“At Least We Tried” Portraits by Kids Raise Money for Good Causes at Weston Fine Arts Festival
Elizabeth Akolzina (11), Ava Long (13), and Adriana Long (10) lent their artistic skills to the portrait booth with a purpose during today’s Weston Fine Arts Festival in Weston Center. The “At Least we Tried” booth will be manned by student artists who draw portraits of customers for donations that go towards the Weston Arts and Weston Food Pantry. Customers receive their signed portrait in the colours of their own choosing, ready for framing at home. WestportLocal.com photo
Darlene Love Rocks and Rolls through Westport
Popular artist Darlene Love rocked Westport on Friday night from the Levitt Pavilion stage, a concert that went on sale in June and was quickly sold out. At 79 years old, Love and her band had guests on their feet dancing and singing to the songs and beats she’s been renowned for throughout the decades. Photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocal.com
Country Playhouse Opens their Doors on 90th Anniversary for One Night Only Comedy Show Screening
Westport Country Playhouse opens its Jason Robards Theatre for a one-night only screening of a virtual production on its 90th anniversary, June 29. Contributed photo.
Westport Country Playhouse Press Release
Westport Country Playhouse, closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic, will kick-off its 90th anniversary year by bringing patrons back into its Jason Robards Theatre for a one-night-only virtual production of the new comedy, “Tiny House,” projected on a big screen mounted above the stage. The in-person screening will be on Tuesday, June 29, at 7 p.m. The virtual production will also be available on-demand, from June 29 through July 18. “Tiny House” was filmed using digital technology during early spring when pandemic safety concerns and social distancing prevented producing a live show.
Exactly 90 years ago to the day, the Playhouse first opened its doors when Weston residents Lawrence Langner and his wife Armina Marshall founded the historic theater on June 29, 1931. Since then, the Playhouse has produced over 800 plays, some of which have transferred to Broadway.
Tickets for the in-person screening on June 29 are $20; general admission, seating on a first-come, first-served basis. All in-person patrons will attest to being fully vaccinated against Covid-19, or willing to provide a negative PCR test result time stamped within 36 hours of the performance time. Covid-19 health and safety protocols, including capacity restrictions and mask-wearing, will be observed.
Click here for full release.
Current virtual performance ticketholders who want to instead attend the in-person screening may exchange their tickets by calling the Playhouse box office at 203-227-4177.
In “Tiny House,” fireworks fly when family, friends, and quirky neighbors come together for a Fourth of July barbecue at the off-the-grid, isolated mountain paradise of a young, urban couple. The comedy is written by Michael Gotch and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director.
“Tiny House” running time is approximately 100 minutes, including an intermission between the two acts. Appropriate for ages 14 and up. More information on “Tiny House” at: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/tinyhouse/
The Playhouse’s 2021 Season continues with “Doubt: A Parable,” the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, playing November 2 through November 21. Two HD video productions from the Playhouse archives will stream on-demand, beginning with the musical, “Man of La Mancha” (2018), from August 23 through September 5, and another TBA, from September 13 - 26. Script in Hand playreadings will play October 19 – 24, and December 14 – 19; titles to be announced. All 2021 Playhouse events are listed at: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/whats-on/
2021 Season Sponsor is the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation. Production Sponsor is Barbara Samuelson. 2021 Season Media Sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio.
All play titles, artists, dates, and formats are subject to change.
To purchase tickets, visit westportplayhouse.org, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers Rock Levitt’s Opening Night
Bruce Hornsby speaks to the crowd at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. Westport Local Press photo.
The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts celebrated its 2021 revival with a sold-out crowd for Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers this evening - the sounds of Hornsby’s Yamaha piano and a cheering crowd filling downtown with a message: the Levitt is back.
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
As the sun began to set over the Saugatuck, the nearby Levitt’s lawn was packed with hundreds of guests ready for the sounds of Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers.
Hornsby, a Grammy award winning musician, has toured the world with groups like Bruce Hornsby & The Range and The Grateful Dead - now adding the East bank of the Saugatuck to his list of music stops as he entertained the crowd of local fans. He played acoustic and varied sets of music, including his 1989 chart-topping song “The Way It Is” as adults, kids, and nearby neighbors danced in their seats and on the sidewalks. Hornsby took a moment to speak to the crowd, garnering laugher and cheers as he described moments of his life just meters away from the enamoured listeners wide-eyed faces.
Although filled with life and music tonight, the Levitt Pavilion remained shuttered just last year due to the pandemic - a hit for both the community and the charity, themselves. Founded in 1973, the Levitt is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that strives to provide free access to local arts and music for all ages. To prepare for tonight’s opening, health precautions included pod-seating and sanitation stations throughout the outdoor venue, with guests bringing in their own lawn chairs and snack tables to make the space at home. COVID-19 cases remain nearly absent in Westport, with less than 3 cases being reported in the past ten days.
The community has gathered together on the grass along the Saugatuck to listen to bands and concerts for generations. Tonight, as the World continues to reopen - the sounds of piano songs filled the downtown area as the vibrant lights of the Levitt’s tents gave notice that The Levitt is back for Summer 2021.
Upcoming concerts this week include Midnight North, Goza Latin band, The Scott Sharrard Band, and Charles Turner and Uptown Swing. Schedules and donation opportunities can be found on their website, levittpavilion.com.