Darien Arts Center

Darien’s Got Talent

‘The Nerd’ Opens Friday, Nov. 6 — Got Your Tickets Yet?

‘The Nerd’ Bumbles onto the Darien Arts Center Stage for Three Weeks

‘Evening of Dance’ Features Wide Variety of Styles and 30 Dancers

Darien Arts Center Gets Nearly $10K in State Grant

Auditions Sept 12 to 13 for ‘The Nerd’ at Darien Arts Center

Darien Arts Center Open House: 1 to 4 PM Sunday

Darien Arts Center Expands Classroom Space, Music Faculty

Registration for More than 75 Fall Classes at Darien Arts Center

Families Can Make Memories at Supper and Sculpture Workshop July 29

Artist Stan Pastore’s Works at Darien Town Hall Until July 31

Photo Gallery: DAC Senior Dance Concert & How Your Kid Can Get Involved

Photo Gallery: Darien Art Center’s Fundraiser on Saturday

Want to Host a Party at DAC’s Weatherstone Studio? Bid for it Saturday at Fundraiser

Want to Host a Party at DAC’s Weatherstone Studio? Bid for it Saturday at Fundraiser

By David Gurliacci | June 25, 2016

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | October 25, 2015

Theater

By David Gurliacci | October 20, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | October 9, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | October 2, 2015

Theater

By David Gurliacci | September 9, 2015

Around Town

By David Gurliacci | September 9, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | August 24, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | August 13, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | July 16, 2015

Art Exhibits

By David Gurliacci | July 16, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | June 26, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | June 24, 2015

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | June 20, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | June 18, 2015

Darien’s Got Talent, fundraiser for the Darien Arts Center, takes place on June 25th at 7 p.m. at Darien High School. 20 finalists from Darien and neighboring towns will compete cash prizes in front of a live audience and a panel of accomplished entertainment professionals. The finalists for Darien’s Got Talent in the adult category are: Tom Giles, Katherine Gunya, Zach Heyde, Karen Joyce Miller, Riley Wells Thrush, a dance group consisting of Donyae Carter-Smith, Christopher Thigpen, Toni Yarrell, Alexis Askew, Najheera Miller, Cedric Thigpen, Domonique Carter-Stanley, Morgan Henry, Le’Ashia Langley, David Daniel, Davante Thomas, and Elisha Yarrel, a musical group of Laura Anglade and Grant Morro, a musical group of Paul Nelson and Jess Wilkes, and a singing group of Grady Allen, Carson Stewart, and Jordan Kalonydes. Finalists in the children’s category are: Isabella Bardos, Ella Bates, Lauren Blake, Taylor Felt, Clare Noelle King, Rica Monaghan, Ben Roland, Sommer Schmidt, Quinn Taylor, and a rock band consisting of Ben Teolis, Adeline Teolis, Rodrigo Galavis, and Diego Ferreira. Judging the finals are renowned jazz musician Joel A. Martin, Broadway writer and director Dan Goggin, former professional ballet dancer Ashlee Knapp Stewart, music industry producer John Doelp and producer of Kinky Boots, Jane Bergere.

The Nerd, a two-act comedy written by American playwright Larry Shue opens on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Darien Arts Center, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015. This top grossing American play is based on the hilarious dilemma of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect visited by a man he’s never met, but who saved his life while unconscious in Vietnam. The visitor turns out to be an incredibly inept, hopelessly stupid “nerd” who outstays his welcome with a vengeance. The DAC Stage production, filled with laughter and silliness, promises to deliver all kinds of humor to audiences.

The Darien Arts Center Stage fall season is underway as it prepares for its production of The Nerd by Larry Shue. The comedy begins its 3-week run on weekends in November, and ready to bring the audience to its knees laughing, are both cast and crew that include local talent from Darien and surrounding areas. ___________

— This announcement is from the Darien Arts Center. ___________

The Nerd is based on the hilarious dilemma of a young architect and landlord, Willum Cubbert, who is visited by a man he’s never met, but saved his life in Vietnam. The visitor turns out to be an incredibly inept, hopelessly stupid “nerd” who outstays his welcome with a vengeance.

Once again, a dazzling ‘Evening of Dance’ promises to thrill audiences at the Darien Arts Center’s annual performances on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.

Celebrating it’s 15th year, the DAC’s ‘Evening of Dance’ will showcase an impressive culmination of performances by the DAC Dance department staff, and the adult and student performance groups that have worked together since 2000. Under the direction of DAC Dance Director Bonnie Gombos, instructors and students have developed, choreographed and polished performances to feature the versatility of the dancers in a wide variety of dance forms.

Performances will encompass classical ballet, modern, contemporary jazz, and ballroom styles, and approximately 30 dancers will perform in the 90-minute show. ‘An Evening of Dance 2015’ will take place at the DAC Weatherstone Studio, behind the Town Hall.

The Darien Arts Center, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, was recently awarded a 2016 Supporting Arts in Place matching grant in the amount of $9,983 by the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) and the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). ____________

— An announcement from Darien Arts Center

____________

Despite funding reductions, the COA committed to increasing the amount allocated to the Supporting Arts in Place category, now representing nearly 40% of available grant funds for COA grant programs, and included the DAC in its funding. In a letter to the DAC, the COA stated, “Your organization contributes significantly to our agency’s goals and supports the state’s local and regional economies.”

Founded in 1975, the DAC is dedicated to providing visual and performing arts programs and events for the community, with over 6000 individuals attending programs and performances each year. Offerings include educational programs in dance, visual arts, music and theatre, as well as special events and community theatre produced by DAC Stage. Over 600 students benefit from the DAC dance program and the number of music students has recently doubled, necessitating expansion of classroom space.

