Oddfellows Playhouse Fall Classes 2022!!!

Registration is now open for Fall Classes at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning September 17th, classes in theater, dance, circus, music and visual art will be offered for ages 3 - 20. Teenagers are invited to audition for our fall mainstage production.

Teen Repertory Company (ages 14 - 20) will hold auditions for Journey to the West on September 12th & 15th, from 6:30 - 9 pm. Teens are asked to pre-register for one of the two audition evenings, to arrive on time, and plan to stay for the entire time. Everyone who auditions and commits to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast in the show. Regular rehearsals will be Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm. Performances will be November 10th - 12th & 18th - 19th.

Circophony Teen Circus (ages 12 - 20) offers fall circus training in preparation for a winter mainstage production. Acro Focus! will be held on Tuesdays evenings 6:30 - 8:30pm and Juggling+ on Wednesday evenings 6:30 - 8:30pm, culminating in a Fall Circus Showcase on December 2nd. Students may register for one or both classes! No previous experience is required. Classes run September 20th - November 30th (10 weeks.)

For our youngest Oddfellows, Saturday Classes feature Circrobatics (ages 3 - 5 and 6 - 8) combining circus, acrobatics and creative movement. Other classes include Faerie Tale Theater (for ages 3 - 5) as well as Circro-Balance (ages 6 - 8) with a focus on stilting, unicycling, rolling globe, tight rope, and spool. Classes start September 17th and continue through November 19th (10 weeks.)

Musical Mentoring, which offers students one-on-one music lessons with Wesleyan Music students, will be held on Saturdays this fall for students ages 6 - 8 and 9 - 11. Classes will be held October 1st - November 19th (8 weeks.)

Technical Theater & Design (ages 14 - 20) will be held on Sundays, 4 - 6 pm, September 25th - October 30th (6 classes & Practicum).

This year, the Fall after-school program will be split into two 6-week sessions. Session one runs September 19th - October 27th, culminating in a Share Day on Friday, October 28th. Session two runs October 31st - December 8th, with Share Day on Saturday, December 10th.

Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Circus I, Visual Expressions, Creative Movement, Fairy Tale Theater, and Hip Hop Dance, Musical Theater (ages 6 - 11).

Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Circus II, Whole Body Acting, Culture Tuesdays, Into the Story, Theater Improv, Watercolor Painting, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Musical Theater (ages 6 - 11,) Hip Hop Dance (ages 9-14,) and a Mini Production of James and the Giant Peach (ages 9 - 14.)

Stage Three classes for ages 12 - 14 include Clowning and Physical Comedy, Scene Study, and Hip Hop Dance (ages 9 - 14,) Musical Theater, Advanced Acting: Michael Chekhov Technique, and a Mini-Production of James and the Giant Peach.

Most after-school classes run from 4:45 - 5:45 pm, though the Stage Three classes and James and the Giant Peach Mini-Production run a bit longer. Middletown Public School students may complement their class experience with Oddbridge, an extended day program which provides transport from Middletown schools to the Playhouse, a snack, and supervised arts activities, games and homework help before classes start. This year Oddbridge will extend throughout the school year, providing special programs and field trips on early dismissal days or days when regular Oddfellows’ classes are not in session.

For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CHEFA Cultural Relief Grant; New England Foundation for the Arts/New England Arts Resilience Fund; George & Grace Long Foundation; and many generous individual donors.

Photo attached by Bill De Kine of Teen Repertory Company 2021 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company Announces Auditions for Journey to the West, September 12th and 15th

Auditions are September 12 and 15 in Middletown for actors ages 14 - 20 looking for a powerful and challenging performance experience this fall.

Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company 2022 announces auditions for
“Journey to the West", a contemporary adaptation of a 16th century classic Chinese novel created by Mary Zimmerman. The play combines comedy, adventure and satire in a moving allegory of human perseverance and ingenuity.

Audition dates are September 12 and 15, 6:30 - 9 pm.

Anyone wishing to auditions should:

*Register for one of the two evenings by emailing info@oddfellows.org or calling (860) 347-6143.

*Arrive on time, dress to move, and be prepared to stay the entire 2.5 hours.

*Open to anyone ages 14 - 20.

*Everyone who auditions and commits to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast.

Rehearsals begin September 19 and will be Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm.

Performance dates are November 10 -12 and 18 - 19.

“Journey to the West” will be directed by Missy Burmeister, a seasoned and visionary theater artist who teaches Theater at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and directs Looking In Theater.

Tuition for Teen Rep is $300. Financial aid or work-study are available for all who need it.

Email info@oddfellows.org to register for one of the two auditions, or call (860) 347-6143 for more information.

