Hair! Sing-a-Long at the Buttonwood Tree this Sunday!!

Can you name this Middletown celebrity? 

On Sunday, April 29th, beginning at 6:30pm, we welcome the community to  a SING -ALONG celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Broadway opening of Hair! The Musical.
Come to sing, reminisce and have fun! 

The event is presented by the Russell Library, Oddfellows Playhouse, ARTFARM and The Buttonwood Tree. It features a live rock band and opening with some footage from the original Broadway cast.

Get out your love beads! Warm up your voices! Prepare to enjoy an evening of “mystic crystal revelation and the mind’s true liberation”!

“Hair” opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on April 29, 1968. 

The band includes: 

Keyboard - Matt Durland
Guitar 1: Matt Kerovac
Guitar 2: Tom Oh
Bass: Harper Liles
Tenor Sax: Alex Antaya
Drums: Zach Fontanaz

(Fun fact: Tom Oh was part of the national tour of the show and has worked with the writers of the show)

Refreshments are available, all are welcome.

In 1968, the production was directed by Tom O’Horgan, choreographed by Julie Arenal, with set design by Robin Wagner, costume design by Nancy Potts, and lighting design by Jules Fisher. The original Broadway ‘tribe’ (i.e., cast) included authors Rado and Ragni, who played the lead roles of Claude and Berger, respectively, and Lynn Kellogg as Sheila, Lamont Washington as Hud, Sally Eaton and Shelley Plimpton reprising their off-Broadway roles as Jeanie and Crissy, Melba Moore as Dionne, Steve Curry as Woof, Ronnie Dyson (who sang ‘Aquarius’), Paul Jabara and Diane Keaton (both Moore and Keaton later played Sheila). Among the performers who appeared in “Hair” during its original Broadway run were Ben Vereen, Keith Carradine, Barry McGuire, Ted Lange, Meat Loaf, La La Brooks, Kenny Seymour (of Little Anthony and the Imperials), Joe Butler, Peppy Castro (of the Blues Magoos), Robin McNamara, Heather MacRae (daughter of Gordon MacRae and Sheila MacRae), Eddie Rambeau, Vicki Sue Robinson, Beverly Bremers, Dale Soules and Kim Milford. The production ran for four years and 1,750 performances, closing on July 1, 1972.

"The Last Romance": A Fundraiser (shameless self-promotion!)

photo by J Greeman

There I am with two of my most-favorite people in the world, Naomi Kamins (on my left) and Anne Cassady (on my right) - the three of us are presenting a staged reading of "The Last Romance" this coming Sunday at 3 p.m. in Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street in Middletown.  Directed by Jenny Greeman (an OP alumna), and written by Joe DiPietro, the play will make you laugh, might make you cry but certainly will make you smile. Proceeds from ticket sales (suggested donation is $20) go to benefit both Oddfellows and ARTFarm.

Here's a description of the play: A crush can make anyone feel young again—even a widower named Ralph. On an ordinary day in a routine life, Ralph decides to take a different path on his daily walk—one that leads him to an unexpected second chance at love. Relying on a renewed boyish charm, Ralph attempts to woo the elegant, but distant, Carol, without alienating his sister Rose. Ralph is an opera lover who once had a dream of becoming a singer but life had different plans. "The Last Romance" is a heart-warming comedy about the transformative power of love.

Ask I intimated above, there is humor, empathy, love, pathos, and more in the show.  And, it's for an excellent cause - these two organizations mean a lot to our city and the region. We're doing what we can to help and appreciate your attendance as well as your contributions.

For ticket reservations, call Anne at 860-349-8594 or Richard at 860-632-1067.  

Discovering Scavenger Hunts with Russell Library and Shakespeare

A library patron discovers a clue of the scavenger hunt.

This is the last week of the "Discover Russell Library with Shakespeare: A Scavenger Hunt". For those of you unfamiliar with this type of activity, it is essentially a game in which the players must find things according to clues given to them. For example, in our hunt, we ask folks to find the “seven unbending elephants”.*

The scavenger hunt is part of the Shakespeare 400 Passport series of events throughout Connecticut this year that ARTFARM has been sponsoring. We have several library events listed within the Passport. Last fall’s ARTFARM’s Shakespeare Acting Workshop was exceptionally well-attended and received high praise.  

Many scavenger hunts that use the topic of Shakespeare direct the hunters to scavenge through his plays or poetry. I had come up with many puzzling questions, but they all seemed too difficult. Also, we needed something that people could not google! 

