ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA @ PALACE THEATRE

Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA begins performances November 15 and runs through November 26 at Waterbury’s Palace Theater.  With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

Cameron Mackintosh said, “With PHANTOM still the reigning champion as the longest-running production on Broadway after 29 phenomenal years, with no end in sight, I’m delighted that this spectacular new production of PHANTOM has been as well-received in the U.S. as the brilliant original and has already been seen by over 2.5 million people across North America since it opened in November 2013. With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, the new PHANTOM is thrilling audiences and critics alike all over again.”

Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is presented by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Group, and NETworks Presentations. Directed by Laurence Connor (who co-directed the new production ofLes Misérables that is back on tour across North America after a hugely successful revival on Broadway, directed the award-winning new production of Miss Saigon now playing on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre and beginning its national tour in 2018, and also directed the stage version of the movie School of Rock now playing on Broadway, in London’s West End, and on North American Tour), with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award®-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Tony Award®-winner Paule Constable, sound design by Mick Potter, and musical supervision by John Rigby.  The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe); book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber; orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it.  He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.

Cameron Mackintosh’s brilliant original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA continues performances at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and in its recording-breaking run at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway and many other cities around the world.

For tickets, please visit www.palacetheaterct.orghttp://www.palacetheaterct.org call the Box Office at 203.346.2000 or in-person 100 East Main Street, Waterbury.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE November 15 - 26:

Wednesday, November 15, 7:30pm; Thursday November 16, 1pm and 7:30 pm; Friday, November 17, 8pm: Saturday November 18, 2pm & 8pm; Sunday November 19 1pm & 6:30pm; Monday November 20, 7:30 pm:Tuesday November 21, 7:30pm; Wednesday November 22: 7:30pm; Friday, November 24, 2pm & 8pm; Saturday, November 25, 2pm & 8pm and Sunday, November 26, 1pm.

BOX OFFICE HOURS through the engagement are:

Nov. 13 & 14 – 10am – 5m

Nov. 15/16/17 – 10am – 10pm

Sat. Nov. 18 – 11am – 10pm

Sun Nov. 19 10am - 9pm

Nov. 20/21/22 – 10am – 10pm

Thanksgiving Day Nov. 23 CLOSED

Nov. 24 – 10am – 10pm

Nov. 25 – 11am – 10pm

Sun. Nov. 26– 10am– 3pm

Tickets on Sale for The Last of the Jedi @ Norwalk Aquarium's IMAX

The Maritime Aquarium is only one of 10 theaters in the U.S. that will show “The Last Jedi” in 70mm IMAX film projection. (The next closest is in Philadelphia.) Thus, “Star Wars” fans won’t see “The Last Jedi” bigger or better anywhere in New England – or in the New York metropolitan area – than at The Maritime Aquarium with its six-story screen.

Tickets are on sale now to experience “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” in Connecticut’s largest IMAX® Theater when the latest episode in the saga premieres Dec. 15 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.The Maritime Aquarium’s theater combines the brightest, clearest images at almost 10 times the resolution of standard-projection formats with powerful, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theater geometry to create the world's most immersive film experience. Director Rian Johnson shot portions of “The Last Jedi” with IMAX cameras, and those scenes will fill the Aquarium’s giant screen (in ways unavailable in conventional cinemas).

In an unprecedented move, The Maritime Aquarium is suspending its regular schedule of 40-minute IMAX documentaries from Dec. 15-Jan. 15 to present only “The Last Jedi.” Show times are 1, 4, 7 & 10 p.m. (There’s only one show on Dec. 24 – at noon – and no shows Christmas Day.)

Tickets are $15 for adults, seniors and youths (13-17), and $12.50 for children (3-12). Get them online at www.maritimeaquarium.org. Aquarium admission tickets are separate.

Attention All Passengers @ American Museum of Tort Law

On November 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the American Museum of Tort Law is hosting  author William J. McGee for a special program entitled "The Decline of the Airline Industry and its Effects on Passengers." The American Museum of Tort Law is located on 654 Main St. in Winsted. Tickets for this lecture are $10 and pre-registration is required. To pre-register visit the website.

William J. McGee is the author of ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS: The Airlines’ Dangerous Descent—and How to Reclaim Our Skies, which was lauded by Ralph Nader as “the broadest, most consistent page-turner I’ve read on airlines, including our own.” He is an award-winning journalist and the former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter. 

He writes a monthly travel column for USAToday.com and has contributed to Consumer Reports, Condé Nast Traveler, Time, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Money, New York, and many other newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs. For many years he has served as the Aviation and Travel Adviser to Consumers Union, the nonprofit policy arm of Consumer Reports, and has testified before both Houses of Congress on a variety of airline safety, security, competition, and consumer issues. 

This past April he was the only consumer advocate to appear before the House Transportation Committee to speak during a 4.5-hour hearing about the mistreatment of Dr. David Dao by United Airlines. In 2010 the U.S. Secretary of Transportation chose him as the lone consumer advocate on the 19-member Future of Aviation Advisory Committee. 

He has spoken about the airline industry in hundreds of television, radio, print, and blog interviews. Prior to becoming a journalist, McGee spent seven years in airline flight operations management; he is an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher and served in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary. He earned an MFA in Writing from Columbia University and has taught Creative Writing at Hofstra University and Aviation Communications at Vaughn College of Aeronautics. He lives in Connecticut. 

Story Barn: Oy Vey! at the Greenwich Historical Society!

The Greenwich Historical Society located in Cos Cob is hosting a special cabaret type evening on November 17 with a performance that begins at 7:30 pm. Anyone that is over 21 is invited to participate but must sign up and pitch their story in advance by calling 869-6899, Ext. 31.  The cost to participate is $15 for members and $20 for non-members; beer, wine and light refreshments are included in the price of admission.