An announcement from Darien Arts Center:

Auditions for the DAC Stage production of The Nerd, by Larry Shue are being held on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Darien Arts Center Weatherstone Studio, located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind Darien Town Hall. Callbacks will be determined. Bob Johnson will direct this two-act comedy that will run on weekends in November from Nov. 6 through 22.

An announcement from Darien Arts Center:

As part of the ongoing celebration of its 40th anniversary year, the Darien Arts Center is hosting an Open House on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.

All ages are invited to participate in mini-classes in dance, visual arts and music, find out about programs, meet DAC board members and faculty, and enjoy music performed by DAC music teachers. Birthday cake will be served in celebration of its 40th year. Information will be provided, including show dates and participation and volunteer opportunities, for those interested in their community theatre group, DAC Stage, the Annual Darien Art Show and Sale, and other programs.

Complimentary mini-classes include preschool and hip hop dance, martial arts, piano, a singing class for tweens, and a printmaking project for all ages. Cake will be served during the birthday celebration with music performed by music department faculty.

An announcement from the Darien Arts Center:

Due to popular demand, The Darien Arts Center has expanded both classroom space and Music Department faculty to accommodate additional classes in piano, guitar, flute, drums, violin, composition and voice. The additional faculty includes Max Pakhomov, Dan Hague, Jaana Narsipur, Megan Talay, Sharon Levin and Darien High School graduates Stephanie Wong, Zach Heyde and Will Bruno. They have joined Regina Elliott and Juanita Bosee, Music Director. Offerings include both individual instruction and group classes, with violin offered for children as young as 3 years old and piano for those as young as 4. Vocal Divas!, a new six-week workshop in vocal performance for ages 7 to 12, focuses on classic pop and rock n’ roll styles.

Registration is now open for more than 75 Fall 2015 classes at the Darien Arts Center. Offerings include dance, visual arts, martial arts and music for all ages. ______________________

An announcement from Darien Arts Center

______________________

Most classes begin on September 8. Ongoing classes for adults include ballet, tap, pilates, watercolor painting and martial arts. New classes include a vocal workshop for ages 7-12, Vocal Divas!

From the Darien Arts Center:
Families can share dinner, nurture their creativity and make memories on Wednesday, July 29th at the Darien Arts Center (darienarts.org) when they participate in the Supper and Sculpture Workshop, from 6 to 8:30pm. Parents can create Alexander Calder inspired wire portraits with their children (ages 8 & up) that they can proudly take home. Participants will eat a kid-friendly dinner while engaging in a short discussion about sculpture, shape and form with DAC Visual Arts Director, Beth Cherico. Although no experience is necessary for this quality family time, reservations are requested at (203) 655-8683 or online at darienarts.org so that enough materials and supper can be provided. Fee for the workshop and supper is $40 per person.

A Darien Arts Center announcement:
Local award-winning artist Stan Pastore is currently exhibiting his artwork at the Darien Town Hall at 2 Renshaw Road in Darien. Pastore received the Town Hall Art Show as part of the prize for winning Best in Show at the Darien Arts Center’s 2014 Art Show and Sale with his watercolor painting, Old Yella. Pastore, a Norwalk resident, has been honored with numerous awards for his work and also won Best in Show at the DAC in 2006. He has received awards at the Carriage Barn in New Canaan and multiple first place awards at the Rowayton Art Center. He has exhibited artwork at the Greenwich Art Society, the Silvermine Guild, the Darien Library and the Agin Art Gallery on Cape Cod.

An announcement from Darien Arts Center:

The Darien Art Center dance department performed its annual Senior Dance Concerts on Sunday, June 7 to packed audiences in the Darien High School auditorium. The DAC, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015, holds one of the largest dance programs in Connecticut, with over 600 students participating annually. The Darien Arts Center offers educational programs in Dance, Visual Arts, Music & Theatre, & special events & live theatre performances by DAC Stage. Private donations, grants, tuition fees & ticket sales fund the DAC, which is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. For further information or to register for classes, call (203) 655-8683 or visit darienarts.org.

Here’s what the Darien Arts Center’s recent benefit, “A Midsummer Night’s Celebration,” looked like. The event was sponsored by Darien Rowayton Bank. The following description and photos were contributed by the arts center:
Guests enjoyed entertainment by Lew & Mary Green and hors d’oeuvres from Michael Joseph’s Catering at a beautiful waterfront home in Darien. Donors of auction and raffle items included Doug Allen, Brooks Brothers, Chocolate Works, Stasha and Mark Cohen, Curtain Call, the Darien Chamber of Commerce, Julie and Scott Johnston, Posh Spa & Nails, and Andrew Stefanou Salon & Spa. The Darien Chamber donated wine and tickets to its 11th Annual Wine & Food Tasting and Charity Auction on Oct.

The Darien Arts Center invites the community to support its Midsummer Night’s Celebration benefit on Saturday, June 20, 2015.

« August 2022 »

A Darien Arts Center news release:

The Darien Arts Center invites the community to support its Midsummer Night’s Celebration benefit on Saturday, June 20, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary year. The cocktail reception will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at a beautiful waterfront home in Darien. The benefit will feature the music of Lew and Mary Green, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres by Michael Joseph’s catering. Auction items include a party in the DAC Weatherstone Studio complete with use of the state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment – perfect for an Oscar, Tony or Superbowl event; 2 hours of singer/songwriter Doug Allen performing at an in-home party, and a dance or ‘painting and pinot’ party at the DAC. Jane Pelley will act as auctioneer.