Boats in the annual Trees in the Rigging Lighted Boat Parade are decorated with holiday lights.

Kick off the holiday season in Essex with the annual Trees in the Rigging Community Carol Sing and Lighted Boat Parade on Nov. 29. The Connecticut River Museum, the Essex Board of Trade, and the Essex Historical Society combine to present this annual event that includes a traditional, lantern-lit carol stroll down Main Street where spectators are invited to bring their own lanterns or flashlights and join in with the Sailing Masters of 1812 Fife and Drum Corps and a parade of antique cars.

Participants can gather at the Essex Town Hall at 4 p.m. The stroll steps off at 4:30 p.m. beginning on West Ave. and ending at the Connecticut River Museum with a parade of vessels dressed out in holiday lights and passing in review along the Connecticut River. Santa and his elves will arrive by one of the parade boats for visits with children on the lawn of the Connecticut River Museum. The Connecticut River Museum will also be open that evening for all to attend the 22th Annual Holiday Train Show at a reduced admission of $6.

Register Your Boat for the Lighted Boat Parade

A critical and crowed-pleasing part of this free community event is the parade of boats dressed in holiday lights that sail along Essex’s waterfront. The decorated boats are part of a friendly competition. A modest 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize will be awarded to the best dressed boats. Winners will be invited to receive their prize and participate in a photo-op on Monday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m. at the Connecticut River Museum.

Registration is required to participate in the boat parade that usually begins around 5:15 p.m. from the south end of Essex Harbor. To register, send an email to crm@ctrivermuseum.org. Information should include: Vessel name; Type of boat and description; Owner(s) name; Contact information (phone and preferred email); Decorating scheme (if known at time of registration). Registration must be received by Monday, Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Make your Own Parade Lantern

Carolers can make their own lanterns for the parade. Step 1: fill an empty aluminum can with water and freeze. This will make it easier to punch holes for the design in the can. Step 2: using a hammer and nail, punch holes in the can to make a connect-the-dots style picture of a holiday design. Use plenty of holes to allow the light to shine through. Step 3: punch two holes near the rim to attach a wire handle. Step 4: after the ice is melted, attach a votive or other small candle to the inside bottom of the can.

The Connecticut River Museum is located at 67 Main St., Essex and is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 860.767.8269 or visit www.ctrivermuseum.org.

Daryl Wagner* stars as Liberace.

Brent Hazelton’s remarkable new musical play, Liberace!, is currently being performed at the Ivoryton Playhouse. A moving and highly entertaining tribute to the performer and musician famous for his charm, flamboyance and glamour, Liberace! relives the highs (and lows) of his prolific life. The lively piano score spans classical and popular music from Chopin to “Chopsticks,” and Rachmaninoff to Ragtime.

Liberace! gives audiences the unique opportunity to take a look at one of Milwaukee’s most remarkable and talented native sons. The show explores how a classically-trained pianist evolved into the larger-than-life persona lovingly known as “Mr. Showmanship.” Audiences will discover the private man hidden behind all of the glitz and glamour.

Liberace’s career spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements. At the height of his fame from the 1950s to the 1970s, Liberace was the highest-paid entertainer in the world, with established residencies in Las Vegas, and an international touring schedule. He was recognized during his career with two Emmy Awards, six gold albums and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Liberace lived a life of flamboyance, flash, and lavish costumes and in this funny and touching tribute, the virtuoso musician gets one last chance to glitter and shine as he tickles the ivories through many of his favorite songs, including ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’, ‘Three Little Fishies,’ and ‘The Boogie Woogie.’

This loving tribute to Liberace was written by Milwaukee Rep Associate Artistic Director Brent Hazelton, with original music direction and composition by Jack Forbes Wilson. This production is directed by the Playhouse Artistic Director, Jacqueline Hubbard and stars Daryl Wagner* in this iconic performance as the man who defined four decades of music and pop culture.

Wagner has an impressive career as Liberace, playing him for over 20 years across the world in the renowned “Legends In Concert” show, as well as many productions that he arranged and produced himself. Speaking of his early career in musical theatre, Wagner says, “I left a lucrative review called “Hello, Hollywood” and ended up in, where else, in Las Vegas.”

He continues, “The showrooms were flooded with stars, huge orchestras and some classy and great night clubs and restaurants. My first job was in one owned by the great Liberace and he was my first employer in town. I played piano and sang in the lounge of the Tivoli Gardens and it was a time to remember and celebrate. It turned out bizarrely prescient as this man was to have a major role in my future career!”

Liberace! runs through Nov. 15. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $42 for adults, $37 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.)

The Playhouse is located at 103 Main St. in Ivoryton.

*denotes member of Actors Equity

Pictured – Daryl Wagner*

Liberace! is generously sponsored by Hamilton Connections.

CENTERBROOK –- Auditions for the Community Music School (CMS) Jazz Ensemble will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the School, located at 90 Main St. in Centerbrook.

Directed by Tom Briggs, the ensemble is for students ages 13 to 18 with a strong interest in jazz performance and learning more about improvisation. Instrumental students on trumpet, trombone, flute, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar are encouraged to audition.

Call CMS at 860-767-0026 to schedule a 20-minute audition timeslot. The regular Jazz Ensemble rehearsal schedule begins on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m.

The CMS offers innovative music programming for infants through adults, building on a 30 year tradition of providing quality music instruction to residents of shoreline communities. Community Music School programs cultivate musical ability and creativity, and provide students with a thorough understanding of music so that they can enjoy playing and listening for their entire lives.

For additional information about the Jazz Ensemble and other CMS programs, visit www.community-music-school.org