Emily Altman hired as arts director Darien Arts Center

Darien Arts Center Appoints New Visual Arts Director

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The Darien Arts Center has named Emily Altman as its new Visual Arts Director. She will oversee visual arts programs for both adults and children. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Altman also is part of the team leading classes that include Little Artists for ages 3-5, Elementary Art Studio for ages 6 & 7, Art Studio for ages 8-10, Cartooning for ages 7-12, Drawing and Painting for ages 10-15, Digital Photography for ages 9-12 and Watercolor and Oil Painting for adults. Altman holds a B.A. in art history from Bucknell University and an M.A. from New York University in visual arts administration. Before joining the DAC she worked for 10 years in exhibition management at The Museum of Modern Art and Christie’s Auction House, New York.

Darien Arts Center DAC dance students ballerinas

New Classes Offered This Fall at Darien Arts Center, and You Can Register Now

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Darien Arts Center is offering some new classes this fall, and registration is now open for educational programs in dance, visual arts, music, theater and martial arts, along with special events and community theater produced by DAC Stage. For further information, to sign up for email newsletters, or to register for classes, visit the Darien Arts Center website or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. For Ages 3 Through High School
THEATRE:
NEW! — Middle School Theatre Makers, ages 11-14, Tuesdays, 4 to 5:15 p.m., Sept. 11-Nov.

Rocco Natale vertical Darien Arts Center

Kids of Ages 8 to 15 Invited to Audition for ‘Broadway Beat’ Variety Show

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The Darien Arts Center is teaming up with the Open Arts Alliance to provide a unique performance opportunity for ages 8 to 15. Broadway Beat, directed by Rocco Natale, executive director of the Open Arts Alliance, is a 30-minute variety show that will give every performer their moment to shine. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

The musical revue is a tribute to the Broadway musical and features songs from Hairspray, Grease, the King and I, Wicked, Rent, The Music Man and more. Auditions for Broadway Beat take place on Sept. 5 at the Darien Arts Center and should be scheduled by emailing Maria Pizzarello, DAC theatre director, at Maria@darienarts.org by Sept.

Jason Pizzarello Darien Arts Center

New Playwriting Workshop Offered by Darien Arts Center: Starts Sept 20

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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.

Tom Giles winner Darien's Got Talent

Here’s Who Won the 2018 Darien’s Got Talent Competition [With Updates]

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Seven happy contestants or contestant teams walked away with awards and prizes at the culmination of Saturday night’s  2018 Darien’s Got Talent show at Darien High School. Editor’s note: This article originally was published Saturday night. More information about the event has been announced by Darien Arts Center and has been included below at 2:12 p.m., Monday.  

 

Cary WangThe winner in the adult category was Tom Giles, who played “Skedaddle,” his own composition on the piano. In the Children’s Category, Cary Wang, who also played the piano on stage, was the winner.

2018 Darien's Got Talent finalists from DAC

Saturday Night’s the Night: Darien’s Got Talent Starts at 7 PM

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Saturday night’s the night, June 23, when 21 finalists from Darien and neighboring towns compete in Darien’s Got Talent at Darien High School. The event starts at 7 p.m.

If You’re Going … Tickets for Darien’s Got Talent are $35 and are available at darienarts.org. VIP tickets are $125 and include center section seating and entry to the post show party. Many family sponsorship options are also available at DarienArts.org.

Maria Pizzarello Theatre Program director at DAC

DAC Announces New Theatre Program Director; She’ll Help Teach Upcoming Audition Workshops

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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.

2018 Darien's Got Talent finalists from DAC

Darien’s Got Talent Finalists Selected, and They’ll Face Off on June 23

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These finalists have been selected for Darien’s Got Talent, the Darien Arts Center’s popular talent competition, which takes place this year at 7 p.m. on June 23 at Darien High School:

The finalists (either as individual contestants or as part of a team/troupe) are Darien residents Isabelle Seeman; Sophie Gilbert, Elle Mitrano and Isabelle Hole; Shannon Flaherty; Milana Melnick; Mia Petruzzo; Mia and Kai Sparks; Caroline Donnelly and Noa Durocher-Pyun; and Natalie Treacy.  

This fundraising event for the DAC features cash prizes for adults and children. Twenty-one finalists from around the area will compete before entertainment professionals who will judge the finals show, which drew an audience of 700 people in past years. Proceeds from the event support new and ongoing cultural events and programs offered at the DAC. Tickets are available at darienarts.org.