Photo attached by Bill De Kine of Ivan Lazaro and Sofia Hurlbert in May, 2022 Teen Repertory Company production of “The Greeks”

Oddfellows Playhouse Open House

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, September 10th, 2022 from 12:00 to 3:00pm. Families, kids, volunteers and artists will have the opportunity to tour the Playhouse, meet the staff and get a hands-on sense of the kind of things that we do. Learn about opportunities this year for kids, teenagers and adults alike. Find out how you can get involved at Oddfellows this fall! The Playhouse is located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown. 

Oddfellows Playhouse is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program. Since 1975, Oddfellows has offered young people throughout central Connecticut access to high-quality performing arts education and performances. Financial aid is available to families that are not available to afford tuition.

Registration is now open for our 48th season, which begins September 17th. Our fall programming offers age-appropriate training in theater, dance, circus, music and visual art for ages 3 - 20. Programs for younger students focus on skill building and fun. Teenagers can find challenge, inspiration and community in Circophony Teen Circus or the Teen Repertory Company. Adults of all ages are encouraged to join the fun at the Playhouse as volunteers - opportunities include everything from helping with box office or ushering for performances, assisting in classes, painting sets, or volunteering in the Oddfellows office.

For more information: call (860) 347-6143, email info@oddfellows.org or visit us at oddfellows.org.

Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CHEFA Cultural Relief Grant; New England Foundation for the Arts/New England Arts Resilience Fund; George & Grace Long Foundation; and many generous individual donors.

Oddfellows Playhouse Presents Special Guest Performance "meSSeS"

Middletown, CT: Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater in Middletown will be presenting a special guest performer Janoah Bailin and his one-man show “meSSeS” taking place July 9th and 10th.

“meSSeS”, created by Mr. Bailin, is a unique experience which combines learning, entertainment, and teamwork. The performance will feature acts of juggling, unicycling, puppetry, and dance, while giving the audience the option to learn to juggle as they watch. The combination of silliness and meaning makes this performance enjoyable for all ages. 

The performances, which are open to the public, will take place on Saturday, July 9th at 7pm and on Sunday, July 10th at 3pm in the theater at Oddfellows Playhouse. 

Community organizations and presenters are enthusiastic about this production. Ian Bannon who is Executive Director of Mayo Street Arts says, “ Each time the house lights came up for another scarf juggling lesson, the audience progressively engaged more with each other, strayed and intermingled further from their seats, and reveled in the collective chaos of hundreds of floating scarves.”

Tickets for “meSSes” are $8 for adults, $5 for kids, and $15 for Big-Hearted Oddfellow, and may be purchased at https://oddfellowsplayhouse.ticketleap.com/messes/dates.

“meSSeS” is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. Additional support is provided by the City of Middletown and the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest theater for young people. The Playhouse is located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown. For information about this production and other Playhouse programs, call (860) 347-6143, email info@oddfellows.org, or go to www.oddfellows.org.

 

Newest Artist-In-Residence on the New England Trail performs free show Wednesday

The Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s latest New England Trail Artist-in-Residence, Ben Cosgrove, will perform and talk about his upcoming residency Wednesday night at the Wesleyan University science center. Ben composes and performs music inspired by New England landscapes, and will spend the next 12 months writing and performing music inspired by the New England Trail (NET). 

The New England Trail, from Long Island Sound
to Mount Monadnock. Plenty of parking!
(Click to embiggen.)

The New England Trail runs 215 miles from the Guilford shore to the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Border, ("from the Sound to the Summits"), and in 2009 became one of just eleven federally-designated national scenic trails. It's comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock Trail systems and passes through 42 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, including Middletown.

The New England Trail Artist-in-Residence program is a project of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the National Park Service. The artists help to create and deepen people's connections to the land, particularly the shared resource of the New England Trail. Past artists include poet David K. Leff, and photographers Xiomaro and Barbara Bosworth.

Ben performs regularly all over the country, writes scores for films, plays, radio, and television, and has produced several well-received albums of original instrumental work. He says the strongest forces guiding his compositions are his deep interests in landscape, place, and ecology.   

Wednesday's event is co-sponsored by Wesleyan University’s Earth & Environmental Science Department. Further details here on CFPA's web site.

When: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm  

Where: Exley Science Ctr. Lobby (Lawn Ave. side) 265 Church St.  (Parking may be available at Lot D on Lawn Avenue.)   RSVP: RSVP recommended Price: FREE

Video: title track to Ben's album "Salt"

Passionate Performers and Wesleyan Alumni Make The Buttonwood Tree Their Destination of Choice

We often hear of what's coming up at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center, (TBT), but what actually happened is often a mystery. Even its location seems to be a mystery, as countless folks come in saying they've "passed by this place for years and didn't know it was here". Trees hide the sign over the door of the small space which is located in the former Arriwani Hotel, next to It's Only Natural market. Once inside, a whole new world opens up to those who dare to enter. Between the eclectic books, local art, inviting atmosphere and exposed brick walls, Buttonwood has repeatedly been called a "hidden gem" in the heart of downtown Middletown.

