Auditions for ages 12 - 19 for Classic Comedy and Circus

Oddfellows Playhouse has two exciting, upbeat productions going into rehearsal in January, and now is the time for teens to make sure that they secure a place. 

The Junior Repertory Company (for ages 12 - 14) will be presenting Carlo Goldoni's classic comedy The Servant of Two Masters. Auditions will be held Thursday, January 10, 4:30 – 6 pm at the Playhouse; performance dates are March 14 – 16.

The Servant of Two Masters is one of the great comedies of all time. Written in 1748, this Commedia dell’ Arte masterpiece features slapstick comedy, cross-dressing, mistaken identity, misguided romance, mischievous servants, rebellious teenagers and clueless parents. Auditions are open to all young people ages 12 to 14, and everyone who registers, auditions and makes the commitment to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast. The Servant of Two Masters will be directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Dic Wheeler, an expert on Commedia and physical comedy and a graduate of the Dell Arte School of Physical Theater.

There is no need to prepare anything for the audition, but please dress to move, arrive punctually at 4:30 pm, and plan to stay until 6 pm. Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 – 6 pm, starting January 15; Tech rehearsal is Sunday, March 10, and there will be daily dress rehearsals March 11 – 13 leading up to the March 14 opening.

Enrollment in The Servant of Two Masters will be limited to 12. The first 12 students to register will be guaranteed parts in the play; after that a waiting list will form.

Students ages 12 - 19 can audition for Circophony Teen Circus's new show, Circus Botanicus, a circus-theater exploration of the plant world. Circus experience is not required -- dancers, gymnasts, actors, skateboarders, athletes, parkouristas, jugglers and clowns are all encouraged. Auditioners should attend one of the two auditions, dress to move, arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire two hours. Rehearsals will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 6 - 9 pm, starting January 22. Performance dates are March 21 - 23. The show will be created by the cast members under the direction of Circus artist Allison McDermott and guest specialists

To register for either production, or for more information go to https://www.oddfellows.org/circophony or call (860) 347-6143.

Tuition for either program is $250. Financial Aid is available. It is the policy of Oddfellows Playhouse never to turn anyone away because of inability to pay. 

The Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest theater program for young people. Oddfellows is committed to offering young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to access high-quality performing arts training and performance opportunities.

Christmas Tree Recycling

City of Middletown

Public Works Department

245 DeKoven Drive,  Middletown, CT  06457

TEL: (860) 638-4850 RECYCLING: (860) 638-4855

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 18, 2018

For more information contact:

William Russo, 860-638-4850

MIDDLETOWN ANNOUNCES CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM

The City of Middletown's Christmas Tree Collection and Recycling Program will continue as it has in the past and commence on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, weather permitting. This special recycling program is being provided to City residents as part of the City's overall effort to reduce waste and reuse and recycle discarded materials.

Christmas trees can either be brought to the City Recycling Center free of charge for recycling or placed at the curb for collection by the Middletown Public Works Department during the first couple weeks of January.  All trees must be prepared accordingly:

1. All decorations must be removed, including tinsel.

2. Plastic bags must also be removed.

3. Trees should be placed bottom end facing the curb.

The collection schedule will depend upon weather conditions. Heavy snow will delay collection of the trees.  

Trees delivered directly to the Recycling Center must also have all decorations removed and be emptied from plastic bags. A Middletown driver’s license must be presented to enter the Recycling Center. There is no charge to bring trees to the Recycling Center. The Center is open Monday – Friday 7am – 3pm and the first and third Saturday of the month, 7am – 12 noon. 

Christmas trees are chipped along with regular brush from residents and the chips are given away free of charge to Middletown residents and businesses.  Large loads of woodchips (more than five cubic yards) are delivered to residents free of charge.

For more information on Christmas tree recycling or woodchip delivery, contact the Middletown Recycling Coordinator at 860-638-4855 or email Kim O’Rourke at kim.orourke@middletownct.gov.

Winter classes and productions at Oddfellows registering now!

                                                      CT State Troubadour Nekita Waller will be hosting

                                                                the Middletown Teen Talent Search on January 19!

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater in Middletown has announced its winter 2019 programs in the arts for young people ages 6-20. Programs begin in early January and range from classes in theater, music, and visual arts to mainstage theater and circus productions.

