Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places       ___________________________

Avancé Esthétiques Day Spa, Sand Hill Plaza, 228 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-270-8911.

Through March 28: photographs by members of Flagpole Photographers Camera Club.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

On main floor: Through April 16: “The Traveling Doll Project: Art Dolls,” art dolls by Newtown artist Paula Brinkman Hughes incl “Ginny 1” & “Ginny 2,” done in honor of the late Ginny Lathrop.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room): Through March 31: “Eyes of March!” drawings by longtime Newtown resident Joan Pollak, who enjoys using Impressionist & Pop influences, with bold colors, to create illustrations from unusual points of view.

In first floor display cases: Through March 31: “Nothing Exciting Ever Happens in Newtown,” artifacts & photos of the War Maneuvers of 1812, which attracted more than 10,000 spectators during “battles” between Red Army & Blue Army in Newtown in Aug 1912.

Flagpole Photographers, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; call 203-426-4533, http://www.flagpolephotographers.com/

*(new show) March 31-April 30: “Flagpole Photographers Annual Photography Competition & Exhibition,” photographs in varying styles by members of local photography club; April 1, opening reception, 3:30-5 pm.

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

*(new show) March 23-April 28: “Atmospheres,” very detailed line illustrations by DeAnn L. Prosia & oil paintings by Joanne Conant, gallery’s latest exhibition to be produced in partnership w/ Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance; March 23, opening reception, 5-8 pm; March 31, Artist Talk: DeAnn L. Prosia, noon; April 7, Artist Talk: Joanne Conant, 1 pm.

Stone River Grille, 1 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook; 203-270-1200.

Through March 31: “Art About Town,” works by Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) members Pam Danneman, Adele Moros, Margaret Moss, Glen River & Roberta Shea, in special events room (non-diners welcome to visit show any time restaurant is open).

Auditions, Juried Events      _________________

Musicals at Richter, at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Lane, Danbury; 203-748-6873.

March 31: Additional round of auditions for 2012 season, 12-3 pm, directors still seeking actors to fill roles for Nunsense: The Mega-Musical (to be presented June 14-30; seeking Reverend Mother, Sister Hubert, Sister Robert Anne & Sister Leo); Brigadoon (July 5-21; seeking Tommy Albright, Jeff Douglas, Charlie Dalrymple & dancing role of Harry Beaton) & Bye Bye Birdie (July 25-Aug 1, seeking Rosie, Conrad Birdie, Kim MacAfee (age 14 & up), character men & women to play parents & various roles, plus men ages 14 & up who dance and sing for featured ensemble roles, character breakdowns & details at musicalsatrichter.org,

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield; ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org, Patti.R.Azzara@gmail.com.

April 1-2: Auditions for “Word Around Town: An Evening of Original Poetry,” Sun 3 pm, Mon 7 pm, bring 4-5 short pcs (preferably performed from memory), all poems should be typed, one poem/page, preference also given to freeform poetry & pcs without heavily rhymed line endings, work must be original, previously published work OK, wear comfortable clothing that allows movement, director Patti Azzara & producer Marla Manning organizing show for June 12-13 evening presentations, contact Ms Azzara for addt’l info (email above) or by April 4 if unable to attend auditions

Concerts, Musical Events________________

March 31: NUMC Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:30 pm, adm $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate listing under Miscellaneous), $5 otherwise, bluegrass and folk music by Roger Sprung & Friends, refreshments available, bonus event in March will make up for no coffee house in April due to Easter holiday; 203-426-9998.

March 31: Locally Grown Authors & Artists: Whatever, at The Danbury Museum & Historical Society, 43 Main St, Danbury, 2 pm, free performance by adult contemporary band continues museum’s series highlighting local talents; 203-743-5200, info@DanburyMuseum.org, www.DanburyMuseum.org.

March 31: Monthly Ballroom Dance, Holy Trinity Greek Church Community Center, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, $17, singles & couples welcome for evening of dancing to DJ selected music, free dance lesson at 8, performance of Latin ballroom dancing at 9:30 by professional Russian dancers Nikolai Shpakov & Tatiana Keegan, refreshments available, reservations suggested; 203-374-7308.

April 6: HOE at Lyrics Coffeehouse, Redding Community Center, Rte 107, Redding, 7:30 pm, $10/adv, $12/door, $6 seniors & children, monthly music offering w/ singer-songwriters, refreshments available; 203- 938- 2551.

Newtown Friends of Music, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-6470, www.NewtownFriendsOfMusic.com.

Tickets $20, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult, reception follows: April 1, Escher String Quartet with Jason Vieaux, 3 pm, works of Castel-Nuovo, Boccherini, Verdi & Vivaldi.

For Kids & Families ______________________

March 31: Plaza South Block Party, 274 South Main Street, Newtown, 11 am-4 pm, businesses will offer discounts, activities & samples, free photos with Easter Bunny, also fire truck & race car display, wine tasting, bounce house, Bubbles the Elephant, gift basket raffle & more; 203-830-6045.

