Guitarist extraordinaire, Martin Barre is coming to Edmond Town Hall in Newtown on April 13th. Martin Barre is best known for his four plus decades of work as lead guitarist of Jethro Tull. Martin also is the leader of his own group, the Martin Barre Band since the 1990s. Jethro Tull is a Grammy award winning English rock/folk band that has sold over 60 million records worldwide.
His signature solo on the 1971 Jethro Tull standard “Aqualung” was voted by the readers of several guitar magazines as on of the best rock guitar solos in rock history. On this tour, the music of Jethro Tull and Martin’s solo work will be unplugged with no electric guitars. This will be a unique musical experience not to be missed.
If you have not been to the Edmond Town Hall, you are in for a fine evening of music. The theater is housed in a 1930s building, has great viewing from all seats, and the acoustics are excellent. There is plenty of free parking.
The Capitol Theater in Port Chester is the premier musical venue in our area. It offers a fresh variety of live music and comedy for all tastes. Here is a sample of upcoming events at this iconic theater.
Railroad Earth with Tom Hamilton Saturday March 22, Doors 6pm, Show 730pm Railroad Earth’s music combines elements of bluegrass, folk, country and Celtic themes as and other influences. Recognized as “carrying on the tradition of improvisational, genre-spanning music much like the Greatful Dead. Railroad Earth is known for lyrical songwriting and extensive live improvisation.[
Melvin Seals & JGB with One-Eyed Jack Saturday, March 29th Doors: 6:30PM // Show: 8:00PM Melvin Seals and JGB is an American rockband led by Melvin Seals. The mission of the band is to continue the musical legacy of the Jerry Garcia Band of which Seals was a longtime member.[2]
Upcoming Shows at Garcia’s: Garcia’s is the bar inside the Capitol and a music venue of its own. In addition to showcasing local and regional artists, Garcia’s hosts nationally touring acts from all genres. Live music lives at Westchester County’s true rock club,
Inside Garcia’s at the Capitol
Steely Dead Wednesday, March 19: A Seamless Blend of Steely Dan & Grateful Dead
Color TV & Wheelhouse Thursday, March 20
The Ledbetters A Pearl Jam Tribute Friday, March 21
SoulShine An Allman Brothers Experience Wednesday, March 26
Alex Cano & Emily Angell Band Thursday, April 3 Alex Cano is a nationally touring Rock/ Americana artist based in the NY Hudson Valley Region. Known for his combination of smooth baritone and powerful rock vocals, Cano’s sound ranges from high energy alternative and blues based rock ‘n’ roll, to intimate Americana/folk/roots rock.
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish play will be presented in Sleepy Hollow. The play“The Weir” is written by Conor McPherson in 1997. It was first produced at The Royal Court Theatre in London and has been presented around the world and off Broadway
The setting of the play is in a pub in Ireland. At the pub a group of men gathered to drink and share supernatural stories with a newly arrived woman. The title “weir” refers to a small dam on a local river. The Weir is a symbol of the isolation of their community, while the the ghost stories they tell is but a way to connect and reveal deeper truths about themselves in this quiet village.
The play is produced by Lovely Calamity Productions and the shows are on Friday March 14, and Saturday March 15th . The play will be presented at Hudson Valley Writer’s Center 300 Riverside Dr. Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Now on stage at the historic Westport Country Playhouse is “Native Gardens”. A comedy about new neighbors who quickly turn on each other. The show is playing February 18 through March 8. The iconic Playhouse is presenting this play as part of it’s 2024-25 “Season of Laughter”
Upon entering the theater on opening night we were struck by the amazing and complex stage décor. The play is set in a historic Washington D.C, neighborhood and the set presents two houses side by side. One house is brick and stone, with a beautiful rear deck of stone and a garden worthy of a layout in Home and Gardens magazine. The other house is clad in wood with steps to the yard made of construction lumber. The yard is devoid of landscaping with the exception of a large old oak tree which drops its leaves, acorns and branches onto the two yards. The contrasts will continue to the owners themselves.
