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Moon over Buffalo, a hysterical comedy now at Ridgefield Theater Barn

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We all need a night of laughter and great entertainment.  Now on stage at The Ridgefield Theater Barn is the hilarious comedy “Moon Over Buffalo”.  The comedy will be presented starting May 30th through June 21, 2025.  The play by  Ken  Ludwig  was staged on Broadway in 1995 starring Carol Burnett and ran for over 300 performances. 

The play takes place in Buffalo New York in the early 1950s where we meet George and his wife Charlotte who are both actors and are presenting two plays in their small repartory theatre, Cyrano De Bergerac and Private Lives.  We meet the characters as they have a sword fight to and fro across the Theatre Barn stage.  The sword fight is only a hint of the highly physical comedy that is to come during the two act, two hour performance.

George and Charlotte love the theater, but they crave one last fading hope at starring in a Hollywood feature film.  Such a chance happens when the leading actor in a Frank Capra film is injured and the legendary director is coming to see George and Charlotte perform  in person with the possibility of casting them in the film.

Chaos breaks out in the preparation for the performance.  Joining the cast is Eileen one of the company actors who announces she is pregnant with George’s child.  Also arriving is Roz (the daughter of George and Charlotte) and her fiancé, a television weatherman.  When Charlotte discovers that George has fathered a child she plans to run off with her own lover, Richard.   George starts drinking and runs off.   As Capra will be arriving soon for their performance, the players make a crazy physical chase through the elaborate stage in search of George and aided by Charlotte’s half deaf mother, Ethel.

The pace of comedy becomes frantic, fast and physical.  The Theatre Barn set has numerous doors and a staircase which becomes the backdrop for  a desperate search to find George and somehow stage the play in time before Capra’s arrival.  The laughs are nonstop with wonderful performances from the cast. 

The cast is George Hay – Fred Rueck, Charlotte Hay – Gillian Holt, Ethel – Elayne Gordon. Rosalind – Julia Preis, Howard – Seth von Schmidt, Eileen – Clara Sussmann, Paul – Matthew Donovan, and Richard – Timothy Huber.

Directed by Diana Canova who expertly guides this hilarious and over the top comedy by using every square foot of the stage and directing the actors to deliver their lines with hysterical result.  An evening of laughs not to be missed. The set design was very impressive and really was an important part of the play.

The Ridgefield Theater Barn is a great experience.  The audience in the small intimate space can bring in their own food and drink  to enjoy prior to the performance.  It is a very special venue and the productions are always of high quality.

For tickets and information:https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/

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Ridgefield Independent Film Festival returns May 18th with 46 films, 4 parties in 4 days!

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The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF) is back on May 18th to 21st 2023.   This will be an exciting year for the festival as it will host 46 films and 4 parties over 4 days.  The festival will be 100% live with no virtual events.  Festival films will be screened at Keeler Tavern, Ridgefield Theater Barn, Prospector Theater, Ridgefield Library and the Ridgefield Playhouse.   This is an amazing event right in our backyard with films that you just will not see anywhere else.

Thursday May 18th will be a day full of screenings.  Student films, Made in Connecticut documentary, and Iranian Cinema Shorts are just some of the events.   Thursday evening will feature the Opening Night Reception, and screening of “A Little White Lie”. The movie is based on the book “Shriver” and the author, Chris Belden will be in attendance for a Q & A session following the screening

Scene from ” A Little White Lie”

Friday May 19th  the festival will be in full swing with Essential Documentaries, an International feature, Iranian Cinema Feature, and Black Flag Shorts.  On Friday night the festival will present the Featured Rom-Com “Hard Shell, Soft Shell”.  The screening will include a signature cocktail, dessert reception and a Q&A with the filmmakers.  We always enjoy the Q& A sessions as it is a fantastic way to gain insight into the making and the meaning of the film.

Saturday May 20th will be a full day with events at both the Ridgefield Theater Barn and Keeler Tavern.   The day will kick off with Breakfast and a Rom Com featuring “His Girl Friday”.  It will be followed by  a made in Connecticut documentary, a short film program and more.  The Barn will host the Saturday Night Flick, “Daddy” with Hot Dogs from Chez Leonard and craft beer from Ridgefield’s own Nod Hill Brewery.  The night at the barn will wrap with Psych Night, a collection of short films.