March 31-April 1: The Last Supper Enactment, Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, 18 Clapboard Ridge Rd/Rte 39, Danbury, presentations Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, $10 ($30 max/family), reenactment of events leading up to DaVinci’s famous painting, with music and drama, by The Immanuel Lutheran Players; 203-775-5566.

March 31-April 7: Ride A Vintage Train to Visit the Easter Bunny, Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury, Fri 10 am-4:30 pm, Sat 12-4:30 pm, $9 ages 2 & up, trains depart every 30 min, ride fully-restored 1953 RR Car over operational turntable to visit Easter Bunny’s RR Car, sm gift from Bunny for each child, reservations suggested; 203-778-8337.

April 6-7: Bunny Watch 2012, Glander Field (Fairfield Hills campus), Mile Hill Rd South, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, $5 incl Bunny Watch Hayride pulled by antique tractor (final ride departs 3:45), meet Easter Bunny, old-fashioned lawn games, bounce house & slide, Pig Says (adapted version of Simon Says) & more, presented by & fundraiser for Newtown High School Odyssey of the Mind team; 203-426-4001.

 

Miscellaneous          ___________________________

March 30: Comedian Jimmy Carroll at Coyote Maverick, 48 Newtown Rd/Rte 6, Danbury, doors open 5 pm, showtime 6 pm, $20, performance by professional comedian will double as fundraiser for NHS Marching Band & Color Guard; 203-426-7720.

March 30-31: 4th Annual Brookfield Film Festival: “Shorts and To The Point,” Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, screenings Fri 8 pm, Sat 4 & 8 pm, $10, series of short films, many nominated for or award winners from industry festivals & competitions, intended for mature audiences, refreshments during intermission.

March 31: Boating License Course, Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue main station, 18-20 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 8 am-4 pm, $59 (registration deadline March 28), ages 12 & up will qualify for CT Boating-PWC license by the end of the day-long course taught by Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors, lunch incl, proceeds to benefit (non-profit 501c3) Leaps of Faith Water Skiers; 203-426-0666

March 31: “Perfect Prom Newtown,” 10 am-2 pm, The Garage Teen Center, 57 Church Hill Road, Newtown High School senior promgoers are invited to pick out gently used dresses (available sizes 0-22, some new with tags) that have been collected by Newtown Girl Scout Troop 50843, also enter free raffle for manicure, hair styling and flowers; 203-304-1859.

March 31: Plaza South Block Party, 274 South Main Street, tenants including Union Savings Bank, Sweet Mango, Dorazio Sisters Bakery, Subway, Good Ideas, Pub 25, Z Place for Fitness, et al, 11 am-4 pm, businesses will offer discounts, activities & samples, free photos with Easter Bunny, also fire truck & race car display, wine tasting, bounce house, Bubbles the Elephant, gift basket raffle & more; 203-830-6045.

March 31: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3.50 children, full pasta dinner w/ beverages & homemade desserts, take-out available, bonus dinner in March will make up for no dinner in April due to Easter holiday; 203-426-9998.

March 31: NBLA Wine Tasting & Silent Auction Fund Raiser, McLaughlin’s Vineyards, 14 Albert’s Hill Road, Sandy Hook, 5-8 pm, $30 (reservations required & limited), fundraiser by Newtown Bridle Lands Association will offer catered refreshments & wine tastings, auction items to incl restaurant gift certificates, riding lessons, fitness workout certificates, home architectural assessment & more; 203-791-4853.

March 31: Annual Sherman Congregational Church Ladies’ Spring Ladies Brunch, at the church, 6 Church Rd, Sherman, 10 am, freewill donations appreciated, national conference speaker & author Carol Barnier will present “Aren’t You Just Precious… and Other Veiled Insults,” copies of New Fairfield author’s books available for purchase & signing; 860-354-6114, 860-354-7557.

March 31: Spring Artisan Fair 2012, at Tarrywile Mansion, 70 Southern Blvd, Danbury, 10 am-3 pm, folk art, plant sale, egg hunt, chocolates, handmade jewelry, hand carved wood products, organic dog bones, hula hoops, photography, cards, pet portraits, book signing & opportunity to meet members of Friends of Tarrywile; 203-270-9461.

March 31: Locally Grown Authors & Artists: Dan Cruson, Danbury Museum & Historical Society, 43 Main St, Danbury, 11 am, free program by Newtown’s Town Historian & archaeologist will focus on his new book, Putnam’s Revolutionary War Winter Encampment: The History & Archaeology of Putnam Memorial State Park; 203-743-5200.

March 31: Monthly Ballroom, Latin & Swing Dance & Performance, Holy Trinity Greek Church Community Center, 4070 Upper Park Ave, Bridgeport, dancing 7 pm-midnight (music provided by MB Music Premier Ballroom DJ), free dance lesson at 8, performance at 9:30 by award winning professional couple Nikolai Shpakov & Tatiana Keegan, singles & couples welcome, non-smoking building, soft drink & juice cash bar available; 203-374-7308.

