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Drama in and around Darien
Middle school students, ages 11 to 14, can register now for a new student-driven performance opportunity at the Darien Arts Center. In Middle School Theatre Makers, young artists will collaborate to develop a script, design costumes and props and perform their very own play. The class takes place on Tuesdays from 4 to 5:15 p.m., Sept. 11 through Nov. 13.
Adult students will be inspired to shape their ideas and start, rewrite or complete their scripts with internationally produced playwright Jason Pizzarello, in the new Playwriting Workshop at the Darien Arts Center. The workshop, available to those 18 and older, takes place on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sept. 20 through Nov. 1. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center
Over the six-session workshop, students will conquer the blank page together by focusing on core story building blocks: character, conflict, structure, dialog, dramatic action, and theatricality.
The Levitt Pavilion in Westport boasts 50 shows this summer during weekends and weeknights including some big-name acts, kid-friendly Wednesday shows — and it’s all for free. You just have to fight traffic to get there from Darien. The Levitt features music, dance, comedy, theater and sometimes films in an outdoor setting through Aug. 25 this year, when Melissa Etheridge performs at the Levitt for a fundraising concert. The start of the season begins Sunday night, June 24 with a Neil Diamond tribute act that has already sold out.
The Darien Arts Center is happy to welcome Maria Pizzarello of Stamford as its new Theatre Program director. She will oversee theatre programs for both adults and children at the DAC and is part of the team leading a series of three Audition Workshops for those 15 years and older on June 26, 27 and 28. Pizzarello has been a New York City public school teaching artist since 2005. In the past she has worked with the Theatre Development Fund, LeAP!, Onstage, Periwinkle Theater for Youth, and Theatre For A New Audience. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center
Her students have performed and adapted the work of Shakespeare, written their own plays, devised ensemble performance pieces, sang and danced in musical productions, and performed their peers’ work on a Broadway stage.
Theatre 308, Darien High School’s acting and performance arts club, took top honors recently at two state-wide awards programs.
Halo Awards
For the second year in a row, both of Theatre 308’s mainstage productions have received nominations for the The Halo Awards, an award ceremony that honors high school student achievements in dramatic and musical theater from over 60 high schools throughout Connecticut. Freshman Jackson Wood took home “Best Featured Dancer” for his performance in the spring musical Footloose. Senior Lexi Staubi, who starred as Ariel in Footloose, was awarded a performing arts scholarship as she prepares to go the University of Southern California this fall for acting. Junior Mackenzie Lauture, a dance captain for the show, also won a dance scholarship to take classes this summer at the Molinari Dance Studio in New York City. Stephen Sondheim Awards
In addition to the Halo Awards, this year’s musical main stage was entered in the first ever Stephen Sondheim Awards, the gateway production into the National High School Musical Theater Awards show, also known as the Jimmy Awards.
Darien High School’s Theatre 308 has been recognized in not one, but two state-wide theater awards programs.
For the second year in a row, both of the Theatre 2018 mainstage productions have received nominations for The Halo Awards, which honor high school student achievements in dramatic and musical theatre from over 60 high schools in Connecticut. — an announcement from Theatre 2018
In addition, this year’s musical was entered in the first ever Stephen Sondheim Awards, the gateway production into the National High School Musical Theater Awards show, also known as the Jimmy Awards. Theatre 308 had numerous nominations for both the Halos and the Sondheim awards. Halo Awards
For the Halos, Theatre 308 received the following nominations for both the spring musical Footloose and the fall drama Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play:
FOOTLOOSE
-Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Contemporary Musical – Lexi Staubi as Ariel Moore
-Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical – Grady Allen as Willard
-Best Featured Dancer – Jackson Wood
-Best Sound Design and Execution – Kasey Mazzone & Nick Giotis
-Best Scenic Design and Execution – Justin Mossa
-Best Stage Management – James Cherico (PSM), Anan Durango (SM), Skyler Bennett (ASM)
-Best Original Program Cover Design or Artwork – Jack Ryan O’Keeffe
-Best Chorus
-Best Contemporary Musical
MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY
-Best Male Standout Performance in an Ensemble Play or Musical: Grady Allen as Gibson/Burns
-Best Costume Design – Meaghan Dempsey, Audrey Hagen, Natalie Christopher & Mackenzie Lauture
-Best Special Effects – Audrey Hagen
-Best Performance by a Cast in an Ensemble Play or Musical
-Fearless Award
-Best Contemporary Play
Sondheim Awards
For the Sondheim Awards Theatre 308 received the following nominations for the production of Footloose:
FOOTLOOSE
-Best Musical
-Best Direction – Tim Sorensen
-Best Actor – Grady Allen
-Best Actress – Lexi Staubi
-Best Choreography – Emily Frangipane
-Best Costume Design – Sophie Howard
-Best Scenic Design – Justin Mossa
Theatre 308 students will be performing at both award ceremonies. At the Halo Awards, students will perform the opening number of Footloose.