Darien's Got Talent 18 DAC

People’s Choice Vote Added to Darien’s Got Talent

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The Darien Arts Center has added a fun new way to be a winner in their talent show, Darien’s Got Talent. In addition to competing on stage for cash prizes, contestants can now compete to help raise money for the DAC. The public is encouraged to vote online at darienarts.org, as many times as they wish, for their favorite contestant(s) in order to elect the winner of the Darien’s Got Talent 2018 People’s Choice Award.  

The contestant with the most votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award trophy at the conclusion of Darien’s Got Talent, which takes place at 7 p.m. on June 23rd at Darien High School. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

Voting for the recipient of the People’s Choice Award is open to all and will remain open until June 22nd at darienarts.org.

DAC Pic Darien Jackson and Wyant

Pic Darien Smartphone Photo Contest Winners Announced

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The Darien Arts Center has announced 14 winners in its 3rd annual Smartphone Photo Contest, Pic Darien. The contest garnered close to 400 entries in six categories, with submissions from all ages. Here’s a video showing the entries:

[Editor’s note: The Darien Arts Center website linked to last year’s video, which this article linked to. The DAC corrected the link and Darienite was informed, so now, at 2:07 p.m., Thursday, June 14, we’ve changed it to what we’re told is this year’s video showing the entries.]

First place ($100) and runner up ($50) cash prizes in all categories were awarded to adults and children at a reception June 1 in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Here are the winners:
Food category
Student Winner: Anya Napoli Student Runner up: Anya Napoli

Adult Winner: Patricia Frattaroli

Adult Runner Up: Janine Vairo
Humor
Student Winner: Ellie Mueller

Student Runner up: Rica Monaghan

Adult Winner: Patricia Frattaroli

Adult Runner Up: Tara Claps
Abstract
Student Winner: Anna Passaretti

Student Runner up: Georgia Sheehan

Adult Winner : Julie O’Connor

Adult Runner Up: David Gioiella
People & Pets
Student Winner: Georgia Sheehan

Student Runner up: Katie Walsh

Adult Winner: Susan Mackenzie

Adult Runner Up: Jackie Stoddard
Travel, Near & Far
Student Winner: Harrison Slotkin

Student Runner up: Quinn Connolly

Adult Winner : Lee Smith

Adult Runner Up: Lee Smith

Adult Honorable Mention: Pam Lindberg
Landscape & Nature
Student Winner: Matthew Taylor

Student Runner up: Robbie Gaaserud

Adult Winner: Chad Knight

Adult Runner Up: Lee Smith

Adult Honorable Mention: Diane Farrell

 

Award-winning photographer, filmmaker and producer Jeffrey Wyant, judged the contest, a fundraiser, which was sponsored by Nola Physical Therapy and Performance, E.C. Scott, Blue Wave Taco, Blue Wave Orthodontics, Big Shots Custom Framing and Photolab, Beautycounter and Heights Pizza.

2018 Darien's Got Talent finalists

Here Are the Finalists for the Darien’s Got Talent Competition

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The Darien Arts Center has named the 21 finalists from Darien and neighboring towns who will compete in Darien’s Got Talent on June 23 at 7 p.m. at Darien High School. Auditions for the fundraiser took place on May 19 and 20 in the DAC Weatherstone Studio, with over 80 contestants of all ages, auditioning for the preliminary judges. Auditioning acts included singers, dancers, musicians, comics and theatrical performers. The chosen finalists will move on to compete for cash prizes in front of a live audience and a panel of accomplished entertainment professionals in the finals show. The finalists for Darien’s Got Talent in the adult category are: Benedetta Cordaro; Marianna DiMeo; Tom Giles; Grace Herbert; Ryan Pappolla; Christian Rottner; Erick Sanchez; Isabelle Seeman, William Shubeck; and Riley Wells.

Cabaret DAC Stage

Letter: Thanks, Darien, for Supporting ‘Cabaret’ with Nine Sold-Out Performances

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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.

Raymond G. Michaud master of ceremonies Darien's Got Talent

Actor and Singer Raymond G. Michaud Named Master of Ceremonies for Darien’s Got Talent

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Veteran actor, singer and entertainer, Raymond G. Michaud has been announced as Master of Ceremonies for Darien’s Got Talent, the Darien Arts Center’s talent competition taking place on June 23. The popular community event features cash prizes for adults and children, and entertainment professionals as judges for auditions and finals. 20 finalists will compete for top prizes in front of a live audience at Darien High School. Auditions for the competition are open to all ages and contestants are not required to live in Darien, but must register to audition at darienarts.org by May 11. A Wilton resident, Raymond G. Michaud is a member of the Actors Equity Association (AEA); Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

Cabaret DAC Stage

‘Cabaret’ Musical Starts Friday on Darien Arts Center Stage

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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.