#things to do in Connecticut

Magnifique! The Baker’s Wife now on stage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn

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The set of the Baker’s Wife

The Ridgefield Theater Barn presents another outstanding musical. The Baker’s Wife is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and the book by Joseph Stein, based on the 1938 French film of the same name by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. The musical premiered in the West End of London in 1989 for a short run but, toured the United States but unfortunately it was  never produced on Broadway.  Now  it is  on stage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield Ct.

Stephen Schwartz  has an impressive resume with his work on such hits as  Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked.  He has also penned the music and lyrics for movies such as The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted.

The story of The Baker’s Wife is set in a small remote village in rural France that has recently lost its only baker.  The villagers are miserable without fresh bread until Aimable (Joe Harding) the baker and his much younger wife, Genevieve (Claire Simard) move to the village and open a bakery.   The villagers rejoice but the audience soon learns about the tensions and issues between many of the citizens.

It is not long before Genevieve realizes that she is not happy with her life and wonders why she is in this village married to man many years older.  When a new man comes into her life, her world, the village, and the bakery is turned upside town.   She runs away with her new love and the bakery ceases operation.   The villagers now have a common cause and they rally to the baker and work together to reunite the baker and his wife.

The two act, two hour production moves along quickly and the audience is drawn into the story immediately.   The songs are catchy and memorable, and the vocal performances by the large 17 member cast are captivating.   The set design is beautiful and the band (now located to the side of the stage) was wonderful.  Direction by Rena Gavigan was first rate and the entire production was high quality that one would see in a much larger venue.    Music direction is by Sarah Fox.

The show runs through June 22, 2024 . Check out their website for the 2024/25 season as well as donate to the Barn as it has recently undergone many improvements.

The Ridgefield Theater Barn https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/

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Ridgefield Independent Film Festival returns May 16th-19th 2024

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The Ridgefield Independent Film Festival is back for its 9th year.  This year’s edition of RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL shines the spotlight on several filmmakers from the surrounding area.   All films this year will be at the Prospector Theater in downtown Ridgefield.  The festival is an exciting venue filled with independent short film, narrative films and documentaries.  There is something for everyone. This is one of our favorite events of the year and if you love film, this is a great way to experience cinema you just do not see on your streaming service.

There will be 39 films in the festival so we encourage you to check the RIFF website for more details and  ticket information.

The first film features Easton, CT filmmaker, Karen Thorsen, whose award-winning documentary, JAMES BALDWIN:THE PRICE OF THE TICKET opens the festival on May 16th at The Prospector Theater. Using rarely-seen archival footage, the film melds intimate interviews with the author and civil rights luminary, along with interviews with Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and Frances Foster, public speeches and glimpses of Baldwin. There will be a reception at 7pm, catered by GALLO Ristorante of Ridgefield in the Star Bar of the Prospector Theater, followed by the 8pm screening and a Q&A with the filmmaker, moderated by RIFF Board Member, Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell. 

Darien, CT filmmaker Eden Wright is 5th generation in the film business and currently co-stars in “City on a Hill” (Showtime) produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. She brings her short film CUTTER to RIFF’s PSYCH NIGHT! On Friday, May 17th at 9pm. When her newest client sends them both out to sea, a desperate maritime hairdresser learns an important lesson about internet strangers; the hard way. Its just one of 6 short films in Psych Night!

HOW TO PAINT A PEACE SIGN by filmmaker Rick Gomez is part of the Heroic Docs series . It takes an intimate look at grief and healing as Redding, CT artist Dave Daignault teaches viewers a technique to paint prominent peace symbols and, in the process, gives his audience the tools necessary to cope. Rick says of the film, “I have been friends with Dave Daignault for over 30 years. When his wife’s life ended by suicide in 2020, and he decided to move from the barn where they raised their children and painted enormous peace signs for the entire neighborhood to experience, I knew I had to document that departure. What we created was an ode to the power of art and hope and a simple philosophical strategy to cope with grief.” The film is part of the  HEROIC DOCS 2, Saturday, May 18th 5pm Theater 2.

Norwalk filmmaker, Alix Speyer Bacher gives us a look inside the world of roller derby with her very entertaining film, DON’T BE DAINTY… IT’S DERBY! Played by women young and old, the emerging sport of roller derby has confident, powerful, female identifying athletes with bodies of every size and shape, at its core. The skaters explain how liberating it is to experience the aggressive power that has long been traditionally reserved for male athletes. Alix is an award winning independent filmmaker. emerge as HEROIC DOCS 2, Saturday, May 18th 5pm Theater 2.

