Art Exhibits _____________________________

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center; 740-8140.

*(new show) Through May 29: “Honoring Brookfield’s Fallen Military Heroes,” photographs & other information that pay tribute to 42 Brookfield residents who have given their lives during military campaigns, from American Revolution to continuing Operation Iraqi Freedom; May 29, museum will be open following town’s Memorial Day parade, 12-4 pm.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton; 203-261-0134.

*(new show) May 25-June 30: paintings, fiber art & area rug designs by nationally acclaimed textile designer Emmy Oake, and photos by award-winning photographer Jeff Becker; May 25, opening reception, 6-8 pm.

Good News Café & Gallery, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury; 203-266-4663.

Through May 30: "On The Road: People, Places and Things, a photographic essay," visual images by the primarily self-taught photographer Tom Kretsch that capture calm & soothing moments incl shots of Tuscany, Spain, Mexico, Maine, Newfoundland, Cape Cod, Alaska, The Madeline Islands and his hometown of Westport.

*(new show) May 31-July 26: "The Mystique of India and Turkey," new works by the photographer Hank Meirowitz; June 5, opening reception & artist's talk, 3-5 pm.

*(new show) May 31-June 5: "Rubbertastic," new works by Aaron Szymanski, who has begun using a two-part self curing industrial silicone rubber material for his paintings; June 5, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Koenig FrameWorks, 97 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-270-1887.

Through May 27: “Spring Photography Show 2011: Fantasy,” 60 images from 33 photographers who accepted challenge to create images following simple theme.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury; 860-350-2181.

*(new show) May 21-July 2: “Barns and Gardens,” recent landscapes by Bettina Skor, who has had lifelong interest in paintings landscapes that surrounded her during childhood in Bridgewater; May 21, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Morrison Gallery, 5 Maple St, Kent; 860-927-4501.

Through May 29: works by Warner Friedman, Jean-Claude Goldberg, Gary Komarin, Jonathan Perlowsky, Jonathan Prince & Janet Rickus.

Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose St, Newtown; 203-270-4201.

Through May 20: “Roosters: past and present,” works by Diane Dutchick’s Newtown High School Painting I students, who did paintings in style of movement or artist of their choice, all incorporating a rooster into each work; May 20, closing reception, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Grounds are always open dawn through dusk; call for visitor center and gallery hours; 203-761-9945, 203-834-1896.

*(new show) Through Aug 21: “From Pencil To Plate,” new works incl drawings & prints by Sally Frank, who spent two weeks at Weir Farm in March 2008.

Auditions, Juried Events  _________________

Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown.

May 26: Auditions for Women and Other Pre-Apocalyptic Distractions, 5-9 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, author and director Michael Sneideman seeking people to star in and help produce his original web series to be filmed in Newtown, details & character breakdowns available at www.DeadHorseProductions.com.

NUMC Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown; 203-426-2336.

Oct 15: Applications being accepted for vendors interested in participating in 6th annual event, to run 10 am-4 pm in school's cafetorium, approx 35 spaces available, work must be handmade, applications available at TheFair.numc.us, additional info available from Debbie Stakel at above phone # or thefair@numc.us.

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield; 203-470-8233.

May 22-23: Open auditions for “Word Around Town: An Evening of Original Poetry,” Sun 4-6p m, Mon 7-9 pm, director (& poet) Patti Azzara planning of freeform & prose to encourage self-expression through poetic arts while promoting local artists & their craft, full details available at RidgefieldTheaterBarn.org or contact Ms Azzara at PattiAzzara@yahoolcom or phone # above.

Concerts, Musical Events       ______________

May 20: Danbury Mad Hatter Chorus at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 7 pm, $10, performance by local men’s a capella singing organization, also door prize & light refreshments; 203-426-9024, 203-740-2733.

May 21: “Around The World in 80 Minutes, Part II: The Connecticut Master Chorale’s Spring Concert,” St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 8 pm, $20 adv, $25 door, performance by 55-member ensemble will visit 15 countries through folk songs, opera choruses, patriotic numbers & choral classics, w/ The CT Master Chorale Orchestra & pianist Joseph Jacovino, Jr; 203-743-0473.

May 21: Guy Davis at Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm,$18, $15 students & seniors, headlining performance by acclaimed blues musician & composer, also music by Radio Café Orchestra (w/ special guest Stacy Phillips), radio style comedy sketches by The Flagpole Shakespeare Repertory Theatre; 203-364-0898.

May 22: The Master’s Chorale at Newtown Bible Church, 35 Sugar St/Rte 302, Newtown, 6:30 pm, free performance by 54-member auditioned choir that performs sacred music from most major eras; 203-426-6484.

