CT Humanities Grant Helps Bring Middletown Story to Life

Oddfellows Playhouse is pleased to announce that is has received a $225 quick grant from the Connecticut Humanities in support of its production of Hear What’s In the Heart: A Shoemaker’s Tale.  The play stars Middletown native Steve Scionti.  Scionti co-wrote the show with Tony Award -winner Anthony Crivello, also the director, who recently completed a run on Broadway of Clifford Odet’s Golden Boy.

Hear What’s in the Heart is set against the backdrop of a post-funeral gathering to celebrate the life of Scionti’s grandfather, Angelo Morello (who owned Angelo’s Shoe Repair on Main Street in Middletown.)  Taking us through the funeral day’s events, Scionti paints a theatrical family portrait in a series of humorous and poignant vignettes, transforming himself into various family members and friends.

 

“The support from the Connecticut Humanities allows us to reach out to a broader audience,” says Executive Director Matthew Pugliese. “The show is so interesting because it brings us back to a different time and generation.  It deals with the immigrant experience and adjusting to living in a new country, which so many people have experienced as first and second generation immigrant families.  I know this show will connect with so many people.”

As part of the production, the evening of Thursday June 13 will have post-show discussions led by the Executive Director of the Middlesex Historical Society Deborah Shapiro and Steven Scionti.  Deborah Shapiro will talk about the Italian and Sicilian Immigrant experience in Middletown, and Steven will talk about his family’s roots in Middletown and the development of the show. 

This family tale began on Thursday May 16, 2013.  The show will continue weekly on Thursday nights through June 20, 2013.  All performances are set for 7:30pm.  Tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased online at www.oddfellows.orghttp://oddfellowsplayhouse.ticketleap.com/, or call 860-347-6143 for more information.

The show, which has played to sold-out houses at the Zephyr Theater in Los Angeles, as well as shows in Westchester and New York City.  It was selected to be in the 2009 NY Fringe Festival. The show played two nights at the Wesleyan University Center for the Arts in the summer of 2012.

 Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities that funds, creates and collaborates on hundreds of cultural programs across Connecticut each year. Connecticut Humanities brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to express, share and explore ideas in thoughtful and productive ways. From local discussion groups to major exhibitions on important historical events, CTH programs engage, enlighten and educate. Learn more by visiting http://www.cthumanities.org.

Middlesex Historic Society Mansfield House Spring Clean up

  A message from the Middlesex Historic Society- & invitation extended to the public:

 

Dear Members,

 

Chairman of Buildings and Grounds, Joe Samolis, is issuing a call for volunteers to help clean up the Mansfield House yard and gardens on Saturday, May 5 at 9 am.  Members Bonnie Penders and Lois Bukowiec have already tended to the herb garden, and member Sally D'Aquila has taken care of the boxwoods, but the rest of the yard needs raking and clipping and weeding.  As it is said, many hands make light work, so the more who help out, the quicker the task will be completed.  I have several rakes here, but if you could bring your own and a pair of clippers, that would be helpful.  We'll have coffee brewing for those who need a boost!

Our yard is an oasis in the downtown area and we are justly proud of it.  The more beautiful it is, the more likely we will be able to rent it for parties and events, a goal under our new budget adopted last evening at the annual meeting.

 

If it is pouring rain, we will postpone to Saturday, May 12, but hopefully we will have sunny weather.

 

Best,

Debby

 

Deborah Shapiro
Director
Middlesex County Historical Society
151 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-0746

Spring Events from the Middlesex Historic Society

Events, stories, pictures

Thursday, March 10, 2011, 7pm, Russell Library, Hubbard Room: Powder Ridge Rock Festival: 1970: Past president of the Historical Society, Bill Ryczek, will give a talk on the July 1970 rock festival at Powder Ridge in Middlefield. Put on that tie-dyed shirt, pull your hair back into a ponytail, and make the scene for some great vibes and a very groovy evening! Admission is free of charge.

Sunday, March 20, 2011, 2pm, Mansfield House: Women's History Walking Tour: Dione Longley, former director of the Historical Society, will lead a walking tour of Middletown and tell stories of the strong, inspiring women who have lived here. Celebrate Women's History Month and learn more about an often-overlooked aspect of Middletown history. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for members. Children 12 and under are free.

Friday, April 1, 2011, 7pm, the Inn at Middletown: Society fundraiser with prominent Lincoln scholar: Michael Burlingame, the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield and one of the nation's foremost Lincoln scholars, will give a talk on how recently discovered resources have changed the public's perception of Abraham Lincoln. A reception will follow the talk.

For more information go to : http://www.middlesexhistory.org/index.htm

Antique & Classic Car Show on Sunday

The annual Middletown Car Show will be held on Sunday, at Pat Kidney Field on Farm Hill Road (rain date is October 11th).

Entry fees are $10 per car, and $3 for spectators. Judging will take place at 11:00AM

For more information or to register, contact Deb: 346-0746.

The show is the major fundraising event for the Middlesex County Historical Society. Debbie Shapiro, at the Historical Society, said people and cars come from far away to attend the show, "We're quite well known, because our trophies are handmade from wood, with a tree because we're the forest city." The trophies are made by Middletown artist Richard Bergan.