Back by Popular Demand 2 Additional Circophony Performances at Oddfellows Playhouse

Back by POPULAR DEMAND, Alice in Wonderland goes to the Circus in a fast-paced, all ages 45 minute show presented by the talented teen performers of Circophony.

Two additional showings of "Circus in Wonderland" will be performed

Friday, February 21 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 22 at 2 pm

At Oddfellows Playhouse
128 Washington Street
Middletown

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children.

Circophony is a collaboration between Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and ARTFARM. The company, directed by ARTFARM co-founder Dic Wheeler (also the creator and long-time director of the Children's Circus of Middletown), is made up of eight circus performers between the ages of 12 and 17.

"Circus in Wonderland" explores the magical world of Alice in Wonderland through the joy and spectacle of circus. Alice is plunged into a world in which the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit and other iconic characters juggle, stilt, unicycle, clown and perform stunning feats of acrobatics. It's Alice in Wonderland like you've never seen it before! Bring your kids! Bring your parents! This show has something for everyone.

For more information about the show, which is available for touring through May, 2014, contact ARTFARM at info@art-farm.org.
For tickets please contact Bessie at Oddfellows Playhouse, (860) 347-6143

"Beer Gods" Raise Over $2K For Oddfellows

Eli Cannon's Taproom kicked off its "Beer Gods Week" promotion with a fundraiser for the Oddfellows Playhouse.
With the restaurant closed on Mondays, Eli's made it's slightly-fantastical-yet-ever-soothing beer garden(s)  available, welcoming a couple of dozen brewers (many from CT, one from Middletown) who offered ticketholders tasting samples of various brews.
Eli's temporarily removed a section of fencing, allowing people to buy grilled cheese, tacos, and cupcakes from food trucks parked out back in the Kings Avenue city lot.

Oddfellows board member Quentin Phipps with Executive
Director Matt Pugliese.

The tasting tables were very busy.  Owner Phil Ouellette estimated that over $2200 dollars was raised for the children's theater thanks to about 180 paying guests (and a raffle of beer-related swag).  That's twice as much as last year.  No doubt the perfectly comfortable weather helped.

Stubborn Beauty Brewing Co.
moved into the Remington Rand Building earlier this year.

Roundup Of Recent Municipal Actions

Last week the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously granted a variance to the code, for a proposed restaurant and drive-thru with a stacking lane of 160’ instead of required 200’ located at 851 Washington Street. This is for a Taco Bell, which will be built on the site of the former Friendly's Restaurant in front of Price Chopper on Washington Street. The Taco Bell application will be the subject of a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 8th.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved changes to the historic Eckersley Hall building, which is being modified for a Senior Center. Middletown Press Article

The Economic Development Commission approved the city's purchase of the liquor license from Capitol Liquors, in order to reduce the number of liquor stores downtown. The Common Council will vote on this at their August meeting. Middletown Patch also reported that the Capitol Liquor store property is being sold to the owner of Main Street Market. See also Hartford Courant Article.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) approved a $50,000 grant to Oddfellows Theater. According to The Hartford Courant, "the youth theater group will partner with the city to create architectural drawings, planning activities, and design charettes for the reuse of a vacant building in the downtown area as a cultural facility for the theater company."

Oddfellows Playhouse postpones the start of fall classes one week

Due to last week’s wide spread power outages, registration for Oddfellows Playhouse’s fall classes and programs has been extended and classes will now begin on Sept. 19.

There are still openings in all classes including the popular Saturday classes for three to four year-olds called Little Fellows and First Act! classes for five to six year-olds. Other classes include Complete Actor 1 classes for students in grades one through three which teach the basics of acting through games, skits, stories and exercises. Complete Actor 2 classes are for 4th and 5th graders and develop the next set of vocal, physical and emotional skills for young actors.

Students who have already taken Complete Actors 1 or 2 may take part in Oddfellows’ popular Mini Productions: The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss and Twain Tales, an original production where students will bring Mark Twain’s beloved short stories to life. Our Technical Theater classes are also on the schedule.

The Teen Repertory Company and Junior Repertory Company schedules remain the same with auditions set for Sept. 12 and 13 for Slaughterhouse 5 and Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story. For more information, to register for classes to performances, call Oddfellows at (860) 347-6143 or log onto Oddfellows HomePage.