March 31-April 1: The Last Supper Enactment, Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, 18 Clapboard Ridge Rd/Rte 39, Danbury, presentations Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, $10 ($30 max/family), reenactment of events leading up to DaVinci’s famous painting, with music and drama, by The Immanuel Lutheran Players; 203-775-5566.

April 1: NHS Championship Girls Basketball Team Reception, Stone River Grille, 1 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook, 1-3 pm, meet members, coaches & managers of Newtown High School team that just won a state championship, appetizers served, all welcome; 203-270-1200.

April 1: 2nd Annual Inter-Faith Passover Seder, Congregation Adath Israel, 115 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown, 4:30 pm,$5 per person (reservations requested by March 25; space limited), all invited to Seder with officiating clergy from Congregation Adath Israel and local churches; 203-426-5188.

April 4: Newtown Relay For Life 2012 Informational Meeting, Newtown High School cafetorium, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 7 pm, informational session for 12-hour non-competition event returning June 1-2 at Fairfield Hills that will again raise funds for American Cancer Society, learn about volunteer opportunities, how to form teams and raise funds, etc, all welcome.

April 4: EverWonder Children’s Museum information session, C.H. Booth Library meeting room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, public invited to meet members of non-profit organization whose purpose is to open a children’s museum in Newtown; 203-304-1924.

April 5: HDR Photography Workshop, at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free hands-on (BYO camera) workshop on the software for High Dynamic Range photography offered by Flagpole Photographers Camera Club, all levels of photographers welcome, members of club will assist; 203-270-0483.

Flagpole Photographers Camera Club, Newtown; 203-270-0483.

Hands-on workshops, free & open to all levels of photographers, at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St (use lower level): April 5, HDR Photography Workshop, 7:30 pm, free hands-on (BYO camera) workshop on the software for High Dynamic Range photography, all levels of photographers welcome, members of club will assist.

Soles4Souls Shoe Collection, c/o Pam McLaughlin, Newtown; 203-364-0615, 203-220-8573.

To May 1: First collection of gently used shoes of all shapes, sizes & styles, to be donated to Nashville-based charity that provides shoes to men, women & children, whether victims of natural disaster or extreme poverty, in US & around the world, collection locations set up at The Bee’s office, Hawley Elementary School, Head O’Meadow School, Masonicare at Newtown, Middle Gate School, Newtown Middle School, Newtown Youth Academy, Reed Intermediate School & Sandy Hook School. Contact Mrs McLaughlin (first phone # above or pam-mac2324@aol.com), Carol Zimmerman (second phone # or the5zs@aol.com) for details or to arrange pick-up of lg collection.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6224 (ask for Betty) or 203-264-3728 (ask for Krista).

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6:30-7:30 pm (weigh-ins 5:45-6:15, meetings 6:30-7:30), meetings $2/week, membership $24/year.

US Passport Acceptance Office, at PJ’s Laundromat, 110 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook; 203-770-9157.

Office open Thur-Fri 3-6 pm, Sat 10 am-1 pm, resident Peggy Jepsen is available to help download, fill out & mail passport paperwork (applications also available at travel.state.gov), adult passport book $110, minors $80, US Passport Cards also available ($30, $15 respectively), photos also available at office, plus $25 service fee/application.

 

Theatre      _________________________________

Center Stage Theater, 54 Grove St (former Lafayette School), Shelton; 203-225-6079.

Through April 14: Enchanted April, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 25 & April 1) 2 pm, $25, $10 students.

Clockwork Repertory Theatre, 133 Main St, Oakville; 860-274-7247,

Through March 31: Rumors, curtain Fri-Sat 8:15 pm, $18.

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

Mainstage: Through April 1: Bell, Book and Candle, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun, Wed 2 pm, $40-$70.

Sherman Players, Sherman Playhouse, 5 Route 39 North (Rte 37 at 39, behind the firehouse), Sherman; 860-354-3622.

March 30-April 21: The Subject Was Roses, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (April 15 only) 2 pm, $20, $10 students w/ ID at door (cannot reserve in advance).

WCSU Opera, at Western CT State University’s White Hall/Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury; 203-837-8350, 203-837-8499.

March 30-31: Carmen, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $15, $12 ages 12 & under & seniors, WCSU students free w/ ID; March 30, Dinner-Opera Event, dinner at 5:30, call or visit website for details.

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

 

EXPANDED CALENDAR ONLINE

Want to know about more regional events? Find an expanded edition of this calendar online at www.NewtownBee.com. Click on the Features tab and look for Enjoy Calendar: a regional calendar of events.

 

Shannon Hicks is the calendar editor for The Newtown Bee. To submit an item for the Enjoy Calendar, send her an email at shannon@thebee.com no later than Tuesday at 5 pm for each week’s calendar. For the Community Calendar (Newtown events, which can be found on page A-2 each week), emails must be received no later than 5 pm Wednesday. For additional information contact Miss Hicks at The Newtown Bee, 203-426-3141.