Showing posts with label 'A Christmas Carol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 'A Christmas Carol. Show all posts
Monday, December 30, 2024
Monday, December 23, 2024
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Derby Public Library to present adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol'
"A Christmas Carol" - One Actor, 25 Characters
Saturday, Dec. 2 at noon
Please register at https://bit.ly/3Mp7pHk
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Valley Shakespeare Festival to perform 'A Christmas Carol' at Plumb Memorial Library
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| Tom Simonetti |
SHELTON - After a two-year hiatus, Tom Simonetti and the Valley Shakespeare Festival company are back at Plumb Memorial Library to present “A Christmas Carol.”
Celebrate the season with this wonderful performance! Registration is required. Tickets are available for two performances: Dec.16 at 7 p.m. or Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. The Library is at 65 Wooster St.
Click here for more information and registration:
This is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Valley Shakespeare Festival to present 'A Christmas Carol' in Shelton
Holiday classic slated Dec. 11,12 at Plumb Memorial Library
Charles Dickens wrote his holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” in London in 1843 in the midst of England’s industrial revolution.
It was originally written to be published as a pamphlet to inspire social reform.
At the time, London was teeming with problems: in only 80 years its population quadrupled from 1 million to 4.5 million; crime was rampant-the police estimated that 20,000 children were being trained in thievery; the city’s water supply was polluted; housing was sparse and cramped with entire families living in one small room; and education for children was at an all-time low.
Charles Dickens wrote his holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” in London in 1843 in the midst of England’s industrial revolution.
It was originally written to be published as a pamphlet to inspire social reform.
At the time, London was teeming with problems: in only 80 years its population quadrupled from 1 million to 4.5 million; crime was rampant-the police estimated that 20,000 children were being trained in thievery; the city’s water supply was polluted; housing was sparse and cramped with entire families living in one small room; and education for children was at an all-time low.
It is into this world that Valley Shakespeare Festival will take its audiences at 7 p.m. Dec. 11, and at 1 p.m. Dec.12. Presented without elaborate period costuming and staging, VSF’s production puts the emphasis on the true meaning of the story.
Jeremy Funke (Scrooge) explains: “What I like best about VSF’s stripped-down presentation of this classic tale is that it forces the audience to focus on the story-the audience’s imagination is our special effects designer, and I can’t think of a better way for them to experience it.”
Audience members will join Ebenezer Scrooge on his transformational journey through his own personal darkness of bitterness and disillusion on that fateful Christmas Eve and emerge with him on that brilliant Christmas morning with renewed faith in God and humanity.
Tom Simonetti, the company’s Executive and Artistic Director (and Bob Cratchit), echoes this sentiment,
“The story is powerful enough on its own not to need all kinds of embellishment. I love to see the children’s and families’ reactions to Jacob Marley’s chains, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge’s last speech. It’s a story that needs to be told because it reminds us of the kind of people we should be all year long. It’s exactly what we need.”
Gary Harger, who will be playing multiple roles, said he is “looking forward to coming up with three distinct characterizations, accents, mannerisms, etc. I’ve always loved the story…ever since I was a kid, and although there are many film and musical versions out there now, my favorite is still the 1951 film version with Alistair Sim-the one I watched when I was a kid!”
Valley Shakespeare Festival will present it staged reading of “A Christmas Carol” in the Reading Room of Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton, which Simonetti describes as a “dream venue” for the story.
“It reflects the time period perfectly with its Romanesque style, huge fireplace, and Victorian wing chairs,” he said.
Anyone wishing to experience this memorable moment in history may reserve seats by calling Valley Shakespeare Festival, 203-513-9446, or by visiting www.vsfestival.org.
The event is presented free of charge with a suggested donation of $10 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are encouraged.
This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit theater company serving the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Valley Shakespeare Festival to present 'A Christmas Carol' in Shelton
SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival will present its third annual script-in-hand dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, “A Christmas Carol” at Plumb Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 1 p.m. Dec. 12. The library is at 65 Wooster St.
The production will be held upstairs in the library’s elegant 1895 Romanesque Revival-style Reading Room.
With its soaring cathedral ceiling, Victorian wing chairs and massive fireplace, there is no better place to experience Dickens’ classic story of the spirit of Christmas and the power of redemption.
The performance is being presented to the public free of charge with a suggested donation of $10 per person.
Valley Shakespeare Festival is a federally-certified non-profit theatre company based in Shelton. It is known throughout the Valley as the company which performs free full-length productions of Shakespeare plays in Shelton’s Riverwalk-Veterans Memorial Park each summer in July. It is also known for its infamous Shakespeare in the Bar series which runs twice yearly at Porky’s Café in Shelton, most recently selling out the venue with its script in hand adaption of The Tempest.
