Elm City Beat

An Evening of Samuel Beckett's Catastrophe and Launch of the Young Mechanics Theatre Ensemble

March 23, 24, 30, and 31, 8:00 p.m.
Main Floor of the Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street

The Institute Library is proud to announce the launch and inaugural production of the Young Mechanics Theatre Ensemble with Samuel Beckett's Catastrophe, in the main space of the library, March 23, 24, 30, and 31. Each night will conclude with refreshments and a salon-style discussion.

Written in 1982 and dedicated to Vaclav Havel, playwright, revolutionary, and first president of Czechoslovakia, Catastrophe addresses issues of political violence, censorship, and the theater's relationship to individual and collective struggle. After the 30-minute performance, followed by refreshments, the audience is invited to return to the stage area to participate with the cast, director, and special guests in a discussion on the role of the arts in democracy and social change.

The Young Mechanics is a new theater company based at the Institute Library with a special focus on polis-based works, classics of the American and international stage, new plays from local writers and performers, and broad, free theatrical education for young people and adults alike. Founded by New Haven theater artists James Leaf and Jeremy Funke in collaboration with the Institute Library, the Young Mechanics seeks to honor the mission of the library's founders by establishing a space for the cultivation of artists and learners of all ages and backgrounds.

Because of limited seating, reservations are strongly recommended.

To make reservations, please email home@institutelibrary.org and specify the night you wish to attend and the number of people in your party.

$5 suggested donation.

John Fisher, CAPA Vice President and Executive Director of the Shubert Theater, has announced the lineup of Broadway shows for the Shubert Theater’s 98th Anniversary Season.

And ‘Oh What a Season’ it will be – the 2012-2013 season opens with JERSEY BOYS, the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons, which makes its premiere engagement at the Shubert Theater with a two-week run, September 25–October 7, 2012. “Too good to be true!” raves the New York Post, JERSEY BOYS features the hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What a Night” and many more.

The Shubert season includes shows that are perfect for all members of the family: SHREK THE MUSICAL brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to New Haven during a special holiday engagement, December 28–30, 2012, followed by another family favorite, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a deliriously funny musical that will entertain you to death, February 1–3, 2013. BLUE MAN GROUP will thrill New Haven audiences with its high-octane theatrical experience, March 14–17, 2013. With no spoken language, BLUE MAN GROUP’s wildly popular shows combine comedy, music and technology, creating a unique form of entertainment that is perfect for people of all ages, languages and cultures.
A re-imagined legendary epic, a new Broadway rock-opera and a classic love story round out the Shubert’s new season starting with the brand new 25th Anniversary production of LES MISÉRABLES which comes to the Shubert for a one-week engagement, April 17–21, 2013. With glorious new staging and dazzling scenery, this new production has been acclaimed by fans and critics as “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” – The New York Times. AMERICAN IDIOT, Broadway’s daring new musical based on Green Day’s Grammy-winning multi-platinum album, takes the American musical where it’s never gone before, May 3–5, 2013, and the classic musical, WEST SIDE STORY, completes the season May 31–June 2, 2013.

Shubert Subscribers have the benefit of creating their own “subscription package” by choosing a minimum of four shows from the Shubert’s Broadway Series. Current Shubert subscribers will be receiving a subscription series package by mail and have the opportunity to renew their current subscription seats. Subscriptions to the Shubert Theater’s 2012–2013 Broadway Series are available at the Shubert Box Office and by phone at 203-562-5666 or 888-736-2663 Mondays thru Fridays 9:30am–5:30pm and Saturdays 10:00am–3:00pm.


JERSEY BOYS
September 25-October 7, 2012
Tuesdays 7:30, Wednesdays 7:30, Thursdays 7:30
Fridays 8:00, Saturdays 2:00 &8:00
Sundays 2:00 &7:00

“TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!” raves the New York Post for JERSEY BOYS, the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30! JERSEY BOYS, winner of the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album and most recently, the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” “IT WILL RUN FOR CENTURIES!” proclaims Time Magazine. The JERSEY BOYS creative team comprises two-time Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff, book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, composer Bob Gaudio, lyricist Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

SHREK
December 28-30, 2012
Friday 7:30
Saturday 2:00 &7:30
Sunday 1:00 & 6:30

SHREK THE MUSICAL, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek. Featuring a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery, WWOR-TV proclaims SHREK THE MUSICAL, “FAR, FAR AND AWAY THE FUNNIEST NEW MUSICAL ON BROADWAY!”

THE ADDAMS FAMILY
February 1-3, 2013
Friday 7:30
Saturday 2:00 & 7:30
Sunday 2:00

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. “A visually satisfying, rib-tackling, lunatic musical that will entertain you to death!” according to Toronto Post City, this magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice and Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party). Come meet the family. We’ll leave the lights off for you.

BLUE MAN GROUP
March 14-17, 2013
Thursday 7:30, Friday 8:00
Saturday 2:00 & 8:00
Sunday 1:00 & 6:30

BLUE MAN GROUP is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that BLUE MAN GROUP is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous show that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken language, BLUE MAN GROUP is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures.



LES MISÉRABLES
April 16-21, 2013
Wednesday 7:30, Thursday 1:00 &7:30, Friday 8:00
Saturday 2:00 & 8:00
Sunday 1:00 & 6:30

Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful.”