Oddfellows has been offering fun and challenging theater and circus experiences to central Connecticut young people since 1975, and has consistently been recognized by Connecticut Magazine as the State’s “Best Children’s Theater”.

This winter the Playhouse will be offering young people of all ages opportunities to create, train and perform. Programs for teenagers include the Middletown Teen Talent Search, the Teen Repertory Company and Circophony Teen Circus.

The Middletown Teen Talent Search will be held on Saturday, January 19 and is open to Middletown young people ages 12 – 19. The event will be hosted by Connecticut State Troubadour Nekita Waller and the top act will win a cash prize of $500.

The Teen Repertory Company, the Playhouse’s senior company for ages 14 -20, is developing an original, ensemble-created performance piece with music and dance this winter and spring. This Is Important: An Ensemble Creation Experience, offers five winter workshops in which students will develop text, movement and music based on their own experiences of navigating contemporary life as a teenager. The work will be developed into an original, mainstage show which will have auditions in March and be performed in May.

Circophony Teen Circus, open to ages 12 – 19, is a collaboration between ARTFARM and Oddfellows Playhouse and will be mounting a mainstage production this winter called Circus Botanicus. Auditions are January 8 & 9 and performances will be March 21-23. Circophony is open to all teens, regardless of circus experience, though a background in gymnastics, dance, theater, parkour, improvisation or any physical discipline may be helpful.

Middle School students and home schoolers are served by the Junior Repertory Company (ages 12-14), which will be producing the classic Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters. A feast of slapstick, disguises, mistaken identity, misguided romance, rebellious teens and clueless parents, auditions are January 10 and the show will hit the main stage March 14 – 16.

Ages 12 – 14 may also join our weekly Improv Jam, held on Saturday mornings starting January 19 and run by Carmine Lavieri.

Young people ages 6 – 11 are offered a host of classes in the after-school hours Monday through Thursday. Classes for ages 6 – 8 include Stories from the Middle East, Junior Circus, Creating Characters and Slapstick & Clowning. For ages 9 -11 there is Circus Arts, a visual arts class called Beads, Baubles, Boxes and Beans, Scene Study, and a Mini-production (which rehearses two afternoons per week) called Fairytale Fantasy.  All classes and the mini-production begin the week of January 14.

Middletown Public School students ages 6 – 14 can sign up for Oddbridge, an extended-day program in which students take the bus directly from school to Oddfellows and participate in an hour of Arts Programming before formal classes start at 4:30pm. Oddbridge is designed to take you from the school bus to performing arts classes, while preparing you for successful class and production experiences.

The winter program at the Playhouse also features Le Petit Studio, conceived and directed by Congolese theater artist Toto Kisaku. This unique theater experience is for kids ages 8 – 14 and their families. The class will be from 10 am to noon on Saturdays January 26^th, February 9^th and February 23^rd; students may sign up for one Saturday or all three.

Oddfellows programs are tuition based, but the Playhouse is committed to making these experiences available to every young person, regardless of ability to pay. Please refer to the website for financial aid information.

For details about any of the above programs and more, including tuition and financial aid, or to register, go to www.oddfellows.org or contact Oddfellows at info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143.

Oddfellows Playhouse is located at 128 Washington Street in downtown Middletown. Oddfellows Playhouse is Connecticut’s oldest and largest youth theater, founded in 1975 with the mission to promote the growth of young people – in skills, knowledge and self-confidence – through the performing arts. Playhouse programs are made possible due to generous support from the United Way of Middlesex County, Middletown Commission on the Arts, Fund for Greater Hartford, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Liberty Bank Foundation, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Middletown Youth Services Bureau, Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the Stare Fund.

                                         All kinds of opportunities in theater, circus, music and visual arts 
                                                  for ages 6 - 20. Register at www.oddfellows.org today.
                                                  Share Day photo by Madeleine Sargent.

Christmas 2018: Services at First Church

December 23, 2018 at 10am

Instant Pageant Service at First Church
 

December 24, 2018 at 5pm

Christmas Eve Barn Service,

Windy Ridge Stables, 111 Crystal Lake Rd., Middletown, CT 06457

December 24, 2018 at 10pm

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at First Church

190 Court St., Middletown, CT  06457 

Community Christmas Day Dinner at First Church

Christmas Day Dinner 

 THIS IS A Free COMMUNITY EVENT

December 25, 2018, from 12pm-2pm – Community Christmas Day Dinner,
at First Church, 190 Court St. Middletown, CT 06457.

