Students gathered in the auditorium of Westport’s King’s Highway Elementary School to mark the 75th birthday of two frescoes painted in the auditorium by John Steuart Curry. Diane Yormak, a volunteer working with the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection, described the history of the frescoes. Art teacher Tim Soper devised a project to introduce his students to the fresco technique. The two Curry frescoes, “Comedy” and “Tragedy,” each measuring 15 feet high by 8 feet wide, still reign as the crown jewels of the schools’ art collection. In 1934, during the Depression, Curry, a Westport artist, offered to paint frescoes in the newly built school’s auditorium. Curry donated his services and, although money was tight, the town raised the $1,000 needed for the materials and to pay a technician to apply the plaster. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Youngsters at Westport’s Coleytown Middle School rehearse for the forthcoming musical production of ‘Seussical.” Directed by Ben Frimmer, the Coleytown Company production opens Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. with additional performances Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m. and   7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the school on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 3 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. “Seussical,” which combines some of the best known and loved Dr. Seuss classics, opened on Broadway in 2000 and has subsequently enjoyed two national tours. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westporter Suzanne Sherman Propp delighted a Westport Public Library audience full of young people today as she played selections from her new CD “Play” and other songs. She was accompanied by fellow Staples graduate Josh Margolis. Propp is a music teacher at Green’s Farms Elementary School and choral director. A former cheerleader at Staples as well as an Orphenian and a member of the orchestra, she studied English and music at Colgate University and obtained her MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. She is daughter of Ruth Sherman, well known for teaching classes at the Senior Center and Family Y as well as at Longshore during the summer. Mom helped sell copies of “Play” to the crowd which can also be ordered at www.suzanneshermanpropp.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

The Staples High School Jazz Ensemble won second place at the 17th annual Norwalk High School Jazz Festival—the second trophy during the past month for the band. In February, Staples was chosen as one of the top three bands, out of 15 competing schools, at the Jazz Festival at Brian McMahon High School in Norwalk. On Saturday, March 27, the Staples Jazz Ensemble will be participating at the annual Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival at Greenwich High School. The event is sponsored by Wynton Marsallis and Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Staples Jazz Ensemble includes Tom Burhill, Mitch Feinberg, Matt Takiff, Willys DeVoll, Jason Lustbader, Emily Messina, Kevin Copeland, Ole Vaagen, Ellen Kempner, Sam Wilkes, Joe Genetti, Evan Lester, Alex Okon, Cory Bacon, Will Kniffen, Alan Southworth, Jordan Ratner, Cameron Bruce, John Solder, Will Hagen, Cole Manley, and David Haswell. Director is Nick Mariconda. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo