Antiques Shows______

April 3: 7th Annual Meridian Lodge Antiques Show & Sale, Maloney High School, 121 Gravel St, Meriden, 10 am-3 pm (early buying 9 am, $10), adm $4.50; 203-440-1625.

April 4: Windham Antiques & Collectibles Show, Windham High School cafeteria, 355 High St, Willimantic, 10 am-4 pm (early buying 9 am, $5), regular adm $3.50; 860-456-2178 (Mill Museum).

April 4: 60th edition Greater Hartford Vintage Clothing & Jewelry Show & Sale, Emanuel Synagogue, Mohegan Dr, West Hartford, 10:30 am-4 pm, adm $5, 50 booths; 860-342-2540.

April 17-18: Westchester Glass Club 2004 All Glass Show & Sale, Greenwich Civic Center, Harding Rd, Old Greenwich, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $7, 60 nat’l dealers, presentation by author & lecturer Tom Dimitroff, ID booth, glass repair, refreshments; 973-763-4524, 203-966-1777.

April 18: 19th Phonograph-Music Box-Record Show, The Inn at Ethan Allen, Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, 7 am-3 pm, adm $8; 330-325-7866.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Beaux Arts Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm. Call 203-263-3939.

Through May 3, “Inside Out: The Paintings of Helene Brier.”

Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Hours: Wed 7:30 pm (opens for weekly poetry program), Thurs-Sat 12-9 pm, Sun 11-4 pm. Call 798-2193 or 740-7351.

Through April 25, “New York City Underground,” mosaic tile pcs by the Fairfield artist Mark Maiocco replicating NYC subway stop mosaics.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 am-8 pm, Fri 12-5 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 426-4533.

*(new show) April 4-22, “A Taste of Italy,” photographs by the Newtown couple Rita Frost & Francis Caro of the Italian countryside, architecture & food; April 4, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Also on view: Through April 16, “Journal Pages,” quilted wall hangings by 8 members of The Scrapbag Quilters: 8½ by 11-inch panels each represent one month of quilt artist’s life during 2003.

Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, One Museum Dr, Greenwich. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-869-0376.

Through June 20, “Fire Stories: Australian Aboriginal Art from The Kluge-Ruge Collection,” art based around the theme of fire w/ approx 20 paintings & 20 objects to explore the significance of fire in the art & lives of Australian Aborigines, also examines the historic & scientific role of fire in shaping Australia’s geography, flora & fauna; April 10, “A Historical Look at Aboriginal Culture,” 10 am, overview of Aboriginal history by Dr Howard Morphy (director, Centre for Cross-Cultural Research at Australian Nat’l Univ).

Through April 25, “New York Exposed: Photographs from The Daily News, Part I,” nearly 100 selections from 6 million-plus images in newspaper’s archive, spotlighting photos from years of newspaper’s inception in 1919 through end of 1950s (Part II will immediately follow, May 1-July 4).

Good News Café, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Mon, Wed-Sat 11:30 am-10 pm, Sun 12-10 pm. Call 203-266-4663.

Through April 12, “Nature Impressions,” multi-hued artistic quilts “capturing the rich beauties of the natural world in fabric” by Sandra Scott.

Grey Horse Gallery, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34 (in old Masonic Temple, 1st floor; behind St John’s Episcopal Church), Sandy Hook. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 270-1199.

Permanent display of oils & pastels by Dick McEvoy.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury. Hours: Sat 10 am-2 pm, Mon & Wed 10 am-7 pm, Thurs-Fri 10 am-5 pm. Call 860-350-2181.

*(new show) April 3-May 5, “Myth & Landscape,” monotypes by Liz Dexheimer, who focuses on patterns & rhythms of natural world & frequently references mythological beings associated w/ nature’s power & majesty; April 3, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St, New Britain. Hours: Tues, Thurs-Fri & Sun 12-5 pm, Wed 12-7 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm. Museum Highlights Tour offered each Sun at 2 pm. Call 860-229-0257.

*(new show) April 4-May 23, “Jeremiah Goodman’s Interiors,” paintings of interiors by NY artist that are imbued w/ the spirit of their inhabitants & reflect the interests & tastes of the rich & famous incl Greta Garbo, Sir John Gielgud, Mary Martin, Richard & Dorothy Rodgers, Diana Vreeland, Ronald & Nancy Reagan, et al; April 4, artist’s talk, 3 pm; April 4, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

*(new show) April 4-July 3, “Burchfield & Marsh: Exaggerated Visions,” 60 watercolors, oil paintings & drawings, incl many by Marsh that have never been on public view; April 4, opening reception, 4-6 pm; April 7, Art Happy Hour, 5:30-7 pm, program at 6 by NBMAA director Douglas Hyland on “Wild Side: Town & Country Viewed by Marsh & Burchfield”; April 14, Art Happy Hour, 5:30-7 pm, screening at 6 of the film Burchfield’s Vision; April 21, Art Happy Hour, 5:30-7 pm, program at 6 by Michael Lasser, “Songs & Art: Marsh & Burchfield”; April 28, Art Happy Hour, 5:30-7 pm, program by NBMAA docents Pat Hickox & Rose Greenwalk at 6, “Burchfield & Marsh: A Comparison & Contrast”; May 5, Art Happy Hour, 5:30-7 pm, program at 6 by artist Leonard Everett Fisher, “Creative Connections.”

Sadelier, 69 West Wooster St, Danbury. Hours: Tues-Thurs, Sat 11 am-5 pm, Fri 11 am-6 pm, Mon by appt. Call 743-4830.

*(new show) April 10-June 12, watercolors “loosely based on the circle & exploring the wide range of possibilities the motif offers” by Melinda Hackett; April 10, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Washington Art Association, Bryant Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 860-868-2878.

*(new show) April 3-25, “Members’ Show 2004,” drawings, paintings in oil, acrylic & watercolor, sculpture & pottery by artists ranging from top professional, gallery-represented artists to beginners waiting to be discovered; April 3, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-432-2800.

Through May 9, “Just What Is It That Makes British Pop So Different, So Appealing?” exhibition meant to complement Hamilton show (below) w/ works from YCBA’s collection incl prints, drawings, rare books & manuscripts to trace development of British Pop from original formation in mid 1950s to its “exuberant flowering” in 1960s w/ works by Blake, Hockney, McHale, Kitaj, Paolozzi, et al; April 15, exhibition tour, 11 am.

On view indefinitely, “Revisiting Tradition: Painting & Sculpture in The Twentieth Century.”

On view indefinitely, “Taste & Beauty In Three Dimensions: Paul Mellon and British Sculpture.”

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Brookfield Arts Commission. Call 740-2801.

May 29: Dancers & singers, food vendors, artists & crafters being sought for International Cultural Festival, will run on Brookfield Town Hall property, 12-4 pm, contact Joanne Hunter ASAP for details.

Musicals at Richter, Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury. Call 748-6873.

April 2-4: Open adult auditions for for mainstage musicals (Hello Dolly! June 17-July 3; State Fair, July 8-24; & Annie, July 29-Aug 14), Fri 7-10 pm, Sat 2-8 pm, Sun 1-5 pm, bring photo & résumé, prepare 2 Broadway showtunes (1 uptempo, 1 ballad) that show range (bring sheet music in key & be prepared to sing only best 16 measures if necessary), be prepared to learn short dance combo & to read from script; ALSO specialty dancers sought for featured choreography in Dolly & Fair (esp those w/ gymnastics, ballet & jazz backgrounds); ALSO performer w/ stilt walking talents needed for State Fair.

