Busy Busy Week (Part 2: 6/11-14)

June 11:
The Veterans Memorial Theatre Company presents "American Warriors: Scenes from Plays about 20th Century Wars" tonight from 7:30 - 9:30 in the main auditorium of Congregation Adath Israel, Church & Broad Streets. The production features excerpts from works by Arthur Miller, Kenneth Brown and a reading from Major Andrew Olmstead, killed in Iraq in 2008 (he blogged throughout his deployment) as well as recorded music from the different eras. This is a fundraiser for the Company and the evening will feature a raffle and refreshments. Ticket prices are $30 per person and $20 Seniors and students. For more information, call 860-870-1412.

CHP's production of "Harvey" resumes tonight at 8 p.m. in Oddfellows Playhouse and can also be seen at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Not exactly "hare-raising" but quite humorous. Call 347-7771 for reservations and go to chproductions.org for more information.

June 12:
If you are a regular reader of The Eye, you already know about the Middletown Art Guild's 6th Annual Juried Art Exhibition from 7 - 9 p.m. at in the Zilkha Gallery at Wesleyan. If not, click here.

The Buttonwood Tree presents singer/songwriter Kristen Graves (pictured) in concert at 7:30 p.m. Recently moved to Connecticut from Minnesota, Graves has a sweet voice and her songs blend poetry with incisive comments on love and relationships. Graves also writes good "pop"melodies and her latest CD, "Stay" (self-released) is quite impressive. (You can check out samples by clicking here.) Opening the show will be singer/songwriter/keyboard player True Margrit (Margrit Eichler), also a musician with a "poppy" side who writes really catchy melodies. For reservations, call 347-4957.

Boney's Music Lounge, 106 Court Street, welcomes the Nick DiMari Group for an evening of jazz and more. The music begins at 8:30 p.m. Call 346-6000 for more information.

June 13:
The Buttonwood Tree welcomes back singer/songwriter Frank Critelli for an 8 p.m. Critelli blends folk and rock influences into his music and his lyrics are both witty and incisive. The publicity for the gig says he'll be playing with his Band so the show could be a bit more "high-energy." Opening the evening will be the New Haven-based singer/songwriter/radio show host James Velvet and the Lonesome Sparrows Trio.

Boney's Music Lounge takes a "walk on the funky side" when drummer Liviu Pop performs with his trio featuring Nozomi Yamaguchi and James Richardson from 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

June 14:
The Middletown-based CT Gilbert and Sullivan Society will be holding auditions for this fall's production of "The Pirates of Penzance" at 5:30 p.m. in the main auditorium of Congregation Adath Israel. You, too, could be the "Very Model of a Modern Major-General" or sing about "a Rollicking Band of Pirates We." Auditions will also take place on Tuesday June 16 at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 1-800-866-1606.