I began thinking differently about the hunt. What was it we wanted to achieve? Part of our Strategic Plan — under “Russell Library as a Place”, states: 

“To achieve its goals, Russell Library will become an even more welcoming, hospitable and

comfortable cultural center of the community.”

In order to achieve this goal, the community needs to know something about our library. Why not use the scavenger hunt to fulfill part of the strategic plan? Patrons who come into the lobby to look for new books or DVDs hardly ever explore the rest of the library. I started looking at different places within the library that most people hardly ever visited. How could we use Shakespeare to help them discover their library? 

While I had been researching Shakespeare, I had been using the Shakespeare Lexicons as well as various online resources.** Instead of looking at Shakespeare for the answers, I started looking at our library. I thought about the places that the library had in common with Shakespeare’s plays. For example, our library has a balcony that overlooks the information area…where the famous ‘balcony scene’ from Romeo and Juliet could be staged…

Once I began to hunt for places in the library that people could discover using clues in Shakespeare’s plays, my job became clear. Of course, there is a limit to these spaces! And the clue that led people to the “unbending elephants” was quite a stretch. We ended up adding things to our collection: a Shakespearean Insult poster and a Shakespeare jigsaw puzzle helped to lead patrons to areas of the library otherwise overlooked. 

Besides getting a stamp in the Shakespeare 400 Passport, people can receive a voucher for a free book at one of the Friends of Russell Library book sales. 

What does the library receive? On the back of each scavenger hunt is a survey about their experience. Each patron that accomplishes the hunt fills out the survey — giving us precious knowledge about the library community. 

Remember that you can always tell us what you think of our library -- there is a form always available at the circulation desk, and you can email infodept(at)russell.lioninc.org, or call (860) 347-2528.

*  Daniel Riccio's sculpture is part of our library art collection. If you haven't seen it, please come visit!

**a great online resource for Shakespeare is http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/

Understanding Shakespeare: An Interactive Workshop at Russell Library

Understanding Shakespeare is an immersion into Shakespeare. This interactive workshop presented by ARTFARM will include a quick dip into the language of Shakespeare, including metrical structure, rhythm, literary devices and rhetoric plus secret tools for understanding the text. In signature ARTFARM style, this workshop will be on our feet, off the page and into our mouths! Don’t be afraid! Seasoned aficionado or new to the Bard, all are welcomed to come and play!
Limit 20. To register, please call 860-347-2520 or email infodept@russell.lioninc.org.

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

Additional Circophony Performances due to Popular Demand!

Back by Popular Demand we are adding two ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES of CIRCOPHONY'S Circus in Wonderland!!


Alice in Wonderland goes to the Circus in this fast-paced, all ages 45 minute show presented by the talented teen performers of Circophony."Circus in Wonderland" will be performed

Friday Feb 21, 2014 at 7:00pm
Saturday Feb 22, 2014 at 2:00pm

at Oddfellows Playhouse
128 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 

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.

Buy your tickets HERE

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

Outdoors for Music and Theater

The City of Middletown is in the midst of its annual "Summer Sounds" series and this Tuesday (7/23) presents the Caribbean Soca sounds of Moto at 7 p.m. in Union Park on South Green.  In case of rain, the concert moves inside of South Congregational Church, across the Green on Pleasant Street.  For more information, go to arts2go.org.

Music at the Mansion continues Wednesday at Long Hill Estate, 421 Wadsworth Street in Middletown, with Gail Wade & Turning Point playing a pleasing blend of folk, blues, bluegrass and country musics, what we now call "Americana."  Singer/songwriter/guitarist Gail Wade has been performing for over 2 decades and has performed throughout New England as well as releasing 2 CDs.  Turning Point - Dan Menzone (banjo), Peggy Ann Harvey (fiddle, saxophone, harmonica), Rob Rainwater (acoustic bass) and Tim St. Jean (drums) - makes a joyful noise in support of Ms. Wade.

The grounds open at 5:30 p.m. and music begins at 6:30 p.m.  In the instance of electrical storms, the show will be cancelled.  For more information, go to www.wadsworthmansion.com.