April 3: Youth casting, 10 am-1 pm, for Annie (title role & other orphans), State Fair boys & girls for ensemble) & Fairy Tale Theater (adaptations of Velveteen Rabbit, Pied Piper of Hamlin, Jungle Book & Sleeping Beauty; all roles, no singing ability needed), 10 am-1 pm, prepare 1 each Broadway uptempo & ballad, be prepared to read from script.

Volunteers also needed (all shows) for backstage duties (set construction, costumes, crew, etc) & front-of-house (house mgt, ushering & concessions).

Sherman Players, Sherman Playhouse, Rte 37 at 39 (behind firehouse), Sherman. Call 860-355-4394.

April 3-4: Auditions for A Chorus Line, director Lanny Mitchell seeks 8 men & 9 women of ethnic diversity, ages 17-30, who sing, dance & act, several “cut” dancers (singers & dancers only, no speaking lines) ages 17-30 also needed, also male actor for role of Zack (any age), singers & dancers must be prepared w/ song & sheet music & be ready to learn a dance combo – Sat, April 3 (dancers only, at Let’s Dance Studios, 994 Federal Rd, Brookfield), 3-7 pm; Sun, April 4 (actors & singers), 3-7 pm.

Concerts, Musical Events ____                  

April 3: Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook,  7:45-10:30 pm, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see details under Miscellaneous), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-0617.

April 3: US Army Field Band & Soldiers Chorus at Nonnewaug High School, 5 Minortown Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free performance, tickets required; 203-263-2890.

April 3: Flaming Saddles: CT Gay Men’s Chorus Spring Spectacular, WCSU Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 8 pm, tickets $25 & $30, satirical musical romp through today’s biggest headlines; 800-644-2462.

April 3-4: 3rd Annual Yamaha Clavinova Festival, WCSU Student Center Theater, 181 White St, Danbury, 4-7 pm each day, free ongoing performances by nearly 200 Fairfield County students incl Newtown musicians playing on a digital piano that allows innovative accompaniments & sounds; 778-1234.

April 4: 4th Annual St Rose Festival Chorus Performance, St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 7 pm, performance of Clydesdale’s I Am for chorus and orchestra, also opera highlights, by St Rose music ministries and Litchfield Hills Opera Ensemble; 426-1014.

April 4: Trio di Camerati at New Preston Congregational Church, Church St, New Preston, 3 pm, tickets $10/advance, $12/door, works of Washburn, Muczynski & Haydn, also debut of work written for trio by Larry Deming; 860-567-1972.

April 4: Irish Traditional Music & Song at The Black Rock Art Center, 2838 Fairfield Ave, Black Rock section of Bridgeport, 4 pm, adm $15 adults, $5 children & seniors, all-stars direct from Ireland incl members of Nomos, The Karen Casey Band & Lunsa featuring Niall Zallely (concertina), Cillian Zallely (Uillean pipes) & Paul Meehan (guitar); 203-367-7917.

Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-7001.

Ballroom, Latin & Swing Dance Party, every Wed 7-11 pm, $12, singles & couples welcome for free dance lessons (7:30), buffet dinner (8), open dancing to DJ selections, dressy attire (no jeans).

Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford. Call 860-246-6807.

April 2-3, performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, 8 pm, tickets $15-$57 ($7 students w/ ID), conducted by Edward Cumming (who will announce first half of program from prodium) (free concert preview, 7 pm, hosted by Maestro Cumming & incl performances by students of Hartt School).

Newtown Friends of Music, Newtown. Call 426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, $15, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult (subscriptions available), reception follows performances: April 25, Cavani String Quartet, works of Beethoven (String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op 18 #6), Margaret Brouwer (Demeter Prelude) & Dvorak (String Quartet in A Major, Opus 96, “American”).

Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield Univ, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010, 877-ARTS-396 (877-278-7396).

Performances 8 pm unless noted: April 3, “Ute Lemper: All That Jazz!” $40-$50, the German-born vocalist w/ unique voice & facility w/ cabaret songs will bring latest show to Fairfield.

