Matthew Gurren

Matthew Gurren, a 2008 graduate of Weston High School and a 2012 graduate of Tufts University, will perform in WestonArt’s Celebration of the Arts on April 27, 2013.

REGIONAL: OFF-BROADWAY: Intervention (Acorn Theater), Broadway Babies (New World Theatre) REGIONAL: Urinetown (Officer Lockstock), Kiss Me Kate (Senator Howell) Les Miserables (Jean Valjean), Into the Woods (Baker) My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins). Matt is currently head of Video Production and Archives at the York Theatre Company in Manhattan.

Lynne Dionian is among the artists exhibiting at the WestonArts Celebration of the Arts on April 27.  Among the works you might see:

“Bouquet” Acrylic on Canvas 30”x24” $1,080.00

“Bronze Overlay” Acrylic on Canvas 24”x19” $684.00

“Gold Leaf” Acrylic on Canvas 36”x36” $1,944.00

See the full article about Weston, CT  School Music Programs!

Amanda Bloom

Amanda Bloom, a 2007 Weston High School alum, joins the rich line-up of Weston talent for the April 27 “Celebration of the Arts” organized by WestonArts, led by Sue Broudy, founder of Acoustic Weston and a WestonArts Board member.

Amanda Bloom is a twenty-four year old jazz vocalist from Weston, Connecticut. In 2011, she graduated from The Peabody Institute of Music of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland where she earned her bachelor of music degree in jazz performance. There Amanda studied under vocalist Jay Clayton, pianist Timothy Murphy, & saxophonist Gary Thomas, to develop a personalized style merging sensitive interpretation of song lyrics with the added complexity of vocal improvisation. Amanda has performed throughout the east coast and was also chosen to represent the Peabody jazz program as a featured performer on a tour of Singapore in 2010. Amanda recently moved to Brooklyn, NY to pursue her jazz career.

Barbara Schottenfeld

Barbara Schottenfeld is part of the WestonArts CELEBRATE Event line-up on April 27, 2013.  Tickets are available by the end of the first week of April!  Please check back for details.

Barbara Schottenfeld, composer, lyricist, librettist, performer, writes musicals for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and also performs her one-woman cabaret act.   As a lyricist, Ms. Schottenfeld has collaborated with legendary composers Jule Styne, Henry Mancini, and Burton Lane, as well as Steve Allen.   Critically acclaimed as both writer and performer, she is described as “diversely talented”  (The New York Times), “a true verbal artist” (New York Magazine’s John Simon) and “a megatalent” (UPI).

Ms. Schottenfeld has performed her tour de force one-woman cabaret show at a number of top venues, including Feinstein’s at the Regency, Lincoln Center, the Supper Club, N.Y.C., the Cinegrill in L.A., the Quick Center for the Arts, and the Fairfield Theatre Company.  She is frequently accompanied by her husband, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Paul Bogaev, music director of the Oscar winning film, CHICAGO.  Schottenfeld’s recent performance at Feinstein’s sold out months in advance.  She will be performing at the new St. James Theatre in London this year.

A highlight in the act is Schottenfeld’s signature comedy tune about male commitment phobia:  “I Want You To Be The Mother Of The Children I’m Not Sure I Want To Have”.  The song appears on “Opposite You”, the Jason Danieley/Marin Mazzie P.S. Classics Release, in good company with Sondheim, Berlin, and Arlen.

Ms. Schottenfeld’s newest full-length work is Hot and Sweet, the story of an all girl band in 1945 Chicago.   Inspired by in-depth interviews with players of the era, the show received the Director’s Choice Award at the highly selective New York Musical Theatre Festival.    Prior to NYMT, the show was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival (NAMT) and at the Hartt New Works Program, University of Hartford.  Stars Lea Michelle, Katie Finneran, Matthew Morrison, Faith Prince, Tovah Feldshuh, K.T. Sullivan, and Kerry Butler, are among those who have performed in the piece.

Barbara Schottenfeld began writing for Musical Theater at Princeton University, where she was a composer, lyricist, and performer for the renowned Triangle Club. An Honors Graduate and University Scholar, she penned the book, music, lyrics and orchestrations for I Can’t Keep Running In Place as her undergraduate thesis. Picked up by La Mama E.T.C., the show then became a long running Off-Broadway hit at the Westside Arts Theatre.   Published by Samuel French, the Original Cast Recording stars Helen Gallagher, Phyllis Newman, and Marcia Rodd. I Can’t Keep Running In Place is produced throughout the world.

Calling all Weston HS students grades 9-12 who create art!  Each spring since 1982, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Students interested in entering this year’s competition must complete and sign a release form and fax it to Jim Hines’ Bridgeport office at (203) 333-6655, attention Paul Coyle. Forms are required to be sent no later than April 19, 2013. Artwork, along with a copy of the student information and release form affixed to the back, should be delivered or shipped to Jim Hines’ Bridgeport office by 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2013.  The release form to participate in the Congressional Institute Visual Art Competition is available by clicking here.  Let us know if you entered so we can root for you!

Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture

A kinetic sculpture by Drew Klotz will be installed at the St. Francis Church in Weston in early April.  This sculpture is on exhibit as part of the Arts Celebration that will take place at the church on April 27, 2013  starting at 7pm.

The Acoustic Weston concert scheduled for November 3, 2012 will go on, but the venue is changed.  Cobb’s Mill Inn is still without power, but the School District has graciously offered the Intermediate School Auditorium. Please join us from 5:30 until 8:30 and share the joy!  Come as you are!

Sal LaRusso, long-time  Band and Jazz Director and Instrumental Lesson Teacher at Weston High School, is the recipient of WestonArts first “Annual Award For Commitment To The Arts In Weston.” This award is made to an individual nominated by the Weston community at large and elected by the Board of WestonArts for dedication and devotion to promoting the arts in Weston. Mr. LaRusso has been recognized by WestonArts for his commitment and passion in promoting musical life in Weston through the many music programs, both curricular and extra-curricular, that he directs.  In addition, Mr. LaRusso raises funds to provide a Weston High School student with a scholarship toward music studies in college on a yearly basis.  Mr. LaRusso’s efforts have made a difference in the lives of many, many Weston students and through those children, he has positively affected the lives of their parents and lives beyond Weston.  The public is invited to share in the joy of presenting this award at the Acoustic Weston concert on November 3rd, 2012, 5:30pm upstairs at La Roue Elayne at The Cobbs Mill Inn. Tickets to this event will be available at the door, $15 for adults, $5 for students.