Search this site Welcome to ARTFARM! Shakespeare in the Grove Shakespeare400 Touring Performances Get Involved! Contact Us About > Archive Thank you all for helping to make Shakespeare Goes To Italy a night to remember! June 17, 2016 Shakespeare400 Passport Update: The winners of the Shakespeare400 Passport prizes are: Patricia Vallera Dolores Vallera Tracy Tyler Thanks to everyone who participated! Shakespeare Megadeath Weekend April 21 - 24!!! We have been celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the Death of Shakespeare since last summer, starting with our outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and continuing with over 20 “Shakespeare400 Passport” events throughout the State. This month the year-long celebration comes to a raucous climax with Shakespeare Megadeath Weekend on April 21 – 24, offering a multitude of ways for theater enthusiasts, historians, students of literature, families and barflies to celebrate the Bard’s Quatercentenary. Middletown Mayor Dan Drew has declared the week of April 18 – 24 as “Shakespeare Week in Middletown”, and ARTFARM is leading the charge locally. Shakespeare Megadeath Weekend events are listed below. All of the events are open to the public, and some are free: *The weekend kicks off early on Thursday, April 21 with 400 Years of the Bard in Print: From the First Folio to Text Messages an Open House at Special Collections & Archives at Wesleyan University’s Olin Library. The library has an excellent collection of Shakespeare’s works, from 1623 to the present. Drop in to view rare, illustrated, and unusual editions of the Shakespeare and his work. Note that handling of fragile items will be limited, and children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. The event will be held in the Davison Rare Book Room on the first floor of Olin Library from noon to 1 pm and 4 – 6 pm. For more information, email sca@wesleyan.edu. *Friday, April 22 at 2 pm: ARTFARM’s Shakespeare Ensemble will perform a free reading of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Main Quad at Trinity College in Hartford. The performance is sponsored by Sound & Fury, the student-run Shakespeare Society at the College, as part of their “Shakespeare on the Quad” event and is open to the public. Rain location in Mather Hall. The cast features many actors familiar to Shakespeare in the Grove audiences. *Friday, April 22, 5 – 7 pm: A Toast to Shakespeare at the Wasch Center for Retired Faculty at 51 Lawn Avenue in Middletown. The event will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live harp music and a short talk on ARTFARM’s Shakespeare work and future plans by Executive Director Dic Wheeler and Artistic Director Marcella Trowbridge. This is a fundraiser for ARTFARM’s Shakespeare in the Grove and the suggested minimum donation is $50 per person. *Saturday, April 23: Shakespeare’s Birth and Death Day (April 23, 1564 - April 23, 1616) The event will be marked at Middletown’s It’s Only Natural Restaurant all day! Ten percent of the day’s sales will support Shakespeare in the Grove. Eat well and support live outdoor Shakespeare in Connecticut! ION Restaurant is at 606 Main Street. *Sunday, April 24, 5 - 7 pm, Shakespeare Megadeath Weekend will culminate with Shakespeare at the Bar– 400 Years Dead! at Eli Cannon’s Tap Room, 695 Main Street in Middletown. Friends of Shakespeare, actors, fans and families are invited to join the ARTFARM Ensemble and Board in celebrating the life and impact of Shakespeare. Recite a sonnet or favorite monologue, share a quote, tell a Shakespeare story – this informal gathering is meant to give Shakespeare enthusiasts a chance to gather and have some fun. The event will be held in the Garden if weather permits, and the bar will be offering two special Shakespeare-themed beers (proceeds of the sales of these will benefit ARTFARM) for the occasion. Mayor Drew will join the proceedings with a proclamation at 6 pm. Punk Shakespeare image by Jason Leinwand. All of these events are in ARTFARM’s Shakespeare400 Passport, and passport holders will be able to get stamps as long as you bring your passport to the event. Anyone submitting their Shakespeare400 Passport to ARTFARM by May 15 with ten or more event stamps will be entered into a drawing for an impressive packet of prizes, including free tickets to Hartford Stage Company, Yale Repertory Theater, Connecticut Repertory Theater, Long Wharf Theater, ARTFARM, and Flock Theater. Winners will be announced at ARTFARM’s “Shakespeare Goes To Italy” Rooftop Gala at the Community Health Center on June 17. For more information about Shakespeare Megadeath Weekend or other ARTFARM programs, contact info@art-farm.org or call (860) 346-4390. _________________________________________________________________________________ ARTFARM announces auditions for the Shakespeare in the Grove 2016 production of The Servant of Two Masters on Saturday, March 19, 1 – 4 pm & Wednesday, March 23, 6 – 9 pm. The production will run July 13 – 24 in Middletown. Auditions are open to actors over age 18. Some Equity contracts available; stipends for all performers. Please arrive on time with a Classical monolog prepared. Bring a current resume and head shot. Dress to move, and plan to stay for the full 3 hours. 