Art Exhibits ___________________

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St, Ridgefield; 203-438-4519.

*(new show) May 20-Oct 21: “Found Outside,” projects by artists Joy Curtis, Ethan Greenbaum, Jason Clay Lewis, Saul Melman, Jessica Segall & Jean-Marc Superville Sovak, who have been working w/ salvaged materials & reclaimed objects, in museum’s two-acre sculpture garden, complement for collection of “Found” exhibits on view inside museum until June 10; May 20, opening reception & garden party, 2-5 pm, picnics encouraged, also guided walking tours of garden at 3 & 4.

Avancé Esthétiques Day Spa, Sand Hill Plaza, 228 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-270-8911.

Through May 31: “Art About Town: Avancé Esthétiques 2012,” works by members of The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN).

Barn Hill Studio & Gallery, Rte 110 at Barn Hill Rd, Monroe; 203-268-4225.

May 12-July 29: works by local artists Paula Brinkman, Joe DeMarco, Florence Dohanos, Jessie Mackay, Ed Ross, et al; May 12, opening reception, 1-5 pm.

The Behnke Doherty Gallery, 6 Green Hill, Washington Depot; 860-868-1655.

Through May 13: “Mastering Serenity: Asian Art and Its Influences,” works by printmaker Deborah Weiss, three dimensional artist Amelia de Neergaard & ceramicist Uko Morita, also master-works by sev important ceramic artists of Japan incl Kawase Shinobu, Fukami Sueharu, Tokuda Yasokichi & Inoue Manji.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

In Children’s Department: Through May 31: works by students of The Children’s Adventure Center, Sandy Hook.

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center; 203-740-8140.

*(new show) May 12-June 2: “Honoring Brookfield’s Fallen Military Heroes,” exhibit honoring 43 Brookfield residents who gave their lives during US military campaigns, from American Revolution though Enduring Freedom; May 27, exhibit will be open during & after Brookfield Memorial Day Parade.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton; 203-261-0134.

Through June 2: “Art in The Country,” 79 works by 54 artists (incl Ruth Newquist, NWS, of Newtown) as selected by juror Daniel Mark Duffy.

Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Rd, Fairfield; 203-259-1598.

*(new show) Through July 22: “Images 2012,” 4th annual juried offers works by 50 photographers from across the region, including Paul Berger of Newtown, also retrospective of works by Fairfield native Charles Ruger; May 11, artist’s reception & awards ceremony, 6 pm.

Good News Café & Gallery, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury; 203-266-4663.

Through May 29: “Flora, Fauna, Flood,” new works by New York photographer Leslie Alexander.

Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd, Washington; 860-868-0518.

The Artist’s Corner (in Museum Shop, can be visited without paying full museum adm) — Through June 30: “Black Ash and Sweetgrass,” fancy baskets by Abenaki basketmaker Liz Charlebois.

Kent Art Association, The Gallery at KAA, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent; 860-927-3989.

Through June 3: “KAA Spring Juried Show,” original works by members of KAA, juried by artists Jim Adair,  Edwar Martinez & Marlene Weidenbaum.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury; 860-350-2181.

Through May 14: “42 Years — Than and Now: A Retrospective Exhibition,” works by an artist whose work is in 70+ major public & private collections that “evoke passionate responses.”

Morrison Gallery, 5 Maple St, Kent; 860-927-4501.

Through May 13: recent paintings by Billy Martin.

Stone River Grille, 1 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook; 203-270-1200.

*show dates extended, new art added: Through May 30: “Art About Town,” works by Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) members Lee Brownell, Pam Danneman, Suzanne Molineaux, Adele Moros, Margaret Moss, Robert Rabinowitz Glen River Barbara Saltman, Marianne Scanlon, & Roberta Shea, Amy Skillen & Virginia Zic in The Hawley Warner Room (non-diners welcome to visit show any time restaurant is open).

Auditions, Juried Event s _______

CT Family Day Youth Poster Design Contest, c/o Jacqueline Ford, CT DCF, Wallingford CT 06492; 860-550-6637, NewtownYouthAndFamilyServices.org.

May 25: Entries must be postmarked by this date for CT Family Day 2012 Posters Contest, competition open to CT students in grades K-12, showing what “family” means to them, use 8½ x 11-inch sheet of white paper, works must be original, include handprint(s) as overall theme of poster, keep ideas or activities simple, winners in elementary, middle & high school levels, works will be used for CT Family Day 2012 publicity, visit website above for full details & entry form (must be incl & signed by parent/guardian or teacher of entrant).

