Youth Circus holds Auditions for Circus in Wonderland

Oddfellows Playhouse and ARTFARM announce auditions for the 2013-14 cast of Circophony, a touring youth circus company co-sponsored by the two Middletown-based theater groups. Young people ages twelve to eighteen are invited to audition to join the cast of this year’s show, Circus in Wonderland.

Auditions will be held Tuesday, September 10, 6 – 8 pm at Oddfellows Playhouse at 128 Washington Street in Middletown.
 
Circophony is a select youth circus company committed to providing first class training to aspiring circus artists while creating exciting new performances which will tour to schools, clubs, fairs, corporate events and festivals. Young people selected for the Company will receive a rigorous combination of circus training, physical conditioning and rehearsal/production experience. Members are expected to arrive punctually, attend all rehearsals and performances, work hard, be strong team players, and train independently outside of rehearsals.
 
Circophony is open to young people ages twelve to eighteen. Prior circus experience is not required. If you do not have circus experience, a background in dance, gymnastics, theater, cheerleading, parkour, hooping, magic or serious physical activity is helpful. The show is directed by ARTFARM’s Executive Director Dic Wheeler, who has been performing, directing and teaching circus in the United States and Europe for thirty years. Dic is the founder of the Children’s Circus of Middletown and ARTFARM’s Circus for a Fragile Planet, and is a charter member of the American Youth Circus Organization. Lead Trainer is circus performer and teacher Allison McDermott, an acrobat, aerialist, and graduate of the Professional Track Program at the New England Center for Circus Arts in Vermont.
 
Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 – 9 pm at Oddfellows starting Tuesday, September 17.  Attendance at rehearsals is compulsory – if you cannot commit to the rehearsal schedule you should not apply to join Circophony.

The opening of this year’s show will be January 17 & 18 at Oddfellows Playhouse. There will be rehearsals every evening January 13 – 16. Circophony’s Circus in Wonderland will be an original, main stage circus production loosely based on the characters and scenes from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, incorporating juggling, acrobatics, balancing, clowning, physical comedy and other skills developed by the company members.

The show will be available for touring throughout the school year, and Circophony members will be expected to be available for touring performances between January and May. Performers and their parents will be given adequate notice about show times and dates. We may also travel to regional youth circus festivals during the year.

Tuition for Circophony, which includes over thirty rehearsals plus the performances and tour, is $250. Some financial assistance is available.

To register for the audition, or if you have questions, email info@art-farm.org or call (860)346-4390

The Show Can't Go On

Today's performance of the Traveling Circus presents Adscensio! is cancelled due to the storm and lack of power.

Stay tuned for rescheduled dates, as Oddfellows will look to remount the show this winter. (Contrary to what it looks like outside - it is not winter, it is still fall.)

The Latest from Artfarm: Submerged!

ARTFARM’s Circus for a a new educational circus exploring local and global issues involving water. Circus for a Fragile Planet SUBMERGED! will premiere on April 7 , 2011 at 10:30 at Central Connecticut State University’s Global Sustainability Conference. See the premiere FOR FREE and join this great SYMPOSIUM! http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=8099

NOW BOOKING INTO 2012! , go to the Circus for a Fragile Planet page for more performance dates and info

CFP SUBMERGED! uses the spectacle and excitement of circus to convey a powerful message about Earth’s endangered hydrosphere, how it affects us and what we can do to alleviate the situation. From local issues involving the Connecticut River Watershed and the Long Island Sound, to global concerns such as rising sea levels, pollution and over fishing, this five person circus explores the threats that the Earth’s waters face, raises some questions, and offers some tangible actions that each of us can take. The science and environmental messages of the performance are conveyed through juggling, acrobatics, dance, balance, stilting, physical comedy and music. CFP SUBMERGED! can be performed in any space with at least eleven foot ceilings and a twenty five foot square open space for the performers. This educational extravaganza is certain not only to amaze and entertain audiences of all ages, but also inspire them to take personal responsibility for the future of our common home. ARTFARM is a Middletown based non-profit organization which cultivates high-quality theater with a commitment to simple living, environmental sustainability and social justice. Since 2007 ARTFARM’s circus ensemble has been bringing Circus for a Fragile Planet to schools, universities, festivals, museums and conferences throughout the northeast. Over 10,000 people have experienced this blend of circus and science in which actors juggle bottled water, polar bears dance on melting ice floes, the props and set are recycled, and the core of clowns are called the Fossil Fools. The success of Circus for a Fragile Planet, a circus which focuses primarily on climate change and human behavior, has inspired ARTFARM’s Circus Ensemble to develop this new show which uses circus to educate about the importance of the Earth’s water to the survival of our species and the health of our planet.

Spring Circus Celebration!