All films will screen at The Prospector Theater – 25 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT May 16-18.

“I am thrilled to bring so many local filmmakers to screen their films at the beautiful Prospector Theater,” states festival founder/director, Joanne Hudson. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem for independent filmmakers in Connecticut.” 

Many of these filmmakers will also take part in the MAKE YOUR MOVIE panel on May 17th 2pm at the Lounsbury House. This panel moderated by filmmaker, Daniel Schechter (LIFE OF CRIME, AFTER CLASS, SUPPORTING CHARACTERS) will help to assuage your fears about taking the leap into filmmaking.

Please visit RIFF’s website https://www.riffct.org for more information and tickets. 

Background:

Ridgefield Independent Film Festival was founded in 2015 by local playwright and filmmaker, Joanne Hudson and presented its first iteration in May of 2016 at ten venues throughout Ridgefield, CT; screening 72 films from 26 countries. Now in its 9th year this intimate and highly curated festival continues with the same independent spirit in which it began: in the hopes of making the world a more compassionate place through the sharing of stories through cinema”

As we have done for years, I On The Valley is proud to promote the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival.  It is a local treasure we encourage local residents to take advantage of this cultural resource.  See you at the movies.

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Greenwich Restaurant week returns April 1st to April 7th. Try some new restaurants and some old favorites!

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Foodies rejoice!  Greenwich Restaurant Week returns from Monday, April 1 to Sunday, April 7th 2024. Eat, drink. and celebrate in Greenwich with special price-fixe offers for only one week!

There is a great list of restaurants all offering their own menu for restaurant week.  Among the Greenwich eateries are Bianca, Bistro V, , Coffee For Good, Elm Street Oysters, Grigg Street Pizza, Little Pub, Hinoki, l’escale, La Taqueria, Tony’s J House and so much more.  

This is a great way to sample some of the exciting dining right in your own back yard.  Each restaurant will have a special restaurant week menu and price.

For more information and complete restaurant please go the website >https://mofflylifestylemedia.com/greenwich-restaurant-week/

Presented by Moffly Media.

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Fleetwood Mask, the most authentic Fleetwood Mac Tribute band live at the Palace Theater in Stamford on March 2nd

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Fleetwood Mask the only Fleetwood Mac tribute band endorsed by Mick Fleetwood (founding member of Fleetwood Mac) is coming to the Palace Theater on March 2nd 2024.  Tickets are on sale now.   

This is an incredible music experience that takes you through the history and the extensive catalog of music from one of the world’s most famous and well loved bands.  The audience will enjoy the band’s many hits as well as deep cuts from their discography.

Mick Fleetwood himself tells us to “get excited” for a performance that accurately captures the magic of the band.  Each Fleetwood Mask set includes historically accurate stage equipment and instruments (including original pieces used on tour by Fleetwood Mac), period correct  wardrobe, and set lists that replicate the various tours throughout the band’s long history.

Fleetwood Mask members include embers include Claudette Rodrigues (Stevie Nicks), Barbara Martin (Christine McVie), Mark Blasquez (Lindsey Buckingham), Paul Jones (John McVie), Don Oberempt (Mick Fleetwood).

Tickets start at only $29 which is amazing considering the quality of this must see performance.  

The Palace Theater is a local treasure and a fantastic venue for live music.   The Theatre, a 1,636-seat  venue built as a vaudeville house and opened in 1927.. It was restored and re-opened in 1983 for live theatre, opera, dance, comedy and concerts, plus art exhibitions in the Gallery.  We have been to live performances here and can attest to the fantastic acoustics and the clarity of the sound during live performances. 

There is an amazing slate of live performances coming up at the Palace.  Lee Brice (country music star), Irish Comedy tour, Matt Fraser (psychic medium), and country music group Lady A (platinum hit –Need You Now).  Check the Palace website for updates and more information.

For tickets>>https://palacestamford.org/Online/default.asp

The Palace Theater

61 Atlantic St Stamford Ct      Box office  203 325 4466

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Clybourne Park, the Tony award winning drama now on stage at Music Theatre of Connecticut

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The moving and complex drama, Clybourne Park is now on stage at the Music Theatre of Norwalk.  This two act drama that is set in 1959 and in 2009 examines the state of race relations and of property ownership in the same neighborhood, fifty years apart. This play is both dramatic and thought provoking and we found ourselves talking about it long after its conclusion.

