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Performing Artists: Take This Survey

Greetings performing artists!

I would love to invite you to take a few minutes out of your creative and hardworking day to fill out this survey. Being a performance based artist in New Haven, I am inspired by the vibrancy, generosity and supportive environment this city fosters, and the amazing range and talent of performing arts in this area. I'm also aware of the initial confusion, frustration and feelings of isolation that can often surround us during projects or during our daily grind as we work to make a living out of presenting ourselves.

This survey is one of the first steps designed to help the Arts Council assess the needs of performing artists in the greater New Haven area. The questions have been compiled from a feedback session that the Arts Council hosted for performance artists of many disciplines including theater, classical music, hip-hop theater, musical theater, music composition and ballet. I am grateful for the participants for their valuable time and input, as well as the energy expressed in discussing a wide range of topics regarding the needs and state of performance artists in the greater New Haven area.

As an artist working for an arts organization, I still continue to learn and marvel at how good, effective change for a community takes time, and how committed to creative change this community of New Haven artists is. Hopefully you'll give us your feedback so we can learn about what you need in in order to thrive.

Click Here for the Survey Link

Thanks much
OluShola A. Cole
Coordinator of Community Programs

Call for One-Act Plays

Capital Classics Theatre Company, best known for its annual summer Shakespeare Festival on the campus of Saint Joseph College, announces a new project featuring original scripts by Connecticut playwrights. The Connecticut Classics Writers Series will cultivate a pool of scripts from Connecticut writers resulting in a springtime production of original work.

The company is currently accepting submissions of 10-minute and one-act plays from Connecticut writers (applicants must be Connecticut residents at the time of submission). Capital Classics will produce selected scripts in March 2012 at The Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College.

Scripts will be accepted through Feb. 1. All submission information is available at www.capitalclassics.org.

Fifth Annual Unsilent Night

On Thursday, December 8, 2012, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas will offer UNSILENT NIGHT—a fun, completely free and unusual holiday tradition that brings together friends, family, and community to celebrate the holidays through music and shared creation. UNSILENT NIGHT has been taking place in cities around the world since 1992, and is now in its fifth year in New Haven. Anyone and everyone is invited to participate!

Taking a spin on the age-old tradition of holiday caroling, participants process through the streets carrying boom boxes (and other music-playing devices) that each play different tracks from Phil Kline’s sound composition Unsilent Night. The air is filled with the sounds of bells, chimes, and otherworldly voices, and the crowd becomes a parade of atmospheric sounds. The aim is simple: make noise and create fun for everyone involved.

Participants are invited to gather at the Yale Bookstore, located at 77 Broadway in New Haven, beginning at 5:30pm on December 8. Participants may bring their own boom boxes or may borrow one from the Festival on the evening of the event. The procession itself will begin at 6pm, and will conclude forty-five minutes later at the Yale Bookstore. Following the procession, there will be hot chocolate and cookies with composer Phil Kline.

More information about the event may be found at www.artidea.org.

Silverbells Winter Holiday Festival

Saturday, December 3
2-6 pm

Hamden Town Center Park will be filled with holiday lights and community merrymaking: carousel rides, hayrides, crafts, caroling, tree lighting and Santa's arrival by fire truck. Please bring an unwrapped toy for The Hamden Kids Holiday Toy Drive.

Holiday Festivities at Miller Cultural Center: 2901 Dixwell Avenue
2 - 4 pm: Face Painting at Miller Library.
2:30 pm: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier": Robert Rogers Puppet Theatre presentes the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale. $2 children/$3 adults at door.

Holiday Festivities at Town Center Park: 2761 Dixwell Avenue
2 - 6 pm: Carousel Rides, Hayrides, Holiday Crafts, free cider & munchies
The Hamden Kids Holiday Toy Drive
3:45 pm: Caroling with the Hamden Girl Scouts
4:15 pm: Community Caroling & Tree Lighting Ceremony
4:30 pm: Santa Arrives by Fire Truck/Visits with Santa

Presented by the Hamden Arts Commission.
In case of heavy rain or snow, outdoor activities will be postponed to December 7; indoor activities will be held on the 6th. For weather information, listen to WQUN 1220 AM or WEBE 108 or call the Arts Commission at (203) 287-2546.