Also on Saturday over at Keeler, there will be documentaries, short films and a featured documentary, “JessZilla”.  That film will be followed by a Q& A. 

Sunday will wrap up with brunch and the awards presentation to the filmmakers.

The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival is a great way to experience independent film, and meet and talk with filmmakers.  The festival is a real treasure and the perfect way to spend the weekend. So come out and support the art of filmmaking. You might just be watching the next Steven Spielberg.

See you at the movies!

For more information and tickets>>>>>>>

https://www.riffct.org

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Super Nifty Holiday Bash, a fun comedy musical at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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We have just the event to kick start your holiday season. Live on stage at The Ridgefield Theater Barn is the holiday musical comedy, “Super Nifty Holiday Bash”.  If the holiday season is overwhelming you, this light and very funny musical review is just the tonic to brighten up the season.

The play takes place in 1953 and Doris and Don Campbell are hosting their holiday party.  The house is decorated,  the food is catered, the bar is stocked and there is even a three piece band is in the house to get the party swinging.  It sounds perfect!  But a sudden and unexpected blizzard turns the perfectly planned festivities on their ear.   Waiting for the guests to arrive Don and Doris entertain us with a pair of funny songs which take a satirical look at the holidays, “12 Days of Christmas” and “ Everybody’s Waiting for the Man with the Bags”. 

The first guest Charles Whitmer (Duane Lanham) arrives with his nephew Steven Stephens (Chris Balestriere) and Charles immediatley heads to the bar for a cocktail and instructs Don on the proper way to mix a drink. He wants to get the party started.

An unexpected guest, the flamboyant Gloria Gooseby (Marilyn Crough Olsen) arrives with her assistant Edna Flatly (Rachel Lewis).  Gloria starts the party rocking with some martinis and revealing her obvious affection for the host, Don Campbell (Michael Valinoti).

 Doris (Heather Abrado) is not to pleased with their amorous party crashing guest, but they manage to get together in the spirit of the holidays and belt out the duet “ A Hand for Mrs. Claus”.  Just one of the 16 songs in the show.  

A bit of romance and drama bloom on this snowy night as we learn more about Edna and her failed romance as she sings the hilarious “Never Fall in Love with and Elf”.  Soon she and Steven find an unexpected connection to each other. 

The comedy turns physical as the caterers (Lauren Gulliver Travers and Monica Harrington) burn the dinner, and the fire department has to come and put out the fire.  The entire cast including the band run from the stage and down the center aisle of the theater toward the exits.  The audience was roaring with laughter.

Super Nifty Holiday Bash is a fun and satirical look at the holiday shows and movies of the post war period that often portrayed the holidays in an unrealistic light.  It brings the familiarity of holiday music (with new lyrics), some original songs, and sprinkles the performance with physical comedy, fine vocal performances and charming choreography.

So kick off your holiday season with something different!  Head to the Ridgefield Theater Barn to see Super Nifty Holiday Bash. 

The play is written by Theater Barn regular Duane Lanham, directed by Deb Failla and musical direction by Lisa Hobbs.  Now through December 18th.   Happy Holidays!

For tickets and information:

http://www.ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org

Ridgefield Theater Barn

37 Halpin Lane Ridgefield Ct

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Get in the spirit with “A Christmas Carol” now at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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Great tidings!  The Ridgefield Theater Barn is now open and is staging a fantastic one man adaptation of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” .  It has been 10 months since we have enjoyed live theater because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so we were thrilled to spend a special evening at one of our favorite local venues. This classic 19th Century tale of the greed, bitterness and the harsh reality of life in that period is in stark contrast to the joyous Christmas season.

The show, which was originally presented in 2018 at the Farmington Valley Stage Company in Collinsville, CT, stars Patrick Spadaccino in his one-man adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic tale.  Mr. Spadaccino plays 25 different roles in the 90 minute performance and brings each character to life.  The production is directed by Scott R. Brill.

Dickens tale is well known as it follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, mean, and lonely business owner in 19th Century Britain.  He has no care for his fellow citizens or workers and downright detests the joy of the Christmas season.  Scrooge finds himself quite alone in his miserable existence, alienated from everyone around him.  A ghostly spirit visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve to show him the error of his ways.  The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Futures guides Scrooge through his life and what will happen to him in the end.  An end that is cold, lonely and devoid of humanity.  But there is hope in the Spirit’s message that Scrooge can change the course of his future.  The Ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge visiting Bob Cratchit’s family feast and introduces the audience to the iconic character of Tiny Tim who is seriously ill, and only if Scrooge changes his ways will he be healed. 