Marcella Trowbridge ("Beatrice") and Brian Jenkins ("Benedick") lead a spirited ensemble through the ARTFARM production of "Much Ado About Nothing" which enters its second 4-day run on Thursday in the Grove at Middlesex Community College, Training Hill Road.  The proceedings begin at 6 p.m. with a musical act - this week, you can see and hear Lorena Gray (Thursday), Noah Baerman & Friends (Friday), Stacy Phillips & Paul Howard (Saturday) and Rani Arbo (without daisy mayhem on Sunday). Mr. Shakespeare's play commences at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket, a picnic, chairs, and enjoy this fine production with its most excellent set!  For more information, go to www.art-farm.org.

Shakespearean "Slam-Bash" Raises Money, Has Fun With The Bard

Art-Farm brought another successful night of iambic pentameter to Middletown with their "Shakespeare Slam and Elizabethan Masked Bash" fundraiser at Kidcity Saturday night.

The audience saw everything from serious performances of soliloquies from Hamlet and Henry the V, to more whimsical treatments of scenes from The Tempest and A MidSummer Night's Dream, to a bluesy sonnet and a sing-along version of Cole Porter's "Brush Up Your Shakespeare".  Others skipped the Bard's more well-known speeches to provide Shakespearean anagrams, Shakespearean insults, and a piece entitled "To Bird Or Not To Bird", complete with bird calls and a live flute soundtrack.

It was a fun night.

  

WNPR's Chion Wolf returned to host the event again this year, and her comfortable charm kept things moving right along.  Beer and wine flowed, snacks were passed around, and a live band played, quietly, in the bar area.  The performers weren't the only ones who spent time on wardrobe; many attendees wore festive outfits and masks.

Between the performers' sponsors and the paid tickets, a fair chunk of change was raised to support Art-Farm's planned July performance of Much Ado About Nothing at Middlesex Community College.

Spring Circus Spectacular!

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

Thursday May 24 - 7:30pm

Friday May 25 -7:30pm

Ticket Prices
Adults $10
Students/Seniors $8 

www.oddfellows.org

860-347-6143

The Connecticut School of Circus Arts at Oddfellows Playhouse is an exciting 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 "Adscencio!" under the direction of ARTFARM's Dic Wheeler.

If you've been on the fence - this show is sure to get you and your children excited about the 23rd Annual Children's Circus of Middletown.  

There are still spots available in the 23rd Children's Circus of Middletown. The half-day program runs from July 2 thru August 3. Spots are still available in both the morning session 9-11:30am or the afternoon session 12:30-3pm. Register by calling the Middletown Commission on the Arts at 860-343-6620 x201 or download the registration for here.

ARTFARM's Toothpick Gardening

ARTFARM announces TOOTHPICK GARDENING

A Hands-On workshop in Starting your Vegetable Garden from Seeds

Saturday, March 17,

2 – 5 pm

at 218 Jackson Hill Road, Middlelfield

Led by Eleanor Poole and Sioux Wimler

Octogenarian Eleanor Poole, who is ‘the best gardener I know!”(says ARTFARM Artistic Director, Marcella Trowbridge) and homeschool wiz-mom, Sioux Wimler, will teach various techniques for starting your home garden from seeds.

These two experienced organic gardeners will share ideas from home-made seed pots to hand-mixed potting soil, as well as time lines for planting, natural and artificial lighting, when to move seedlings outdoors, and more!

This workshop should be a treat for the green-thumb and the greenhorn. Plan to bring home a spring start to some of your own summer veggies.

Please bring a $5 materials fee, a few small plastic containers and a note pad, and if you are inclined to bring a healthy potluck snack- we wouldn’t turn you down!

This workshop is nearly full. Please call or email to make sure there is still space.

Marcella@art-farm.org or 860.346.4390 (day of event, call 860.202.2872)

Winter Wellness Workshop on Thursday

Marcella Trowbridge of ARTFARM will be offering a "Winter Wellness Workshop" this Thursday, January 19, 6 - 8 pm at the South Congregational Church at 9 Pleasant Street in Middletown. Explore Herbal Remedies, practices for Stress Reduction and Spirit Lifting, and Nutritional Ideas.
The workshop is being offered for FREE, but if you want to take home samples, bring a couple of jars 8 oz or smaller and make a donation of $10 - $20 (Sliding Scale)
Walk ins are Welcome, but it would be best if you called or emailed to register.
Call (860) 346-4390 or email marcella@art-farm.org

Adscensio!

Rescheduled after being snowed out on Halloween night, the Traveling Circus' performance of Adsensio! is coming up soon!

