For Immediate Release

May 20, 2024

SUBJECT: Children’s Circus band seeks adult and teen musicians

From: Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater

Contact: Joseph Getter, info@oddfellows.org, (860) 347-6143

Oddfellows Circus Band needs musicians for summer shows

MIDDLETOWN — Oddfellows Playhouse seeks volunteer musicians for the Children’s Circus of Middletown. The Band is an integral part of the show, an outdoor circus performance for more than 1,000 spectators. The band seeks musicians on woodwind, brass and other instruments, with a good attitude, sense of humor, and desire to play together in a creative way.

The circus band is a combination of adult and student musicians - experienced teen musicians are welcome and encouraged to join. The director is Joseph Getter, a local musician, educator and parent with more than 25 years of experience as a member of this group.

Rehearsals will be held at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street in Middletown, starting in late June from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. There is a mandatory all-day Dress Rehearsal on Thursday, Aug. 1 from 9am to 3pm. The circus performance will be on Friday, Aug. 2 at 5 p.m., with a band call at 3 p.m.. The rain date is Saturday, Aug. 3.

For more information or to sign up, contact Joseph Getter at the Playhouse by calling (860) 347-6143, or by email to info@oddfellows.org.

15 YEAR CELEBRATION OF OPERA IN MIDDLETOWN

        "Madama Butterfly" opera,   SATURDAY, JUNE 1st at 7;30 p.m. at Santo Fragilio Performing Arts Center, 200 LaRosa Lane, Middletown

Fifteen years ago the Greater Middletown Concert Association hired the premier Connecticut Lyric Opera organization with the celebrated  22-piece 

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and brought them to Middletown for a performance. It was held in the new 600 seat Middletown Performing Arts Center that had been constructed at the city's brand new Middletown High  School, 200 LaRosa Lane.

     Since then there have been twenty opera productions performed there in what is now called the Santo Fragilio Performing Arts Center. These operas have included the following; 'La Traviata', 'L'Elisir'd'Amore', 'Pagliacci'; 'Gianni Schichi', 'Magic Flute' (Die Zauberflote', 'Tosca', 'Les Contes d'Hoffmann'. 'Otello, 'Carmen', 'Don Giovanni', 'Madama Butterfly', 'Eugene Onegin, 'Don Carlo', 'Aida', 'Tristan und Isolde', and 'La Boheme'. Four of these operas were repeated in another year making twenty in all.

       How did the operas come to Middletown? It seems that the Greater Middletown Concert Association president, Barbara Arafeh, was attending a concert of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra in New Britain when she heard the conductor say that they were going to perform the Verdi opera " "La Traviata" the following year with the Connecticut Lyric Opera. Since the Greater Middleton Concert Association was looking to fill its following year's 4-concert series, she wondered why it couldn't bring this upcoming opera to Middletown. Also, it was her favorite opera!  Her Board of Directors particularly liked the idea of using  the stage of the new 600 seat auditorium. They voted yes.!!!!!!

     The  15 Year Opera Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 1st, at 7;30 p.m. in the Santo Fragilio Performing Arts Center, 200 LaRosa Lane, Middletown, by the Connecticut Lyric Opera with the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. The public is invited. Call 860 343-7555 for more info, reservations and tickets. Tickets are $50 with a special senior price of $45. Website tickets are also available. www.greatermiddletownconcerts.org