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his own death, where there are no friends, no mourners and only people selling off his belongings for money.  Horrified by this outcome, Scrooge is set on changing his ways before Christmas Day.  The lessons of the story ring true today as they did when it was first  published in 1843

Patrick Spadaccino was brilliant in this one man acting tour de force.  The set is simple and the costume changes minimal, but by the way he was able to change his voice and his facial expressions were quite mesmerizing.  As he wove in and out of characters on stage, your mind was convinced there was more than one actor on the stage.  It was quite the performance.  Direction by Scott R. Brill was excellent as the play keeps the audience members riveted.

With many holiday events cancelled due to Covid, this is a very special event and a great way to get into the holiday spirit and to support local theater.  The play show will run Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8pm, with Sunday matinees at 2pm through December 20th.

The theater has in place their own in-house Covid-certified Compliance Officer and has taken many steps in order to satisfy all Covid protocols. 

.  The seating capacity has been reduced , tables are spaced out, and masks are required.  Special air filtration, cleaning as well as increased fresh air circulation has made the venue a safer place for all to enjoy.

For tickets and information: Click the link below

A Christmas Carol

Ridgefield Theater Barn

37 Halpin Lane Ridgefield Ct

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    Smorgasbord: a hilarious ode to food now at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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    SMORGASBORD-logo-JPG-768x543

    A hysterical new musical Smorgasbord is now on stage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn.   The play billed as “A Musical Menu” is the creation of Bradford Blake, a very talented and funny lyricist.  His holiday themed “Wreck The Halls” was a big hit at the Theater Barn in the past.  This musical revue has  food as its subject matter and Blake (who also directs the play), takes the audience on a wild comical ride through the world of food.

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    Anya Caravella, Robert Geils, Tracey Marble and Zachary Theis serving up comedy and music

     

    The stage of the theater features three talented musicians under the direction of Charles Smith.  They are dressed as chefs and set the tone for the evening.  The very talented and humorous cast of Anya Caravella, Tracey Marble, Robert Geils and Zachary Theis are tasked with leading the audience through a menu of 19 intricate original songs.   The vocals are quite good, and the comical acting of the cast had the opening night audience laughing the entire evening.  The cast is very talented and the vocals of Anya Caravella were quite impressive.  The direction by Mr. Blake was excellent as the timing of the comedy is spot on.

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    Act One which was called “First Course” is composed of 10 different songs taking the audience on a tour of different foods.  Some of the standout numbers were “Chez McDonald’s”,  “De Fruit Song” and “Pigoletto” a hilarious look at Italian cuisine.   Eating alone is never fun and “The Frozen Turkey TV Dinner Blues” is a witty look at the subject.

    The “Second Course” is just as creative and comical.  The audience responded to “Taco”, “Tomorrow’s the First Day” (an amusing look at dieting), “Sukiyaki Sue” and one  of our favorites “At Lebebschmittel’s Deli”, a  very funny tune about a Jewish deli. The evening concludes with an ode to ice cream in “One Scoop”.  The song draws inspiration and from the classic 1970s musical, “A Chorus Line”.

    Opening night for Smorgasbord was filled with laughter at the Theater Barn.  This is a unique venue which you must experience.  Doors open one hour prior to the performance and guests sit at tables and are encouraged to bring their own food to enjoy prior to the show.   The lobby also features a snack bar that also features wine and beer.  Support local theater and enjoy a great evening of laughter.

    This very witty and amusing show runs through February 29th.    This is a show is just the recipe to shake off the winter blues with non stop comedy.

    Ridgefield Theater Barn

    37 Halpin Lane
    Ridgefield CT 06877

    tel .203.431.9850

    web  https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/

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    Last of The Red Hot Lovers: Neil Simon’s classic comedy now at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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    LastOfTheRHL

    The classic Neil Simon play “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” is now playing at the Ridgefield Theater Barn through September 28th.   This comedy which was first staged on Broadway in 1969 was the recipient of four Tony Award nominations.

     

    The play is in three acts with each act  featuring Barney Cashman, (Duane Lanham) a  married forty something  year-old owner of a seafood restaurant.  Barney is afraid he is missing out on the sexual revolution of the 1960’s . In the space of several months, he invites three different women to his mother’s Manhattan apartment in an attempt to have an afternoon of extramarital fun.  Each scene involves a different woman, and the Barney learns quickly that the sexual revolution may not be his cup of tea.

