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by Don Church & Tony Schillaci

The legacy of two Connecticut theatrical legends is remembered in the Saybrook Stage Company’s production of “Our Town” at The Kate in Old Saybrook.

Katharine Hepburn, a life-long resident of Saybrook, the winner of four Oscars, an Emmy, two Tony Awards and eight Golden Globes, is the name sake of The Kate – The Katharine Hepburn Center for the Performing Arts. Thornton Wilder who lived in Hamden, Connecticut and taught for many years at Yale University in New Haven, won three Pulitzer Prize-Awards, including one for “Our Town.”

To find out more about the new Saybrook Stage Company, we talked with Cosmo Corigliano, a spokesperson for the production.

The Resident: How did you become affiliated with The Kate? 

Cosmo: “Actually, we have no official affiliation with the Kate, however, the hope is to have another production this summer – the exact times, play, etcetera will be decided after this production.”

The Resident: Why did you pick Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” as the Saybrook Stage Company’s first production at The Kate – was it Thornton Wilder? 

Cosmo: “That is part of it and also a desire to put on an American Classic that has universal appeal.”

The Resident: Who founded The Saybrook Theater Company?

Cosmo: “It was Terri Corigliano; [his wife] she is also an actor in the play. Terri has been volunteering at The Kate since its construction.  She was involved in the initial fundraising events and continues to volunteer today.”

The Resident: How did you get director John De Nicola, who has done so many fine shows at the Ivoryton Playhouse, in addition to many other professional theaters?

Cosmo: “He came highly recommended from Patty Carver, a wonderful actress that lives in Essex. Patty will be playing the part of the Stage Manager in our play.”

The Resident: How did you find the cast members, stage crew and craft designers?

Cosmo: “We had an open audition and then combined that with some actors that had come highly recommended — the cast came together in a very natural easy way. Director John DeNicola, the director, arranged for the stage crew, lighting design and costumer.”

Each of those professionals, including actor Terri Corigliano, and the other experienced members of the cast, had a theater resume that would open any casting door from New York to Hollywood.

The award-winning “Our Town” has for years been an audience favorite for all age groups because of its universal and truthful themes about living in the moment and engaging in it fully – as envisioned by Thornton

Wilder, a master playwright and insightful storyteller, who captures the audience from Act 1 to the final curtain.

“Our Town” plays 8 p.m., Friday & Saturday, January 21^st and 22nd.  3 p.m., Sunday, January 23rd. Tickets

are $20 for adults and $15 for children. To order Call 860-510-0473, 877-503-1286 or directly online at www.katharinehepburntheater.org. The Katharine Hepburn Center for the Performing Arts, 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT.

Copyright © 2011. Critics On The Aisle™.  All right reserved.

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by Don Church & Tony Schillaci, Critics On The Aisle™

Cast from" Lincoln in Love" by David Friedman at Festival of New Artists Goodspeed 2010. PHOTO BY DIANE SOBOLEWSKI

The Sixth Annual Festival of New Artists, produced by Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, Connecticut, launches its three-day event of original new musical works, new artists in cabarets, and other entertainment programs Friday, January 14 through Sunday, January 16.

Goodspeed’s popular Festival Package ($79) covers the full weekend of special events and includes admission to all three staged readings; the New Musical Preview, a short preview of a new musical headed to The Norma Terris Theatre in 2011; the Friday Night and Saturday Night cabarets, the Symposium panel discussion with musical theatre luminaries; “Pick-Three” festival seminar sessions, a Saturday evening pre-show dinner at the Gelston House with an engaging post-dinner discussion hosted by a special guest speaker; and a Meet the Writers Reception.

For both Festival Package and single ticket holders (details below), Goodspeed Opera House tours will be offered throughout the weekend along with the following events.

Friday, January 14

7:30 p. m. A reading of the musical “Room 16,” on the Goodspeed stage. A fast-paced and darkly comedic look inside American political history.

10:00 p. m. Festival Cabaret showcasing new songs by new artists in the main dining room of the Gelston House, next door to the Goodspeed Opera House.

Marcy Heisler performing at the Cabaret/Festival of New Artists Goodspeed 2010. PHOTO BY DIANE SOBOLEWSKI

Saturday, January 15

10:00 a. m., 11:00 a. m., and 12:15 p. m. “Break-out Sessions” in the Gelston House have been expanded this year. Choose from two breakout sessions in each of the above time slots:

Famous Flops, Part II. A continuation of last year’s most popular session – with musical historian John Pike.

Back on Broadway: Why “Annie?” Why Now? Broadway general manager/producer Wendy Orshan discusses the upcoming revival from the producer’s perspective.

“Dreamgirls:” From Stage to Screen and Back Again. Composer Henry Krieger discusses his experience with the show from its inception to the present day, among other things!

How Do You?  Create a New Character. Broadway vets John Bolton (“Curtains”) and Kate Wetherhead (“Legally Blonde”) discuss the challenges of originating roles in new musicals.

How Do You Invest In a New Musical? Broadway general manager/producer Alan Williams gives the inside story about the financial side of new musicals.

How Do You Create the Look? An accomplished Broadway set designer discusses creating the physical world of a new musical.

Broadway and Hollywood Composer/Lyricist/Conductor David Friedman, Festival of New Artists Goodspeed 2010. PHOTO BY DIANE SOBOLEWSKI

4:00 p.m. Musical Theatre Symposium in the GoodspeedOpera House is sponsored by the Noel Coward Foundation. This event is free and open to the public.

5:30 p.m. Festival Dinner at the Gelston House. Enjoy a three course meal with fellow festival goers.

7:30 p.m. is the debut of a new-fashioned musical “Hello! My Baby” From debutante balls to Delancey Street, it puts a new-fashioned spin on the great American songbook musical.

10:00 p. m. A Festival Cabaret at the Gelston House featuring Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda, composers of Striking 12, the first GrooveLily concert-musical that was nominated for the 2006 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical will perform songs from their hit shows.

Sunday January 16

1:00 p.m. “Nobody Loves You” in the Goodspeed Opera House A romantic comedy about the search for meaningful relationships in a culture dominated by the quest for popularity.

3:30 p. m. Meet the Writers Reception. Gelston House. Gain insight into the inspirations and processes of the writers. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

The Festival of New Artist also includes seniors from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford for real-world experience in new musical development and performing new  musicals along with students from the Boston Conservatory.

For the Festival Weekend Package, $79, and single tickets, $15 a show, $10 for students, contact Goodspeed Musicals at 860.873.8668 or online, which also list lodging and dining on- your-own information, at www.goodspeed.org.

Copyright © 2010. Critics On The Aisle. All rights reserved.

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