Deliquescence at the New Haven Museum

What do you do with half a million feet of microﬁlm destined for the dump? “Make art, of course,” says New Haven artist Colin Burke, one of seven local artists commissioned by Artspace New Haven to create site-speciﬁc art for Library Science, an art exhibition running until January 28, 2012.

Deliquescence, Burke’s site-speciﬁc installation at the New Haven Museum, includes microﬁlm from the New York Times collection. Burke repurposes media from Connecticut libraries to create a connection between the past, the present, and the future of how we experience the library. On Wednesday, December 7 at 5:30 PM at the New Haven Museum, Burke will present a gallery talk about his newest installation.

Library Science is an exhibition curated by Rachel Gugelberger, Senior Curator at Exit Art, New York. Bringing together a selection of work by 17 international artists, and seven artists from the New Haven area. Library Science contemplates our personal, intellectual and physical relationship to the library as this venerable institution—and the information it contains—is being radically transformed by the digital era.

Deliquescence is on view at the New Haven Museum, located at 114 Whitney Avenue. Open Tues-Fri 10-5; Sat 12-5. Free on the First Sunday of the month, 1-4 p.m.

Hamden Art League's Silverbells Art Exhibition

Mary Lou Horan

The Hamden Art League will celebrate the holiday season with its annual Silverbells Art Exhibition December 6 - 22, 2011 at the Miller Memorial Library Senior Center, 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut. The show will feature a variety of original oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphics, pastels and mixed media by Hamden Art League members, with many pieces available for purchase. Viewing will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This year's juror of awards is Curt Hanson, an accomplished landscape painter from Cornwall, Connecticut. The opening reception will be held on Tuesday, December 6 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Senior Center. League members are residents of Hamden, North Haven, New Haven, West Haven, Meriden, Orange, Woodbridge, Bethany and surrounding towns. The public is invited to attend. www.hamdenartleague.com

Holiday Show at Susan Powell Fine Art

Holiday Inspirations
December 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012
Opening Reception: Thursday, December 1, 5- 8 pm.
All are invited for hors d'oeuvres and wine. Celebrate with us and meet the artists.

Susan Powell Fine Art's annual holiday show features the work of more than 25 contemporary artists who have painted some of their favorite subjects including landscapes, marines, still lifes, portraits and New York City Scenes.

Susan Powell Fine Art is located at 679 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT near the fire station. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Friday, 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday noon to 5 pm, Sundays, and anytime by appointment. For more information, please call (203) 318-0616, or visit www.susanpowellfineart.com to see images.

TAKE YOUR TIME at The BIG ROOM

TAKE YOUR TIME
An Interdisciplinary Performance Series
8PM SATURDAY DECEMBER 3 & 7PM SUNDAY DECEMBER 4
The BIG ROOM | thebigroomnewhaven.com | Erector Square, 319 Peck St., New Haven
Tickets are $15 ($10 students/seniors) / $20 two-night pass.
Seating is limited. Reservations recommended. For reservations email thebigroomnewhaven@gmail.com

For two nights only, The BIG ROOM presents the fourth installment of TAKE YOUR TIME. The weekend’s concerts will examine improvisation across disciplines: each night will offer a different line-up of artists, scholars, and filmmakers who are using and thinking about improvisation in different ways. After each show there will be an informal reception with the artists.

Singin' Through the Holidaze with Anne Tofflemire

Don't miss this opportunity to take a break from December's madness with New Haven's own award winning cabaret performer, Anne Tofflemire, at Westville's intimate, beautifully restored historic performance space.

