A new experiential narrative event is set to debut in Newtown this month, giving local residents and regional business leaders an exclusive first look at a major upcoming creative project.

Women’s World Theater no 15, a creative production entity known for its immersive approach to visual fiction, will host a special sneak peek presentation of its signature project, Shards of Time, on Monday, October 26, at 6 pm, at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street.

The evening will serve as an official preview designed for potential business donors interested in supporting community arts development. The public is also warmly invited to attend. This event acts as a critical primer for the community, building momentum ahead of the full, grand-scale theatrical performance officially scheduled to launch in March 2027.

Local restaurants will provide food and drink to represent the cultures featured, so bring an appetite.

Shards Of Time pulls readers into the exploits of a group of cartoon animal women known as The SPOOL Society (Sisters for the Preservation Of Old Landmarks). Each member represents a different country. The story is composed of separate episodes, which are set in motion by the Society’s study of architectural history.

In each episode, a SPOOL Society member visits a specific building and has a series of adventures; eventually her experiences are written up and delivered as a lecture to the group. Occasionally in the stories, the characters “freeze" in mid-motion so that they assume the position of the subjects of famous paintings, or climactic scenes from historical occurrences.

The series was created in the late 1970s by longtime Newtown resident Mark Aldrich. According to Aldrich, the frozen moments are the shards of time; they allude to art’s role in preserving important moments in history. When the narrative motion stops, the reader can pause and reflect upon the story, since the characters or motions are sometimes being emphasized, sometimes with comic effect. The “freeze” is also related to the preservationist work of The SPOOL Society.

Women’s World Theater no 15 specializes in multi-layered narrative universes that merge traditional performance with graphic media. The group’s foundational project explores the rich, fictional lore of The SPOOL Society — a whimsical yet complex collective of cartoon animal characters navigating a series of time-bending adventures.

Through Shards of Time, the creators bring these illustrated figures to life, constructing an overarching mythology that blends humor, curiosity, and high-concept worldbuilding.

The upcoming showcase is a pivotal installment in a broader, ongoing event series designed to connect regional audiences and corporate sponsors with experimental, independent performance arts. This series directly integrates the works of Women’s World Theater no 15 by using The SPOOL Society's expanding storyline as a thematic thread.

Women’s World Theater no 15 is a Newtown-based creative studio and theater collective dedicated to developing cross-media storytelling projects. By fusing classic animation styles with physical and digital exhibit formats, the collective focuses on building accessible, highly imaginative worlds for contemporary audiences while fostering robust partnerships with the local business community.

It also actively promotes women in the arts, providing opportunities for mentoring and featuring performers in productions.

Attendees can expect a dynamic, intimate environment featuring original artwork, direct insights from the creative team, and an overview of how local businesses can partner with the production before its major March 2027 premiere.

Admission is free.

For more, e-mail Aldrich at maldrich53@gmail.com.