    His first encounter is with Elaine Navazio (Paulette Layton) who he meets in his restaurant.  Elaine we find is in an open marriage and is quite comfortable with having extramarital affairs.  Elaine is put off by Barney’s sexual  ineptness and his inexperience with affairs as well as his  desire for a meaningful encounter.  The exchange between the two is  quite comical as his inexperience is represented by not having cigarettes or the right alcohol on hand.    Barney decides this lifestyle is not for him.

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    Paulette Layton and Duane Lanham

    In Act Two, we are back in the apartment months later and Barney has now met a young actress Bobbi Michele (Kate Patton) in the park.  He soon finds his young friend is really not what he expected.  Even though he is now prepared with booze and packs of cigarettes, young Bobbi just wants to talk about herself, her career and smoke pot, which she encourages Barney to try.   She is quite the contrast to the amorous Elaine from Act One.

    In Act Three the tone of the play turns a bit darker and deeper as it probes into morality.  Here we meet Jeanette Fisher (Linda Seay) who is the wife of a good friend.  Barney has learned that Jeanette’s husband has been carrying on an affair for some time and convinces her that her own affair will even the score.  But from the moment she walks into the apartment it is clear that Barney’s plan of an afternoon of sex is not what he imagined.  Jeanette does not know why she really is there, does not want cigarettes or alcohol and her exaggerated body language and running away from Barney is not only comedic but lets the audience and Barney know that this is not what she wants.  She does want to find people that are kind and who are “decent”.   It is in this dialogue which is so different from the previous Acts that Barney comes to an awakening that everything he really needs is waiting at home.

    Duane Lanham was wonderful as Barney and we love his physical style of comedy and his hysterical facial expressions.  He is one of our favorite actors at the Barn, having seen him in Wreck the Halls, Rumors, and the hysterical  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  We loved  Paulette Layton, Kate Patton, and Linda Seay, and they are  all very funny actors playing very different roles.  Well done ladies.   The opening night crowd agreed with rousing applause for the cast and crew.

    The play was directed by Michael Ferrara  who as a young boy acted in Neil Simon’s  The Gingerbread Lady.  Though the play is now 50 years old, it subject of morality and truth is still relevant today.

    The Ridgefield Theater Barn is a small intimate space.  Theater goers are encouraged to bring food and drink to the theater to enjoy prior to the performance.

    for tickets and information:

    https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/tickets/

    Ridgefield Theater Barn

    37 Halpin Lane
    Ridgefield CT 06877

    tel. 203.431.9850

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    Ridgefield Theater Barn opens its 53rd season with the musical comedy, Urinetown

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    urinetown

    The Ridgefield Theater Barn has opened is 53rd season with Urinetown, The Musical.   Urinetown is a satirical musical comedy .  It satirizes the legal system, capitalism social irresponsibility, populism,  bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics  The show also parodies past musicals, and the Broadway musical itself as an art form.

    The play opened on Broadway in 2001 and ran for over 900 performances.  It was  the winner of the 2002 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score.   The music and lyrics were written  by Mark Hollmann,  and the book and lyrics  were penned by Greg Kotis.

    This very funny musical now comes to the Ridgefield Theater Barn Stage with performances through September 28th 2018.    This production is directed by Deb Failla with Musical Direction by Lisa Riggs Hobbs. The show features Michael Valinoti, Elyse Jasensky, Chris Balestriere, Monica Harrington, James Hobayan, Bill Warncke, Joe Caputo,  Meaghan Elliot, Shawn Tyler Allen, Rachel Lotstein, Samantha Holomakoff, Rachel Lewis, Duane Lamham, Lesli Allen, Stephen Emerick, and Harry Brendan Garnett.

    The Ridgefield Theater Barn is a wonderful intimate venue to enjoy live theater.  Seating is cabaret style at tables and theater goers are encouraged to bring their own food and wine to enjoy prior to the performance.