December 10th; Lyric Hall, 827 Whalley Ave, New Haven
7 and 10 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before each show
Reservations: lyrichall88@yahoo.com
Suggested donation: $20

Hear Donna Hebert & Mist Covered Mountains

Branford Folk Music Society
December 3, 2011: Donna Hebert & Mist Covered Mountains

Mist Covered Mountains draws from Celtic and French-Canadian roots, creating vignettes of the Irish and French communities in New England's mill towns at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Donna Hébert's fierce fiddle rhythms and Max Cohen's impeccable groove guitar link to create an orchestra of sound from a simple fiddle-guitar duet.

Admission: $15 for nonmembers, $12 for members, $5 for kids 12 and under
Branford Folk Coffeehouse
First Congregational Church of Branford, 1009 Main Street, Branford
8:00pm
Wheelchair accessible.
For more information call 203-488-7715 or 203-248-0291.
Email: branfordfolk@gmail.com
http://folknotes.org/branfordfolk/

Branford Folk Coffeehouse welcomes refreshment donations of pastries, cold drinks and other assorted goodies! Bring your own travel mug or thermos and take home any leftover coffee!

NHSO A Victorian Christmas

New Haven Symphony Orchestra Pops! performs Holiday Extravaganza – A Victorian Christmas
Jerry Steichen, Conductor; Jennifer Aylmer, soprano; Jennifer Hoult, harp; The Elm City Girls’ Choir
Program: Victorian carols, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, and audience sing-a-long

Thursday, December 8, 2011 · 7:30pm
Fairfield University, Quick Center for the Arts ∙ 1073 North Benson Road ∙ Fairfield, CT
Tickets: $35 & $40. 203.254.4010 or www.quickcenter.com.

Saturday, December 10, 2011 · 2:30pm
Hamden Middle School ∙ 2623 Dixwell Avenue ∙ Hamden, CT
Tickets: $35 & $45. Children: $10. 203.865.0831, ext. 10 or www.NewHavenSymphony.org.

Ralph Peterson's Unity Project

Friday, December 2nd at 8:30 and 10:00 p.m.
Ralph Peterson’s Unity Project
Firehouse 12
45 Crown Street New Haven, CT
Tickets are $18 (first set) and $12 (second set)
Tickets are available at http://firehouse12.com or (203) 785-0468

On Friday, December 2nd, Firehouse 12 is pleased to present drummer/bandleader Ralph Peterson and his Unity Project in celebration of their new album Outer Reaches (Onyx). For this band, Peterson has recruited organist Pat Bianchi, saxophonist Craig Handy, and trumpeter Josh Evans. Find out more about Ralph Peterson at: www.ralphpetersonmusic.com

It's A Wonderful Life at Long Wharf Theatre

The classic holiday film gets a magical adaptation Dec. 7 though Dec. 31. Joe Landry’s script takes the beloved holiday story and recasts it as a 1940s radio drama performed before a live studio audience. Live sound effects meld with the moving tale of George Bailey to create an aural masterpiece. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 203-787-4282 or visit www.longwharf.org.

A Christmas Carol at the Shubert Theater

December 2–4, 2011
Friday 7:30pm
Saturday 2 & 7:00pm
Sunday 2:00pm
This joyful musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic features favorite Christmas carols in a production the whole family will enjoy. The story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge—who discovers the true meaning of Christmas—captures all the warmth, goodwill, and musical memories of the season.

Shubert Theater and Box Office, 247 College Street, New Haven
800-228-6622
www.shubert.com

Author Barbara Walsh at NHFPL

August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm
Pulitzer Prize winning-writer Barbara Walsh will speak Thursday, Dec. 8, at 6 pm at New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven

The event is free. Following the talk, she will sign both August Gale and her children's book, Sammy in the Sky, which is illustrated by painter Jamie Wyeth. Books will be for sale at the talk.

In August Gale, Walsh—who has interviewed killers, bad cops, and crooked politicians in the course of her career — takes readers on two heartrending odysseys: one into a deadly Newfoundland hurricane and the lives of schooner fishermen who relied on God and the wind to carry them home; the other, into a squall stirred by a man with many secrets: a grandfather who remained a mystery until long after his death.