AMERICAN IDIOT
May 3-5, 2013
Friday 8:00
Saturday 2:00 & 8:00
Sunday 1:00 & 6:30

Direct from Broadway, the smash-hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day’s Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it’s never gone before. With direction by Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), choreography by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch) and orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), the result is an experience Charles Isherwood of The New York Times declares “thrilling, emotionally charged, and as moving as any Broadway musical I’ve seen this year!” (AMERICAN IDIOT contains adult content and strong language.)

WEST SIDE STORY
May 31-June 2, 2013
Friday 8:00
Saturday 2:00 &8:00
Sunday 1:00 & 6:30

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of West Side Story won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest and features such classics of the American musical theater as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.”

Prof. Vijay Prashad will be special guest at an open house held by the Greater New Haven Peace Council on April 21. Prashad will discuss the relationship between the governments of the 1% wealthiest economic powers and their use of the NATO military machine. He will also be signing his new book, Arab Spring, Libyan Winter, released in early April.

Prashad will be a keynote speaker at the Chicago conference, Counter Summit for Peace and Justice, being held during the NATO and G8 summits May 18 and 19.

Vijay Prashad is the George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History and Professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Hartford. He is the author of eleven books, including the Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World; Uncle Swami: South Asians in America Today to be released in June, 2012.

The Peace Council Open House will be Saturday, April 21, at 37 Howe St., the New Haven Peoples Center, 3 to 6 p.m. Refreshments, discussion, socializing. All are welcome.

City Gallery at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511, 203-782-2489, www.city-gallery.org is presenting "Variations", an encaustic exhibit by Amy Arledge from April 5 through April 29, 2012.



The Opening Reception is Saturday, April 14, 2-5pm. Arledge presents colorful paintings using the ancient technique of encaustic - painting with heated wax. Several encaustic pieces in this show are combined with images from her detailed etchings of nature.

"My copper plate etchings are mainly subjects from nature. On daily walks with my dog, I am awed by the beauty and delicacy of things we see in the woods and along the shore. I enjoy etching birds, animals and insects and each offers unique challenges when recreating feathers, fur and exoskeletons on copper plates. My focus is strictly on the subjects, so I present them in solitude to emphasize their individual character and essence. I hope that my etchings are a small reminder of the elegant harmony in nature which often lies hidden around us."

 City Gallery would like to invite you to view the exhibit Thursday - Sunday, 12-4pm, or by appointment.

Several science fair projects from New Haven Public School students received recognition this past week at the Connecticut Science Fair. The Connecticut Science Fair displays over 400 projects from around the state from middle school and high school. Six of the 13 entered New Haven projects were invited back on Thursday, March 15th to present to judges and received recognition at the awards ceremony Saturday, March 17th at Quinnipiac University. Included in the awardees were students from Wilbur Cross, Betsy Ross, Coop Arts & Humanities High School, and Worthington Hooker.

Wilbur Cross High students Alessandra Hogan and Tarpley Hitt received a first place award in High School Life Science Team.

Middle school student Yogasi Gazula received a 3rd place award in the Urban School Challenge. The complete list of the 13 entered projects from New Haven and their recognition is listed below. Congratulations to all the students and their teachers!

Students are also continuing to get ready for the annual New Haven Science Fair, held May 15-17th at Yale University Commons. About 8000 students across the city from PreK to grade 12 have been working on projects, attending Family Science nights, working with mentors and displaying their work at their own school science fairs. New Haven Science Fair judging will take place the morning of Wednesday, May 16th, with public viewing to follow and awards the following evening at Battell Chapel.

WHEN: Thu, Mar 22, 2012
TIME: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
PLACE: The Community Soup Kitchen at Christ Church Episcopal, 84 Broadway, New Haven and Woolsey Hall 500 College St., New Haven
TICKETS: $75 Friend of Community Soup Kitchen; $125 Patron of Community Soup Kitchen

Join in for a reception and concert benefiting Community Soup Kitchen of New Haven.

Program:
The evening begins at 5:30pm with a reception at Community Soup Kitchen, 84 Broadway. Then, head over to Woolsey Hall for MozartFest, an NHSO performance beginning at 7:30pm.

Per person ticket includes pre-concert catered reception, transportation to concert, and orchestra level seating at Woolsey Hall.

All proceeds benefit the programs of Community Soup Kitchen, New Haven

On the Program:
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Divertimento in F Major, K. 138

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C Major, K. 299

Edvard GRIEG Two Elegiac Melodies for Strings, op. 34

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Symphony no. 29 in A Major, K. 201/186a

If you were a Powerball winner, you'd have your butler pick up lunch in Rome, and you'd picnic next to the Trevi Fountain -- which you purchased and reconstructed in your backyard.

Until then, today's deal at Nica's Market in New Haven offers its own jackpot: For just $10, get $20 worth of authentic Italian food and drink. Family-owned since 2002, this Orange Street market's narrow aisles are a treasure trove of culinary wins.

Score imported olive oils, artisan pastas and sauces, flowers, gelato, and a rich cup of coffee. Regulars can't get enough of the homemade prepared foods, gourmet pizza, and hot paninis. On a nice day, take your eats to the patio, where owner Giuseppe is known to serenade lucky customers with old-world tunes -- just like your private gondolier will when you hit the big one.