    Don’t miss this hysterical show  before it sells out!  For tickets and more information:

    http://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org

    Tickets are $38 and Seniors (62)/Students/Veterans $30

    Ridgefield Theater Barn

    37 Halpin Lane  •  Ridgefield, CT

     

     

    Rumors: a hysterical Neil Simon play at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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    rumors 2

    A very funny play “Rumors” written by Neil Simon is bring laughter to the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield Ct.  Rumors is the only farce written by Neil  SImon whose credits include “Lost In Yonkers”,  “The Odd Couple”, “Goodbye Girl”, “Biloxi Blues” and more.  The audience on opening night was laughing throughout the two act play which runs approximately 2 hours.

    The play is set in at a home in the New York City suburbs where a tenth wedding  anniversary party is to take place.  As the guests begin to arrive, they start to discover some odd things going on in the house.  The host has been shot in the head and is bleeding upstairs, his wife is missing and cannot be found and the help who should be preparing for the party are missing as well.  A real mystery.  Add to that a cover up of the shooting  by the guests. One of the guests who is running for State Senate, and he wants to avoid any scandal.  Throw the police into the mix, and you have the recipe of an evening of who done it meets over the top comedy.

     

    The production features the direction of Scott Brill and the show producers are Pamme Jones and Paulette Layton.  The cast is wonderful and has great energy as you will see.  The cast of Jody Bayer (last seen at the Barn in Calendar Girls,  the hysterical Duane Lanham (also seen in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Wreck the Halls on the Barn stage), and the talented Deborah Burke, Kristin Gagliardim Rick Haylon, TIm Huebenthal, Leigh Katz ,Daniel Mulvilhill ,Matthieu Regney and Chhandra Som.

     

    The Ridgefield Theater Barn is a fun venue.  It is small, only 70 seats and you sit at round or rectangular table and you can bring in your own food and wine to enjoy prior to the performance.  A great place to enjoy some local theater.

    The best part:  tickets are only $24 and makes for a perfect date night.  The show is on Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.    The show runs through March 25th.

     

    Ridgefield Theater Barn 

    37 Halpin Lane  Ridgefield Ct

    for tickets:   ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org

     

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    From the creator of House of Cards: “Farragut North” at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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    Playwright Beau Willimon, the creator of “House of Cards” (Netflix hit series), delivers a powerful and timely play about the inner workings of presidential campaign.  The work was influenced by his own personal experience of working on both US Senate and Presidential campaigns.

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    Farragut North premiered in 2008 at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York and would become the basis for the screenplay for the motion picture “Ides of March“.  That screenplay was written by Willimon, George Clooney and Grant Heslov (The Monuments Men).  The play has now come to the Ridgefield Theater Barn and will be performed through October 1, 2016

    The play is set during a presidential campaign in the days leading up to the Iowa Caucuses.  The audience meets many of the main characters in Scene One including Stephen (Jack Tynan) they young and blindly ambitious press secretary, his boss Paul (Fred Rueck) the seasoned campaign manager, Ida (Julie Zelman) the crafty and ambitious New York Times reporter who will do whatever it takes for a story, and Ben (Ryan Wenke) the young reserved staff assistant who is kept at a distance by his seasoned superiors.  We learn in this scene both the intrigue and the behind the scenes tactics of a national campaign and how the campaign can manipulate the press and craft the candidates message to serve its needs.

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    Scene Two of Farragut North is a critical scene where Stephen meets secretly with Tom (Steven A Miller) who is the Campaign Manager of his rival.  In the meeting in a quiet restaurant outside Des Moines, we learn the dirty secrets of misinformation and poll manipulation by the other candidate.  The crafty Tom leads Stephen to believe that his candidates campaign is all but over and he should jump ship and join his team.  Stephen who is both young and ruthlessly ambitious has had his life turned upside down by these revelations and he begins to question his own future.

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    The political intrigue and games continue for the rest of the play with the appearance of Molly (Margaret Fegan) who is a young amorous intern who is learning more than just national campaigns.  It is her interactions with Stephen that brings to light issues of loyalty, fidelity, betrayal and honesty both on a personal level and in the campaign.

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    There are excellent performances all around and direction by Cathy Fitzgerald Linder is first rate.

    NOTE:  The play contains adult language and subject matter and is not suitable for minors.

    Tickets:       $24  ( a real bargain!!)    $20 for seniors, students and veterans

    Seating in the 70 seat theater is Cabaret style at tables and doors open 1 hour before showtime.  You can bring your own food, wine and snacks to enjoy prior to the show.

    For tickets and information:

    Ridgefield Theater Barn 

    37 Halpin Lane Ridgefield Ct

    http://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/

     

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