This weekend, bring the family out to enjoy Oddfellows Playhouse's Spring Circus Celebration: A Teen Circus Double Bill. Featuring 6 new acts by members of the Connecticut School of Circus Arts at Oddfellows Playhouse, followed by the premiere of the Oddfellows Playhouse Traveling Circus' new show "Spring!"

Friday May 21 - 7:30pm

Saturday May 22 -7:30pm

Ticket Prices
Adults $15
Students/Seniors $8

Reservations are recommended - call 860-347-6143.

The Connecticut School of Circus Arts at Oddfellows Playhouse is an exciting new endeavor brought to you by Oddfellows Playhouse and artists from Matica Arts and ARTFARM. This year round circus training program offers students the opportunity to develop their skills as a juggler, stilter, acrobat and unicyclist under the guidance of a team of veteran circus artists.

Check out this video of Oddfellows' Traveling Circus creating their new show "Spring!" under the direction of ARTFARM's Dic Wheeler.

Major support for Oddfellows' 09-10 season comes from the CT State Department of Education, CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, The Stare Fund, Pratt and Whitney-Middletown, Aetna Foundation and the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

Party Like It's 1599

ARTFARM

AUDITIONS

For Shakespeare’s

AS YOU LIKE IT

February 26, 6 – 9 pm

or

February 27, 1 – 4 pm

Experienced performers wishing to audition must be at least 18 years old and attend one of the two audition sessions for the entire three hours.

Come dressed to move, with resume, headshot and a Shakespeare monologue.

Singers will be asked to sing – acappella or supply your own accompaniment. Non-Equity professionals encouraged. A limited number of Equity Guest Artist contracts may be available.

The Production dates are July 8 - 18. Auditions will be held offsite in Founders Hall at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Rd, Middletown, CT. You must pre-register to audition.

To register for one of the audition sessions, or for more information,

contact ARTFARM at (860) 346-4390

or info@art-farm.org.

Eat for Art

Be among the FIRST to support

ARTFARM's Shakespeare in the Grove 2010 production of

As You Like It

by enjoying GREAT FOOD at Middletown's

It's Only Natural Restaurant!

Starting TUESDAY, JANUARY 5

and every Tuesday through July 2010

10% of sales will benefit ARTFARM!

Lunch and dinner!

Come early and often!

Many thanks to Renana, Mark and everyone at
It's Only Natural Restaurant!

We hope to see you this Tuesday to help kick off this ongoing

FEAST of GENEROSITY.

ARTFARM and ION -- world-class, local and unique.

It's Only Natural Restaurant

386 Main Street (Main Street Market)

Middletown

(860) 346-9210

www.ionrestaurant.com

Open from 11am to 9 pm.
Thanks!--

ARTFARM

119 Highland Ave.

Middletown, CT 06457

860.346.4390

www.art-farm.org

Cultivating high quality theater with a commitment to simple living, environmental sustainability and social justice.

Food On A Stick, 4-Ring Circus, and a Fragile Planet

ARTFARM's Circus For A Fragile Planet is billed as the "Keynote Performance" for the 43rd Annual New England Environmental Education Alliance Annual Conference to be held in late September at the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton CT. Environmental Educators from all over New England and the Northeast and even a few from Canada will be attending. The conference theme is: Arena of Issues and Solutions in a Changing World and has Four Rings of Focus:
• Cultural Diversity
• Environmental Literacy
• Professional Development and Leadership
• Model Programs that Work
Sue Quincy, the conference organizer, invites any and all interested parties to attend and seek registration information at the NEEEA conference website.

Dic Wheeler, the Director of Art-Farm, says that this is an exciting show for the Circus. Wheeler says, "I particularly enjoy performing for predominantly adult audiences as I can go a little deeper with the science. The most challenging are the audiences that include [a wide age range of] 2 and 3 year olds, teenagers and adults -- who do we target? The circus act appeals to everyone, but the science has to be presented at a certain level so that it doesn't make the littlest ones tune out or seem patronizing to the adults."

The Circus has done performances at several colleges over the past 18 months, including Wesleyan, Central CT, and SUNY Cobbleskill, which is how the NEEEA Conference organizers became aware of the Circus. Wheeler expects the NEEEA conference will be a very positive experience because the audience will appreciate the fun approach to environmental education, agree with the message, and probabaly have some useful feedback to offer, with a sharp eye on the content of the Circus.

Ms. Quincy has related that this is a very fun and effective conference full of camraderie and community in which educators exchange ideas and information and infuse each other's viewpoints by sharing success stories from their states and participating in interactive and hands-on sessions. At this conference, educators obtain materials and resources that they take back to their areas where they can directly apply and turn into solutions.

