Around the Towns

The arts lead us to see, to hear, to feel and to think differently; new worlds are thus revealed. Anon.

THE MILFORD AND ORANGE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES will have a joint meeting Thursday, March 14 at the Case Memorial Library, at 7 p.m. The Trolley Car Era, 1900 to 1948, featuring Roger Addill of the Shoreline Trolley Museum. {{more}} The Museum was incorporated in 1945 with the mission to preserve the history and the heritage of the Trolley Era. The museum has a program to repair and refurbish antique equipment. Visitors to the Museum can observe trolleys currently being restored.{{more}}

ART IN THE LIBRARY features the work of two artists for the month of March – Joan Handshumacher, whose media are watercolors and photography accompanied by poetry, and Jacklyn Massari, whose media are charcoal, pencil, tempura and oil. The artists’ reception will be on Thursday, March 7.

THE GALLERY AT TOWN HALL exhibits the work of Saiyara Fahmi, a 16-year-old Hopkins School senior and an Orange resident. She has previously shown her work at the Davis Gallery. Saiyara studies watercolor with Audrey Galer and also is in the Honors Art Studio at Hopkins. She won Best in Show in the Children’s Division at The Orange Country Fair in 2011 and First Place in the Adult Division of the Orange Country Fair in 2012. She is also an accomplished musician, studying violin and Classical Indian voice, is the winner of national competitions and has performed twice at Carnegie Hall, as well as at Wesleyan, Yale and Dartmouth. She is the founder of a community service organization called Greetings for Global Change that creates original greeting cards, bookmarks and postcards to sell, donating profits to benefit education of children around the world. The artist’s reception will be on Wednesday, March 13, 5 to 7 p.m.

THE NEW HAVEN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA will present “Music for the Concert Hall” on Saturday, March 2, 4 p.m. at Fair Haven School (164 Grand Avenue, New Haven), with free admission. The orchestra, under the direction of Paolo Bartomeolli, will perform Copland’s El Salon Mexico, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, and Saint Saens Cello Concerto No. 1. The cello soloist will be Elisa Rodriguez Sadaka.

For more information, go to newhavenchamberorchestra.org or call 203-799-2240.

TEMPLE EMMANUEL CHILDRENS’ CHOIR AND BAND recently performed its premiere concert honoring the work of the late Debbie Friedman, a performer/composer of contemporary Jewish music. She is said to be the first to bring a woman’s voice and perspective into late 20th century music, inspiring two generations of musicians to write accessible songs combining liturgy and social commentary. The work of other composers who were influenced by her was also performed.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY presents a program on Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m. with musician extraordinaire, John Redgate. He plays piano, guitar, ukulele and more in his performance of popular music — country, pop, swing – from Bing Crosby to the Beatles.

An amusing and upbeat entertainer! Free and open to the public!

CALL FOR UNPUBLISHED AUTHORS OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Issued by the Shoreline Arts Alliance. The Alliance is announcing the 13th Annual Tassy Walden Awards. The contest, “New Voices in Children’s Literature,” offers unpublished authors and illustrators an opportunity to have manuscripts and portfolios reviewed by literary agents and possibly by editors and art directors of leading publishing houses for children. The statewide contest is juried, with the following categories for entries, Picture Book (text only), Illustrated Picture Book (author and illustrator must be the same person), Children’s Book Illustrator’s Portfolio, Middle Grade Novel, and Young Adult/Teen Novel. All submitted works that meet contest guidelines will be sent to literary agents for first tier of judging. Works deemed to be outstanding will then be sent on to editors and publishing houses for further evaluation. For guidelines and entry form call 203-453-3890 or go to: www.shorelineArts.org.

KELLER-LIDDELL GALLERY (873 Whitney Avenue, New Haven)

exhibits the work of Frank Brachman and Gar Waterman through March 10, in a show titled Nudes and Nudibranches. The paintings of Frank Brachman and the sculpture of Gar Waterman reflect both artists’ respect for tradition. Each is a student of form in nature, using observation and interpretation to craft their work.

YALE INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC has a Makoto Fujimara exhibit, The Four Gospels and the Golden Sea, through March 8. He was commissioned to create five major works of art to be included in the commemorative book celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Version Bible . This is the first such manuscript to feature abstract contemporary art rather than traditional representational illustrations. The book, released in January 2011 is part of an international tour along with Fujimara’s work.

THE SAVARESE FAMILY FUND will benefit from the fundraiser being held on Michael Savarese’s behalf at App’s Restaurant (283 Captain Thomas Boulevard, West Haven) on Wednesday, March 6, 6 p.m. Michael is a Race Brook School and Amity Junior and Senior High School graduate who worked in our area before relocating to Maine. He is a former member and his mother is a current member of the Orange Players. Michael suffered a traumatic brain injury three years ago and recently was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. He can no longer work as a self employed contractor and he, his wife and his two young daughters need help. There will be a buffet at 6 p.m., with live music following by “Furious George,” and there will be a raffle as well. It is hoped that there will be a large turnout for this very worthy cause. Tickets are $30. Mail checks payable to The Savarerse Family Fund to Pat McCorkle, 846 Brookside Drive, Orange, CT). People who cannot attend, but wish to support this struggling young family, are encouraged to make a contribution to the fund. All donations are welcome!

OACC will once again sponsor a bus to the New Haven Symphony Concert on Thursday, March 21. There is a possibility that a nominal fee will be collected. Check e-mail and posted announcements for updates. Program includes: Dvorak’s Symphony #8 in G Major, Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta, Smetana’s The Bartered Bride: Three Dances and Daniel Bernard Roubain’s Woodbox Concerto for Orchestra.

For tickets call 203-865-0831 ($10 to 65) Bus will leave High Plains Community Center at 6:45. Returns at concert’s end (Runs from7:30 to 10). Reservations for a seat on the bus can be made by calling Pat Miller at 203-397-8915.

YALE REPERTORY celebrates the return of Paul Giamatti in Hamlet, his first Yale Rep appearance since 1994 in As You Like It. His film credits include Cinderella Man and Sideways,; he was an EMMY and Golden Globe winner for HBO’s John Adams and appeared in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway. Hamlet is a WILLPOWER production, an educational initiative in conjunction with one of its productions featuring specially priced tickets, school-time matinees for middle and high school student groups The program offers professional development for educators, study guides and post performance discussion groups with members of the company. For performance information or to be included on the mailing list, contact Ruth Feldman, Director of Educational Access of Services at 203-432-8425 or go to rmfeldman@yale.edu.

LONG WHARF THEATRE (222Sargent Drive, New Haven) presents Curse of the Staving Class by Sam Shepard and starring Judith Ivey. presents Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner author of the modern classic that balances dark comedy and biting satire in its look at a family’s fight to stay alive. For tickets call 203-787-4282 or go to longwharf.org.

SHUBERT THEATRE (247 College Street, New Haven, CT) presents Blue Man Tubes from March 14th-17th. If you haven’t yet seen this outrageously funny performance, get your tickets now. Best to see it with a pre teen or a guy with an arrested sense of humor — or a sophisticate who wants to let down his hair! Tickets run from $12 to $72. Call 203-228-6622 or go to: www. shubert.com.

Pat Miller is a charter member of the Orange Players and is currently serving her fourth term as President. She is also President of The Orange Arts and Culture Council and is active in many community groups.