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield; 203-431-9850, www.RidgefieldTheaterBarn.org.

May 20-21: Open auditions for The Fair Sex, 7 pm, next work in theater’s Original Play Readings se-ries has openings for 5 women & 5 men, ages 30s-50s, actors will read sides from script, be prepared to stay if called to read multiple times and/or multiple roles, work by Patti Azzara (who will also direct) will be presented July 31, call or visit website for info incl full cast breakdown.

Concerts, Musical Events ______

May 12: Bill Devlin & Friends at The Danbury Museum & Historical Society, 43 Main St, Danbury, 2 pm, free, Irish tunes in the spirit of a traditional seisun (informal pub session); 203-743-5200.

May 12: “Music From The Movies,” Danbury Mad Hatter Chorus annual show at Western CT State University’s Ives Concert Hall (White Hall), 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 7 pm, $20, $15 students & seniors, performance by 30-man a cappella ensemble w/ special guests The Big Apple Chorus & local barbershop quartets Loco Fedora, Real Chemistry, Rare Occasion & The Traveling Men; 203-744-9480.

May 12: The Galvanized Jazz Band at St John’s Episcopal Church, 78 Green Hill Rd, Washington, 8 pm, $40, performance Dixieland, New Orleans jazz, blues, rags, stomps, struts & spirituals; 860-868-2527.

May 13: “Ballads, Bossa, Broadway & Beyond,” Richter House, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, 3 pm, vocalist Sylvia Mims & accompanist Patti Preiss-Harris will offer Mother’s Day musical program, light refreshments follow, donations accepted for Richter Arts Assn; 203-744-2168.

May 13: The Quintessentials at First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Cross Hwy/Rte 107, Redding, 4 pm, $15, $25/couple or family, $10/students, performance by 12-member group from Manhattanville College, energetic, close-harmony renditions of American popular standards, refreshments follow, proceeds to church; 203-938-2004.

May 19: Elisabeth von Trapp at Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, $25, $20 students & seniors, performance by granddaughter of Maria & Baron von Trapp, also music by Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra, comedy & sketches by Flagpole Shakespeare Repertory Theatre; 203-364-0898.

May 19: “I Hear America Singing” by Connecticut Master Chorale, St Rose of Lima Church, 40 Church Hill Road, Newtown, 8 pm, $20/adv, $25/door, performance by 55-voice professional caliber group w/ accompaniment by The CMC Orchestra; 203-743-0473.

May 20: Swing Dancing at Coyote Maverick , 48 Newtown Rd/Rte 6, Danbury, dancing 5-8 pm (free intro lesson 4 pm), $10, very beginner friendly event, dancers of all ages & abilities welcome, hard/smooth soled (not rubber) shoes recommended, hosted by The FairWestSwing Project; 203-340-0397.

For Kids & Families _____________

May 12: Kids’ Craft Table, Ice Cream Heaven, 10 Glen Rd/Rte 6, Sandy Hook, 3-5 pm, ages 5-10 invited to create a floral craft for Mother’s Day, program being offered Saturdays until June 16; 203-903-7277.

May 20: Free screening of Red Tails, at Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 4 pm, free screening of 2012 feature film starring Cuba Gooding Jr & Terrence Howard (rated PG-13) offers action-packed story w/ theme of overcoming adversity, for Nat’l Foster Care Awareness Month, hosted by Danbury DCF; 203-207-5100.

 

Miscellaneous __________________

May 11: 2nd Annual Hoops For Troops, Newtown High School gymnasium, 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, 6 pm, $2, NHS student vs faculty basketball game will raise funds for Wounded Warriors Project, baked goods for sale, hosted by NHS Peer Leadership.

May 11: Youth Poetry Slam, Newtown High School Lecture Hall, 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, 6-8 pm, $3 donation, young poets from across CT scheduled to participate, also live music, refreshments available, proceeds to benefit Brave New Voices Slam Team, heading to CA soon.

May 11-12: Southbury Volunteer Fireman’s Assn Ladies Auxiliary Annual Mother’s Day Flower Sale, Center Firehouse, 461 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, Fri 12-7 pm, Sat 9 am-1 pm, hanging baskets, annual flats, some perennials, proceeds benefit fire company; 203-262-0615.

