Middlesex Community College to Celebrate Constitution Day

Middlesex Community College will celebrate Constitution Day with an art exhibition, a singing of the National Anthem, perspectives from a Holocaust survivor, and a musical rendition of the Bill of Rights. This vivid and unique opportunity is free and open to the public.

The kick off event on Sunday, September 14 is the Commemoration of the 200-Year Anniversary of the National Anthem. This event features a history of “The Star Spangled Banner,” a personal testimonial from a survivor of Nazi Germany, readings of original poems on freedom from high school students, and a singing of the national anthem. K-12 student artwork will be on display as well. The program will take place 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.in Chapman Hall, located at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown. The K-12 Student Art Exhibition will be open from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. For more information, contact Professor Judith de Graffenried atjdegraffenried@mxcc.edu.

The second event is a concert performed by Neely Bruce, professor at Wesleyan University. The performance is titled “The Bill of Rights: Ten Amendments in Eight Motets” and features the singing group Festival Harmony. The performance will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17 in Chapman Hall room 808, located at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown. This event is made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts and the Middlesex Community College Student Senate. For more information, contact Professor Rebecca Loew at rloew@mxcc.edu.

“The U.S. Bill of Rights plays a central role in American law and government and we are delighted to have this opportunity to reflect on the content and significance of this document through the medium of superb music,” said Rebecca Loew, assistant professor and coordinator of “The Bill of Rights” performance. “Civic engagement is a core principal of democracy and part of our responsibility as educators is to prepare students to effectively participate in our democracy.”

Founded in 1966, Middlesex Community College (mxcc.edu) is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. In all it does, Middlesex Community College strives to be the college of its community. By providing high quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, the college enhances the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. MxCC, recently named a “Great College to Work For” by “The Chronicle of Higher Education,” offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs at the main 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, the shoreline, and online.

Networking Careers Event at MxCC on April 12

Health Information Management (HIM) and Information Technology (IT) continue to be at the top of job lists across America, and many people are preparing for careers in this high-demand field.  To explore some possible paths, Middlesex Community College’s Computer Club is hosting its third annual “Network Event.” 

This free event, which is open to the public, will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2014, in the Founders Hall cafeteria from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Successful professionals representing the fields of HIM and IT will be on hand to share practical career information and demonstrate innovative technology. For more information, or to register, contact Carolyn Sommer at 860-343-5749 or csommer@mxcc.edu.

Last Chance To See Shakespeare at MXCC (despite the rain!)

ARTFARM's Shakespeare in the Grove is quickly approaching its final weekend. Today "Twelfth Night" will be performed at Middlesex Community College at 7 pm, with live music (Banning Eyre and Dirck Westervelt) playing at 6 pm.

Granted, this is all supposed to be outside. This worked beautifully for last weekend's shows, but if the gray skies and rain aren't enough to spoil an outdoor event, the other problematic things ARTFARM has had to tackle are. I'll give you the inside scoop (as administrative intern, a lot goes on that I find myself in the middle of).

The bad weather today is the biggest issue. Just today we got notice that a large light fixture in the space outdoors fell (and broke a bit)! We've been getting calls from prospective audience members about whether the show will go on or not. Luckily it will! We have an indoor rain location on campus at Middlesex Community College.

Unfortunately, there's no way we can transport the beautiful set the the designer, crew, and countless volunteers have tirelessly worked on to get it ready in time. So this is where the real magic of theater must come in. It'll just be the audience and the actors in an intimate space. Both parties will have to imagine the gloriously feminine and ornate chambers of Lady Olivia and the rich, marbled walls of Duke Orsino's estate.

There is no doubt that this will be a very new and unforgettable experience, however. An age-old form of storytelling, theater didn't always have wondrous sets and lighting. So hopefully the audience will let their imaginations run wild and make the best of the weather.

In addition to tonight's show, "Twelfth Night" will also be performed at 7 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Live music will also be performed at 6 pm before every show. We're hoping for better weather so bring a picnic blanket and some chairs for those other days!

And to any people curious about the musical talents of the weekend, the musical headliners will be: Friday - Mixashawn, Saturday - Dave Downs, and Sunday - Dadon and Peter Moore.

Don't miss out on ARTFARM's EcoFestival being held on Sunday at 4 pm until right before the performance begins. Last week's was fabulous and this upcoming one is sure to please. There will be bread bakers (free bread samples!), craftspeople, face painting, live music (a Bluegrass band featuring Todd & Brian Stevens and also 45 Rpm who are Phil & Ken Faraci), a circus performance by ARTFARM's Circus For a Fragile Planet, and various eco-vendors.

So, please don't miss out on "Twelfth Night" and all of the other exciting events we offer this weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed this show, which is filled with so much great acting and laughter. There is so much to be said about Shakespeare and his universal appeal. And this, by far, is one of the most stellar performance of "Twelfth Night" that you will ever see. This is a free event but there is a suggested (and greatly appreciated!) donation of $10.00. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to visit www.art-farm.org or give ARTFARM a call at 346-4390. (All pictures taken by John Giamatteo)