A Christmas Carol, adapted for the event by VSF’s Executive/Artistic Director Tom Simonetti, will be performed with minimal props and costuming and a cast of local and out-of-state actors, many of whom returning audience members will recognize from previous VSF productions.
A reception of light refreshments will follow both performances at which time the cast and crew will be available to socialize with audience members.
For more information or to make reservations, please call Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446 or visit www.vsfestival.org.
Seating is limited; please reserve your place early and begin your holiday season by celebrating the true spirit of Christmas with this classic tale for all ages.
This is a press release from Valley Shakespeare Festival, a 501(c)(3)non-profit theatre company dedicated to bringing free theater to the communities of the lower Naugatuck Valley and beyond.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Valley Shakespeare Festival to stage 'A Christmas Carol' in Shelton
SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival will present its second annual script-in-hand dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, “A Christmas Carol” at Plumb Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and at 1 p.m. Dec. 6.
The production will be held upstairs in the library’s elegant 1895 Romanesque Revival-style Reading Room.
With its soaring cathedral ceiling, Victorian wing chairs and massive fireplace, there is no better place to experience Dickens’ classic story of the spirit of Christmas and the power of redemption.
The performance is being presented to the public free with a suggested donation of $10 a person.
Like last year, Valley Shakespeare Festival, a fiscally-sponsored non-profit theatre company, is once again partnering with the Shelton Historical Society for the event.
The Society will host a reception at the Shelton History Center after the Saturday performance only at which audience members can tour the Center’s Historic buildings and museum, enjoy a light assortment of baked goods and mingle with cast members.
The play, adapted for the event by VSF’s Executive/Artistic Director Tom Simonetti, will be performed with minimal props and costuming and a cast of local and out-of-state actors, many of whom returning audience members will recognize from previous VSF productions.
Plumb Memorial Library is located at 65 Wooster St. To make reservations, call Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446 or visit www.vsfestival.org.
Seating is limited; please reserve a place early to begin the holiday season by celebrating the true spirit of Christmas with this classic tale for all ages of love, charity, and forbearance.
This is a press release from the Valley Shakespeare Festival, a theatre company dedicated to bringing free theater to the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
The performance is being presented to the public free with a suggested donation of $10 a person.
Like last year, Valley Shakespeare Festival, a fiscally-sponsored non-profit theatre company, is once again partnering with the Shelton Historical Society for the event.
The Society will host a reception at the Shelton History Center after the Saturday performance only at which audience members can tour the Center’s Historic buildings and museum, enjoy a light assortment of baked goods and mingle with cast members.
The play, adapted for the event by VSF’s Executive/Artistic Director Tom Simonetti, will be performed with minimal props and costuming and a cast of local and out-of-state actors, many of whom returning audience members will recognize from previous VSF productions.
Plumb Memorial Library is located at 65 Wooster St. To make reservations, call Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446 or visit www.vsfestival.org.
Seating is limited; please reserve a place early to begin the holiday season by celebrating the true spirit of Christmas with this classic tale for all ages of love, charity, and forbearance.
This is a press release from the Valley Shakespeare Festival, a theatre company dedicated to bringing free theater to the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Valley Shakespeare Festival play features murder, madness
Troupe to stage 'A Christmas Carol' next
SHELTON - Valley Shakespeare Festival presented “Titus Andronicus” to a packed house Oct. 30 at Porky’s Café as the second offering in its “Shakespeare in the Bar” series.
Audience members filtered in to the upper-level bar area of the café to partake of Porky’s pizza, and mingle with cast members before the performance.
Jeremy Funke was a tour de force in the leading role of Titus Andronicus as he took the audience along on his roller coaster ride from celebrated war hero to betrayed patriot and father down into the abyss of murder and madness.
Funke’s nemesis Tamora was played by Lawren Teel Roulier.
As the Queen of the Goths and new wife to Rome’s recently crowned and spoiled brat Emperor Saturninas (played to delicious perfection by VSF’s Executive and Artistic Director Tom Simonetti), Roulier was both powerful and chilling as the devious and vengeful queen who plots the rape and disfiguring of Lavinia, Titus’ innocent young daughter.
Jess Breda played the difficult role of that daughter.
Lavinia goes from a being young, carefree, recently betrothed girl to outcast and ultimately the victim of a vicious rape, who then has her tongue removed and hands severed to prevent her from revealing the identities of the perpetrators.
Breda was touching as she begged Tamora for mercy and mournful as the maimed, ruined, and mute survivor who received none.
Raphael Massie as Tamora’s true beloved Moor and party responsible for orchestrating all the brutal mayhem, was delightfully evil, his booming voice filling the room as he declared, upon being asked if he was sorry for his deeds, “I, that I had not a thousand more…Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things as willingly as one would kill a fly, and nothing grieves me heartily indeed, but that I cannot do ten thousand more.”