 We are in need of volunteers, cooked turkeys, pies, cakes, dinner rolls & cold drinks to serve at the dinner. Please contact Julie by email jmhurlburt26@gmail.com or call 860-346-6657 Ext.15 and leave a message.  Rides to the church and home deliveries are also available--call our office at 860-346-6657.

Take a Winter Session Course at MxCC

Winter Session runs from DECEMBER 26, 2018 to JANUARY 16, 2019
Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT

Do you want to get ahead in your program of study?
Are you ready to take an online class?

Use the winter break to:

• accelerate your studies
• catch up on credits
• pick up a requirement or fulfill a prerequisite
• save money while you are home
• get the same academic excellence as fall/spring semesters

Winter session is a wonderful time to complete a three-credit course at Middlesex Community College.

The deadline to apply for winter session courses is Thursday, December 21.
Click here for more information.

Sicilian Folk and West African Jazz Comes to The Buttonwood Tree

Rosa Tatuata – A Michela Musolino Ensemble

December 14 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

$15

Buttonwood Tree has the pleasure of hosting Michela's recent passion project:Rosa Tatuata. Rosa Tatuata pays tribute to the beloved play about the cultures of the Americans and immigrants wildly melding together. Michela Musulino is know for her fiery and passionate interpretations of traditional and contemporary Sicilian folk and roots music, she infuses her vocals with the emotions of life. Musolino enchants with a voice that seems to float between the ages. Instrumentation includes guitar, organetto, accordion, baglama, mandolin, ciaramedda, zompogna, frischialettu, flute, clarinet, marranzano, tamburello, tamburo, and lira calabrese.

Details and reservations

Other Events Coming Up This Weekend

Saturday, December 15th

Aligned With Source 

A Personal Development Workshop

& Guided Meditation

10:30 am - 12:00 pm
$10 suggested donation (give what you can)

Topic: Mindful living 

In times when your personal path seems to conflict with the collective path, where do you choose to look & how do you make sense of your role?
   Details here

Saturday, December 15th

Ornament Decorating Workshop 

Free Family Fun!    12:30- 2:00 pm
Details here

Saturday, December 15th

TEEN Open Mic 

Bands welcome too! Call ahead to make arrangements for drum kit, amps

Thanks to Middlesex Music Academy 

3:00- 5:00 pm| $5
Details here

Lorens Chuno: An Evening of West African Jazz Fusion

December 15 @ 8:00 - 10:00 pm

$15

New York based Nigerian musician, Lorens Chuno's warm and dynamic vocal styling is the perfect vehicle for his catchy jazz compositions complete with soul and West African influences. Lorens Chuno has played several distinguished venues and festivals across the country, and has opened for international acts including the CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT, the SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE ALL STARS, and ANGELIQUE KIDJO. He has also worked with some legendary musicians including drummers POOGIE BELL and ROGER HUMPHRIES, and pianists GERI ALLEN and MARC CARY.
Details here

Coming Up Next Week

Anything Goes Open Mic + Moments of Gratitude

Monday, December 17th | 7-10 pm | Host: Terri & Rob Duo | $5 | Details here

******NEW ***** PIZZA will be available!!

NOTE: TBT will be closed Dec 24, 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1

Laughter Yoga w/ Dawn

Tuesday, December 18th | 6-7 pm | Donations Welcome! | Details Here

Crystal Bowl Sound Healing w/ Lou 

Tuesday, December 18th | 7:30-8:30 pm | Donations welcome! | Details here

Osaki-san, William Gillette's Gentleman Valet at Russell Library December 16th

Japanese actor Taku Hirai will play "Osaki-san", the
valet of William Gillette for over 40 years. The play is
part of the Immigrant Artists series at Russell Library.

Russell Library and The East Haddam Stage Company will present a new one-man drama on the life of Yukitaka Osaki, the Japanese valet of actor William Gillette, featuring New York-based Japanese actor Taku Hirai on December 16, 2018 at 2:00pm in the Hubbard Room. This presentation will be the last in a series sponsored by the Middletown Commission on the Arts entitled, “Immigrant Artists”. 

