Theater

Theatre 308 Students Videoconference with 2 DHS Grads Who Write, Produce ‘The Simpsons’

Casting Call: Four Adult Actors Needed for Darien Arts Center Stage Production of ‘Sylvia’

‘Going in Style’ – Friday Night Feature Film at Darien Library

‘Little Mermaid Jr.’ Musical, with 70 Local Kids at Darien High School, Thursday to Saturday

Darien High School Students, Middlesex Teacher Win Theater Awards in Statewide Competition

Weekend of One Act Plays and Monologues at Theatre Artists Workshop in Norwalk, May 19 to 21

Last Weekend To See the Musical ‘Baby’ at Darien Arts Center

Learn About This Year’s Shakespeare on the Sound Play: Macbeth

Tickets on Sale for ‘Baby’ Musical Starting April 21 on Darien Arts Center Stage

Rehearsals Continue for ‘Baby’ Musical Coming to Darien Arts Center April 21

Musical ‘Baby’ Starts at Darien Arts Center Stage on April 21

Two Darien Teens Win Playwright Awards from Stamford’s Palace Theatre

Rocco Natale Performs a Staged Reading of His Play, ‘Wordsmith,’ Feb 25 in Darien

Auditions Call for Musical ‘Baby’ at Darien Arts Center

UPDATE WITH VIDEO: Theatre 308’s ‘As You Like It’ Set in CT, Has Original Music

Events Calendar

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | October 14, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | September 5, 2017

Darien Library

By Alex Wang | August 2, 2017

Parents & Kids

By David Gurliacci | July 25, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 2, 2017

Theater

By David Gurliacci | May 3, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | May 2, 2017

Darien Community Association

By David Gurliacci | April 28, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | April 18, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | April 15, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | April 13, 2017

Darienites

By David Gurliacci | April 7, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | February 12, 2017

Auditions

By David Gurliacci | December 26, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | November 19, 2016

Drama in and around Darien

The cast of Theatre 308’s fall drama — Anne Washburn’s Mr. Burns, a post-electric play — had the opportunity to deepen their exploration of the play through a videoconference with two Simpsons writers and producers who are also Darien High School alumni.
Brian Kelley, DHS Class of ’90, and Tom Gammill, DHS Class of ’75, responded to the students’ questions about the process of writing Simpsons episodes, The Simpsons’ enduring popularity over the show’s 29-year run, and the references to The Simpsons embedded in Anne Washburn’s play. ___________

— an announcement from Darien High School

___________
Kelley also gave the cast a virtual tour of the FOX studio, including the “writers’ room” where episode ideas are generated and developed, and shared the production copy of the script for this season’s premiere episode, which he penned. Organized by drama director Andrew Rejan and a parent volunteer, the videoconference was conducted using new technology introduced at DHS this year — Facetime-equipped iPads that sync seamlessly with classroom projectors through Apple TV. Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, which will be performed at DHS on Nov.

Auditions for the fall DAC Stage production of Sylvia by A.R. Gurney are being held on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. If callbacks are necessary they will be held on Sunday, Sept. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m.

— an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Four adults, ages 18 and older, need to be cast for the production, which will run on weekends from Nov.

Going In Style movie poster thumbnail square 08-02-17

Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin team up as lifelong buddies Willie, Joe and Al, who decide to end retirement and step off the straight-and-narrow for the first time in their lives when their pension fund becomes a corporate casualty. Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, the three risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.

You can watch this Friday Night Feature at 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

The 2017 film features Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret, Joey King; Rated PG-13; 96 minutes; Presented with Captions for the hearing impaired. _____________

– an announcement from Darien Library

_____________

Over 70 kids and teens are presenting “The Little Mermaid Jr” this weekend as part of the Musical Theatre Workshop’s Darien Summer School program at Darien High School.

This adaptation of the hit Broadway musical is colorful, whimsical, and perfect for the whole family! ___________

— an announcement from Musical Theatre Workshop

___________

The show will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 27 and 28, and at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 29 at Darien High School Auditorium. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Tickets will be available at the door!