Sixty-eight years after the hurricane that claimed several of her Marystown ancestors, Walsh searches for memories of the August gale and the grandfather who abandoned her dad as a young boy. Together, she and her father journey to Newfoundland to learn about the 1935 storm, and along the way her dad begins to talk about the man he cannot forgive. Contact the library for more information: (203) 946-8835.

Events at the Peabody

Talk and booksigning
Thursday, December 1, at 5:30 p.m.
The Myriad Defense of Caterpillars: Tales of Woe, Deception and Wonder
David Wagner, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and co-director of the Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut
Third floor auditorium
FREE
With a photo menagerie of bizarre and beautiful eastern North American caterpillars, Dr. Wagner will discuss the amazingly varied and deceitful ploys caterpillars use to dupe birds and other would-be predators. The book signing will include his popular guide, now in its 6th printing, Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History.

Dual Concert
Saturday, December 3
Old Tunes & Old Bones
2:00-3:30 p.m.
Great Hall of Dinosaurs
Museum admission of $5-9, Yale I.D. holders, members & children under 3 free
This lively concert explores the common ancestry and contemporary forms of two centuries-old musical traditions: Irish music and old-time American songs and fiddle. The Celtic side of the show features All-Ireland champion John Whelan on accordion, Eric Merrill on fiddle, and Danny Noveck on guitar. The old-time American side will introduce The Reasonable Band, with Josiah Pertz on guitar, Alex Platt on double bass, Eric Merrill on fiddle and banjo, and Jane Tucker singing--all students at Yale Law School.

www.peabody.yale.edu

Joan Levy Hepburn Holiday Exhibit & Sale

Holiday Exhibit & Sale of Artworks by Joan Levy Hepburn at Art at Murray Pond
59 Route 148, Killingworth, CT
Sat. Dec. 10th & 17th 11:00 to 4:00
860-663-1169

The Glass Source Holiday Gallery

The Glass Source Stained Glass Studio Holiday Gallery and Ornaments Sale

Visit The Glass Source Stained Glass Studio for the opening of our 14th Annual Holiday Gallery on Saturday December 3rd from 9-3pm. We have created over 800 handmade fused glass ornaments right here in our studio. We also have great pieces created by local artists and our staff. Fused glass vessels, sculptures, window pieces, wine bottle cheese boards, sculptural lighting and more!

We still have some spaces available in our Holiday Workshops; Fused Glass Snowflakes, Fused Glass Ornaments and Make a Plate. Please visit our website www.theglasssource.com for our full list of fall classes and dates. Call to reserve a space for you and your friend! (203) 924-4368 The Glass Source Stained Glass Studio & Michael Skrtic Design is an art glass studio dedicated to creating, restoring and teaching the art of glass.

The Glass Source is located at 415 Howe Avenue in Shelton, CT and open Tuesday-Saturday from 9-3 and other times by appointment.

Arts Center Killingworth Upcoming Workshops

Holidays Photography Workshop

Fused Glass Nightlights Workshop December 4, 1:30-4:30pm. $60
Learn kiln and mold preparation, glass selection, firing schedules, assembly, annealing, working with frits, stringers, and inclusions. Add decorative detailing for a unique pair of nightlights!

Spirit of the Holidays Photography Workshop December 4, 1:30-4:30pm. $55
With K‘Dee Chastain, capture the glow and sentiment of the season while avoiding common holiday photo pitfalls. Discover photo tricks for children, group shots and holiday lights.

Register by calling the Arts Center at 860-663-5593 or emailing artscenterkillingworth@gmail.com. Visit www.artscenterkillingworth.org, www.facebook.com/artscenterkillingworth, and www.twitter.com/arts_center_ct
276 North Parker Hill Rd. Killingworth, CT

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven
70 Audubon Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510
203-772-2788
info@newhavenarts.org
www.newhavenarts.org

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