For Kids & Families _______________________

May 22: Fun Day Sunday, St Rose of Lima Preschool, 42 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am-noon, free face painting, games & crafts for area families, also refreshments & raffle, tours available for those interested in the NEASC accredited programs for ages 3-5; 203-426-3405.

Miscellaneous ____________________________

May 20-23: Friends of Ridgefield Library Annual Four-Day Book Sale, at the library, 472 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, Fri-Sat 9 am-5 pm (early buying Fri only 9-11 am, $10; free adm remainder of sale), Sun 12-5 pm (books half price), Mon 10 am-4 pnm ($5/bag), all proceeds benefit library;

203-431-8766.

May 21: Trinity Tag Sale, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm rain or shine (indoor event), books, clothing, furniture, baby items & more, proceeds to support church’s 2012 youth group pilgrimage; 203-270-8997, 203-426-9070.

May 21: 2nd annual Strutt Your Mutt, Fairfield Hills campus, Wasserman Way, Newtown, (day-of registration opens 9:30 am), 10:30 am-1 pm, $25 advance (one person & up to 2 dogs), $30 day of, free ages 12 & under, 2K dog walk, demos, contests incl Best Owner-Dog Lookalike, Best Kisser, Best Dressed, etc, dogs of all breeds welcome, no other animals, bring water, dogs should be accustomed to crowds, etc, proceeds to benefit Newtown Park & Bark; 203-270-4373.

May 21: Gurski Farmstead Open House, Rte 133 (approx ½ mile NW from Rte 25), Brookfield Center, 10 am-3 pm, free, public invited to visit Brookfield’s second oldest burial ground (Merwin Brook Cemetery), ongoing blacksmithing demos, also working exhibit of antique farm machinery, hosted by Brook-field Museum & Historical Society; 203-740-8140.

May 21: “What’s It Worth” Benefit, Woodbury Senior-Community Center, 265 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 5:30-8:30 pm, $20, antiques appraisals by Bernie McManus & Mitchell Borenstein, also refreshments, proceeds to benefit The Ella Grasso Scholarship Fund; 203-263-5372, 203-263-6755.

May 22: Newtown Historical Society Open House, The Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 12-4 pm, free, public invited to visit historical society’s headquarters, tours offered by costumed docents, also Colonial dance demonstrations by The Reel Nutmeg Country Dancers (free lessons available 1, 2 & 3 pm); 203-426-5937.

May 22: 4th Annual Town & Country Nature Walk (rescheduled from May 15), Orchard Hill Nature Center, Huntingtown Rd, Newtown, 2–5 pm, free, guided walks within nature center, quizzes on plants and flowers, prizes & refreshments, hosted by garden club with Newtown Lions Club, Girl Scout Troop 50599 and Newtown Parks & Recreation also helping, suitable for all ages; 203-426-5426.

May 28: NUMC Super Tag Sale, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 9 am-3 pm,  tag sale hosted by church’s Relay For Life team (The NUMC Angels) will raise funds for Relay/American Cancer Society.

May 28: 11th Annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race, Sandy Hook Center Park, 3-5 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook, 10 am-3 pm, Lions Club event will host booths from local vendors & businesses, live music & entertainment, refreshments & The Duck Race (2 pm, tickets $5), also prize this year for Best Dressed “Duck Personnage.”

May 28: The Villages of Washington Community Day, area of Rte 47 at Rte 109, Washington Depot, 10 am-3 pm rain or shine, music, sidewalk sales, kids’ activities, trades, retail, art, entertainment, food, local organizations & more, presented by The Washington Business Assn.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

(FILM) May 22-25: Unknown (PG-13), 7 pm, mat Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Newtown Hikers. Call 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am (spring & fall start), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: May 21, walkway over the Hudson River & Franny Reese State Park, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (6 miles, shorter option available; Jim Steck, 845-621-5559 or 914-806-4107); May 28, St John’s Ledges, Kent (Cassie Brown, 203-313-7161).

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6654.

Programs 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: May 25, pastel landscape program by Rae Smith.

Wednesday Night Poetry Series, at The Garage (Newtown teen center), 53 Church Hill Rd, Newtown. Call 203-426-6242, 203-364-0631.

Open mic 7:30 pm, featured poet at 8:45, poetry editing workshop follows featured poet: May 25, Alice-Anne Harwood; June 1, Charles Rafferty; June 8, guest poet TBA.

Theatre __________________________________

May 22: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), McLaughlin Vineyard, 14 Alberts Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, $35 ($65 for wine tasting, 3 pm), 4 pm, performance by Shakesperience, Inc.; 203-754-2531.

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown; 203-270-9144.

Cash on Delivery!, through May 22, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, $20, $10 age 10 & under, note: play contains adult themes that may not be appropriate for children.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time.

 

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Press releases for Enjoy must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com.