The fine brick home is occupied by long time residents Frank and Virginia Butley. Frank works for the federal government, and Virginia reminds us more than once she is an aerospace engineer working in a predominately male field. They keep their home and yard immaculate and abide by the traditions of this historic neighborhood. The new neighbors, Pablo and Tania Del Valle are millenials and their idea for their new yard is to bring in native plants in sharp contrast to the well manicured plantings of the Butley’s.
The well intentioned friendliness of the new neighbors meeting quickly dissolves into a comedic back and forth between the neighbors about a disputed property line. The dispute over property rights the play quickly reveals the clash of taste, and issues of race, ageism, sexism, colonialism and class distinction. Despite handling all these thorny topics, the play keeps the audience engaged with a light hearted and rapid fire comedy from start to finish. The underlying tensions may be serious, but the lighthearted way in which they are approached reveals in the end these are good people with good intentions that have gone astray. It is a very clever written and meaningful play.
Native Gardens is the kind of relevant comedy we need today. From the brilliant set design and relevant soundtrack, the play delivers a delightful comedic evening with wonderful performances. The opening night attendees approved with a rousing standing ovation. A play that exposes the issues that divide us but wrapped in comedic brilliance which lifts the spirit and lightens your evening.
The play is written by Karen Zacarías, who was recently hailed by American Theatre magazine as one of the 10 most-produced playwrights in the U.S. Director is JoAnn M. Hunter. “Native Gardens” is the fourth production in the Playhouse’s 2024-25 “Season of Laughter.
The cast includes Paula Leggett Chase as Virginia Butley (Broadway: “Tootsie,” “On the 20th Century,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Curtains,” “The Pajama Game,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Kiss Me, Kate,” “Damn Yankees,” “Crazy for You,” “A Chorus Line”; 2020 Drama Desk Featured Actress nominee for “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”; Tours: “A Chorus Line,” “Cabaret”; TV/Film: “The Sound of Music, Live”;
Linedy Genao as Tania De Valle (Native of Hamden, CT; first Latina performer to originate the leading role in an Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway musical; named to Variety’s “Broadway Actors to Watch List”; Broadway: “Bad Cinderella” as Cinderella, “On Your Feet!,” “Dear Evan Hansen”; Off Broadway: “Women on Fire”; Tours: “Dear Evan Hansen”; Regional: “Passing Through,” “West Side Story,” “In the Heights”; TV/Film: “Death Saved My Life.
Adam Heller as Frank Butley (Westport Country Playhouse: Script in Hand playreading “The Outsider”; Broadway’s “Some Like it Hot,” “It Shoulda Been You,” “Elf,” “Caroline, or Change,” “Victor/Victoria,” “Les Misérables”; Off-Broadway’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” and others; Goodspeed’s “Fiddler on the Roof” – Connecticut Critics Circle Award/Best Actor), “Rags”; other regional theatre includes “Chicago”- St. Louis Theater Circle Award, “1776,” “Gypsy,” “Falsettos,” “The Chosen”; NYU/Tisch).
Anthony Michael Martinez as Pablo Del Valle (Off-Broadway: Classic Stage Co., 59E59, Vineyard Theatre, New Ohio, The Flea, Theatre Row. Regional: Great Lakes Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare, more; Film/TV: “After Forever” Amazon Prime series; MFA: Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting in DC; resident teaching artist for Red Bull Theater.
A fun comedy is coming to one of our favorite local venues. Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) MainStage, Fairfield County’s award winning professional theatre company, continues its 38th season with Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo
This comedy is a wild ride of eccentric characters, a show-within-a show, and a hilarious love triangle. The production runs from February 7th through the 23rd with performances on Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. In the madcap spirit of Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo is a riotous farce about George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s, who are performing Private Lives and Cyrano de Bergerac in Buffalo, New York. Their hopes of stardom are reignited when they learn Hollywood director Frank Capra is coming to see their matinee, with a potential movie role on the line. But chaos takes center stage as George’s dalliance with a young ingénue sparks marital drama, their daughter’s clueless fiancé adds to the confusion, and Charlotte’s sharp-tongued, hard of-hearing mother wreaks havoc backstage. With mistaken identities and endless mix-ups, this fast-paced comedy delivers non-stop laughs. It looks to be a fun filled evening. MTC always presents a great show.