Oddfellows programming is made possible through the generous support of the Connecticut Department of Education, CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, The Stare Fund, the Middletown Commission on the Arts, Middlesex United Way, Middlesex County Community Foundation, Pratt & Whitney-Middletown, the Irving Kohn Foundation and the Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Fund. Media support is provided by Comcast.

ATTENTION ALL THEATER ENTHUSIASTS!

Oddfellows Playhouse is once again, opening its doors to a brand new line-up of Fall Programming for young people Grades 6 and Up.

Our Junior Repertory Theater will be holding auditions for, Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story adapted by Michael O'Brien.

Our Teen Repertory Company will also be holding auditions for, Slaughterhouse Five (or The Children's Crusade) by Kurt Vonnegut.

__________________________________________________________

-Fall 2011 Programs Lineup-

Teen Rep (Grades 9+) Slaughterhouse Five, Directed by Daniel Nischan

*PRE-AUDITIONS will be Sept 7-8, 6:30-8:30pm*

*AUDITIONS will be Sept 12-13, 6:30-9:30pm*

REHEARSALS: Tues, Wed & Thurs, Sept 15-Nov 3, 6:30-9:30pm

Daily Rehearsals: Nov 6 (12-6 pm) & Nov 7-10 (6:30-10:30 pm)

PERFORMANCES: November 11-12 & 17-19, 7:30 pm

Junior Rep (Grades 6-8) A Christmas Carol, Directed by Lorra Carey

*CLASS LIMIT OF 25 STUDENTS*

REHEARSALS: Tuesdays & Thursdays, Sept 13 - Dec 1, 4:30-6 pm

Daily Rehearsals: December 4-8, 4:30-7:30 pm

PERFORMANCES: December 9-11, 7:30 pm

*All pre-auditions, auditions, rehearsals & performances will be held at Oddfellows Playhouse*

__________________________________________________________

~This season Oddfellows is excited to begin our wide range of Youth Theatre programs. Not only is Oddfellows the largest and most active year-round theatre in Connecticut, we are also an independent, non-profit organization which promotes the growth of young people by helping them build skills and self confidence through the performing arts~

To register for one of our exciting productions CLICK HERE . For more information regarding our Youth Theatre Programs please call (860) 347-6143 or email Sarah: sarah@oddfellows.org

Oddfellows Programing is made possible by major support from CT State Department of Education, CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, Middlesex United Way, Middlesex County Community Foundation, The Stare Fund, Pratt & Whitney–Middletown, Middletown Commission on the Arts, City of Middletown CDBG Scholarship Program, Media Sponsor Comcast Cable and Radio Sponsor WESU 88.1FM

Oddfellows Home Page

FALL 2011 CLASSES AT ODDFELLOWS

Is your child a story-teller? Do they enjoy exploring and creating stories through song and dance? Do you find that your little one enjoys games, activities, movement and songs while bringing their favorite stories to life?

....Perhaps you find that your child is already familiar with the theatrical arts but desires to progress to the next set of vocal, physical and emotional skills for young actor.

If so… Save the Date!

Monday, September 12 Oddfellows Playhouse will open its doors to begin our annual Fall classes.

This season Oddfellows is excited to begin our wide range of Youth Theatre programs. Not only is Oddfellows the largest and most active year-round theatre in Connecticut, we are also an independent, non-profit organization which promotes the growth of young people by helping them build skills and self confidence through the performing arts.

-Fall 2011 Program Lineup-

• Little Fellows (Ages 3-4) :

Tuesdays, September 13 - November 1 10:00-11:00am

• First Act! (Ages 5-6) :

Saturdays, September 17 – November 5 9:00-10:00am

• Complete Actor 1 (Grades 1-3)

Wednesdays, September 14 – November 2 4:30-5:30pm or Saturdays, September 17 – November 5 9:00am – 10:00am

• Fall Mini-Production The Sneetches :

Mondays & Wednesdays, September 12 - November 2 4:30 - 5:30pm with performance on November 4 @ 6pm

• Complete Actor 2 (Grades 4-5) *prerequisite for Twain Tales :

Wednesdays, September 14 - November 2 4:30 - 5:30pm or Saturdays, September 17 - November 5 9:00 - 10:00am

• Fall Mini-Production Twain Tales :

Tuesdays & Thursdays, September 13 - November 3 4:30 - 6:00pm with performance on November 4 @ 7pm