Performances are Friday, January 20th and Saturday, January 21st at 7:30pm.
Adults $15, Students/Seniors $8

The newest circus from Oddfellows' Traveling Circus Company is called Adscensio, taken from the Latin word for progress or ascent. The circus explores the advancement of the human race through time by celebrating the great discoveries of history through the twinkling eyes of the circus. The nine performers, all between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, display their skills, training and vibrancy in a stunning collection of circus acts, including juggling, contortion, unicycling, roman ladders, acrobatics and physical comedy. The Traveling Circus is also available to tour and is currently accepting bookings. Inquiries can be directed to Matt Pugliese.

The Traveling Circus Company is comprised of students that have spent many years in the Children’s Circus of Middletown and CT School of Circus Arts, training under the direction of Dic Wheeler (ARTFARM) and Joel Melendez and Heidi Kirchoffer (Matica Arts). The company is comprised of Middletown residents Richard Carnegie III, Denzell Dempsey, Evan Knoll, Zachary Moeller-Marino, Nathan Linklater, Chris Wilkins , Durham Resident Rebecca Weir, Hartford resident Malaika King and Cromwell’s Jasmine Peck.

Students 12-20 interested in learning how to juggle, unicycle, stilt, balance, clown and perform acrobatics should be sure to catch the performance and register for the CT School of Circus Arts. Led by the creative circus artists of ARTFARM and Matica Arts, the program is the premiere youth circus program in the area. The winter/spring sessions focuses on training and skill development and concludes with the performance of an evening of original circus acts on May 25 & 26.

For more information, go to www.oddfellows.org or call (860)347-6143

Climate Change Reality Presentation Tonight

New Haven-based lawyer and land use specialist Marjorie Shansky will be offering a compelling “Climate Reality Presentation” to community members for free at Middletown’s Russell Library at 7 pm tonight (Monday, November 14.)

Founded and chaired by Al Gore, Nobel Laureate and former Vice President of the United States, The Climate Reality Project has more than 5 million members and supporters worldwide. It is guided by one simple assertion: The climate crisis is real and we know how to solve it. The Climate Reality Project is bringing the facts about the climate crisis into the mainstream and engaging the public in conversation about how to solve it. It is designed to help citizens around the world discover the truth and take meaningful steps to bring about change.

Ms. Shansky is one of a handful of experts trained by Mr. Gore to bring these presentations to communities around the world. The hour-long presentation will include visual documentation and a chance for dialog with audience. People from all sides of the Climate Change discussion – or on no side at all – are welcome to attend.

This presentation is being co-sponsored by several Middletown-based organizations, including ARTFARM, the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, Earth Ministry, Middlesex Community College Sustainability Team and Wesleyan University. The presentation will be held in the Hubbard Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Midletown.

For more information contact ARTFARM at (860) 346-4390 or email info@art-farm.org.

Adscensio! Friday and Saturday Only!

The Oddfellows Playhouse Traveling Circus presents the world-premiere of their brand new show, Adscensio!, directed by artfarm's Dic Wheeler.

Friday 10/28
Saturday 10/29
Performances are at 7:30pm
Tickets: $15 Adults, $8 Students/Seniors
Call 860--347-6143 to make reservations.

The show is appropriate for adults and children ages 5 and up.

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater
128 Washington St.
Middletown, CT 06457

Circus for Fragile Planet Performance & Workshop

ARTFARM’s Circus for a Fragile Planet announces the hometown premiere of its new show, SUBMERGED! on Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 pm at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown.

SUBMERGED! is a unique, provocative and educational circus which addresses environmental issues involving Water. This performance is being presented as part of 350.org’s global Moving Planet Event, and will include a movement theater workshop at 4 pm entitled “Moving Planet, Moving People.”

Suitable for all ages, Circus for a Fragile Planet SUBMERGED! features five multi-talented professional circus performers who take the audience on a journey from our kitchen sink to the Pacific Ocean through juggling, acrobatics, balancing, comedy, stilt dancing and slapstick science. The hour-long circus combines breathtaking artistry with hard science and environmental advocacy. Lobsters dance in nets tangled with plastics, fish juggle shampoo bottles, water-bottle wielding clowns chase polluting unicyclists, and sea nymphs on stilts dance as the sea level rises around them.

