Monthly Archives: July 2015

Last Chance to See Saybrook Stage Perform “Moon Over Buffalo” at ‘The Kate’ Today

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The cast of 'Moon Over Buffalo.'

The cast of ‘Moon Over Buffalo.’

OLD SAYBROOK — The Saybrook Stage Company takes you back to the 1950’s with Ken Ludwig’s hilarious play “Moon Over Buffalo” performed live at The Kate from July 16 through July 19.  The curtain goes up nightly at 8 p.m. with a 3 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday.

This fast-paced comedy takes place in one of the country’s most traditional theater’s located in Buffalo New York during the early 1950’s. “Moon Over Buffalo” is a laugh out loud comedy about a seasoned group of traveling actors trying to survive despite the recent success of television and film.

Howard Roz shows his surprise in this scene from the play.Howard Roz shows his surprise in this scene from the play.

The play centers around an older married couple given one last shot at real stardom – the famous movie director, Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee performance and if he likes what he sees they could be cast in an upcoming major motion picture. And this is when the fun really starts – anything that could go wrong does go wrong – from the husband’s dalliance with a young actress, to their daughter’s clueless fiancé, to their deaf, elderly stage mother who hates her son-in-law more than anything. All these mishaps will make you cry with laughter as the antics unfold.

“Moon Over Buffalo” originally opened on Broadway in 1995 to rave reviews – “Stuffed with comic invention, running gags and a superb sense of absurdity, this is truly a loveletter to live theatre.”

The production received several Tony nominations and ran for over 300 performances.

Martin Scott Marchitto directs 'Moon Over Buffalo'Martin Scott Marchitto directs ‘Moon Over Buffalo’

The Saybrook Stage Company is pleased to return once again to The Kate in this hilarious comedy directed by Martin Scott Marchitto. This will be their 10th production at The Kate and could prove to be their funniest yet – previous plays are Our Town, 12 Angry Men, The Dining Room, You Can’t Take It With You, A Piece of My Heart, Enchanted April, Almost Maine, Rumors, and most recently this past January to a sell-out audience, The Wayside Motor Inn.

Visit www.thekate.org or call 877.503.1286 to reserve tickets.

For more information about Saybrook Stage Company, visit www.SaybrookStage.org

Editor’s Note: The Saybrook Stage Company was founded as a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing quality local theater on the Connecticut Shoreline at the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Saybrook Stage welcomes actors of all levels and abilities – and anyone who genuinely loves the arts – to come together and share in the experience that only live theater can provide. Actors that have been part of The Saybrook Stage Company to date have varied backgrounds and “day jobs” from teachers, artists and homemakers to lawyers, business people and judges. The Company looks forward to producing many more quality productions at the beautiful venue of The Kate and continuing to thrive in this wonderful, artistic region of Connecticut.

Fifteen Vista Students Embark On New Journey After July 10 Graduation Ceremony

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A time to celebrate -- Vista graduates (from left to right) Casey Cincotta, Max Gebert and Danielle Garley share a smile.

A time to celebrate — Vista graduates (from left to right) Casey Cincotta, Max Gebert and Danielle Garley are all smiles after the ceremony.

One door closed and another opened recently for the 15 graduates of Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center, a nationally accredited non-profit education program for individuals with disabilities.

Bob Brown, Dana Butler, Kathleen Cassella, Casey Cincotta, Cody Clark, Alex Drago, Sarah Gabow, Danielle Garley, Max Gebert, Jason Jakubovic, Jackie McMahon, Kyle Palubicki, Lan Tagg, Matt Tarnell and Mickey Teubert graduated on July 10 in a ceremony held at Westbrook High School. Over 250 people attended the ceremony, including State Representative Noreen Kokoruda (R-101) and keynote speaker Lisa Mikis, former publisher of Shore Publishing in Madison.

Miksis, who came to know Vista and many of its students and members throughout her career with Shore Publishing, offered the graduates encouraging words of wisdom as they start the next chapters in their lives.

“You all worked hard to be sitting on this stage today. Be confident in what you have learned and achieved and in who you are,” said Miksis, now Vice President and Director of Marketing for Respond Systems. “As you step out into the world of tomorrow, know that all of your friends and family at Vista, and so many of us you meet out on the street in the community, are here to help you succeed.”

The Class of 2015: front row, (seated) from left to right are Alex Drago, Kyle Palubicki, Max Gebert, Jason Jakubovic, Bob Brown, Sarah Gabow and Lan Tagg. Back row (standing) from left to right are Mickey Teubert, Cody Clark, Kathleen Cassella, Danielle Garley, Matt Tarnell, Casey Cincotta, Jackie McMahon and Dana Butler.

The Class of 2015. Front row (seated) from left to right are Alex Drago, Kyle Palubicki, Max Gebert, Jason Jakubovic, Bob Brown, Sarah Gabow and Lan Tagg. Back row (standing) from left to right are Mickey Teubert, Cody Clark, Kathleen Cassella, Danielle Garley, Matt Tarnell, Casey Cincotta, Jackie McMahon and Dana Butler.

Graduation is a monumental occasion that acknowledges the achievements of Vista students who have reached a level of independence and, as a result, graduate from Vista’s Entrance Program— a residential post-secondary program.

Through the Entrance Program, students receive hands-on life skills instruction, vocational training, support and guidance, helping them develop the skills and behaviors needed for adulthood. The next step in their journeys involves living in their own homes or apartments within local communities in Vista’s service area as members of Vista’s Outreach Program.

