MxCC Goes Live and Local this Summer with Shakespeare, Ballet, Music Festival

Middlesex Community College welcomes the arts to its Middletown campus this summer with several live events taking place in the large outdoor grove behind Wheaton Hall.  These world-class productions are offered for free or at prices $10-$20 – making each event an ideal value for everyone who enjoys live performances. Free and handicapped parking is available at all lots on the campus.

The annual Shakespeare in the Grove production from ARTFARM returns to MxCC with a performance of “A Midsummer Nights’ Dream” running from July 15-19 and July 22-26.  Live music begins at 6 p.m. and the play begins at 7 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and a picnic.  Tickets are $20 and $10 for students, and can be purchased the night of each performance, by calling (860) 346-4390, or by visiting www.art-farm.org.
 
The Connecticut Ballet also brings its Summer Dance Caravan back to MxCC for the fifth season, this time taking the performance outdoors and onto a custom-built stage in the grove – designed to accommodate a much larger crowd than in previous years.  This free, open-air performance, which will take place on August 1 at 7:30 p.m., features selections from 65 classical ballets as well as two world premieres.  The family-friendly event is supported by the Middletown Commission on the Arts, MxCC, and Price Chopper. Food trucks will be on-site for pre-show picnicking and intermission. The rain date will be Sunday, August 2, at 7:30 p.m. For further information, including other Summer Dance Caravan dates, visit www.connecticutballet.com.

For the fourth time, MxCC hosts the Middletown Music Festival on August 8-9, which celebrates local musicians. This year the festival expands to two days and includes 13 bands (Jennifer Hill, gigglejuice, JCherry & The Strawberries, Someone You Can Xray, Joey Batts & Them, SuperTrance, Straddle, Daddy Kalimur,, Randomizer, The Terry Rand Band, Hannah’s Field, The Balkun Brothers, and The Michael Cleary Band) along with six acoustic acts (Robert C. Fullerton, Julia Autumn Ford, Erica Lynn, Joe Paresi, Rust’d Keys and Seat Of Our Pants).  The festival also includes local artisans and food vendors, along with yoga, belly dancing, hula hooping, outdoor games and dancing. This family festival is open to everyone and the suggested donation is $10 (includes entry in a drawing for music CDs, vendor gifts and other items).  In the event of rain, the festival will take place inside MxCC’s Chapman Hall.  Contact jcherrypresents.com for festival information.

“MxCC’s beautiful cedar grove is the ideal venue for these exceptional outdoor performances,” said John Shafer, professor and coordinator of communications at MxCC, who also coordinates these events for the College.  “We welcome our local community to enjoy these free and low-cost cultural events with their families and friends, so they can support our local arts scene and enjoy summer as it was meant to be.”