Because the economy is a big challenge these days and budgets are strapped, many of the educators who count on attending this conference every year are using their own personal time and funds to be there. Some of those attendees will turn the conference into a family vacation of sorts, combining the travel into both work and fun. With that in consideration, the conference is a family friendly event with events and outings incorporated. In keeping with the fun and showcasing the Circus for a Fragile Planet as the keynote performance, the food offerings this year will be "food on a stick" items. Yum!

A new feature of the conference this year is the Richard Haley Memorial Quilt Auction. Richard Haley was a true environmental leader in the state and a unique individual. The quilt auction will benefit environmental educators who wish to attend a conference or training seminar. The quilts are all hand made locally - more information can be found at the web site of the CT Outdoor & Environmental Education Association

Spencer and Sparks at the Buttonwood - Catch them Sunday 7/19 before Shakespeare in The Grove

A short clip of Melissa Spencer and Tim Sparks from the Saturday night performance at the Buttonwood Tree. Great harmonies! Catch them on Sunday 7/19 before the Art-Farm's Shakespeare in The Grove at Middlesex Community College.

A Mid-Summer Week's Happenings (Part 1)

Monday July 14:
The Buttonwood Tree hosts a weekly Open Mic hosted by J-Cherry. Whether you are a poet, essayist, fiction writer, singer/songwriter, the microphone is yours. Sign-ups begin at 7 p.m. and the entertainment at 7:30.

Tuesday July 15:
The "Days" event this week at the Wesleyan Center for the Arts features instrument maker/musician/storyteller Hawk Henries. Henries, a member of the northeastern Algonquian tribe known as the Nipmuc (originally from Massachusetts), will deliver a talk and perform music that is both ancient and new, with a philosophy built on the land, the arts and self-sufficiency. The event takes place at 12:10 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall and is free to all. To find out more about Henries, go to www.hawkhenries.com.

Movie Night in Middletown, held every Tuesday at the Goldsmith Family Cinema at Wesleyan, features Gary Cooper in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." The screening of the 1936 Frank Capra film begins at 7:30 p.m. with an introduction presented by actor/film enthusiast Edward Hermann ("The Gilmore Girls.") This event is free and open to the public. To find out more about the series and the "Cinefare" options, call the Chamber of Commerce at 347-6924 or check out this post.

If you'd rather be outside, the City of Middletown Summer Sounds Series takes place at 7 p.m. on South Green. This week, the Sonny Rogers Band serves up a smorgasbord of popular music, swing, and jazz. Bring lawn chairs, picnic food and more to this free event.

Wednesday July 16:
The Music at the Mansion Series, held on the spacious and very green back lawn of the Long Hill Estate/Wadsworth Mansion, welcomes the duo of Jay Ungar & Molly Mason for a 6:30 p.m. show. The pair have been performing together since the late 1970s with a repertoire that is filled with "hard-driving Appalachian, Cajun and Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden age of swing and country, stunning waltzes, and deeply moving original compositions" (from their website.) Many people have heard them perform on various Public Radio programs as well as Ungar's involvement on the soundtracks of numerous documentaries by Ken Burns. The grounds of the mansion open at 5:30 p.m. for those who wish to picnic and find a desirable spot to set down a blanket. For more information, call 347-1064. To get a taste of the duo's music, go to www.jayandmolly.com.

Thursday July 16:
The ARTFARM production of "The Taming of the Shrew" begins its 8-show run in the Grove at Middlesex Community College College, Training Hill Road. The 7 p.m. performance is preceded at 6 on Opening Night with a performance by guitarist and vocalist Nancy Tucker. The show goes on rain or shine!! - in the instance of the former, the show moves inside to the second floor of Founder's Hall. If the weather is good, bring a blanket, beach chair, comestibles, and a good supply of bug repellent. To find out more about the entertainment, read here. To learn more about ARTFARM, go to www.art-farm.org.

The Center for the Arts at Wesleyan presents the Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet at 8 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall. Meurkens, born in Germany, is one of the finest jazz harmonica players in the world and his love for Brazilian music is unsurpassed. More about him and his fine ensemble later in the week - tickets are available by calling 685-3355 or going to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.

Sonnet Slam to Benefit ArtFarm's Shakespeare in the Grove on June 9

Originally scheduled for June 10, but changed to June 9 at 7 PM at Kidcity, so as not to conflict with Main Street Cruise Night, ArtFarm is hosting its very first Sonnet Slam, and there are a number of ways to get involved.

From ArtFarm

The Sonnet Slam is a Shakespeare Poetry Slam & Performance Event celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the first publication of Shakespeare's Sonnets. Performers from age 14 through adult professionals will each bring their art to one of Willie's 154 sonnets, and in the process they will raise money for this summer's Shakespeare in the Grove production of The Taming of the Shrew. Soloists or groups are encouraged. Singing, dance, circus sonnets – it’s all acceptable. Entertain us! There will be no judging, but there will be great prizes for the performers who get the highest total sponsorships.