Films _________________

Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 778-2100.

April 2-8: Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (R), daily 7:20 & 9:40 pm, mat Fri 5 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 12:30, 2:30 & 5 pm; The Ladykillers (R), daily 7:30 & 9:50 pm, mat Fri 5:10 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 12:40, 2:55 & 5:10 pm; My Architect (NR), daily 6:45 & 9:20 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:25 & 4:05 pm; Touching The Void(NR), daily 7:05 & 9:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:45 & 4:15 pm.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-2475.

April 2-7: Master and Commander: The Far Side of The World (PG-13), Fri, Mon-Wed 7 pm, Sat-Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4:30 pm.

Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St, Norwalk. Call 203-852-0700.

April 2-June 17: Ocean Oasis, daily 11 am, 1 & 3 pm; also Fri-Sun 7 pm w/ Volcanoes of the Deep Sea (double feature).

Through June 17: Volcanoes of the Deep Sea, Mon-Fri 12 & 2 pm, Sat-Sun 12, 2 & 4 pm.

Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Call 203-432-2800.

“Glorious Technicolor, Breathtaking Cinemascope & Stereophonic Sound,” ongoing series of free screenings, 2 pm unless noted: April 3, American Graffiti (1973, rated PG, 110 min); April 17, Ulysses (1967, not rated, 132 min).

Yale University Art Gallery, Chapel St at York, New Haven. Call 203-432-0600.

Stagestruck Film Series, at Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St, free screenings of films related to current exhibition at YUAG, 7 pm: April 3, Hairspray (1988, 92 min).

For Kids & Families _________

April 2: Kindergarten Friday at Monroe Public Library, 7 Fan Hill Rd, Monroe, 1:30 pm, free (registration requested/space limited), kindergarteners (or children age 5) invited to special program of games, stories & craft or video, continues first Fri/month into May; 452-5459.

April 3: Easter Egg Hunt for All Ages, The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd, Newtown, 1:30 pm, games & prizes, arts & crafts, photos w/ Easter Bunny, RSVP requested; 426-8118.

April 3: “Circus! Circus!” by Hartford Symphony Orchestra, at Bushnell Center for Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, 11 am, tickets $11 & $14 adults, $7 & $11 children, final concert of HSO 2004 Family Matinee Series will be 60-min program featuring Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals (narrated by John McDonough), Suppe’s “Light Cavalry” Overture & Mattias Bamert’s interactive pc “Circus Cavalry”; 860-244-2999.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302, Bethel. Call 794-8756.

April 13, book discussion program, 7 pm, discussion of Rena’s Promise: A Story of Sisters in Auschwitz, memoir by Bethel resident Rena Kornreich Gelissen.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-4533 (children’s dept 426-3851).

Children’s programs, free unless specified: April 3, Pinocchio: the puppet show, 1 pm, ages 4-10 invited to presentation by Junior Girl Scout Troop 809 to also incl easy craft program, registration requested (repeats April 10 & 17); April 17, Pinocchio: the puppet show, 1 pm, ages 4-10 invited to presentation by Junior Girl Scout Troop 809 to also incl easy craft program, registration requested.

Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, One Museum Dr, Greenwich. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-869-0376.

Through Aug 1, “Simply Sensational: An Exploration of The Sense,” family-oriented exhibition illustrates how people & animals use their senses to survive in & strive to understand the world.

Devil’s Den Preserve, 33 Pent Rd, Weston. Call 226-4991.

All events free, no pets (even on leashes), reservations required: April 4, “Let There Be Light!” 1-3:30 pm, join Frank Conway to celebrate the end of of early darkness & beginning of spring w/ 3.5-mile hike suitable for beginners & younger hikers; April 9, Night Hike, 8-9:30 pm, $3 fee for this program, families can join Al Noë for walk to discover nocturnal creatures incl bats & owls, test your senses & even make sparks in the dark, recommended for ages 6+.

