Newtown Cultural Arts Commission Plans Spring Events

From the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission:

The Newtown Arts Festival

The fifth, annual Newtown Arts Festival Planning Committee is seeking volunteers for sponsorship and fundraising, safety and security, the rooster ball chair and signage distribution. Interested volunteers must contact Terry Sagedy, festival chair, via terrysagedy@gmail.com.

Live on Stage at Edmon Town Hall

Newtown residents are invited to the Flagpole Radio Cafe at Edmon Town Hall Theater, an evening of lively music and comedy with special guests Aztec Two-Step on Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Further information is available through the Flagpole Productions website.

Sunday Cinema Series

Robert Redford and Paul Newman star in "The Sting," whose screening will be held Thursday, May 5 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Edmon Town Hall Theater. All seats are $2. There will also be a sing-along showing of "Grease" on Sunday, May 22 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Additionally, R-rated film "Carol" opens Friday, April 29 at the Edmon Town Hall Theater. The next Ingersoll Auto-sponsored, free movie night is Saturday, May 21.

Murder Among Friends

Performance dates for "Murder Among Friends," directed by Terry Polvay, are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays through May 7 at 8 p.m. with matinee at 2 p.m.

An aging Broadway star is the target of murder by his wife and his agent, but this clever murder mystery has more than one surprise in store for everyone involved.

Auditions for "Sight Unseen," directed by Sherry Asch, will be held Sunday, June 5 from 7-9 p.m. and Monday, June 6 from 7-9 p.m. Further information is available through the Newtown Players website.

Newtown Public Schools Spring Concert Schedule

The RIS musical takes place Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, with an RIS art show running Friday, April 29 through Saturday, May 16.

Wednesday, May 4 is the HOM fourth-grade chorus spring concert and art show at 7 p.m. There will also be a Hawley fourth-grade spring concert and art show at 7 p.m. as well as a SH art show. Monday, May 9 is the MG fourth-grade chorus spring concert at 7 p.m. The NMS seventh-grade and eighth-grade concerts are, respectively, scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. The SH chorus spring concert will be held Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m., with a MG art show on Friday, May 13 from 5-8 p.m.

The RIS chorus, with grades 5-6, will be held Monday, May 16 at 7 p.m. The NHS chorus concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, with the Newtown Night of Jazz event taking place Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. The NHS orchestra concert will be held Monday, May 23 at 7 p.m., and the NHS band concert is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. RIS sixth-grade and fifth-grade bands end May with concerts on Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, respectively, at 7 p.m.

There will be a performance by the RIS fifth-grade and sixth-grade orchestra Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. as well as a performance by the Unified Theater Production on Saturday, June 4 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m.

2016 Sandy Hook Village Free Concert

Newtown residents are invited to celebrate Sandy Hook on Saturday, May 14 at 7 p.m. with country music's rising star, Tat Holler at Sandy Hook Village Green. The event is presented by the Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (S.H.O.P.). The rain date is scheduled for Saturday, May 21. Further information is available through the Sandy Hook Village website.

Rock & Roll Benefit Concert

There will be a rock and roll benefit concert hosted by Families United in Newtown on Saturday, May 14 at 6 p.m. The event will be held in the Newtown Congregational Church Great Room, located at 14 West St. The cost to attend is $20 for adults and $5 for students if purchased online by Saturday, May 7, with a $25 fee at the door. Featured performers include the Newtown High School chamber choir and violinists Lindsey Jones and Hafez Taghavi. There will also be a presentation from Dr. Margret Bauman, neurologist and pioneer in the study and treatment of autism. Further information is available through the Families United website.

O Fortuna

A celebration of hope and joy takes place Saturday, May 21 at 8 p.m. at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel. Eric Dale Knapp leads the Connecticut Choral Society, New Jersey Choral Society and the NJCS Youth Festival Chorus in Orff’s exhilarating "Carmina Burana," arguably one of the best-loved classical works as well as a true choral showpiece. Tickets are available through the Connecticut Choral Society website.

C.H. Booth Library

Saturday, April 23 marked the 400th birthday of William Shakespeare, and the library has a nice display of Shakespeare's plays and related works, including "Shakespeare in Love" on DVD, all available to borrow for free!
Don't miss the colorful display case (lower level) featuring handmade quilts from The Quilt Shop by Lois, and stop into the meeting room for the SCAN art show and sale. Further information is available through the C.H. Booth Library website.

Professional Art Demos

Professional art demonstration will be held Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. with Ed Little at Still Life in Oil. A second demonstration takes place Wednesday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m. with Melody Asbury at Animals in Pastel.

SCAN sponsors two demonstration meetings during most months, each featuring a professional artist who paints and shares tips and techniques in a specific medium. Both meetings are held in the lower level of the Meeting House (unless otherwise indicated) at 25 Main St. These meetings are open to the public at no charge. Further information is available through the SCAN Art website.

STEAM Programs

STEAM programs are available at the Ever Wonder? Museum for Tuesday, May 3 (Art Lab: Paper Daffodil Bouquets and Bumblebee Stripes), Friday, May 6 (Science Lab: Flower Dissection) and Sunday, May 8 (Mother's Day).

The Art of Glen River

This Newtown retrospective show contains art work of Sandy Hook artist Glen River from 1959 through 2016 and is currently on display at the Newtown Municipal Center (3 Primrose St.) on weekdays during business hours through Saturday, May 28.

Weaving Newtown

An NCAC program, Weaving Newtown allows interested participants to learn to weave on a loom. The first visit is complementary, which includes a demonstration and hands-on practice. Newtown residents are invited to become a student for $40 per month or $100 for three consecutive months. Participants will be given workshop tools and supplies to get started. Experienced weavers are welcome.

Ongoing weekly workshops are held Mondays from 6-9 p.m. at Newtown Congregational Church.