Act One introduces us to Bev (Susan Haefner) as the typical proper 1950s housewife.  Her husband Russ  (Frank Mastrone) is also introduced and we see the couple preparing to move from their home in a working class neighborhood  of Chicago.  The neighborhood is all white.  There is sadness about their move as we find that their adult son committed suicide in the house and the couple feel the need to start over elsewhere. 

The action begins to heat up when Karl (Nick Roesler) a neighbor and member of the community association enters the scene.  He attempts to unravel the sale of the house as he has learned a black family is the purchaser of the house and he and others fear the change to their neighborhood and destroy their property values.  The conversation escalates into an argument as Karl proposes legal strategies to void the sale.  Looking on the whole time are the black maid Francine (Rae Janeil) and her husband Albert (SJ Hannah) who act with remain out of the fray with an air of dignity but obviously repulsed by Karl and his overt racism.  Jim is not persuaded to call off the sale and asks where were the neighbors and their concern when their son died?

Albert offers to help carry a large foot locker belonging to the son down the stairs which Jim plans to bury in the yard.  The foot locker crashes down to the bottom of the staircase and the heavy thud had the audience riveted and questioning what was inside.

Act Two brings us into the year 2009 where we see the house in a state of disrepair.  The neighborhood for decades has been predominately occupied by African Americans who now witness white professionals buying up the homes due to the close proximity to downtown.  The entire scene involves a discussion between the architect, (Matt Mancuso) existing homeowners and the new owners Steve (Nick Roesler) and Lindsey (Allie Siebold) .  The script is now flipped.  The new homeowners want to tear down the existing house and build a larger modern house which is out of scale and style with the neighborhood.  The African American homeowners are resistant to the changes and the gentrification of the neighborhood.  The race relations of 1959 has totally been turned upside down, as the white professionals find themselves unwanted.  It reveals how little progress has been made in 50 years.  A little humor is sprinkled in this argument filled second act as the plumber comes in and out and finally reveals a foot locker he has discovered buried in the yard.  Will opening the box open or heal the wounds of Clybourne Park? Another fine production from MTC.

Written by Bruce Norris, and directed by Pamela Hill.  Kevin Connors is the Executive Artistic Director.Sound Design by Jon Damast, lighting Design by RJ Romeo, Costume Design by Diane Vanderkroef.Scenic Design by Martin Scott Marchitto ,Fight & Intimacy Choreography by Dan O’Driscoll Cultural Consulting by Dr. Sharon J. White and Stage Managed by Abbey Murray.

On stage through November 19th, 2023

For tickets and information https://www.musictheatreofct.com/clybourne-park

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Taste of Fairfield returns, Sunday October 8th

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A fun culinary event that we have always enjoyed in the past is back. The Taste of Fairfield will be held on Sunday, October 8th, from 12pm – 4pm at Delamar Southport, 275 Old Post Road, Southport, CT. Over 35+ restaurants, wineries, craft brewers and others vendors will take part to serve their signature cuisine and curated cocktails and beverages to foodies and attendees in the area in the back lot of the Delamar Southport / Artisan Restaurant! This is a fabulous and fun event and the weather looks great.

There will also be live music, a few local vendors, raffles and much more! There will be local items raffled off during the event, and 100% of the money raised for the raffles will be donated to the Norma Pfriem Breast Cancer Center in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Tickets in advance for general admission is $85, which includes food, drink, and entertainment all afternoon. Day-of general admission is $100. Please note: This is a 21+ event. Attendees under the age of 21 are not permitted at this event.

For tickets please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-fairfield-2023-tickets-672610715757

The event is organized by Fairfield Moms.

Taste of Fairfield

Delamar Southport 275 Old Post Rd, Southport, CT 

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Jersey Boys: The long running Broadway hit now at Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk

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Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with well know tunes that weaves together many of the hit songs of the 1960s rock group, The Four Seasons.   Unlike other jukebox musicals that use familiar hit songs to tell a fictional tale (Mamma Mia and others), Jersey boys tells the actual story of the band.  Starting from its early days in New Jersey as the “Four Lovers” to the addition of a young teenager named Frankie Valli, to the addition of a young song writer  Bob Gaudio who would go on to pen their many hit songs. It was interesting to learn that a young Joe Pesci (the actor) introduced Gaudio to the band. The show ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017 with over 4000 performances.