Downtown Cabaret Children’s Theatre Co., 263 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport. Call 203-576-1636.

Three Billy Goats Gruff and The Gingerbread Doll (double feature), through April 10, curtain Sat-Sun 12 & 2:30 pm, tickets $12.50, group discounts available.

Monroe Public Library, 7 Fan Hill Rd, Monroe. Call 452-5458.

Reading Adventures, 7 pm, parent & child book discussion series for grades 3-4, newcomers welcome, titles follow: April 13, Frindle by Andrew Clements.

Playhouse on The Green (formerly Polka Dot Playhouse), 177 State St, Bridgeport. Call 203-345-4800 x150.

Polka Dot Kids Theatre Series, monthly series w/ guest performers, shows at 10 am & noon, tickets $12, series tickets & group discounts available: April 3, Cookin’ with Gary Rosen, performance by children’s musician suitable for entire family, food drive for local food banks will be taking place.

Miscellaneous ___________

April 2: Newtown Singles Meet & Mingle event, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street/Rte 25, Newtown, 7-9 pm; 261-4210.

April 2: Janet Wallach at First Congregational Church, 6 Kirby Rd, Washington Depot, 7 pm, free lecture by co-founder of Seeds of Peace; 860-868-7334 x251.

April 2-7: Friends of New Canaan Library Book Sale, New Canaan Library, 151 Main St, New Canaan, Fri begins 5:30 (no early birds, live piano music & refreshments), Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, Mon-Wed 9 am-5 pm, large selection incl many nearly new books, also videos, audio cassettes, LPs & CDs, credit cards welcome; 203-594-5000.

April 3: Easter Egg Hunt for All Ages, The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd, Newtown, 1:30 pm, games & prizes, arts & crafts, photos w/ Easter Bunny, RSVP requested; 426-8118.

April 3: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3.50 children, full spaghetti dinner incl salad, desserts, and soft drinks/coffee raises funds each month for church, all welcome, coffee house/musical event follows (see details under Concerts); 426-0617.

April 3: Spring Crafts Fair, Kensington Green, Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 10 am-3 pm, fundraiser for CT chapter/Alzheimer’s Assn; 267-7100.

April 3: “CT Poetry Society: CPS Celebrates Nat’l Poetry Month” at Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 1-4 pm, free adm, readings by winners of CPS’s 2003-04 contests, readings & book signings by published poet & teacher Margaret Gibson, also open mic readings, light refreshments; 860-584-2857.

April 3: CT Catholic Singles Coffee House-Dinner Dance, Stella’s Restaurant, 7395 Main St/Rte 110, Stratford, 7 pm, $25, hot buffet, coffee & dessert, live music by Two Of Us; 261-2414.

April 3: “Growing Up with Famous Hollywood Fathers: Maria Cooper Janis,” Playhouse on the Green, 177 State St, Bridgeport, 7:30 pm, tickets $15-$20, discussion w/ Gary Cooper’s daughter & screening of clips from Cooper’s films hosted by movie critic Susan Granger; 203-345-4800 x150.

April 3: American Cancer Society’s 12th Annual Spring Charity Ball, The Amber Room, Stacey Rd (off Rte 37), Danbury, 7 pm-midnight, tickets $175/person, $300/couple, theme of evening is Retro (black tie/retro chic), cocktail hour, dinner at 8, silent auction, dancing, recognition of Angel Award honoree Dr David Berger & Spring Charity Ball honoree Peggy Gilmore; 563-0744 x238.

April 3-4: “Spring Into Spring: St Rose of Lima Easter Boutique & Plant Sale,” St Rose Parish Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, Sat 10 am-7 pm, Sun 8 am-2 pm, Easter plants, decorations from around the world, treats & goodies.

April 3-4: 14th Annual Model Train Exhibition, Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, Rte 133 at 25, Brookfield Center, 10 am-4 pm, adm $3 adults, $1 ages 7-14, free ages 6 & under, working layouts, railroad memorabilia, signs & sounds, trains available for children to operate; 740-8140.