Theatre 308 and Sorensen 06-02-17 Halo awards

DHS Theatre 308 is thrilled to announce two awards in a statewide competition for the club’s fall 2016 drama “As You Like It,” William Shakespeare’s gender-bender, mistaken-identity comedy. In addition, Middlesex Middle School teacher Tim Sorensen was recognized for 10 years of leading outstanding middle school theater. Theatre 308’s Grady Allen won “Best Leading Actor in a Classic Play” for his role as Orlando. __________
— an announcement from Theatre 308
__________
A group of five students won “Best Original or Incidental Music in a Play” for the original music they both wrote and performed in the play: Jack Savage, Evelyn Sload, Isabelle Hole, Caeleigh O’Connor and Elizabeth Kelly. Sorensen was the only middle school teacher recognized by the Halos. Sorensen has also been nominated for the 2017 Tony Award (Excellence in Theater Education).

Allan Zeller Stephanie Hazard The Basement of Everything You Need 04-30-17

In three days of extraordinary performances that will entertain, amuse, enlighten and move, eight short original works for the theatre — comedy, drama, mystery and fantasy — will debut in the Theatre Artists Workshop’s 2017 Spring Playwrights Festival on the weekend of May 19 to 21. The event takes place Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20 starting at 8 p.m. each night, and Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m. in TAW’s beautiful black box theatre at 5 Gregory Blvd, Norwalk. From the underworld to the apocalypse, a bedroom to an airplane, these original one-act plays and monologues represent the diverse sensibilities and some of the current efforts of the Workshop’s talented playwrights. They will be performed by TAW’s gifted company of professional actors. Tickets for the benefit are $25.Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made at the box office at 203-854-6830 or online. Produced by actor/writer/directors Granville Burgess of Greenwich, and Carole Schweid of Westport, who also produces the popular lunchtime series, “Play With Your Food,” the Playwrights Festival is part of the annual TAW fundraising campaign for the not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote theatrical excellence.

In Fran Dorf’s claustrophobic dystopian drama “The Basement of Everything You Need,” a married couple find themselves in paradise with no way out. Or maybe it’s actually hell on earth.
“This piece is my way of reflecting the Zeitgeist of our times,” says novelist turned playwright/screenwriter Fran Dorf of Stamford. The 12-minute play features veteran TAW actors Allan Zeller of Milford and Stephanie Hazard of New Canaan.

The Darien Arts Center stage production of Baby is entering its last weekend of performances on Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m.

The musical examines how three couples, and soon-to-be parents in very different situations, experience the comedic highs and desperate lows that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. The DAC Weatherstone Studio is located at 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT 06820, behind Darien Town Hall. For tickets, visit darienarts.org or for more information, call (203) 655-8683.

Something Wicked Macbeth Shakespeare on the Sound 04-28-17

Darien Community Association Women’s Luncheons will feature “Something Wicked This Way Comes: Shakespeare on the Sound brings Macbeth to Fairfield County” on Tuesday, May 2. Join Claire Kelly, Director and Emily Bryan, script advisor, for a discussion of Shakespeare’s thrilling tragedy, Macbeth during the luncheon at 12:15 p.m., Tuesday at the DCA. We’ll be covering witchcraft, bloody ambition, political homicide, insomnia, and paranoia! Get a sneak peek into the set design (which will capitalize on the natural setting of Pinkney Park), costumes and casting for our summer production. This event is $25 per person, or $20 for DCA members, and includes a lunch which will be provided by Michael Joseph’s Catering.

DAC Stage is proudly presenting Baby, the musical, by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire. Audiences won’t soon forget this story that examines how parents-to-be experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, as well as the desperate lows and comic highs that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. What It’s About
Three couples work their way towards parenthood under three very different circumstances. There are college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; thirty-somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.
Who’s in It
Billy Shubeck and Hilary Webster play the youngest couple in the production: Danny Hopper and Lizzy Fields, while Jeffrey Aldana and Danielle A. Valdes portray the thirty-somethings, Nick and Pam Sakarian.