“We’re so proud on the shoreline of these graduates,” said Kokoruda, whose district covers Madison and Durham. “Whenever I come to the Vista graduations, I know what real perseverance is with the families, with the friends, with the staff— but most importantly, with the graduates.”

In addition to a Vista Diploma, each graduate received a commendation certificate signed by Congressman Joe Courtney (D-2).

The graduation festivities ended with a reception at Chamard Vineyards in Clinton. There, each graduate received gift baskets complete with a cookbook and various housewarming items for their new homes or apartments.

Based in Madison and Westbrook, CT, Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center is a 501©3 nonprofit organization. Vista’s mission is to provide services and resources to assist individuals with disabilities achieve personal success.

For more information about Vista, visit www.vistavocational.org

Brian Keith Stephens Art Exhibit on View at Old Lyme Library

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The signature work by Brian Keith Stephens for his 'Imagery and Dreams' exhibition on view at The Cooley Gallery.

The signature work by Brian Keith Stephens for his ‘Imagery and Dreams’ exhibition on view at The Cooley Gallery.

The Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library hosts an exhibition of work by featured Artist of the Month, Brian Keith Stephens titled, ‘Imagery and Dreams.’ It will be on view through Aug. 30, and most works are for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the library.

Stephens’s artistic studies began in his native Connecticut, expanded to cosmopolitan Paris and New York, to return full circle to the rural studio where his paintings come to life. Nostalgia, nature, romance and childhood inform simplicity of subject matter; however, the emotional and physical breadth of each piece resonates in the layers upon contrasting layers of paint.

The resulting works show both the direct energy of the artist’s hand while revealing the story of the artist’s heart. The titles created for his pieces range from humorous to poetic, informing a fuller perception of the artist than the painting alone might present.

A distinctive painter with a quiet, gentle and searching presence, Stephens ‘s works celebrate the innocence of the child within while documenting the passions and conflicts we grow into. Over the past 15 years the prolific Stephens has exhibited in Denmark, France, Germany and across the US to wide acclaim.

Stephens makes the following Artist’s Statement, “How to capture the past, present and future at the same time — this is at the center of my work as an artist. Growing up in Connecticut, I have always found animals as a vessel for depicting human emotion; I believe in many ways animals are capable of expressing human emotions in a way that is both understandable and mysterious and alluring.”

He continues, “Like animals, we are all wild and fearful, but unlike animals, we have to live in this world of rules and norms. My desires, my emotions, are not always able to fit in the place and society I live, but in my art, I can find a place for those outliers to join forces.”

Finally, Stephens notes, “At the center of my work and life are these fascinations with myth, the spectrum of human passion, our kinship to the spirit of the wild animal, and challenge of balancing the real with the fanciful. We must balance all of this while also navigating the spectrum of time, the web of past, present and future. My art has been and continues to be my outlet for exploring these themes and conjuring up new ones.”

Lyme Library Friends Host Annual Meeting, Announce New Slate of Officers

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Anne Clement (left), Secretary of the Board of the Friends of the Lyme Public Library presents a check with proceeds from the Friends’ Annual Booksale to Theresa Conley (right), Lyme Public Library Director at the Annual Meeting of the Friends on June 11 at the Library.

Anne Clement (left), Secretary of the Board of the Friends of the Lyme Public Library presents a check with proceeds from the Friends’ Annual Booksale to Theresa Conley (right), Lyme Public Library Director at the Annual Meeting of the Friends on June 11 at the Library.

The Friends of the Lyme Public Library held their Annual Meeting on June 11, at the Library.  Events from the past year were reviewed, upcoming programs and plans were announced, finances and a budget were presented and a new board was elected.

Highlights of the gathering included presentation of a check of proceeds made from the Annual Booksale in May, our main fundraiser and review of the friends involvement in the recent move and opening of the new library building.

The meeting concluded with guest speaker, Constant Waterman (aka Matthew Goldman), a Hadlyme native, author, illustrator and boat enthusiast.

Newly elected Board members are President, Mary Mazur; Vice President, Janis Witkins; Secretary, Anne Clement; Treasurer, Adrienne Brennan; Programs Chair, Bonnie Nuzum; Publicity Chair, Judy Davies; Membership Chair, Marilyn Meo; Fundraising Chair, Allyson Cotton and Board Member, Deb Gianconia.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends can contact the Library for an application.

Lyme Public Hall Offers Smith House Tour Saturday; Gives Glimpse of 17th Century Lyme Life

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The Samuel Smith House will be open to the public on Saturday.

The Samuel Smith House will be open to the public on Saturday.

A tour of the Samuel Smith House in East Lyme — an outstanding example of a colonial era farmhouse — is being sponsored by the Lyme Public Hall Association as part its exploration of life in 17th century Lyme.  Located at 82 Plant’s Dam Rd. in East Lyme, the house will be open on Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 4 pm.

Members of the Friends of the Samuel Smith House will be on hand to tell visitors about the house and the plans to restore the property to a living museum of 17th century farm life.

The tour is one of several events planned by the Lyme Public Hall Association to mark the 350th anniversary of the Loving Parting in 1665 when representatives from the east and west sides of the Connecticut River signed a document confirming the separation of the new “plantation” of East Saybrook from its parent Saybrook Colony. Two years later the new settlement took the name of Lyme, an area which included the present towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, East Lyme and part of Salem.

The Samuel Smith House will also be participating in Open Farm Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 19.

The Lyme Public Hall Association is dedicated to the appreciation of Lyme’s history, culture, and community through the preservation and use of the historic hall, its archives and historical programs.