Category: Arts & Leisure - Page 157

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Welcoming Benefit Concert Guests

Violinist Igor Pikayzen, a 2005 Staples High School graduate, and his mother, Chopin Competition prize-winner Tatyana Pikayzen, tonight welcome guests to a benefit concert at the Steinway showroom, 501 Post Road East. Funds are being raised for Edelio, a nonprofit, first time, four-concert series scheduled at different locations throughout town this summer. “It is our hope that eventually Edelio will turn into a major Westport event, attracting both international artists and large crowd,” Igor Pikayzen said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

A New Start Planned for White Barn Theatre

The drama surrounding the fabled White Barn Theatre complex, the brainchild of the late play producer Lucille Lortel, is now in its final act, with supporters poised for a happy denouement.

Actress, producer and theater impresario Lucille Lortel founded the White Barn Theatre in 1947. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

A contract to buy the 15-acre property on the Norwalk and Westport border was signed recently between the White Barn Theatre Foundation and the property’s current owner 78 Cranbury Road LLC.

The contract secures the property if the foundation raises $1.2 million to complete the transaction by this spring, says Waldo Mayo, White Barn Theatre Foundation president.

He said nonprofit, Virginia-based Conservation Fund has tentatively committed to lend the balance of the $4.95 million purchase price.

BOOKED for the Evening Honors Alan Alda

The Westport Library has announced that the 2017 BOOKED for the evening honoree is award-winning actor, director, screenwriter and author Alan Alda.

Alan Alda: to be honored June 5. Photo courtesy of Alan Alda

His newest book, “If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating,” is being published in June.

The event will be on Monday, June 5 with tickets available on May 1.

Alda, 81, has won six Emmy Awards, received three Tony nominations, is an inductee of the Television Hall of Fame and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Senator Ralph Owen Brewster in Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator” (2004).

Monday, February 27th, 2017

Justin Paul Caught Up in Colossal Oscar Error

Shortly after winning an Oscar tonight for Best Original Score for “City of Stars” in “La La Land,” Westport’s Justin Paul (2nd r) made his way to the Academy Awards stage to collect a Best Picture Oscar for “La La Land.” But moments later, actor Warren Beatty announced he had made a mistake—that Best Picture was actually won by “Moonlight.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo from ABC-TV

Sunday, February 26th, 2017

Westport’s Justin Paul Wins Oscar

Justin Paul (l), a 2003 Staples High School graduate, and his songwriting partner Benj Pasek tonight won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for “City of Stars” from the film “La La Land.” They were also nominated in the same category for “Audition” from the film. In his acceptance speech, Paul credited his public schools that supported the arts. “I was educated in public schools where arts and culture were valued and recognized and resourced,” he said. “I am so grateful to all my teachers who taught so much and gave so much to us.” In all, “La La Land” won six Oscars out of 14 nominations. Last month, Paul and Pasek won a Golden Globes Award for “City of Stars.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo from ABC-TV

Jazz Jam at Arts Center

Today’s annual Jazz Jam at the Westport Arts Center was a spontaneous exploration of jazz, blues and other musical styles by some of the community’s best musicians. Students and semi-professionals were encouraged to bring their instrument of choice and join for free. The Jazz Jam also celebrated Black History Month. Brian Torff, the Westport Arts Center’s artistic director for jazz, led the Jam on bass with fellow musician Greg Burrows on drums. The next performance in the WAC Jazz concert series is Greg Wall, “the Jazz Rabbi” on Sunday, March 5. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Jamming in the Afternoon

There was a large audience today at the Westport Arts Center for its annual Jazz Jam.The event featured some of the finest jazz musicians in the area and beyond. Brian Torff, WAC’s artistic director for jazz, led the Jam on bass with fellow musician Greg Burrows on drum. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mercedes Arensberg for WestportNow.com

Gallery: Westport Arts Center Jazz Jam

Scenes from today’s Westport Arts Center Jazz Jam. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Friday, February 24th, 2017

Comings & Goings: Vespa Restaurant Shuttered

Westport’s Vespa Restaurant, 2A Post Road West in the National Hall Building, has not been open for business since mid-February, and there is no sign on the door. Its voicemail message says reservations are still being accepted, but calls to the number and building owner Greenfield Partners were not returned. The 120-seat Italian casual dining restaurant opened two years ago in the long vacant ground floor space. After the building converted to a 15-room luxury hotel in 1993, there were several restaurants on the ground floor, but they gave way to office space in 2005 before Vespa opened. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017

Food for Thought With Author Jane Green

Westport best selling author Jane Green was at the Westport Library tonight sharing stories about how she wrote her first cookbook. “Good Taste: Simple, Delicious Recipes for Family and Friends.” “Food and cooking have always been a part of our lives,” she said. “I’m fearless. Mostly my efforts were very good. Sometimes they were very bad.” She said to improve her skills, she graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York and then started to put some recipes in her books. Green showed off an illustration of a pumpkin gingerbread truffle that was her mother-in-law’s recipe. “It was fantastic,” she said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com