April 3-4: 8th Annual Weston Women’s League Gracious Home & Garden Show, Weston High School, School Rd, Weston, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $6/adv, $7/door, free ages 12 & under, show features variety of artisans & collectors within house & garden categories offering hand-painted furniture, glassware, vintage bedding, antiques, decorative iron & more, art show & sale, Garden Café offers snacks, proceeds to benefit 7 local agencies; 203-227-6127.

April 4: “Embracing Death and Letting Go: A Gift for Yourself and Those You Love,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free lecture by yoga center executive director & co-founder Janaki Pierson will be followed by group meditation & tea reception; 203-263-2254.

April 4-7: The Last Supper Enactment, Immanuel Lutheran Players at Immanuel Lutheran School, 35 Foster St, Danbury, Sun 4 pm, Mon & Wed 7 pm, donation $6, $5 groups of 10 or more, based on an original concept by Andy Krey (Maritime Ministry of Southern New England); 798-9444.

April 5: BookTalk: Feng Shui for The Home, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 2 pm, free, certified feng shui practitioner Judie Haynes-Ricciardi will use Sarah Shareth’s Feng Shui For Your Home as basis of discussion on book & feng shui as a practice.

April 5: Presentation by Civil War Re-enactment Soldier, Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, Rte 133 at 25, Brookfield Center, 7 pm, free program by Newtown resident Victor Scalora will concern the role of 2nd CT Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment during Civil War; 740-8140.

April 6: Housatonic Valley Group/The Sierra Club meeting, Newtown Congregational Church House, 41-A Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, free & open to non-members, 7:30 pm, Candlewood Lake Authority executive director Larry Marsicano will present “Candlewood Lake – Its Environmental Health and The Public’s Demands”; 775-9644.

April 6: “Owls,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave (off Rte 34), Derby, 7:30 pm, $4 donation requested, slide program by licensed wildlife rehabilitator Marilyn Kappal (rescheduled from March 16) about raptor rehabilitation, live birds also participating; 734-2513.

April 8: “History Bites: Of Flanders’ Fields,” Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury, noon, free lecture by Arthur Milnor (executive director, Flanders) will look at history & preservation of the nature center, continues “4th annual History Bites” series, BYO light lunch (beverages & dessert provided); 203-263-3711.

April 8: “The Archaeology of Putnam Park,” Ridgefield Library, 472 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 7 pm, free slide lecture by Newtown Town Historian Dan Cruson will concern 1998 excavation at Redding’s park that was site of Continental Army encampment during winter of 1778-79; 203-438-2282.

April 10: CT Contacts Singles Dance Party, Anthony’s Lake Club, West Kenosia Ave, Danbury, 8 pm-1 am, $15 incl hot & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections; 203-468-1144.

Active Singles. Call 860-489-9611 or visit www.ActiveSingles.org.

Hikes for singles (ages 30s-50s) 1st & 3rd Sun/month, 9:30 am (early arrival requested), free, no dogs or children allowed, 4 skill levels available, bring/wear hiking boots & bring water: April 4, hikes at Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield.

Audubon Center at Bent of the River, 185 East Flat Hill Rd, Southbury. Call 264-5098.

Free programs unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable, leave pets home: April 4, Mating Dance of American Woodcock, 7 pm, sugg donation $5, participants will have opportunity to witness courtship dance of American Woodcock, meet at welcome kiosk & dress for outdoors, optional moonlight walk follows; April 11, Mating Dance of American Woodcock, 7 pm, sugg donation $5, participants will have opportunity to witness courtship dance of American Woodcock, meet at welcome kiosk & dress for outdoors.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-4533.