May 11-22: Doggie Fun Zone, Cassio Pet Resort-Training Center, 173 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, 10 am-dusk weather permitting (call if questionable), $12, timed event for dogs of all ages & breeds, daily prizes, proceeds to  Spay & Neuter Assn of Newtown & Danbury Animal Welfare Society; 203-426-2881.

May 12: Annual Postal Food Drive, leave bag of non-perishable food items next to mailbox as early as possible, to be picked up between 10 am and noon, all donations to Salvation Army Food Pantry; 203-270-4330.

May 12: Botsford Fire Rescue Community Tag Sale, Botsford firehouse, 315 South Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 am-3 pm, hosted by and benefit for volunteer fire company.

May 12: Invasive Removal Work Session, Al’s Trail, Old Farm Road, Newtown, 9-11:30 am, all ages invited to join Newtown Conservation Commission members to clear barberry & other invasives, bring hand tools & gloves if poss, basic ID training will be offered, reservations requested, call if weather questionable; 203-816-7170.

May 12: Town & Country Garden Club Annual Plant Sale, The Inn at Newtown, 19 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm, member-grown perennials, bushes, shrubs & planted concrete troughs by members of Newtown-based garden club.

May 12: Mother’s Day Flower Sale, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue main station, 18-20 Riverside Rd, 10 am-5 pm, hanging baskets, seasonal offerings, presented by fire company’s ladies auxiliary, proceeds to volunteer fire co.

May 12: Saturday Morning Bird Walk, Osbornedale State Park, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 8 am, free, leisurely hike through Kellogg Estate & state park to search for & ID local birds, may last up to 2 hours, all levels of birders welcome, reservations requested; 203-734-2513.

May 12: National Train Day at Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm, $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 ages 3-12, free ages 2 & under, short trips on vintage train within railyard & locomotive cab (departures hourly, 10:30-3:30), demos of RR signaling & coupling-uncoupling cars, blacksmithing in NH RR Cedar Hill Force, walk-through exhibits incl updates on restoration of Boston & Maine RR steam locomotive 1455, indoor exhibits, children’s activities, displays; 203-778-8337.

May 12: Planetarium Show & Sky Viewings at WCSU Observatory, Western CT State Univ westside campus, 43 Lake Ave, Danbury, 8 pm, free viewings (9-11 pm) through univ’s 20” Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope, cancelled if cloudy or inclement weather; 203-837-8672.

May 12-13: Mother’s Day Flower Sale, Trinity Episcopal Church front lawn, 36 Main St, Newtown, Sat 9 am-4 pm, Sun 8:30 am-2 pm; 203-426-9070.

May 14: American Red Cross Blood Drive, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 8:30 am-6:15 pm, donors need to be at least age 18, weigh at least 110 pounds & be in generally good health, appointments available, walk-ins welcome; 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

May 14: “The US Marines in Vietnam,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, free, presentation by US Marine David Montgomery, who served in Vietnam, will offer unique personal view of the conflict incl Tet Offensives, brief annual meeting of Newtown Historical Society (program host) will precede presentation; 203-426-5937.

May 14: Spring Literary Coffeehouse at Bethlehem Library, 32 Main St South/Rte 61, Bethlehem, 7-9 pm, free,  poetry, essays, story/novel portions by local writers (8-min max/person), refreshments; 860-484-4070.

May 16: “Happiness: The Key To Your Health,” Congregation Adath Israel, 115 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown, 7 pm, $5 requested donation, program by Lionel Ketchian (author, educator, founder of 80 Happiness Clubs), tips on achieving happiness and how it is critical to health & everyday work, light refreshments; 203-426-8787.

May 18-20: Fourth Annual Celebration of Art, Naugatuck Historical Society, 195 Water St, Naugatuck, Fri 12-6 pm (Student Art Display, free), Sat 7-9 pm ($15, $10 members, works by CT artists, wine & cheese, live music, proceeds benefit historical society), Sun 1-4 pm (free), annual collection of works by artists across the state; 203-729-9039.

May 18-22: “South Pacific: A Small Standard Flower Show,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, Fri 12-5 pm, Sat 9:30 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, Mon-Tues 9:30 am-8 pm, free, Small Standard Flower Show presented by The Garden Club of Newtown; 203-426-4533.

May 19: Trinity Tag Sale, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm,  indoor event will raise funds for church’s J2A (youth group) 2012 Pilgrimmage through sale of items donated by congregation & friends of the church; 203-426-90470, 203-733-2915.