The play covers the ups and downs of the band, their personnel changes, money and management issues and their endless road tours.  Even with problems with the record label  and getting their songs played on Top 40 radio, the Four Seasons would succeed in the turbulent and constantly changing  era of f1960s rock music.

The format of the play is both story telling and live performances that weave together the saga of the Four Seasons from  their humble Jersey roots, to their rise and eventual  break up.  The story is both funny and sad, but it is the music and harmonies that lift the audience up during the performance.

The Music Theatre of Connecticut has produced yet another highly professional theatrical experience.  The small intimate theater in which the audience sits three sides surrouning the actors creates the feeling that you are in the performance itself. It’s  quite extrodinary.   In a musical such as Jersey Boys, sound is vital to success and the sound crew delivers concert quality sound as the harmonies that are so much of the Four Seasons sound are delivered with clarity.  Over 30 songs are part of the musical which the cast delivers to the delight of the audience.

A great cast of 14 actors rotate on and off the stage.  Michael Fasano reprises his role as Frankie Valli which he played  on the national tour.  He really pulls off the unique vocal range of Frankie Valli.   Nathan Cockroft (Tommy DeVito),  Sean McGee (Bob Gaudio), and Steven Petrovich (Nick Massi) round out the rest of the band and deliver solid acting and vocal performances. The vocal harmonies were impressive.

The rest of the cast has plays numerous roles, including fans, wives, mobsters, record executives and even Joe Pesci.  Seamless costume changes allow these actors  to assume several different roles during the show.  The cast of Brianna Bauch, Emily Solo, Skye Gillespie, (all seen above) John Treacy Egan, Michael  Luongo, David L. Murray Jr., Robert Peterpaul, and Jeff Raab  does a fantastic job of playing so many roles critical to the telling of the story.

Kevin Conners delivers yet again another wonderful directing achievement.  This is a Broadway quality production right next door in an intimate and professional venue.

The show runs through October 1st.

For information and tickets:https://www.musictheatreofct.com/ 

Please support local theater.  It’s the best !

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Car lovers come to the Connecticut Colonial Concours 9/22-9/24 in New Milford, Ct.

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An exciting car enthusiast event is coming to our area 9/22 to 9/24/2023 in New Milford Connecticut. The Connecticut Colonial Concours d’ Elegance is an high-end auto event which includes an exciting lineup of vintage cars.  This promises to be a fun weekend for attendees.

The site of the Concours is beautiful Candlelight Farms in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, this weekend-long celebration offers something for everyone.

Each day of the Colonial Concours d’ Elegance will not only feature fabulous automobiles, but fantastic food and entertainment, and a memorable experience..

This year the Councours is adding a series of new competitions, including the 30 under 30, and Hot Rod Challenge, Muscle Machines on Saturday, Vintage Military Vehicles, and Vintage Planes! Sounds like a great line up. There will be live entertainment all weekend long, not to mention great food, local artists and  vendors, and of course a gathering of fantastic automobiles.

This sounds like a great way to spend a fall weekend. For more information and tickets, please visit the link below.  See you on the show field, and look for our photos after the concours.

Connecticut Colonial Concours d’Elegance

Link>>> https://colonialconcours.com/

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Dial M For Murder: a mystery thriller at the Westport Country Playhouse

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Kate Abbruzzese as Margot

Witty, fast paced and full of intrigue.  Dial M For Murder now on stage at the Westport Country Playhouse, delivers a superbly crafted two hours of murder, mystery and mayhem. 

The setting is a mid century modern flat in London.   The play opens with Tony Wendrice who enters the corner of a dark stage and lights a cigarette while a single spotlight illuminates him.  The dark curtain rises behind him and we see a London flat and a woman who is attacked and murdered by a mysterious intruder.  It is quite abrupt and unexpected.  Yet Tony slowly strolls off stage with no emotion.  We will soon learn that this is the plan he has in his mind for killing his wife and stealing her fortune. It is a foreshadowing of future events, or not? There are many twists and turns on the road ahead.

We next meet his wife Margot and her friend Maxine, a mystery novelist who is in London to promote her new book. We learn that not only are they good friends but are lovers which would certainly be quite scandalous in 1950s Britain. Maxine’s skills as a mystery writer will prove crucial as she matches wits with Margot’s plotting husband. The audience discovers that a racy letter from Maxine to Margot was stolen from her handbag and she is being blackmailed.  She confides to her friend that she has paid the hefty ransom for the letter, but she has been double crossed by the unknown blackmailer.  The blackmailer we learn is now using the money not only to hire a hit man, but he plans to frame the hit man as well for her murder. That is just one of the many twists in the story that take the audience on a wild ride.