Osaki-San and his older brother came to visit the US from Japan in 1888. His brother Yukio returned to Japan, where he went on to become the mayor of Tokyo. He was behind the famous gift of cherry trees to Washington D.C. Yukitaka, however, decided to stay. He became the quiet soul who worked beside the actor William Gillette for almost forty years as valet, secretary, confidante and friend.

Playwright and director Kandie Carle has developed several plays for the East Haddam Stage Company. She does extensive research, incorporating many details into the plays. Her one-woman show, “The Victorian Lady” is renowned for historical accuracy. She is the Artistic Director of the East Haddam Stage Company.

Established in 2002, EHSCO’s mission is Minimal Set, Maximum Connection, focusing on intimate live theatre presentations around New England and beyond. As resident theatre company at Gillette Castle State Park, EHSCO has offered 10 years of outdoor summer theatre to the visitors of the park. Find out more about the company at www.EHSCO.org

Taku Hirai has acted in films and stage. He is known for Valedictorian (2015), Film 101 (2005) and Dance Mania Fantastic (2005).

First Church Middletown: Candlelight Christmas Concert, Sunday at 4pm, 190 Court Street

First Church Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert

Candlelight Christmas Concert

First Church
in Middletown 

190 Court Street 
Sunday, Dec. 9th
4 o'clock pm


You are invited to the Candlelight Christmas Concert at First Church, 190 Court Street. The concert takes place on SUNDAY, December 9, at 4:00 PM and is free and open to all.  

First Church Austin pipe organ is
at the heart of the sanctuary.

This year's program features classical and traditional, along with Gospel and spiritual selections from our choirs, our bell choir, and the Court Street Singers men's choir; as well as Christmas readings and carol singing with the congregation. 

Minister of Music Shari Lucas will  play the newly refurbished Austin pipe organ; and the refurbished Sanctuary will shine with the light of good will in our 350th anniversary year. A generous buffet-reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

FIRST CHURCH is located at 190 Court Street, and there is plenty of free parking nearby. The concert is free, donations are appreciated. For additional information, please call our office manager at 860-346-6657.  Or see us at FirstChurchMiddletown.org or on FaceBook, First Church Middletown FB.
_______________________________________________________________

The Buttonwood Tree Offers Space Helping the Homeless

Hip Hop for the Homeless (presented by Joey Batts)

Thursday, December 6th  8 -10:30 pm Donations welcome

(with cupcakes by NORA)
Details here

Read Hartford Courant's full article about this amazing project!

See the Facebook Page

There is something about the holiday season that heightens most people’s sense of compassion toward those less fortunate. But Hartford school teacher and local rapper Joey Batts doesn’t need the holidays to see that people in his community are in need.

“Five years ago I noticed that some of my students were struggling with being displaced from their homes or couch surfing, and it was the first time in my life I realized that homelessness affects different types of people. The archetype of the old homeless guy with the big beard is not always what the face of homelessness really is. Being hungry affects so many people.” - Joey Batts

Upcoming Events

Friday, December 7th

Story City Troupe

Storytelling "Moth" style

"Holidays"

8:00-10:00 pm| $10 suggested donation

​​​​​​​Details here

Saturday, December 8th

Aligned with Source: 

A Personal Development Workshop

& Guided Meditation  

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

 $10 Suggested Donation (give what you can)

Topic: "A journey of  discovery"

Looking back how much has changed! Who were you then & who now? Explore the differences & the sameness  - Annaita Gandhy  Details here

Saturday, December 8th

Vision Board Workshop

w/ Flo

1:00-3:00 pm

Door: $15 includes supplies

Create Your Dream for the New Year -

2019 is just around the corner! This is the perfect time to focus on what you want to manifest in the New Year.       Details here

Saturday, December 8th

Joe Fonda 

& The Tri Continental Trio

 (Jazz out of the box)

Featuring notorious international musicians:

Guillermo Gregorio on the clarinet, hailing from and representing the unique sound of Argentina and

Roman Lopez on drums, whose style is rooted in his home country of Spain

8:00-10:00 pm   Door: $15 

Details here

Web:   buttonwood.org

Phone:   860.347.4957

Email:  thebuttonwoodtree@gmail.com

Artist Talk by Kate Ten Eyck December 7

            Middletown artist and musician Kate Ten Eyck began creating multimedia animations in 2015. Four of her recent works are currently on display at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater in Middletown, where they are being projected in the theater lobby before performances of Sophocles’ Antigone.  On Friday, December 7th, she will be giving an artist talk at 6:30 at the Playhouse about her process for the animations. The talk will be followed by a performance of Antigone at 7:30 pm.