Some audience members found themselves more “immersed” in the action than they may have anticipated as blood spatter, severed heads and body parts made their way into the laps of unsuspecting innocent bystanders in the front rows. (Word of advice to future attendees: don’t sit in the first row unless you’re ready and willing to be drawn into the action.)
They were rewarded, though, for their participation as all who attended received Halloween goody bags and one lucky team won the grand prize of a Halloween-themed “Bucket o’ Booze.”
Adam Kezele, who played Demetrius, one of Tamora’s demented offspring, also served as the production’s fight champion, choreographing all of the fight scenes and designing and creating that completely washable “blood.”
The cast was comprised of both local and out-of-town talent, including Kristen Kingsley of Shelton, Tyler Huntley of Seymour, and Matthew Catalano of Stratford.
Funke and Massie are from New Haven, while Xander Johnson, Max Simone, Travis Robert Czap, Breda, Kezele, Roulier, and Simonetti travelled in from New York for the event.
Valley Shakespeare Festival plans to present another Shakespeare in the Bar performance this coming March, but before then it will reprise its holiday offering, a scripted dramatic reading of the Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol.”
The event will be held in association with the Shelton Historical Society and will be presented at Plumb Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and again at 1 p.m. Dec. 6.
The Shelton Historical Society will host a reception at the Shelton History Center at 70 Ripton Road after the performance, at which audience members may tour the Society’s buildings and mingle with cast members.
The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10.
For more information on this and other upcoming events contact Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446, or visit www.vsfestival.org, and follow on Facebook.
Valley Shakespeare Festival is a fiscally-sponsored, non-profit theater company dedicated to bringing free theater to the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
The play review and release were submitted by Shelton resident Cheryl O'Brien.
 |
| Walker Studios photo |
Audience members filtered in to the upper-level bar area of the café to partake of Porky’s pizza, and mingle with cast members before the performance.
Jeremy Funke was a tour de force in the leading role of Titus Andronicus as he took the audience along on his roller coaster ride from celebrated war hero to betrayed patriot and father down into the abyss of murder and madness.
Funke’s nemesis Tamora was played by Lawren Teel Roulier.
 |
| Walker Studios photo |
Jess Breda played the difficult role of that daughter.
Lavinia goes from a being young, carefree, recently betrothed girl to outcast and ultimately the victim of a vicious rape, who then has her tongue removed and hands severed to prevent her from revealing the identities of the perpetrators.
Breda was touching as she begged Tamora for mercy and mournful as the maimed, ruined, and mute survivor who received none.
Raphael Massie as Tamora’s true beloved Moor and party responsible for orchestrating all the brutal mayhem, was delightfully evil, his booming voice filling the room as he declared, upon being asked if he was sorry for his deeds, “I, that I had not a thousand more…Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things as willingly as one would kill a fly, and nothing grieves me heartily indeed, but that I cannot do ten thousand more.”
Some audience members found themselves more “immersed” in the action than they may have anticipated as blood spatter, severed heads and body parts made their way into the laps of unsuspecting innocent bystanders in the front rows. (Word of advice to future attendees: don’t sit in the first row unless you’re ready and willing to be drawn into the action.)
They were rewarded, though, for their participation as all who attended received Halloween goody bags and one lucky team won the grand prize of a Halloween-themed “Bucket o’ Booze.”
Adam Kezele, who played Demetrius, one of Tamora’s demented offspring, also served as the production’s fight champion, choreographing all of the fight scenes and designing and creating that completely washable “blood.”
The cast was comprised of both local and out-of-town talent, including Kristen Kingsley of Shelton, Tyler Huntley of Seymour, and Matthew Catalano of Stratford.
Funke and Massie are from New Haven, while Xander Johnson, Max Simone, Travis Robert Czap, Breda, Kezele, Roulier, and Simonetti travelled in from New York for the event.
Valley Shakespeare Festival plans to present another Shakespeare in the Bar performance this coming March, but before then it will reprise its holiday offering, a scripted dramatic reading of the Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol.”
The event will be held in association with the Shelton Historical Society and will be presented at Plumb Memorial Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and again at 1 p.m. Dec. 6.
The Shelton Historical Society will host a reception at the Shelton History Center at 70 Ripton Road after the performance, at which audience members may tour the Society’s buildings and mingle with cast members.
The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10.
For more information on this and other upcoming events contact Valley Shakespeare Festival at 203-513-9446, or visit www.vsfestival.org, and follow on Facebook.
Valley Shakespeare Festival is a fiscally-sponsored, non-profit theater company dedicated to bringing free theater to the communities of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
The play review and release were submitted by Shelton resident Cheryl O'Brien.
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