Antiques Shows______

Sundays (opening April 5 for season): Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $2, free ages 12 & under, leave pets home, vendors offer antiques, collectibles & misc, refreshments available; 508-896-1975.

March 28: 24th Annual Newtown Antiques Show, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, $7, dealers from CT, New England, NY, et al, presented by & fundraiser for Newtown Historical Society; 426-0376.

March 28: 17th annual Country Antiques, H.H. Ellis Technical High School, 613 Upper Maple St, Danielson, 10 am-3 pm, adm $6 (early buying 9 am, $12), 60 dealers from New England & beyond, refreshments;

860-774-8511.

March 29: Yankee Pole Cat Insulator Club Antique Insulator, Bottle & Collectibles Show, American Legion Post #80, 556 Enfield St/Rte 5, Enfield, 8 am-2 pm, free adm, 40+ tables; 261-1190.

April 4: 33rd annual Depression Glass Show & Sale, Southington High School, 720 Pleasant St, Southington, 9 am-4:30 pm, adm $6, free American Glass & pottery ID, presented by Nutmeg Depression Glass Club; 860-643-5353.

April 4-5: 3rd Vintage Clothing & Accessories Textiles & Jewelry Show & Sale, PAL Building, 25 Hayestown Rd, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm, adm $6, free age 13 & under;

914-273-4667.

Art Exhibits____ _____

Barn Hill Studio, Rte 110 at Barn Hill Rd, Monroe. Hours: Sat-Sun 1-4 pm. Call 268-4225.

*(new show) April 25-May 3: “Apple Blossom Festival Spring Art Show,” gifts, soaps, jewelry & ceramics by local artists; May 3, Maypole dancing, 12:30 pm, white attire requested.

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport;

203-331-1104.

Through March 29: “Freedom Dancing,” works by Bridgeport painter & poet Shanna Melton, whose imagery reflects an intimate response to the African diaspora.

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

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) —Through March 30: “A World in Transition: Three Women’s Views,” works by Beverly Branch (paintings that “give rise to the spirit & goodness of those things [the artist sees] as valuable on this fragile & extraordinary place we call Earth”), Linda Dohanos portraits, (fine art & illustrations that exemplify the joy she takes in life & art) and Julia Provey (colorful abstract paintings w/ primitive edge).

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield; 775-4526.

Through May 3: “Out of the Loop: Innovations in Hooking,” celebration of resurgence in American art form of rug hooking, guest curated by Liz Alpert Fay of Newtown.

Creative Framing, 150 Main St, Monroe. Call 203-880-9125.

*(new show) March 28-April 4: “Dapper Dogs and Classy Cats,” modern paintings of cats & dogs by the Sandy Hook artist Richard R. Budman, partial proceeds of painting, print & book sales to benefit Newtown, Monroe & Easton animal pounds; March 28, opening reception & book signing, 4-7 pm.

Discovery Museum and Planetarium, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport; 203-372-3521.

Through April 27: “Take Flight,” exploration of the creative process & fundamentals of flight incl hands-on build-your-own planes & rockets feature.

Mattatuck Museum Art & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury; 203-753-0381.

Through April 12: “Travelers’ Tales: Artists at Home and Abroad,” 65 works by 12 artists from first half of 20th Century exploring architectural & landscapes of sites from Istanbul & Florence to Woodbury, artists incl Taylor Arms, Orr, Roth, Balthazar, et al.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury;

860-350-2181.

Through April 6: “Landscape Elements,” recent oils paintings & drawings by Susan Monserud, former teacher & architect, now full-time painter, who finds inspiration for her abstract works in the patterns & rhythms of the landscape.

Visual Impact Gallery, 4 Eagle Rd, Danbury; 790-9650.

Through March 31: portraits of President Lincoln by Wendy Allen.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford; 860-278-2670, TDD 860-278-0294.

Through March 31: “What Lies Beneath? Revealing Painters’ Secrets,” works from museum’s permanent collection that have been examined using X-radiology & infrared imaging for underimages, or images hidden under the final surface painting, incl works of van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Rousseau, et al.

Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, 317 Federal Rd/Rte 7, Brookfield. Call 775-4888.

Through April 30: nature photos by members of Candlewood Camera Club.

Wisdom House/Marie Louise Trichet Gallery, 229 East Litchfield Rd, Litchfield; 860-567-3163.

Through April 18: first of 3 group shows this year to celebrate gallery’s 15th anniv will feature artists who have had solo exhibitions in gallery since space opened incl Mary Lou Alberetti, Joy Brown, Ann Holmes, the late Leslie James Jacobs, Jack Lardis, Jean Linville, Janet McKenzie, Jeffrey Stark, Missy Stevens & Mary Thompson.

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

Through May 3: “‘Endless Forms’: Charles Darwin, Natural Sciences and the Visual Arts,” highlight of global celebration of Darwin’s bicentenary will explore impact of Darwin’s most important theories on visual artists of the late 19th & early 20th Centuries; March 29, exhibition tour, 2 pm; March 31, “Global Darwin” lecture, 5:30 pm.