2016 is the eleventh season of ARTFARM’s Shakespeare in the Grove on the campus of Middlesex Community College, but the first non-Shakespeare production. The Servant of Two Masters, a classic Italian comedy by Carlo Goldoni, will be directed by ARTFARM Executive Director Dic Wheeler. We are especially looking for actors with a strong background in Commedia dell' Arte, mask theater and physical comedy. Auditions will be held at Middlesex Community College. Pre-registration required. To register for one of the two dates, or for more information, call (860) 346-4390 or email info@art-farm.org. Thanks to everyone who joined us for Shakespeare in the Grove 2015, A Midsummer Night's Dream SEE MORE PHOTOS! Photos by Bill DeKine. Poster and billboard design by Jason Leinwand. Photos show Raphael Massie* as Oberon and David McCamish* as Bottom. (*Courtesy of Actors Equity Association.) Photos also feature Dyllan Vallier, Marcella Trowbridge, Emily Seibert, Samantha Dena, Allison McDermott, Riley Lassin, Dalton Davis, Elizabeth Swan, Corey Welden, and Andrew Lemieux. A Behind the Scenes Look at Much Ado! Arse Kicking Puppetry and other October events ARTFARM and MxCC announce... Shakespeare on Campus! ARTFARM featured on WTNH's "Connecticut Style" ARTFARM's Shakespeare Slam: A Huge Success! ARTFARM's Shakespeare Slam and Masked Bash! Arts and Aging Symposium a huge hit! As You Like It 2010 Auditions for Circophony: Bread and Puppet visit a great time for all! Brian Needs Help! Circophony Circophony's Circus of Joy Final Performance Circophony's Vaudeville Circus Premiere! Circus back in Wonderland! CIRCUS is in the air this fall! Circus on the High Seas at First Night Hartford Circus on the High Seas: Poster by Jason Leinwand Coming Events... Community Tech Day For "Much Ado About Nothing" Enjoy GREAT Food While Supporting ARTFARM First Weekend of Shakespeare in the Grove: A Great Success! Getting Tickets Grooving in the Grove! And, should I come if it is raining or hot? Handy with a Hammer? Headliner Musicians Announced! Much Ado About Nothing: A Huge Success! Much Ado About Nothing: July 18 - 21 & 25 - 28 Much Ado About Something: The Shakespeare Series Much Ado Specialty Nights Much Ado Specialty Nights New England Trail: Southern Gateway Dedication Event Promote Your Business! Reunion with our peeps from the Neighborhood Troupes at Oddfellows! Seeking Actors and Circus Performers! Seeking Performers For Shakespeare Slam! May 23 Shakespeare Acting Laboratory -- Sign up TODAY! SHAKESPEARE EVERYWHERE Weekly Winners (Weeks 1 & 2) Shakespeare Goes to Italy Shakespeare in the Grove 2013: Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare in the Grove 2014: King Lear Shakespeare in the Grove 2014 Presents: Shakespeare in the Grove 2015 Has Begun! Shakespeare Slam: A Huge Success! Shakespeare Slam and Elizabethan Birthday Bash! Shakespeare Slam! May 23 at Middlesex Community College Special Audition for Lysander Special Event on Saturday, Sept. 29! Circophony! Student production of Tartuffe at MxCC Symposium on Arts and Aging Features Dr. Bernie Siegel Nov. 7! Thanks to our Shakespeare in the Grove Sponsors! The User's Guide to ARTFARM's "Much Ado About Nothing" Untitled Post What's Happening Now: Shakespeare Acting Laboratory with Marcella Trowbridge February 1 - March 21, Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm ARTFARM Artistic Director Marcella Trowbridge has a special knack for opening actors up to Shakespeare’s verse, and for using Shakespeare to help actors discover a deeper level of work. Participants in ARTFARM’s Shakespeare Acting Laboratory, which starts February 1, will get the opportunity to work with her in an intensive, small-group setting. Shakespeare Acting Laboratory is open to experienced and aspiring actors age eighteen and over. The eight week class will meet Mondays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm from February 1 through March 21, culminating