To the editor:
Thank you, Darien, for coming out in droves to enjoy the Darien Arts Center production of Cabaret. Because of your support we had nine sold-out performances of this show in a setting that gave the community a high-quality theatre experience.
It took countless volunteers — including the all-female cast of incredible performers — to make the magic on stage. We collaborated with the Lipstick Project, to produce this show that is so relevant to our current events. Thank you to all who gave their time and talent meeting the needs of the Darien community for this important artistic expression.
DAC Stage, in collaboration with The Lipstick Project, is producing the first ever all-female cast of Kander and Ebb’s musical, Cabaret. The show will open on Friday, April 27 and run three weekends at the DAC’s Weatherstone Studio. For this special production, Darien Arts Center Stage, the DAC’s community theatre group, has augmented their pool of talent with that of The Lipstick Project, an all-female theatre group from Darien and surrounding towns, with a mission of empowering women through artistic opportunity and expression. The original Cabaret debuted on Broadway in 1966 and returned in 1998 for a successful six-year run. It takes place in a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920’s draw to a close.
DAC Stage, in collaboration with The Lipstick Project, is producing the first ever all-female cast of Kander and Ebb’s musical, Cabaret. The show will open on April 27 and run three weekends at the DAC’s Weatherstone Studio. For this special production, Darien Arts Center Stage, the DAC’s community theatre group, has augmented their pool of talent with that of The Lipstick Project, an all-female theatre group from Darien and surrounding towns, with a mission of empowering women through artistic opportunity and expression. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center
The original Cabaret debuted on Broadway in 1966 and returned in 1998 for a successful six-year run. It takes place in a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close.
Playwrights are invited to submit their final scripts for consideration to the Catherine Lindsey Actors/Playwrights Workshop and contest by March 23. The program, now in its 26th year, will present a series of workshops at Darien Library, culminating in the presentation of four 10-minute plays on June 10. The Darien Library Selection Committee will choose musicals, monologues, short scenes from full-length and one-act plays to be performed. When writing your piece please keep in mind that the number of cast members is limited, only one play may be submitted per person, and plays must be 10-minutes long or less. Please limit your plays to 10-pages double-spaced, 12 point font.
Theatre 308 will be reviving the ‘80s with their upcoming production of Footloose the Musical. Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford, Footloose premiered in 1988. It has been presented on London’s West End and Broadway. Now, 308 is bringing the iconic movie to the stage once again. Footloose is a feel-good musical about the importance of self-expression and individual freedom. Ren McCormack (Nick Servas) is forced move from the vibrant city of Chicago to the quiet rural town of Bomont, Okla.
DAC Stage is holding auditions for its spring musical, Cabaret, on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. in the DAC Weatherstone Studio, 2 Renshaw Road, behind Darien Town Hall. Audition detail: Open auditions for women who should come prepared with a song and sheet music if song is not from the show. Sides will be provided.
The Wall Street Theater’s Teen Musical Theater program, kicking off on February 19 for area teens ages 12-18, runs six weeks. The program will teach all aspects of putting on a theatrical production, leading up to three performances of the musical, FAME the Musical. The Wall Street Theater, which recently opened its doors after undergoing an extensive renovation, is launching its Teen Musical Theater program, providing area teens with a theatrical background in the arts to learn the components of mounting a high-energy, musical production. Led by working professionals in the industry, participants will receive instruction from pre-production through stage performance of FAME the Musical. “We are excited to welcome area teens – ages 12-18 – to learn from professionals who are currently working in the theater,” said Billy Blanks, Jr., Artistic Director, Wall Street Theater. “Our students will experience real training in acting, dance, voice and backstage and front of house technical aspects.
The Wall Street Theater, which recently opened its doors in Norwalk after undergoing a $10 million renovation, has released its schedule of upcoming events. About the New/Old Theater
The historic theater showcases professional music, comedic, dance and stage performances from nationally recognized names, as well as local organizations. Located at 71 Wall St. in Norwalk, the 700-seat theater recently underwent a $10 million-dollar project to restore this national historic landmark to its original glory from the early 1900s. Originally known as The Regent when the location opened in 1915 featuring Vaudeville performances, the theater was also known as The Norwalk and The Roxy (during this time period, the theater was outfitted as a movie theater showing such blockbusters as “Jaws” and “Blues Brothers”).
Darien Arts Center Stage is proud to announce its production of the comedy, Sylvia, a comedy in which a dog becomes a major bone of contention between a husband and wife. The play by A. R. Gurney will run from Nov. 3 to 11. The cast includes Jacquie Carlsen, David Jackins, and Giovanna Olcese of Norwalk and Susan Stanton of Westport. Christian Amato is director.