SUBMERGED! features Dic Wheeler, Megan Berritta, Maegan Fuller, Allison McDermott and Joel Melendez. From our own backyards to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Circus for a Fragile Planet SUBMERGED! raises many important questions about how our actions effect rivers, lakes and oceans while also helping individuals identify ways that we each can contribute to the well-being of the planet's water-based resources.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for kids, and $35 for families, with $5 discounts for anyone bicycling, walking, using public transportation or car pooling to the show.

"Moving Planet, Moving People" is a movement theater workshop with ARTFARM Artistic Director Marcella Trowbridge which will precede the circus performance from 4 - 5:30 pm. This workshop is open to adults ages 18 and up and no movement experience is necessary. Participants should just bring a free spirit and dress to move. Fee for the workshop is $10; workshop and performance packet is $20.

For more information, or to register, call ARTFARM at (860) 346-4390, email info@art-farm.org or go to www.art-farm.org

Last Chance -- a great evening for SHAKESPEARE!

There is ONE FINAL PERFORMANCE of ARTFARM's Shakespeare's Argument -- tonight at 7 pm in the grove at Middlesex Community College.
Tom Callinan will be playing music at 6 pm.
It will be a beautiful evening, and it is a great show.
Pay if you can -- $20 suggested donation
Please come join us -- you will be so happy with yourself that you did!
Photo by Bill DeKine shows Ken O'Brien (AEA) and Marcella Trowbridge as the Macbeths in Shakespeare's Argument.

ARTFARM Perseveres

Once the sun is lower in the sky, the Grove at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill, is much more comfortable than just about any other place in town.  Last night, I went to see "Shakespeare's Argument" - the acting was first-rate (kudos to Ken O'Brien, Annie DiMartino, Jesse Gabbard and thespian-director Marcella Trowbridge), the music highly effective and the steady breeze a gift from above. If you haven't gone yet and are scared by the high temperatures plus the oppressive humidity, be assured - you can find a shady spot to lay your blanket or set up your chair.

The entertainment begins at 6 p.m. with music and the play hits the ground running at 7 p.m. Tonight, it's singer-songwriter Nancy Tucker, Saturday, the jazz-funk of the BC3 (drummer Bill Carbone's Trio) and Sunday, the engaging troubadour Tom Callinan. Hie thee to the Grove - a splendid time awaits!
(above photo by Ben Jordan)

Four more chances to see Shakespeare's Argument

You have just four more chances to catch ARTFARM's unique 2011 production "Shakespeare's Argument" in the cool and breezy Grove at Middlesex Community College.
Performances are Thursday through Sunday at 7 pm, with fabulous live music starting every night at 6 pm. So arrive early, bring a picnic, and cool off to professional music and Shakespeare.

Audiences for the first weekend were extremely enthusiastic. Here are a few of the comments that have come into our inbox this week:

"Once again, you put on a phenomenal show! I loved it – my favorite so far."

"Thank you for putting something so awesome into the world. We all really loved it and were so glad we went."

"What a wonderful time I had. It was brilliant, you were brilliant, everyone was brilliant! It was funny and enjoyable. Thank you for a great evening!"

"I was SO impressed with your actor's range last night. From The Professor to Hamlet, all wonderfully done. Men, women, old, modern, all good roles, sterling-ly-well acted. Kudos."

"Trowbridge and Company weave their spell, asking
Is it the words?
Is it the actors?
Is it the music?
Is it The Master?
We wonder: Is it the minimalist set? Is it the night? Is it the place? Is it the time?
It is all of the above.
Radically simple, spun with imagination and wit, the magic of Shakespeare's Argument: You've got to see it!"

So don't take our word for it, but listen to those enthusiastic audience members! Music at 6 pm. Shakespeare's Argument at 7 pm. Outdoors at Middlesex Community College. Pay if you can -- $20 suggested donation.
Photo by Bill DeKine shows Ken O'Brien (*AEA) and Marcella Trowbridge in Shakespeare's Argument.

Photos from the 5k Citizen's Bank Run Today

Read about the sponsors, participants, beneficiaries & volunteers in the earlier post here.

View from intersection of College and High Street.

Lap 2 runners are lead by police motorcycle and Citizen's Bank coordinator (right) as they round College Street.

Street performers from ArtFarm and Oddfellows keep the crowd entertained with acts on stilts, unicycles and tumbling.

Bounce house provided for children.

Middletown Republican Committee hands out free water and cookies on Main Street.

Chief Mc Mahon on bike patrol.

Middletown Kiwanis Club volunteers.