in an informal public presentation of Shakespeare performance work on March 21. Snow date is March 28. Known as both an exceptional performer of Shakespeare and a challenging acting coach, Marcella will lead participants in a focused exploration of Shakespeare from the actors’ point of view. The work will involve text analysis, scansion, developing emotional literacy and accessibility, voice and breath, physical training, and play. Students will work with Shakespeare's text as individuals, in small groups and as an ensemble. Marcella is the co-founder of ARTFARM and a classically trained actress who has appeared in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Key West and most recently in Sri Lanka. Local audiences have seen her in many roles in ARTFARM’s Shakespeare in the Grove, including Cordelia in King Lear, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Katharina in Taming of the Shrew, both Hermia and Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Lady Macbeth. Tuition for the Shakespeare Acting Laboratory is $250. The course will be held on the campus of Middlesex Community College in Middletown, but is an independent course offered by ARTFARM and not part of the College's course offerings. Shakespeare Acting Laboratory is included in the Shakespeare400 Passport, a year-long Connecticut-wide initiative produced by ARTFARM to mark the 400th Anniversary of the Death of Shakespeare. Passport holders are encouraged to participate in Shakespeare events and performances throughout the State, and people with 10 or more stamps in their Passports will be entered into a drawing for great prizes after the Shakespeare Quatercentenary on April 23. ARTFARM is a Middletown based company, founded in 2001, which cultivates high-quality theater with a commitment to simple living, environmental sustainability and social justice. Photo below shows Marcella as Titania in 2015 Shakespeare in the Grove production of A Midsummer night's Dream with Raphael Massie as Oberon. Photo by Bill Dekine. For more information, or to register, contact info@art-farm.org, call (860) 346-4390. ********************************************************************************************************************** Circophony Teen Circus Training Program starts September 8 If you are a dancer, an acrobat, a clown, a parkourista, a juggler, an athlete, a magician, if you have a special skill, physical quirk, or just love to do the impossible, the circus might be the thing for you. Circophony’s Fall 2015 Circus Training Program for Teenagers starts on Tuesday, September 8 in Middletown and is open to anyone ages twelve to nineteen regardless of experience. Circophony meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 – 9 pm at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street in Middletown. The eight week fall session will culminate in a public Circus Showcase on Friday, October 30. Circophony, now in its fourth year, is a Teen Circus program co-sponsored by Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and ARTFARM. The program is directed by ARTFARM Executive Director and Children’s Circus of Middletown founder Dic Wheeler with circus performer, aerialist and teaching artist Allison McDermott. This fall Circophony is offering an eight week Circus Training Program, open to anyone between the ages of twelve and nineteen. Students will build strength, flexibility, performance skills and imagination while developing new circus skills and improving existing ones. Training will include tumbling, acrobatics, balance, juggling and other forms of object manipulation, stilt dancing, unicycling, rolling globe, acting for circus performers, clowning and physical comedy. Participants will be challenged to develop all-around circus skills while training hard in a disciplined but non-competitive environment. Circus is a unique and ancient art form in which performers strive to do the impossible, individuality is rewarded, and being different and unique is celebrated. Everyone who is willing to work can find their place in the circus! The Fall Training Program is open to all, though space is limited. Tuition is $250. Participants will be encouraged to join the circus-infused Winter Production of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors at Oddfellows, and to audition for Circophony’s Spring Tour. To register, or for more information, contact Oddfellows Playhouse at (860) 347-6143 or info@oddfellows.org. If you want more information about the program, contact ARTFARM. Facebook | Twitter | Donate | Contact Report Abuse|Powered By Google Sites