The glory days of Tudor England may be over, but the Middletown-based theater company ARTFARM, with special guest Al Terzi from Connecticut’s Channel 3 Eyewitness News, is going to “party like it’s 1599” anyway.
On Tuesday, June 9 at 7 pm at Kidcity Children’s Museum ARTFARM will
be raising money for its summer Shakespeare in the Grove production of The Taming of the Shrew by holding a Shakespeare Sonnet Slam and Elizabethan Bash!
The Sonnet Slam is a Shakespeare Poetry Slam & Performance Event celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the first publication of Shakespeare's Sonnets. Al Terzi of Channel 3 will serve as celebrity host for the festivities. Terzi, the anchor for weekday editions of Eyewitness News at noon and five since 1994 and widely regarded as the “dean of Connecticut television news”, will make a special appearance as “Lord Mayor of London.” The two-time Emmy award winner will introduce the evening’s performances and award prizes.
Performers of all ages will bring their art to one of the Bard’s 154 sonnets, including professional actors from around Connecticut. The recitals will include a variety of theatrical elements from singing and dancing to puppets and “circus” sonnets. Wandering performers will engage the audience in Shakespearean insult contests, and guests will have the opportunity to have a royal audience with Queen Elizabeth.
“The Sonnet Slam is the artistic centerpiece”, says ARTFARM Artistic Director Marcella Trowbridge, “but the entire museum will be turned into an Elizabethan Festival. William Shakespeare and several of his characters will be working the crowd and guests will have the opportunity to bring home a souvenir photo taken with the Bard. Joseph Getter and Mick Bolduc of the “Shakespeare in the Grove” band will be playing period music as the audience arrives. Local musician and Shakespearean Bob Alexander will be playing electric harpsichord in one room, there will be Shakespeare insult circles in the next, and of course there will be plenty of food and drink provided by costumed servers. People can get involved in a number of ways, depending on their comfort level, by performing a sonnet, sponsoring a performer, or simply attending the event.”
Sonnet performers have solicited patrons to “sponsor” their sonnet performances. Top patrons will be recognized at the event, and prizes will be awarded to the performers with the highest patronage totals.
Tickets to the Elizabethan Bash! are $14 and include tickets for two drinks. Sonnet performers will be admitted to the Elizabethan Bash! for free, but must register to perform by June 5 and meet the minimum sponsorship total.
Kidcity Children’s Museum is located at 119 Washington Street in Middletown
For more information, including Shakespeare Sonnet Slam guidelines and sponsor forms, go to www.art-farm.org. If you still have questions, call ARTFARM at (860) 346-4390 or email info@art-farm.org.
Photo Credits:
At left: Channel 3's Al Terzi will serve as celebrity host for the event. Photo courtesy of WFSB.
Right: Actor Brian Jennings will appear as Shakespeare at the Sonnet Slam. Photographer: John Giammatteo
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