 

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Musicals at Richter, at Wooster School, 91 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury. Call

March 27-29: Open auditions for 2009 season, Fri 7-10 pm, Sat 2-6 pm, Sun 1-5 pm, mainstage shows to be Funny Girl (June 18-July 4), A Chorus Line (July 9-25) & Children of Eden (July 30-Aug 15), all roles open full breakdowns at MusicalsAtRichter.org, bring photo & resume (stapled), prepare 2 songs to show range (uptempo & ballad), bring sheet music in key (accompanist provided), be prepared to learn short dance combo & read from script; also seeking male & female performers w/ strong dance training for featured choreography in all 3 shows.

March 28: Auditions for ages 15 & under, 10 am-1 pm, considering casting for featured roles & youth ensemble members for Children of Eden.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

March 28: Monthly ballroom dance, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodoc Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, $15 adm, singles & couples welcome, free lesson 8 pm, performance 9:30 by professional dancers Lukasz Chockuba & Paulina Malinowska, complimentary snacks; 203-374-7308.

March 29: Ali Ryerson & Friends at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free jazz concert by internationally acclaimed performer & recording jazz flutist, who will be joined by guitarist Tony Lombardozzi & bassist Jeff Fuller; 775-6241 x104.

March 29: Wilton Candlelight Concerts: Bass-Baritone Jason Hardy & Pianist Jerome Tan, at Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Rd/Rte 33, Wilton, 4 pm, $25 adults, $10 students (season tickets $90, $75 seniors), program to incl works of Rubenstein, Massenet & Finzi, proceeds to benefit Wilton Library Association; 203-762-3401, 203-762-5019.

March 29: The Quintessentials at First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Cross Highway, Redding, 7 pm, suggested donation $10 adults, $5 age 18-younger, $30 family max, performance by official ensemble of Manhattanville College Music Dept of close-harmony renditions of American popular standards, reception to follow, proceeds benefit church’s community outreach & programs; 270-8301, 938-2711.

April 3: Redstone Ridge concert at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, $10, free ages 12 & under, contemporary bluegrass, folk & American music; 426-9024, 740-2733, 426-9781.

April 4: NUMC Coffee House, 7:45-10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Road, adm $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate Misc listing), $5 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-9998.

April 4: “Of Music and Nature” by The Kent Singers, St Andrews Church, Rte 7 at Rte 341, Kent, 8 pm, $10, $8 seniors, performance by 16 self-directed a capella group will celebrate spring; 860-354-2156.

Newtown Friends of Music, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown. Call 426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, tickets $18, $16 seniors, free ages 5-14, reception follows performances: April 5, violinist Maria Bachmann & pianist Jon Klibonoff, works of Brahms, Schubert & Ravel, season finalé.

Western CT State University Midtown Coffeehouse, Alumni Hall, James Roach Ave (off Osborne St, behind Roberts Ave Elementary School). Call 837-9700.

Coffeehouse each Thurs, open mic 8 pm, featured performance 9 pm (schedule follows), free, refreshments available for purchase: April 2, students from WCSU Music & Theatre Arts Dept; April 9, WCSU Jazz Ensemble w/ standards & originals.

For Kids & Families _________

March 28: Breakfast with The Easter Bunny, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 9-11 am, $15/family advance, $20/family at door, breakfast, also photos w/ Easter Bunny, face painting, carnival style games w/ prizes, presented by & fundraiser for Wesley Learning Center; 426-6149.

April 2: A Bug’s Life screening, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown, doors 7 pm, $5, children in grades K-6 with chaperone invited, proceeds to Kids for a Cure for American Cancer Society (Relay For Life Newtown event); 948-3878.

April 4-5: Easter Bunny at Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury, Sat 10 am-4:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm, adm $8, train ride through yard on vintage train to visit Easter Bunny on his coach, sm gift for each child, also available face painting, coloring station, temporary tattoos & model train layouts, also running April 10-11; 778-8337.

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 1, Mother Goose on the Loose, 10 am, free 20-min award-winning early literacy program for ages 2 & under & parents, walk-ins welcome, weekly to May 13; April 4, Easter Craft w/ Mrs Walker, 1 pm, $3 materials fee due at registration, for ages 6 & up.

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: March 28, 5th Annual Battle of the Books, 1 pm (snow date March 29), 50+ young adults/13 teams competing, public invited to watch.

Miscellaneous ___________

March 27: “Sustainable Gardening for Historic Homes,” The Merwinsville hotel, One Browns Ford Rd, Gaylordsville, 7:30 pm, free; 860-350-4301.

March 28: Newtown Historical Society Open House, Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 12-4 pm, free, visit society’s headquarters, guided tours & info available; 426-5937.

March 28: Craft Fair, Palm Rebekah Lodge & Odd Fellows Hall, 25 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, New Milford, 89 am-4 pm, vendors, raffle baskets, baked goods & lunch; 860-355-0491.

March 28: Pasta dinner, Stepney Baptist Church, 423 Main St, Monroe, 5:30-7:30 pm, $10 adults, $5 ages 5-12, free age 4 & under; 268-9680.

March 29: Newtown Spring Welcome Craft Fair, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 11 am-5 pm, free adm, featuring area crafters; 261-2414.

