Morning Weather Report
Today
Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northwest wind 10 to 17 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northwest wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 15 and 25 early. North wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind 13 to 15 mph.
Westport Country Playhouse Offers 23% Discount Tuesday for 2023 Single Tickets
Cast of Westport Country Playhouse’s 2023 Season opening show, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” – L-R: Will Stone, Judith Franklin, Miya Bass, Paris Bennett, Jay Copeland. Contributed Photo by Ron Heerkens, Jr.In recognition of its 2023 Season, Westport Country Playhouse announces single tickets on sale at a 23% discount for one day only, Tuesday, March 7, from noon to 11:59 p.m. Discounted single tickets start at $27 and may be purchased online, no code necessary, at https://tickets.westportplayhouse.org/events. The box office will be open from noon to 5 p.m. for phone orders at 203-227-4177, and in-person sales at 25 Powers Court, Westport. The 23% discount applies to full-price tickets only and cannot be used in combination with any other ticket offer or discount. Following the one-day-only sale, regular single tickets prices will resume at $35 and up.
The Playhouse’s 2023 Season will open with the Tony Award®-winning musical, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” celebrating in sassy song and dance the legendary composer Fats Waller, playing April 11 through April 29. The recipient of a “Critic’s Pick” from The New York Times, the musical is an exciting new vision by director/choreographer Jeffrey L. Page, an Emmy-nominated and MTV Video Music Award-winning artist. Page’s Broadway choreography credits include “1776” and “Violet.” He was creative collaborator and choreographer for Beyoncé, associate creative director for Mariah Carey, and choreographer for Westport Country Playhouse’s “Mlima’s Tale.” The five-member cast features an “X Factor” and “The Voice” contestant and two “American Idol” finalists. The musical is conceived by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. Co-producers are Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA, and Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY. Corporate Production Partner for “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is Bank of America. Production Partners are Athena and Daniel Adamson.
A reimagining of “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” the suspenseful thriller of blackmail and revenge, will run from July 11 through July 29. Focusing on a devious husband, his wealthy wife, and her lover, the play by Frederick Knott is adapted by playwright and screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher, who has created even more surprises and diabolic twists than in the celebrated Hitchcock film. Director is Mark Lamos, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director. He has helmed many plays at the Playhouse since 2008, earning five Connecticut Critics Circle Awards. Under Lamos’ artistic direction, the Playhouse was named “Theater Company of the Year” by The Wall Street Journal. Corporate Production Partner is RBC Wealth Management. Production Partners are Allen and Lorraine Noveck.
The 2023 Season will culminate with “School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play,” by Jocelyn Bioh, from October 24 through November 11. This buoyant and biting, gossip-girl-inspired comedy explores the universal similarities — and glaring differences — facing teenage girls across the globe as those at an exclusive boarding school in Ghana set their sights on the Miss Global Universe pageant. Director Candis C. Jones previously directed a production of “School Girls…” at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Jones served as associate director of “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway. Her directing credits include productions at Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Public Theater, and others. Production Sponsors are Judy and Scott Phares.
Each production runs three weeks. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Special series include Taste of Tuesday, Black Excellence Night, Pride Night, Opening Night, Sunday Symposium, Post-Play Dialogue, Open Captions, Backstage Pass, and Thursday TalkBack. 2023 Season Post-Show, Opening Night Reception Sponsor is RDM Financial Group at Hightower.
All titles, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.
For more information and tickets, visit www.westportplayhouse.org, email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, Tuesday through Friday, 12 to 5 p.m. Stay connected to the Playhouse at westportplayhouse.org, on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse). Westport Country Playhouse is located at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport.
Staples Gymnasts Score Big At The CIAC Winter Open Championships
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
The 2023 CIAC Winter Open Gymnastics Championship meet took place on Saturday at New Milford high school and was yet another achievement for Staples Gymnastics which has just finished it's most successful season ever.
Only 40 of Connecticut's best gymnasts qualified in their skill for this prestigious event from the state's top 24 school gymnastics programs, eight of which are in Staples’ division.
The stellar performance on Saturday came on the heels of the girl's 3rd place finish in the FCIAC Championships last month where standout Mia Guster finished first in vault with a 9.6 score, preventing Fairfield Ward's Emma Johnson from sweeping that championship. Guster also finished 2nd on floor exercise and Sarah Arango finished fifth on uneven bars. Both Guster and Arango were both selected first team All FCIAC this season. Staples also scored big in the CIAC state tournament, finishing second.
Leading the way for Staples at the CIAC Championships on Saturday repeating her FCIAC victory was Mia Guster who's first place finish in vault with a 9.5 score became the first Staples gymnast to win vault at the Winter Championships. Mia also grabbed 2nd place in floor exercise in the large school division posting a 9.25 score.
Also doing well was Sofia Alarcon-Frias who placed fifth on balance beam and sixth in the all round. Sarah Arango placed fourth on bars. Mia Cochran, Hannah Bitsky, Victoria Fidalgo were second team. Phoebe Miller was honorable mention.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
UPDATE: Norwalk Man Dies from Injuries Suffered in Riverside Avenue Accident
WestportLocal.com contributed photo. Westport Police Department UpdateOn Saturday, March 4, 2023, at approximately 11:30PM, officers responded to the area of 575 Riverside Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle accident with serious injuries. The initial report was that the nature of the accident was vehicle versus pedestrian.
Emergency responders located and rendered aid to a male victim that had been struck by a southbound vehicle. The victim sustained life threatening injuries and was ultimately transported to Norwalk Hospital for further treatment.
Members of the Westport Police Department’s Accident Investigation Team, along with the Accident Investigation Team of the Fairfield Police Department, responded to the scene to conduct the investigation into the incident. This necessitated a temporary closure of Riverside Avenue in both directions of travel and has since been re-opened to traffic.
The operator of the vehicle remained at the scene to speak with responding officers and is fully cooperating.
The accident remains under investigation by the Westport Accident Investigation Team.
UPDATE
The victim in this incident has been identified as Matthew Balga, age 54, of Norwalk, CT.
Unfortunately, Mr. Balga did not survive his injuries and was pronounced deceased at Norwalk Hospital shortly after arrival. The Westport Police Department along with the Westport Community extends our thoughts and prayers to the Balga family during this difficult time.
The crash remains under investigation by the Westport Police Accident Investigation Team with assistance by the Fairfield Accident Team and Westport Detective Bureau.