Krystal Lucas and Kate Abbruzzese

The play was originally written by English playwright Frederick Knott. The play premiered in 1952 on stage in London’s West End and later that year on Broadway.    It is best known for the film version directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland.   The current production was adapted by American writer Jeffrey Hatcher in 2022. If you are familiar with the original, you will be pleased that this adaptation has added intrigue and drama.

The excellent cast (all members of Actors Equity) includes Kate Abbruzzese as Margot (credits include various theater, off Broadway and television including a guest spot on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel).  Patrick Andrews as the scheming husband, Tony (credits include Romeo+Juliet, Red, Camelot (all at Westport directed by Mark Lamos) as well as other productions. Tony award winner Kate Burton as the Inspector (credits include Broadway roles as well as long running roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal ) and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards .  The excellent cast is rounded out by Krystal Lucas as Maxine, and Denver Millord as the hit man.

The play was brilliantly directed by Mark Lamos who kept the audience riveted with a smoothly paced production filled with twists and sprinkled with the right amount of British humor.  Alexander Dodge was the scenic designer and the mid century modern set was fantastic and provided the perfect setting.  Costume design by Fabian Fidel Aguilar was period correct and especially well done.

Westport Country Playhouse is a local treasure that consistently produces Broadway quality shows right in our backyard.  Dial M For Murder is being staged through July 30th 2023. Get your tickets now.

For tickets and information: http://www.westportplayhouse.org

Westport Country Playhouse

25 Powers Court Westport Ct.

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Greenwich Concours 2023: an exciting weekend of automotive excellence

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Best of Show at the Concours d’Elegance: 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B owned by Lawrence Auriana.

Each June there is a special gathering in Greenwich Ct of automotive enthusiasts, collectors and experts to attend the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. At this yearly event, the automotive faithful witnessed a finely curated collection of unique automobiles.  The passion of the owners, judges, attendees and the organizers was evident in Greenwich this past weekend.

Wayne Carini’s 1953 Studebaker Commander Starlight Coupe

On Sunday June 4th the waterside show field was filled with classic cars featuring a number of different classes.  Among the classes were Post War Alfa Romeo, Beach Cars, The Class of ’63, East Coast Coachbuilders, Ghia Concepts (cars hand built by Ghia of Italy), Historic Hot Rods, Muscle Cars (in high impact colors), Motorcycles, Woodie Wagons, Super cars and more. 

There were cars for every taste and interest.    On Sunday as on Saturday, Wayne Carini, restorer, collector and star of the tv program “Chasing Classic Cars” walked guests through some of his collection of cars that were displayed waterside.  Wayne was also the Grand Marshall of the Concours.

The DeSoto Adventurer II concept car built for Chrysler by Ghia of Italy. One of a kind.

Being invited to a Concours to show your vehicle is an honor, but to win best in show is quite the achievement.   Saturday’s Concours de Sport Winner of the best in show was The 1965 Ford GT40 Mk I owned by Benjamin Levy.

On Sunday the best of show winner at Concours d’Elegance wasthe 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B owned by Lawrence Auriana.  The judges must have had a challenging time choosing with all the amazing and unique cars on the show field.

The concours this year also featured a section with several food trucks and a bar truck which seemed to be a big hit with the guests. Attendees could also upgrade their experience and have access to Club Greenwich where they could dine in a beautiful pavilion overlooking the harbor and the winners platform.

In the parking lot across the street the electric car company Lucid was giving free test drives.  Hagerty Ride and Drive was also there with several classic cars and one modern Porsche for guests to test drive through the streets of Greenwich.  I was thrilled to drive a classic 1967 Pontiac GTO.  It is this kind of experience provided by Hagerty Events and the Greenwich Concours which set this event apart from other car shows.

Driving a classic 1967 Pontiac GTO as part of Hagerty’s Ride and Drive program.

If your interested in other Concours and car events presented by Hagerty, you should consider joining the Hagerty Drivers Club.  I have circled my calendar for the next Concours.  It should  be another great weekend.

More information>>  https://www.greenwichconcours.com/

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Photos from the Concours can be seen all year on instagram @car_nation_frank

#greenwichconcours #hagertyevents