We will attending the show and provide a review in the coming days.
We all need a good laugh right now. Westport Country Playhouse has just what we need , an evening full of laughter. On stage now at the iconic playhouse is the comedy masterpiece, The 39 Steps.
The 39 Steps is a parody adapted from the John Buchan’s 1915 novel and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock . The story of intrigue and spies as portrayed in the book and the movie remains, but the plot is now framed in an over the top physical comedy format.
The play calls for the entirety of the 1935 adventure film The 39 Steps to be performed with a cast of only four actors. It is this constant and brilliant change of characters by the cast plus lightning fast costume changes that add to the comedic effect.
Plot:
The story concerns an ordinary bachelor in London , Richard Hannay, , who becomes caught up in preventing an spy ring from stealing sensitive British military secrets. Mistakenly accused of the murder of an intelligence agent who tells him about the “39 Steps” ,Hannay goes on the run to Scotland and finds himself mixed up with an attractive woman. Trying to avoid the police and while hoping to stop the spy ring and clear his name. He has found his ordinary and somewhat boring life turned into a real live spy thriller.
The theatrical version keeps the basic story of the spy thriller, but injects a heavy dose of physical British comedy. The four actors keep the audience on the edge of their seats with the non -stop action as Richard is chased from London onto a train car and north into Scotland where he attempts to solve the mystery of the spy ring, unmask the 39 Steps and prove he is innocent. The chase scene on the train is particularly funny.
From start to finish the cast had the Playhouse audience laughing and clapping through the many jokes, gags, and innovative use of props. Homage is paid to Hitchcock himself with his memorable profile on stage, his voice use to introduce the play and the references to his films Dial M For Murder, Psycho, and North By Northwest.
We were laughing throughout the performance and long after the curtain call. For the laughs you need, run to the Westport Country Playhouse and enjoy this hilarious classic comedy. First rate theater is right in your backyard at this historic and iconic venue.
Cast:
Joe Delafield, Seth Andrew Bridges , Sharone Sayegh, and Evan Zes
Directed by Mark Shanahan (also the Playhouse Artistic Director)
The Greenwich International Film Festival invites you to their 10 Year Anniversary Changemaker Gala honoring Golden Globe and Emmy-winning comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Jessica Seinfeld. The Gala will be Wednesday November 13, 2024 at L’Escale restaurant in Greenwich.
Jessica Seinfeld is an American author and wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld. She has released five cookbooks about preparing food for families, and is the founder of the GOOD+ Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy), a New York City based charity.
Jerry Seinfeld is the well known comedian and star of the iconic sitcom “Seinfeld” which is considered one of the best television comedies of all time. Jerry then he has since created and produced the reality seriesThe Marriage Ref (2010–2011), and created and hosted the series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012–2019). He also co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in the animated film Bee Movie (2007) and Unfrosted (2024) which is currently on Netflix.
The Gala will include an awards presentation by Amy Schumer, music by MOJO with After Party with DJ April Larke. Proceeds from the event will support the Children’s Museum of Manhattan Family Connections program, which reunites parents incarcerated on Rikers Island and their children for an afternoon of play and learning at the museum.
GIFF’s Changemaker Award honors artists who have used their public platform and the power of film to further positive social change. Past honorees include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eva Longoria Baston, John Legend, Ashley Judd, Renée Zellweger, Christy Turlington Burns, Freida Pinto, Trudie Styler, Abigail Breslin, Harry Belafonte and Mia Farrow.
For more information and tickets for this special event
Join The Greenwich International Film Festival for an advance screening of SATURDAY NIGHT on October 10th at Avon Theatre in Stamford Ct. This is a chance to see this movie before its release to the public. If you are a fan of the iconic television classic series, Saturday Night Live, then this movie is for you.
At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a troupe of young comedians and writers changed television – and culture – forever. Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman, Saturday Night is based on the true story the events behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, we count down the minutes in real time until we hear those famous words… Live From New York!
One of the premier automotive events of the year is returning to historic Newport, Rhode Island. Audrain’s Motor Week kicks runs October 2nd to October 6th. This is not just a car show, this is an automotive and a lifestyle event not to be missed. Since its inception which we were thrilled to attend, Audrain’s Motor Week has become one of the premier automotive events in the world.