Earlier this month an Italian beauty made her debut performance and she won the hearts of all in attendance. Sissy Castrogiovanni hails from Sicily and has been living in Boston for the past few years. She brought her band and added Evan Waaramaa on piano, a West Hartford native, whose family was delighted to see him perform with the dynamic group. Also in attendance was the new director of the Downtown Business District, Nicole Castrogiovanni. Maybe not related directly, they do share their family name and their first visit to TBT. Over a dozen people experienced TBT for the first time that night and at least one gentleman spoke to her in their native tongue, a bonus for them both. Singing in her Sicilian dialect didn't deter from the enjoyment of the music, but rather added to the flair of the jazzy tunes. Her voice too an instrument, was used expertly and expressively.

Owen McNally kindly interviewed the Italian songstress, but words can hardly capture the passion that was felt in the cozy space at TBT. She moved on stage using her whole body like an instrument, rising and falling in rhythm, floating and soaring with notes that tantalized and captured listeners' attention and hearts. Playing to the sax, their eyes locked, her voice matched its notes with perfect pitch and if you closed your eyes you might have thought there were two saxes in the room. One number she sang just to the piano, a love song that was a lovely as a flower blossoming and brought tears to more than one listener. When a performer with passion plays TBT, it is felt by all those who tune in and in that moment, we're all One. Those times are something special to be experienced, something so wonderful that people who can get quiet and into the moment, can treasure forever. Folks return from near and far to feel the magic that happens between performer and audience at The Buttonwood Tree, like in no other place.  

One pair of patrons knows the value of the irreplaceable, treasurable moments available at The Buttonwood Tree, and they traveled to Middletown from their home on Long Island, NY simply to spend the weekend at TBT. Wesleyan alumni, Dick Einhorn, and his lovely wife, Susan, have been regular attendees at TBT for a couple of years. They enjoyed the classical guitar music of the students from the Hartt School of Music as well as the jazz guitar of Sinan Bakir. It's a family affair at TBT, that night Bakir's son came along as he often does for his dad's regular appearances.

Music is not the only gift that flows from TBT, as the Einhorns know. They attended a show last October featuring members of Cotton Hollow Rising where Cece Borgenson told the audience how they got their band's name, and talked about the treasure of Cotton Hollow Preserve in South Glastonbury. In between shows at TBT, the Einhorns enjoyed the natural beauty of the Preserve, satisfying their curiosity born of that October concert. Often coming to Middletown for Wesleyan events and catching one show at TBT, this weekend they came mainly "to experience The Buttonwood Tree". Smart folks those Wesleyan folks, and talented too as this Saturday's concert with the Mattabessett String Collective will reveal.

See Owen's story here: http://wnpr.org/topic/jazz-corridor

This weekend TBT hosts five events: 
Friday,     8 pm, Orice Jenkins Jazz http://www.buttonwood.org/event/orice-jenkins/
Saturday, 10:30 am, Aligned with Source workshop: http://www.buttonwood.org/event/aligned-with-source-19/
                8 pm, Mattabessett String Collective: http://www.buttonwood.org/event/mattabesett-string-collective/   (Reservations suggested)
Sunday,   1-2 pm Food not Bombs (Free vegetarian community lunch)
                4-7 pm Celebrating Tommy Moses: http://www.buttonwood.org/event/celebrating-tommy-jakula-moses/    (Call us to participate)

CANCELED: Tonight's film and Saturday's Yoga and Qigong classes are all canceled

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center is run by North End Arts Rising, Inc., a nonprofit organization located at 605 Main Street. www.buttonwood.org   860.347.4957
Volunteer opportunities are available. 

Oddfellows Playhouse Announces 2013-14 Season

Oddfellows Playhouse is pleased to announce its 2013-14 Season for its Junior and Teen Repertory Company.  The first season under the guidance and direction of Artistic Director Kristen Palmer is filled with classics, family musicals and some new endeavors.

The season will begin with the Junior Repertory Company’s of The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet onstage November 14-16, 2013.

Theater Opportunities for Children of All Ages

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater is pleased to announce its second Fall 2012 Session will begin the week of October 29.  The youth theater, which provides afterschool and weekend theatrical programming, is excited about the overhaul in program offerings and expansion of the second fall session.  Oddfellows’ programs use theatre as a vehicle to build essential life skills, while exploring highly educational and artistic themes and plays.