Events at The Buttonwood Tree

This Week at The Buttonwood Tree
February 3-10
The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center
605 Main Street / PO Box 71, Middletown, CT 06457
www.buttonwood.org / 860.347.4957  

Say "Hello!" to February with The Buttonwood Tree.  We've got new art on the walls and great performances on the calendar.  Come hang out with us in "Middletown's Living Room!"

Weekend Highlights 
Friday, February 5 @ 8 pm $10

Uri Shaham and Mark Kaplan Quartet

Tickets Here
The Uri Shaham – Mark Kaplan Quartet is a premier jazz ensemble that interprets The Great American Songbook and jazz classics in a uniquely expansive way.  Fronted by stellar jazzmen Uri Shaham on piano, and Mark Kaplan on tenor saxophone, the rhythm section is rounded out by all stars David Stoltz on bass, and Ralph Rosen on drums.

Saturday, February 6 @ 7 pm $5

Free at Last Players present
The Players of Oz

The Free At Last Players will be presenting ‘The Players of Oz’: The story of Dorothy – who suffers from mental illness.  Join Dorothy as she walks down the purple-brick road away from the stigma of mental illness. Along the way, she meets a color cast of characters with whom she shares her journey.  The one act play consists of songs adapted from the original which address the concerns of the mentally ill.
The Free At Last Players are a performance troupe dedicated to combating the stigma of mental illness.  Founded in 1990, the group has performed all over Connecticut and the United States with shows consisting of songs, poems and skits created by the group’s members. 
Join the Free At Last Players in their effort to educate society with regard to the true nature of mental illness. Audiences have been wowed by the performances and have laughed along with the cast of performers – so come and join us!

February Art Show:
Growing Outward 
by Rachel Hunt Keating
 
The energy in nature has always been a magnetic force for Rachael Hunt Keating. RHK, as she is playfully called by her friends, can vividly remember that first woodland experience at a very young age that awakened her senses. Her lifelong love of photography has been steadily growing, and is now a daily practice. Rachael's children, Skyler and Daniel, are the reason she continues to strive and are the driving force behind Skydancing Photos, Rachael's photography endeavor. As a 20+ year resident of the CT shoreline, her passions for nature and photography have colorfully intertwined. The path has lead to the beaches~ where early morning sunrises are met with open-eyed wonder and a deep appreciation. These views are shared by means of the camera due to an inner motivation to stir the souls of the sleeping, and by doing so assist in the "Growing Outward" vision to inspire others into nature. 

 
 Weekly Events
Acoustic Open Mic with Bob Gotta
 Thursday, February 4 @ 7:00 pm $5
Every First Thursday of every month, Bob Gotta hosts this acoustic open mic which is the LONGEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING Open Mic in the STATE! Sign-up starts at 6:30. Bring your own instrument or play our piano or congas. Come play and be heard!

Aligned with Source: Forgiving and Forgiving Again with Annaita Gandhy
Saturday, February 6 @ 10:30 am $5
Annaita is experienced in applying varied healing modalities to a wide range of situations. In these inter-active workshops, Annaita seeks to empower, sharing her deep understanding of life, holism and spirituality, enabling you to rise above life's challenges, live a healthy, fulfilled & confident life.

Anything Goes Open Mic
Monday, February 8 @ 7:00 pm $5
Hosted by Nora Canby, John Way, Ashley Hamel or Karen Stein. Sign up starts at 6:30pm.
$3-5 donation suggested

The Grays: Electric Gypsy Tribal Jazz
Wednesday, February 10 @ 7:00 pm $5
The Grays will be performing on the second and fourth Wednesdays this spring starting January 13th sharing original works-in-progress and jams. Featuring special guest artists and dancers in a high-energy but chilled out vibe, in a cabaret style jazz lounge for Get-over-the-Hump Midweek Date Nights All ages welcome.