To register for one of our classes CLICK HERE . For more information regarding our Youth Theatre Programs please call (860) 347-6143 or email Sarah: sarah@oddfellows.org

Oddfellows Programing is made possible by major support from CT State Department of Education, CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, Middlesex United Way, Middlesex County Community Foundation, The Stare Fund, Pratt & Whitney–Middletown, Middletown Commission on the Arts, City of Middletown CDBG Scholarship Program, Media Sponsor Comcast Cable and Radio Sponsor WESU 88.1FM

Oddfellows Home Page

Around the World in 80 Days

The Oddfellows production of Around the World in 80 Days begins with a preview tomorrow, and runs through next weekend.
All shows are at 7:30 PM. Tickets are 15$ adult, students and seniors 8$.


The dates are
Nov 12 (preview)
Nov 13
Nov 14
Nov 20
Nov 21

Children's Circus of Middletown, Friday

Inherit the Wind

I dropped by the Inherit the Wind dress rehearsal at Oddfellows Playhouse yesterday and grabbed these shots. Consider them a preview to a great show. Every actor in the cast has an amazing stage presence, and the chunk of the performance that I saw was gripping. I fully recommend going to see it either this weekend or the next, it is well worth the time.






























































The dates are
March 26th at 7 pm. Tickets are “pay-what-you-can,”
March 27 and 28 at 7:30 pm
April 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm

Go here to get tickets!

Threepenny Opera at Oddfellows Playhouse

Last night I walked over to Oddfellows Playhouse to see the dress rehearsal of threepenny opera. The show has a fantastically driven cast who admit the show has been stressful but still burst with optimism! While talking to them, I learned that rehearsing has been going on since around September. Some of the cast members I talked to also admitted that Threepenny was one of their favorite shows, and they were very excited to get a chance to perform it.


















































The show starts this week and shows Thus-Fri-Sat.
Next week it shows Fri-Sat, and Fri-Sat the next week.
(12/5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20)
If you want tickets, I recommend calling Oddfellows to reserve them as the last musical was sold out in advance.
The phone number is (860) 347-6143 and their website is Oddfellows.org.

It takes a village (district) to raise a child

Though we don't know each other, I loved FishMuscle's blog entry on the evening concert at Wesleyan -- I understand he was the one in the yellow shirt, and maybe some of those kids running under the trees were his, mixed with mine.

For me, between raising four kids and my work surrounded by families at Kidcity Children's Museum, I'm always thinking about how we (the collective we) are doing as parents and what kind of people we are raising, and how they are someday going to feel about the job we've done --

Out in the world of commentary, there's a current notion about Parenting that we (parents) are paying too much attention to our kids, creating self-centered little monsters, and a sort of "Kindergarchy", where our culture has come to glorify youth instead of adulthood, and no one wants to be a grown-up anymore. Parents today -- the thinking goes -- are hostages in a cycle of doing way too much for their kids, and the family revolves around the interests of the kids instead of the adults.

We certainly seem to be bucking this trend in downtown Middletown. For the neighborhood parents that I know, life is not a whirl of driving from soccer practice to dance class. Instead, I'd say that engaging in the community is sort of the neighborhood sport for the grown-ups and the kids tag along more often than not. In some ways, our (grown-up) involvement in the community is purely selfish -- it's fun to be part of something larger than yourself. There's no doubt that it sometimes takes time away from your own family's needs. Sometimes, downtown families decide that their kids just won't get to do an activity if it takes too much of the family's time (meaning that it's outside the center core.)

But it's also true that our kids are having a great experience by growing up here -- the kids in our neighborhood have a manageable amount of independence -- they are out and about, and it's not just that they can walk to programs like Oddfellows that other folks have to drive to -- it's that they have a way to satisfy the human urge to be out in public, just strolling or stopping at the library, or meeting on a corner. And they also have a manageable amount of responsibility too -- all of our kids have logged plenty of hours at City Hall meetings, while the debate-of-the-week rages on. Not that it's all work -- we gather for fun at least as often as we gather to rouse the rabble.

I hope that by raising kids in the downtown, my spouse and I are showing them the value of being involved in a community, and of the responsibility we all have to create the change we want to see in our lives. But if somehow they aren't picking all that up, at least I know we are all having a lot of fun living here, and that none of us lack for good friends.