School’s Theatre 308 will perform Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses,” a play exploring love, transformation and the enduring relevance of myth in our world. — an announcement from Theatre 308
The play, written by Mary Zimmerman, melds classic and contemporary elements, based on the poet Ovid’s collection of Ancient Greek and Roman myths. “Metamorphoses” will have three performances, all at 7 p.m., from Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 17 to 20, in the high school Auditorium. Live music composed by DHS student John Raskopf accompanies the storytelling.
Theatre 308 is proud to present the hit Broadway musical Something Rotten! Memorial Day weekend at Darien High School. For the first time in school history, the DHS’s spring musical will take place outdoors in the courtyard. — an announcement from Theatre 308
The show goes up for live, in-person performances on May 27 to 30, 2021, with all shows starting at 7 p.m.
Set in the 1590s, Something Rotten tells the tale of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.
![[title of show] poster](https://darienite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screen-Shot-2021-04-09-at-7.03.10-PM-140x140.png)
During the pandemic, theater performances have joined nearly everything else in going livestream online, and Fairfield University’s performance of the musical “[title of show]” takes advantage of the difference rather than just showing you a taped stage performance. So expect it to be different. (The name of the musical is no typo in the headline, by the way — it’s “[title of show].”)
About the Play
“[title of show]” is a musical play about writing a musical play — and it is largely a true story. Two guys answered an ad for a theatre festival looking for new work. With only three weeks to write the piece, they engaged two women friends to help out.
Aspiring actors and actresses will love this theatre workshop! In a playful environment, tweens and teens will create fantastic improvisations under the guidance of drama teacher Ingrid Schaeffer. Together, the theatre group will perform an inspired version of “The Wizard of Oz” after reading through the script. All you need to participate is an active imagination! This free workshop, meant for teens and tweens from ages 11 to 18, takes place from 1 to 2:15 p.m., Saturday, April 10.
The plot of “Pippin” presents the audience with an exceedingly abstract and “meta” story. In fact, at points in the musical, one gets the feeling that one is watching a show within a show. During this online program, Professor Gil Harel will discuss this unique musical, calling attention to its genesis and evolution, its unusual and somewhat complex plot, and its infectious score. — an announcement from Darien Library
Having been conceived during Stephen Schwartz’s days as a student at Carnegie Mellon, and having made its debut on Broadway in 1972, the show was reimagined in an award-winning revival in 2013. In the nearly 50 years since its premiere, and in various stagings and incarnations, “Pippin” has enchanted audiences with its compelling story and stellar score.
The Darien Domestic Abuse Council and Respectworks presents a short play exploring issues associated with relationship violence, sexual assault, consent, and bystander intervention. — an announcement from Darien Library
This unique, educational, interactive performance will take place from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Community Room at Darien Library. The content is considered suitable for those of High School age and older. About the Play
Presented by Deana’s Educational Theater (who also brought us “The Yellow Dress”), “The Party” explores the relationship between three characters, Jordan, Kyle and Allie, who are in college and enjoying campus life: Parties, games, and “hooking up” become a regular part of college life until one night something goes horribly wrong.
If you’ve got ambitions of becoming an actor or are just curious, you can talk about it with Matt Newton, an acting coach with a studio in Darien who will discuss his book “The No B.S. Guide to the Acting Biz,” answer questions and sign copies on Feb. 13 at Barrett Bookstore. Newton, who is also an actor and filmmaker, runs MN Acting Studio at 22 Grove St. An announcement for the event describes his book as “a candid, practical, shoot-from-the-hip how-to guide developed for new actors in the business as well as for seasoned professionals.” The book-signing takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb.
Theatre 308’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time will begin performances Thursday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 23. Tickets are on sale now. — an announcement from Theatre 308
The Tony Award-winning play follows Christopher, a 15-year-old math whiz.
Open Arts Alliance has announced auditions for its upcoming musical production of Mary Poppins JR. Auditions will be held at 6 p.m., Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at the YMCA of Greenwich (50 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830). — an announcement from Open Arts Alliance
Students ages 8 to 18 are encouraged to come audition for this Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius story about a family in turmoil and the magical nanny who saves the day. Featuring classic songs like: “Step In Time,“ “Jolly Holiday” and “A Spoon Full Of Sugar,” Mary Poppins is one of the world’s most beloved musicals. Performances of Mary Poppins JR. will take place on April 24, 25 and 26, 2020.
At Home In Darien is delighted to bring to Darien To Whom I May Concern, an interactive theater program performed by people who have been diagnosed with a progressive brain illness such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. — an announcement from At Home In Darien
Using their own words, these individuals share their stories and experiences with live audiences. If You’re Going … The program (TWIMC) will be shown at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7.
Young & talented performers in Grades 3 to 6 will be given a chance to shine in the Darien Arts Center’s classic Broadway style production, “Regards to Broadway.” — an announcement from Darien Arts Center (we’ve put both the nitty and the gritty in boldface.)
After last year’s sold out performance of “Broadway Beat!,” the DAC has teamed up with Open Arts Alliance again for this exciting new revue. Rehearsals take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, from Sept. 10 though Oct. 29.
Kids from ages 10 to 15 with an interest in acting can join a weeklong, intensive class for film and television acting this August by Matt Newton of MN Acting Studio in Darien and talent agent Deb Chasen of Chasen Talent. — an announcement from MN Acting Studio
This one of a kind, challenging, weeklong on-camera workshop is limited to 10 trained, professional, hand selected young actors who want to work exclusively with Newton (youth on set acting coach for “Jessica Jones,” “Blue Bloods,” “Orange is the New Black,” and “When They See Us”) on all aspects of TV and film in a small group setting. The class will cover everything from auditioning, to role prep, to working on set, improvisation, cold-reads, the casting process, and even writing and directing their own scenes. Actors will also film a professional scene (directed by Matt) with a small crew on location to be ultimately used for their demo reel/online casting profile. In addition, on the final day, Matt will in an industry guest to watch and critique scenes, and do a Q&A with parents.
Shakespeare on the Sound and the Open Arts Alliance are partnering with the Darien Arts Center to provide new theatre offerings this summer for Grades 5 to 12. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center
The summer camp for Grades 7 to 10, Twelfth Night, Jr., begins June 24 and showcases a culminating performance on the Shakespeare On The Sound stage in Rowayton on July 3. Into the Woods, Jr., for Grades 5 to 12, begins Aug. 12, with auditions on June 3. Additionally, there are vocal and dance audition workshops on June 2 for Grades 6-10.