This will take place as part of an Elizabethan Bash!, a great party with period music, photo opportunities with the Bard himself, food and drink and a host of other Shakespeare oriented activities.

The event starts at 7 pm on June 10 at Kidcity, 119 Washington Street in Middletown, but there are a number of ways in which you can get involved:

1) PERFORM A SONNET and recruit generous folks to sponsor you in this effort. Sponsorships are in multiples of 14 (the number of lines in a sonnet). Sponsors can pledge $1 per line ($14), $2 per line ($28) or any multiple of 14 ($10 per line is $140; $100 per line is $1400 -- you get it). Guidelines and sponsor pledge forms are attached to this email, or available at www.art-farm.org .

2) SPONSOR A PERFORMER for as little as $14. Free Shakespeare in the Grove is at risk this summer as corporate, foundation and city support has been hard to come by. Support a local performer and support ARTFARM all in one donation -- you can donate at www.art-farm.org .

3) ATTEND THE EVENT! Come see the Sonnet Slam and party with the Bard and his friends. Tickets are only (you guessed it) $14!

4) VOLUNTEER! We need help on the night of the event, and help organizing it between now and then -- soliciting prizes or donations of food from local restaurants, coordinating various aspects of the event, preparing an hors d'oeuvre or dessert, etc. GET ON BOARD!!!!

Contact us at info@art-farm.org, or just pick up the phone and call (860) 346-4390. However you choose to get involved, it's going to be a ton of fun, because that's the way we like it!!! A poster seeking performers, Shakespeare Sonnet Slam guidelines and Sponsor Pledge Forms are attached to this email. Please help to spread the word!

Shakespeare in the grove

ARTFARM presents a free outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night July 17 – 27, 2008, at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Rd., Middletown. Performances are Thursday through Sunday, July 17 – 20 and 24 – 27 at 7 pm. All performances are preceded by headliner musical acts at 6 pm. On Sundays (July 20 and 27), performances are preceded additionally by a unique “EcoFestival” starting at 4 pm and featuring family-friendly circus and musical entertainment, interactive environmental activities and games, and area eco-vendors.

Shakespeare in the Grove is co-sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Division of Middlesex College. The production is made possible in part by generous support from Liberty Bank, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, a City of Middletown Challenge Grant, Pratt & Whitney, the Middlesex County Community Foundation, the Middletown Commission on the Arts, the Aetna Foundation,the Middletown Foundation for the Arts, and donations from many individuals.

Shakespeare in the Grove and the ARTFARM EcoFestivals are offered to the public for free, but there is a suggested donation of $10 per person. For more information, call (860) 346-4390 or email info@art-farm.org

Directions
- A few miles South of downtown Middletown on Route 9, take Exit 11 (Rt. 155, Randolph Road).
- At the end of the ramp (for both N. & S. bound) turn right onto Randolph Road.
- Continue to the traffic light at the top of the hill & turn left onto Saybrook Road.
- Go a quarter of a mile & turn right onto Reservoir Road.
- Travel past the stop sign & then take the first right onto Training Hill Road. Your first left will lead into the MxCC Campus parking area.
- For more information call ARTFARM at 860-346-4390

ARTFARM of Middletown, CT has announced its roster of musicians who will be playing before each performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for this summer’s Shakespeare in the Grove. These free performances will be held outdoors at Middlesex Community College July 17 – 20 and 24 – 27. Music starts at 6 pm each evening and the performance of Twelfth Night begins at 7 pm. Audience is encouraged to arrive early, bring a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy a picnic and music in the beautiful grove overlooking the Connecticut River Valley. The Shakespeare in the Grove 2008 Music Headliners are supported by a grant from the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

The Festival opens on Thursday, July 17 with Rani Arbo and Andrew Kinsey of Daisy Mayhem performing their unique traditional and original sound on fiddle, bass and voice. On Friday, July 18 the five women of Nzinga’s Daughters will perform acappella spirituals and songs from the Underground Railroad.

Joe Fonda and Mike Mussalime, straight from being on tour in Europe, present classic and contemporary jazz on Saturday, July 19. And the first weekend closes on Sunday, July 20 with local singer-songwriter Eric Kuhn providing original music with more than a dash of humor and political commentary.

The second weekend of Shakespeare in the Grove opens on Thursday, July 24 with traditional music of West Africa performed by Afropop Worldwide Editor Banning Eyre and world musician Dirck Westervelt. Native American composer and performer Lee Mixashawn Rozie will offer traditional music and jazz on July 25, and Dave Downs performs traditional and old-time music on July 26. The Festival finale on Sunday, July 27 will feature the world famous Tibetan singer Dadon accompanied by Peter Moore.