            Her piece “The Rock” grew out of the classic Greek myth of Sisyphus, as well as an artistic collaboration with a fellow musician combining jazz music and text to tell the story of strength growing out of the struggle against adversity. Charcoal was the focus of her next creation, “Don Henley”; this was an experiment in cut out paper puppets and the dramatic lights and darks that charcoal naturally creates, resulting in a compelling animation. “Tides” arose out of a trip to the New Hampshire coastline and a contemplation of the power of water. Compiled of an improvisational soundtrack as well as the introduction of color pastels to give it life, it is an animation of nature and the future that climate change holds for it.

It was a long artistic process to create “Firebird”, intended to be a music video animation composed of shadow puppets. When one of the singers on the project was killed, the themes of personal transformation and the importance of community came to the forefront of the animation and compelled Ten Eyck to finish the project and dedicate it to the memory of Claire Randall. Every piece is different, inspired by something new and takes on a shape of its own during the artistic process.

Kate Ten Eyck has been generating visual art, music, and performance from her Middletown studio for the past 22 years. Once an Oddfellows kid creating sets for shows and performing as part of the circus band, she now works for Wesleyan University as the Art Studio Technician and teaches classes in drawing and printmaking. Her work has included sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and most recently she has been focusing on animation.

This is a unique opportunity to hear a prolific local artist speak about her work - be sure to stick around to see her animations in person and enjoy the 7:30 showing of Antigone! The talk is free and tickets for Antigone are $15/$8 for adults/students. There will be one additional performance of Antigone on Saturday, December 8 at 7:30 pm.

            For more information about Kate Ten Eyck, please visit www.kateteneyck.com.

For details on the Artist Talk, and to reserve tickets, call (860) 347-6143, email info@oddfellows.org, or go to www.oddfellows.org. Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is a youth theater which promotes the growth of young people - in skills, knowledge and self-confidence through the performing arts. Oddfellows Playhouse is located at 128 Washington Street, Middletown CT.

Nakhimovsky and Bisantz in Concert at Russell Library December 9th

Alex Nakhimovsky and June Bisantz will perform
at Russell Library December 9, at 2:00pm.

This coming Sunday, December 9, at 2:00pm, pianist Alex Nakhimovsky will present several pieces from his repertoire of both classical and jazz. He will also be joined by June Bisantz during a Jazz set which features music from their new CD, Love's Tango. 

After emigrating to the United States from Russia in 1978, Alex studied at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT with Jackie McLean and Luiz Castro among others. He has been a full time faculty member at the Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts, and adjunct faculty at the Hartt School of Music since 1999.

Alex's musical accomplishments as a Jazz and Classical artist include musical direction and arranging as well as solo and ensemble performances, visiting over 50 countries and 6 continents. He has performed with Jazz legends Benny Golson, Jackie McLean, Jimmy Cobb, Valery Popnomarev, Sheila Jordan, Curtis Fuller, Victor Bailey and Grammy nominated artists Bill Evans and Carla Cook. 

Vocalist June Bisantz has co-written and produced several collections of original vocal jazz, all our which have received national and international recognition. She has toured internationally and has performed and recorded with distinguished jazz musicians including Steve Swallow, Bob Moses, Paul Brown, Lew Soloff, Jerry Neiwood, Mike Stern & Will Lee.  

This concert is part of Russell Library's Immigrant Artist Series, and is sponsored by The Friends of the Russell Library and the Middletown Commission on the Arts. 

Spring Classes at Middlesex Community College begin January 24

Here's How to Register at MxCC

Click here to see a list of degree or certificate programs

Attend Open Registration Days:

Middletown Campus, 100 Training Hill Road
Tuesday, December 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, December 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MxCC@Platt, 220 Coe Avenue, Meriden
Thursday, December 6 from 3 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, December 13 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Visit the MxCC Website: 
https://mxcc.edu/registration/

Get started today!