DAC Stage rehearsals are under way for the spring production of Baby, by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire. The musical examines how three couples, and soon-to-be parents in very different situations, experience the comedic highs and desperate lows that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. Performances are April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., and April 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. The DAC Weatherstone Studio is located at 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT 06820, behind Darien Town Hall.

For tickets, visit darienarts.org or for more information, call (203) 655-8683. Pictured are cast members of Baby rehearsing with Dwayne Condon, musical director for the production.

DAC Stage at Darien Arts Center is proudly presenting Baby, the musical, starting Friday, April 21. Audiences won’t soon forget this story that examines how parents-to-be experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, as well as the desperate lows and comic highs that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. Three couples work their way towards parenthood under three very different circumstances. There are college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; thirty-somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.

Billy Shubeck and Hilary Webster play the youngest couple in the production: Danny Hopper and Lizzy Fields, while Jeffrey Aldana and Danielle A. Valdes portray the thirty-somethings, Nick and Pam Sakarian.

Falkenrath Murphy Palace Theater 2017 04-07-17

On May 1, two Darien teenagers will experience the joy of live theater in a whole new way — as playwrights — when professional actors perform stage readings of the original one-act plays the teens wrote in a competition for Stamford’s Palace Theatre. Here’s the Palace Theatre announcement of the awards:

Darien residents Olivia Falkenrath and Quinn Murphy, along with Ryan Polistena from Bethel were named winners of The Palace Theatre’s 2017 Ernie DiMattia Emerging Young Artist Scholarship Awards for their writing of an original one-act play. All three will witness their voices and visions come to life with a staged reading by professional actors at The Palace in Stamford. Olivia Falkenrath, a 10th grade student at Greenwich Academy, was awarded first place — a $1,000 scholarship — for her play, “New Beginnings.”

The Palace also recognized Brunswick School 10th grader Quinn Murphy with a second place scholarship of $500 for “Siblings” and Ryan Polistena, a graduating senior at Bethel High School, with a third place $250 scholarship for his work, “Dilemma of the Single Chair.”

The Palace has brought in Broadway veteran Luis Salgado to guest direct the staged reading, which will be attended by the playwrights’ parents, teachers and friends as well as Stamford Center for the Arts board members and Spotlight Soiree gala sponsors. A well-known performer, director, choreographer and producer, Luis Salgado’s 20-year career spans Broadway, film, television, and stages around the world.

Playwright Rocco Natale is performing in his latest play, a comedy and one-night staged reading, at the Darien Arts Center. Wordsmith, a production of DAC Stage, takes place at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017 in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Natale’s comedy is about life, love and the pursuit of a dog. Main character Phillip Bosch is many things: a professor of English Literature, renowned waffle expert, and crossword puzzle award-winner, but he’s not what you would call a “dog person.”

Then Houdini, an orphaned bulldog, comes into his life.

Auditions for the DAC Stage production of Baby, by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire, are being held on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 6. p.m. and Monday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m., with callbacks on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 8:30 p.m. in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Several adults, ages 18 and older, need to be cast for the production, which will run on weekends from April 21 through May 6.

This November, Darien High School’s Theatre 308 presents As You Like It, William Shakespeare’s hopeful, joyful and thought-provoking comedy. Banished from the court, Rosalind disguises herself as a man and flees to the Forest of Arden, where she unexpectedly reunites with Orlando, with whom she has recently fallen in love, and encounters a colorful cast of characters, including Jaques, who proclaims that “All the world’s a stage.”

UPDATE — HERE’s THEATRE 308’s VIDEO:

Students have been rehearsing for the past two months, using the Shakespearean language of the original text but staging the story in modern-day Connecticut—at a country club and a campground. Using the lyrics included in Shakespeare’s song-filled text as inspiration, the students have also composed (and will perform live) original music to complement the storytelling. The production showcases the work of nineteen student actors and over fifty students engaged in various behind-the-scenes roles, including set design and construction, stage management, dramaturgy, and costume, sound, and lighting design. Performances will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov.

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