Newport is the birthplace of auto racing with William K. Vanderbilt and his friends racing at a Newport horse track back in 1900. This event would later evolve into the Vanderbilt Cup Races. Newport is rich with history from sailing, tennis, to racing, and to being the summer playground of the wealthy during the Gilded Age. This historic town is the perfect venue for Audrain’s Motor Week which concludes with Audrain’s Concours on the lawn at the beautiful Vanderbilt mansion, The Breakers. The back lawn of the Breakers which overlooks the ocean will feature over 180 cars. The cars are some of the finest and unique classic cars you will see anywhere.
The perfect setting for a Concours
The organizers have organized so many events for Motor Week you need to plan ahead. The Concours Village is The Headquarters for this World-class Automotive Event! The International Tennis Hall of Fame acts the Concours Village for the Motor Week.
The Concours Village at the Tennis Hall of Fame
The Village is open through the Motor Week and will feature concessions from local restaurants, vendors with unique booths and experiences as well . Patrons will be able to enjoy great food from LaForge Restaurant and other exceptional Rhode Island restaurants, purchase official motor week merch, view some very special autos and motorcycles. It is also where some fantastic seminars are held.
Any time during motor week visit the Audrain Automobile Museum to check out the latest exhibition. Each temporary exhibition features 15+ cars allowing for an in-depth look at a collection of remarkable vehicles. This museum always displays some of the most unique and interesting cars.
Cars, cocktails, and food at the beautiful Rough Point estate
On Friday October 4th, Rough Point the beautiful former home of Doris Duke will host “The Gathering”. We attending this event several times during Audrain Motor Week and it is outstanding. The lawns overlooking the ocean are breathtaking. As you wander the ground you can sip champagne, wine, cocktails and beer and enjoy a unique collection of cars. Fine food and bites are also served. You’ll be in good company with comedian, Jay Leno and other car enthusiasts alike. Full-day ticket holders have access to the grounds from 11:00 am onward. Half-day ticket holders have access from 2:00 pm onward. Rough Point is a mansion and a museum with an extensive collection of fine arts and a sprawling historic landscape with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. This is not an event to be missed. The Gathering runs 11 am to 5pm. Cars of all kinds including super rare concept cars have graced the lawn at The Gathering.
Classics on the Audrain tour gather on Bellevue Avenue
Saturday will feature the Tour D’Elegance. The Tour d’Elegance is the scenic drive for all cars that are participating in the Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance and is a spectacle not worth missing. Cars are meant to be driven and this is a chance to see these amazing autos as the complete their tour and park on Bellevue Avenue right in front of the museum. Also on Saturday is a Cars and Coffee event starting at 8am for any classic car driver not on the tour.
The ultimate event, Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance is the pinnacle of Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week. The Concours team has gathered an outstanding selection of judges from around the globe. The Concours classes cover the decades from early 1900 to 1980 with a focus on cars that exemplify the History, Luxury, and Sport of the automotive world. This is a judged event with over a dozen classes of cars. If you love cars or know one who does, this is the ultimate car event for automotive enthusiasts. The Concours opens at 8:30 am and concludes at 3:30pm.
There is so much to do during Motor Week including great seminars, Audrain’s Museum, Bonhams car auction, Wine By The Water, the Hilltop Hangout and more. So get your tickets now and start planning for a memorable experience in beautiful Newport.
A fun event benefitting Earthplace is right around the corner. Don’t miss their Saturday night adult-only bash! The event will have an open bar, harvest dinner, live music by Pimpinella, a roaring fire pit and a mechanical bull. A great way to get out for a fall evening and support this special organization.
Earthplace is located on a 62 acre site in Westport Ct. and serves as a plant and animal sanctuary. Earthplace is a donor supported, non-profit organization committed to building passion and respect for the natural world. The organization provides a water quality research lab for 200+ field sites and student programs, Educational programs connecting children to nature. As well there us an outdoor amphitheater, walking trails, picnic grove, and a 22,000 square foot learning center.
So come out and support a special place and have fun at the same time.
I On The Valley 