Programs free unless noted: April 2, cooking demo & wine tasting, 7 pm, secrets of cooking vegetarian recipes by Claire Criscuolo (owner, Claire’s Corner Copia, New Haven) & discussion of tasting wine by local expert Steve Small; April 4, opening reception for “A Taste of Italy,” photography exhibition w/ works of Rita Frost & Francis Caro, 4 pm, show on view until April 22; April 6, book discussion, 1 pm, H.W. Brands’ The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin; April 6, “Why Is She Smiling?” 7:30 pm, program by art historian Joy Pepe on da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”; April 12, book discussion, 7:30 pm, Reeds in the Wind by Grazia Deledda; April 15, Evening Book Club, 7:30 pm, discussion of Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons, newcomers welcome.

Flanders Nature Center/Van Vleck Farmhouse, Flanders & Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Hours: Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm. Call 203-263-3711.

Art at The Nature Center/Candlelight Art Evenings, 7:30 pm, $5: April 16, “New, Dramatic, Exciting or Good: Undercurrents of Universal Beauty in My Contemporary Designs,” program by Woodbury-based architect & joiner Andrew Peklo III.

Newtown Singles, meetings at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 261-4210.

Monthly “Meet & Mingle” events, 7-9 pm: next program April 2.

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level), 45 Main Street, Newtown. Call 270-4377.

Shop is open every Wed 12-3 pm & Sat 9 am-noon, access is from town hall’s back parking lot (separate door for thrift shop), shop carries discounted items from local businesses & private donors incl clothing & sm home accessories, etc.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-6654.

Meetings 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: April 14, acrylic figure program by Beverly Branch.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meetings, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-6224.

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6-8 pm (weigh-ins 6-6:45, meetings 7-8), meetings $2/week, membership $20/year.

Wednesday Night Poetry, Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place (in former railroad station), Bethel. Call 426-3388 (Faith Vicinanza), 270-6202 (Michael Seri), 748-2828 (BAJ).

Series presented ev Wed 7:30-10 pm (featured poets 8:30 pm, poetry workshop 9:15 pm), adm $1 ($3 if out-of-state or major guest poet), guest/featured poets as follows: April 7, Curbstone Press Poets; April 14, Sallie Wright & Tora Givotovsky; April 21, Sara Holbrook; April 28, Barbara Holder.

 

Theatre ______________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, Brookfield Playhouse, Rte 25, Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

The Fantasticks, April 16-May 8, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (April 18 only) 2 pm, tickets $15.

Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport. Call 203-576-1636.

A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum, through May 9, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $34.50-$42.50.

Hartford Stage, 50 Church St, Hartford. Call 860-527-5151.

Topdog/Underdog, April 8-May 9, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun-Thurs 7:30 pm, call for mat schedule (selected Wed, Sat & Sun).

Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Dr, New Haven. Call 203-787-4282.

We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! through April 4, curtain Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun & Tues 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $38-$55.

New Zenith Theatre, at Naugatuck Valley Community College MainStage Theatre, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury. Call 203-575-8193.

The Secret Garden, through April 4, curtain Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 seniors, $6 students.

Playhouse on The Green (formerly Polka Dot Playhouse), 177 State St, Bridgeport. Call 203-333-3666.

The Gin Game, through April 11, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $25-$35, group rates available.

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield. Call 203-431-9850.

The Vagina Monologues, through April 3, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $15 adults, $12 seniors & students, doors open one hour before performance; play has adult themes & language.

Seven Angels Theatre, Hamilton Park Pavilion, Plank Rd, Waterbury. Call 203-757-4676.

The Matchmaker, through April 25, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $24-$38.50.

 

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Events that appear by date have Newtown events listed first, with additional events listed by their start time. At the time of printing, the information here is accurate as presented; a call ahead is always a good idea to be safe.

 

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Press releases for the Enjoy calendar of events or the Enjoy section must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to the attention of Shannon Hicks, Arts Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or to shannon@thebee.com. Photos are welcome and can be black & white or color prints; please call for details concerning photo files to be emailed.