March 31: “Slavery in Connecticut, UConn Waterbury-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), 99 East Main St, Waterbury, 6 pm, $10, 90-min lecture on the origins, nature & economics of slavery, first of 3 in series to examine lives of African Americans in CT from 3 perspectives; 203-236-9924, 203-753-0381 x10.

March 31: “Networking & Interviewing Skills for Job Seekers,” Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 7 pm, free 90-min program by hiring manager & career coach Melanie Szlucha, reservations suggested; 794-8756 x4.

April 3: Capitol Steps at Western CT State Univ White Hall, White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 7:30 pm, $40, $20 students, $10 preferred seating (VIP reception/Meet & Greet w/ performers), political satire, proceeds to benefit AIDS Project Greater Danbury; 778-2437.

April 3-4: Huge Tag Sale, Danbury Museum & Historical Society, 43 Main St, Danbury, 9 am-5 pm (early buying Fri 8 am, $10), proceeds to benefit Danbury Animal Welfare Society; 744-DAWS (3297).

April 4: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $9 adults, $8 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 separate Concerts listing);

426-9998.

April 4: Bonanza Book Sale, Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society, 122 South Pomperaug Ave, Woodbury, 9 am-3 pm, books & multi media items, proceeds benefit congregation; 267-7388.

April 4: Annual Ladies’ Brunch, Sherman Church, 6 Church Rd, Sherman, 10:30 am, all invited for food & fellowship, keynote address by author Carol Barnier, freewill offering, reservations requested; 860-354-6114.

April 4: Brookfield Film Festival: Shorts and To The Point, Brookfield Theater for the Performing Arts, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25 (behind library), Brookfield Center, screenings 2 & 7:30 pm, $10, 12+ short films incl live action & animated productions from around the world incl film festival award winners; 740-9290, 740-2801.

April 4: Spring Fling Silent Bid Auction, Bethel United Methodist Church, 141 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 6:30-9 pm, $1 incl dessert & coffee, goods & services, antiques to toys; 743-6835.

April 4: Roaring ‘20s Mystery Evening & Silent Auction Fundraiser, Woodbury Senior-Community Center, 265 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 7-10 pm, $25 ($40 couple), 1920s attire optional, hors d’oeuvres & dessert, BYO beer/wine/drinks, fundraiser for Nonnewaug High School Scholarship Fund; 203-5993, 266-4216.

April 4-5: Super Train Exhibition XIX: 19th Annual Brookfield Historical Society Model Train Show, Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, Rte 133 at Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 10 am-5 pm, adm $4, $3 seniors & members, $1 ages 7-14, free age 6 & under, numerous layouts incl Z.N. H, S, O & G gauge, vendors, toys & more; 740-8140.

April 6: “Civil War Forum: Sherman’s March to The Sea,” Brookfield Historical Society Museum, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 7:30 pm, free lecture by Civil War historian Peter Cronin will be followed by Q&A, also light refreshments; 740-8140.

April 7: “Resume Strategies That Work for You,” Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 7 pm, free 90-min program by certified global career development facilitator Sue Troup, reservations suggested;

794-8756 x4.

April 8: “An Introduction to The World of The Iris,” Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7 pm, free program by Michael Zuraw, hosted by Town & Country Garden Club; 426-5359.

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

Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies, 1 pm, free: April 8, Simon Birch.

Misc programs: March 30, Mad About Minis, 7 pm, miniature enthusiasts, amateur to expert, invited; April 5, Poetry Reading: Amy Nawricki, 2 pm, former Newtown resident will read from chapbook Potato Eaters.

Danbury Library, 170 Main St, Danbury. Call 797-4505.

Reel Justice: Great Courtroom Dramas, free screenings 2 pm, free, lecture notes, discussion & refreshments follow: April 5, The Verdict (1982).

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

(FILM) March 27-29: The Tale of Despereaux (G), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun 7 pm, mat Fri 4:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm.

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

Weekly games, Sat 1-5 pm, drop-in chess open to all skill levels, sets & boards provided, hosted by US Chess Federation expert Glenn Budzinski.

Newtown Hikers. Call 788-1398 (Ester Nichols),

270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown,10 am (winter start time), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: March 28, short hike at Richter Park, Danbury,  followed by a pot luck lunch and spring schedule planning (hike leader is Carol Fullman, 270-1747; lunch host and food coordinator is Susan Gabriele, 775-8236).

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

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

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: March 28, Some Assembly Required (improv by Scott Baker & Al Isaacs), also Tim Homayoon & David Lee Nelson.

Theatre ______________

April 5: The Funny Stages at Playhouse on the Green, 177 State St, Bridgeport, 7 pm, $10 (cash only, pay at door), improv comedy by members of New Haven Theater Company; 866-811-4111.

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

The Old Man and the Sea, April 1-26, curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun, Wed 2 pm, tickets $32-$62.

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

How I Learned To Drive, through April 4, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 22 & 29) 3 pm, tickets $24, $20 students & seniors, recommended for mature audiences, no intermission.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items 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, Associate Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or to shannon@thebee.com. Photos are welcome and can be black & white or color, but must be in sharp focus. Please call for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.