Story Barn is a popular biannual event at the Greenwich Historical Society that explores themes connected with our exhibitions. The theme for this fall is Oy Vey!—a Yiddish expression that translates as “Woe is me.” Today the expression is commonly used in many languages as a verbal sigh or an indication of dismay, surprise, worry, exasperation or all of the above. “Oy vey” has undoubtedly prefaced countless situations which have ultimately resulted in good yarns, and you can expect to hear some unique variations on this theme, inspired by our new exhibition An American Odyssey: The Jewish Experience in Greenwich.

The emcee for the cabaret-style evening is the incomparable Bonnie Levison, an accomplished raconteur in her own right and a storytelling coach for The Moth, a series of stage and radio events in which participants from all walks of life share personal experiences. Aside from having served as our fabulous Story Barn host for the last nine years, Levison’s resume includes marketing stints at Young & Rubicam and NBC, as well as comedy productions and performances. She is also a co-founder of The Nantucket Comedy Festival.

Organic Herb Wreath Workshop with Sal Gilbertie

What could be more welcoming than a fragrant, handcrafted herb wreath to greet your guests this holiday season? Join nationally renowned herb expert, Sal Gilbertie, for a do-it-yourself wreath-making workshop at The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Using fresh and dried herbs harvested from Gilberties’ herb farm, participants will create a 15-inch decorative wreath that incorporates and balances the colors and textures of organic culinary herbs including fresh bay and rosemary, dried dill, oregano, sage, lavender, and others. Your dried wreath will last for several years if occasionally misted with lukewarm water and kept away from direct, bright light and out of the weather.

The cost for the workshop is $45 for CAS members; $50 for nonmembers. All materials will be supplied; please bring scissors. Pre-registration is required at www.ctaudubon.org/center-at-fairfield, or call 203-259-6305, ext. 109. The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center at Fairfield is located at 2325 Burr Street in Fairfield.

About Sal Gilbertie
Sal Gilbertie is an author of eight books and is a frequent lecturer who has appeared on numerous radio and television programs including “Martha Stewart Living.” In 2006, People Places Plants Magazine named him to their list of 50 Most Influential Horticulturists in the Northeast. In 2011, the Northeast Organic Farming Association named him Connecticut Organic Farmer of the Year.”

Gilded Age Redux @ Lockwood Mathews Mansion

In addition to touring this magnificent mansion the Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum on 295 West Ave. in Norwalk in collaboration with the Rowayton Arts Center, will present Gilded Age Redux, a juried group exhibition through Jan. 7, 2018, 12-4 p.m.

This exhibit of original artwork is focused on today's interpretation of the 19th century Gilded Age. Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum invited RAC artists to interpret this turbulent yet seminal period of recent American history and draw parallels with today's social, political, and economic environment. The resulting works selected for this exhibit span the spectrum, from traditional-style still life paintings, to posed photographic references, to purely abstract gestural images, demonstrating the rich vein of material that the Gilded Age contains.

Juried and curated by Trustees Julyen Norman and Gail Ingis, the exhibition will feature artists: Sandra Farley Aldrich, Bridget Cusack, Dawn Dahl, Jo Ann Davidson, Katherine Draper, Laure Dunne, Sawyer Hanlon, Judy Katz, Emily Kelting, Dana Laird, Heidi Lewis Coleman, Judy Noel, Pamela Tucker, and Richard Ventre.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a National Historic Landmark. The exhibit will be on view as part of LMMM's tours. For more information on schedules and programs please visit: www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

VOTE ON A NAME FOR THE NEW BABY SEA TURTLE AT THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK

Help to decide the name of a baby sea turtle – and support ocean conservation at the same time – by voting in the “Name the Baby Sea Turtle” contest of The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

The Aquarium has narrowed the list of possible names for its new baby loggerhead sea turtle to a choice of five. The winning name is now up for vote.

Should it be: 

            • Eco? (as in ecology; pronounced ee-ko, not echo)

            • Nibbler?

            • Sounder? (a nod to Long Island Sound)

            • Squirt?

            • or Shell Turtlestein?

Vote by going to www.nameourbabyseaturtle.org now through Dec. 17. Each vote will cost $1, with proceeds going to The Maritime Aquarium’s conservation efforts. The winning name will be announced during a Maritime Aquarium Facebook Live update on Dec. 20.

The turtle arrived in Norwalk Oct. 21 as a 3-inch-long stranded hatchling rescued by staff of The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. It will live in The Maritime Aquarium’s new “Sea Turtle Nursery” exhibit for a year, growing to “dinner-plate-size,” before being released into the Atlantic back in North Carolina next October.

It’s not known if the Aquarium’s turtle is male or female – and won’t be known before it is released – because gender doesn’t become identifiable in sea turtles until they are in their teens.

“During the year that this cute little turtle will be here, it’s going to be such a good ambassador for sea turtle conservation, by letting us share with guests the reasons that hatchling sea turtles sometimes don’t make it to the sea,” said Dave Sigworth, the Aquarium’s associate director of communications. “And this naming contest is a fun and simple way for folks to actually put a dollar to the cause, supporting the Aquarium’s participation in this baby-turtle loan program and other initiatives that support Long Island Sound and the oceans beyond.”

About Sea Turtles

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) live to 50 or more years, grow to weigh 250 to 300 pounds and are found around the globe in nine “distinct population segments.” Five of the populations are considered to be “Endangered,” and the other four – including the loggerheads off the U.S. Atlantic coast – are considered “Threatened.” Their biggest threats are from coastal development that destroys nesting habitats and from accidental capture in fishing gear.