IAIS is proud to highlight the basketry of Liz Charlebois, Abenaki Descent, for the months of April through June. She has been making sweetgrass and black ash fancy baskets for ten years, learning as an apprentice with Master Abenaki basket maker Jeanne Brink. In keeping the tradition alive, Liz has begun teaching her young daughter the craft.

Saint Joseph College will present a Gala black-tie event on Thursday, June 7, 2012 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Hartford Marriott Downtown (200 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford).  IMAGINE … THE SKY’S THE LIMIT will celebrate women in the sciences as well as the College’s transition to the University of Saint Joseph. The community is cordially invited to attend – tickets are $175 per person; valet parking available. Kindly RSVP by Tuesday, May 22, 2012; contact the Saint Joseph College Office of Institutional Advancement at 860.231.5291 or via email at gala@sjc.edu.

The Gala will honor E. Clayton “Skip” Gengras Jr., CEO of Gengras Motor Cars, Inc. and a member of the Saint Joseph College Board of Trustees. IMAGINE … THE SKY’S THE LIMIT will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. Dinner, a silent auction, and live auction are included featuring special guest auctioneers Colin McEnroe, WNPR radio talk show host, and Peter Shapiro, who serves as a director of The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company. 

The highlight of the evening will be a musical performance by critically acclaimed Broadway stage, film and television actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, winner of the 2000 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate. A renowned baritone and one of the central leading men of Broadway theatre since the early 1990s, Mr. Mitchell’s Broadway stage credits include Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Man of La Mancha, and Kismet. He appeared in a concert version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific at Carnegie Hall where he starred as Emile alongside Reba McEntire as Nellie Forbush and Alec Baldwin as Luther Billas. Mr. Mitchell has numerous television and film credits including: Roots: The Next Generations, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Trapper John, M.D., Frasier, and Glee.

Storms. Slavery. Romance. Redemption. Prepare to be swept away by this epic musical saga about John Newton, a rebellious slave trader, and the woman who never lost faith in him. While fighting the raging seas and his own despair, Newton’s life is suddenly transformed -- igniting a quest to end the scourge of slavery. Based on the true story of the man who penned the world’s most recognizable song, it’s a powerful musical you will never forget.

Do you have a child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and hyperactivity?

ABOUT THE FILM: Take a nostalgia trip back to the 1970s as we revisit The Grateful Dead, the iconic rock group from the golden days of San Francisco’s hippie era, with a new compiliation of concert film clips that spans three decades’ worth of love, peace and cosmic jams. Jerry Garcia and company perform songs such as “Uncle John’s Band,” “Ripple,” “Franklin’s Tower,” “Good Lovin’,” “Mexicali Blues,” “Samson & Delilah,” “Fire on the Mountain,” “The Music Never Stopped,” “Casey Jones” and many more classics from their live concerts. Some of these feature surprise musical guest stars and are rare performances from recently restored 3/4 inch video and 16mm film prints. Known for their live shows that could last up to 8 hours in length, The Grateful Dead have proven to be one of the most successful American bands of all time.

ABOUT BILL SHELLEY: Bill Shelley has been filming since the 1970s when he recorded bands Twisted Sister and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, then later directed music videos for Public Enemy (PE). Shelley Archives was started in 1985 and today the company has over 100,000 reels of original 35mm and 16mm films in its archives and over 10,000 hours of rare concerts, television shows, promos, interviews, out-takes and home movies. Preservation of films and music clips is the main focus of the organization.

Please join Children's Advancement Fund, Inc. for a fun summer evening of Beer Tasting (provided by Thomas Hooker Brewing Co.), appetizers, live musical entertainment with guitarist Glenn Roth, and a silent auction with a wide range of items at the Pond House Grille in Glastonbury. Proceeds will benefit Children's Advancement Fund's programs for children with special needs whose families cannot afford the therapies they need to make a real difference in their lives. CAF aims to equip children with special needs today for a brighter future tomorrow.
 

Back by popular demand, the Newington Children’s Theatre Company’s five-week full-day SUMMER THEATER ARTS PROGRAM, for kids ages 8-15, gives participants the opportunity to learn and strengthen their musical theatre skills by working with theatre professionals in acting, dance and music. Participants receive hands-on experience by having the opportunity to apply the skills that they are learning throughout the program while preparing for a fully staged production of the beloved musical, ANNIE.  

The SUMMER THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM runs July 2^nd through August 5^th, Monday through Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm at the NCTC Performing Arts Theatre located at 743 North Mountain Road in Newington. Before and aftercare are available.

The SUMMER THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM will be run by NCTC’s Executive/Artistic Director, Claire Van Cott and choreographed by NCTC vet, Jessie Sattler. Every registered participant will receive a role in the show.

Public performances will be August 2^nd-5^th, Thursday-Saturday at 7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm. The cost for this five-week program is $1,250.

For more information, please call 860.666.NCTC or visit www.NCTCArts.org.

More About the NCTC Performing Arts Theatre

NCTC Performing Arts Theatre provides year-round quality entertainment and hands-on educational programs in the performing arts to children and young adults from preschool through college.

NCTC Performing Arts Theatre is the home of the Newington Children's Theatre Company, Connecticut's longest operating children's theatre and Newington Mainstage, a new acting company for adults. www.NCTCArts.org

IMAGES features the work of local photographer Charles Ruger and the 4^th Annual Juried Photography exhibition celebrating the work of talented regional photographers.

Charles Ruger studied art history and politics at Connecticut College and Columbia University. He is a self-taught photographer whose work figures into private and corporate collections internationally.

He lives and works in New York City. For more information on Ruger’s work, view his site: http://www.charlesruger.com/aboutthework.html

Looking for fun after work? Chill out with the coolest crow d in town! Our Arctic Coast belugas play as you mingle to live music and savor our new signature drink and “on the fly” menu.

Come help us celebrate the 20th anniversary season of the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival! Enjoy readings by major American poets, live music, writing workshops, poet talks, film and drama, museum tours, Poetry on the Trails, contra dance, book sales and signings, food vendors...picnics are welcome! 

Admission:  OPENING WEEKEND, June 1–3: $10 per person, per day, or $25 per person for the weekend. WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, and August 1: $5 per person, children ages 12 and under free. Parking is free.

Guest poets include: Suji Kwock Kim, Bessy Reyna, B. Yung, Richard Wilbur, Minton Sparks, Toi Derricotte, Dana Gioia, Christian Wiman, Marilyn Annucci, Natasha Trethewey, Sue Burton, Donald Hall and Tony Hoagland.

For more information: http://sunkengardenpoetry.org/

Do you want to have an unforgettable experience? Then join Matthew Fishteyn at the Black Rock Branch Library to witness a composer at work, and become one with the music. His performance integrates nearly all genres of music, artfully decorated with his own touch. Matthew’s compositions can be related to lace embroidery, in that they contain subtleties, upon which much attention is called. These subtleties are so evident in his work that a voice of new musical understanding is being created. This interactive experience should not be missed by all aficionados of good music and a soul!

Free refreshments will be served.

Donate your gently used furniture for the Amherst Survival Center's annual fall used furniture sale! See www.amherstsurvival.org, email furniture@amherstsurvival.org, or call 413-549-3968 x252 for information or to arrange pick-up or delivery. All contributions are tax deductible, and donations will be collected through the end of August so we can set up for the sale at the Survival Center September 7th and 8th. The sale supports Survival Center programs that provide food, health care and clothing to over 4,000 of our neighbors in need in Hampshire and Franklin Counties in MA each year.