May 19: Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps Open House, NVAC headquarters, 77 Main St, Newtown, 10 am-2 pm, meet Newtown’s Volunteer EMT Team, tour facility & ambulances, info on upcoming EMT Class & Community CPR, blood pressure monitoring; 203-270-4380.

May 19: Third Annual Pomperaug Valley Garden Club Plant Sale, 641 Main St South (Rte 6, just north of intersection w/ Rte 64), Woodbury, 9 am-1 pm, locally grown perennials, herbs, grasses, hostas, shrubs, native plants & rare & specialty plants, also gently used garden items, master gardeners available for questions, fundraiser for garden club; 203-263-3146,.

May 20: Open House & Antique Cars Display, The Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 12-4 pm, free, display of 1926 Model T & 1930 Model A, docent led tours of circa 1750 saltbox; 203-426-5937.

May 21: Bone Marrow Drive, Newtown High School auditorium, 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, 8 am-2:30 pm, registration forms & cheek swabbing available for anyone interested in joining national registry; www.marrow.org.

May 23: Veterans Picnic, Masonicare at Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, 12 pm, free, pre-Memorial Day picnic/BBQ for area veterans & families, live music, wreath laying ceremony 1:45 pm, reservations requested; 888-679-9997.

May 23: Screening of Ponyo, Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, 6 pm, free screening of anime movie that is a Japanese spin on The Little Mermaid hosted by Newtown International Center for Education (NICE), refreshments available.

May 23: Newtown Relay For Life 2012 Info Meeting, Newtown High School cafetorium, 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, 7 pm, info session for 12-hour non-competition event returning June 1-2 that will raises funds for American Cancer Society, learn about volunteer opportunities, etc, all welcome; www.RelayForLife.org/NewtownCT.

May 24: Tour of Housatonic Valley Waldorf School classes, 1 Jacklin Rd, Newtown, 8:45 am, parents invited for complementary tour of grade school classes in session, space limited, reservations required; 203-364-1113.

May 25: Friday Bingo Night, St Rose Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, doors open 5:45 pm, games begin 6:30,$17 incl all regular & most special games, baked goods & dinner items available for purchase, sponsored by St Rose of Lima Home School Association; 203-426-5102.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

FILM: May 11-16: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9:15 pm, Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Flagpole Photographers Camera Club, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown; 203-270-0483.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome, free: May 17, competitions on “Night Photography,” also open color, open black & white, non-members welcome for critiques from guest judge, light refreshments.

Newtown Chess Club, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

Weekly games, Sat 1-5 pm, drop-in chess open to all skill levels, sets & boards provided, hosted by US Chess Federation expert Glenn Budzinski.

Newtown Hikers. Call 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: May 12, Bennett’s Pond Farm, Ridgefield, with lunch at private home to follow (hike leader Mark Jones, 203-894-9534; lunch coordination by Lorna, call 203-438-7963 for details).

 

Theatre ____________­­­­­­­_____________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center; 203-775-0023.

Through May 12: Moonlight and Magnolias, Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $20, $15 students.

Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Dr, New Haven; 203-787-4282.

Mainstage: Through May 27: My Name is Asher Lev, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun (May 6 & 13) 7 pm, Wed (May 9 at 7:30; May 16 & 23 at 7 pm), mat Wed (May 16 & 23) & Sun 2 pm, Sat 3 pm, $40-$70.

Stray Kats Theatre Company, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-514-2221.

Staged readings, 7:30 pm, $25/adv, $30/door, Q&A w/ actors & reception follows: May 12, The Subject of Roses.

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown; 203-270-9144.

Through May 26: Dial M For Murder, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 13 & 20) 2 pm, tickets $20 Fri-Sat, $15 mat, $10 ages 10 & under; NOTE: May 11 performance is benefit for Newtown Congregational Church, tickets $25, contact NCC for tickets, 203-426-9024.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time.

 EXPANDED CALENDAR ONLINE

Want to know about more regional events? Find an expanded edition of this calendar online at www.NewtownBee.com. Click on the Features tab and look for Enjoy Calendar: a regional calendar of events.

 

Shannon Hicks is the calendar editor for The Newtown Bee. To submit an item for the Enjoy Calendar, send her an email at shannon@thebee.com no later than Tuesday at 5 pm for each week’s calendar. For the Community Calendar (Newtown events, which can be found on page A-2 each week), emails must be received no later than 5 pm Wednesday. For additional information contact Miss Hicks at The Newtown Bee, 203-426-3141.