‘Blue Star Museums’ – free admission for military families begins Memorial Day

One of the more popular and fascinating exhibits at the Slater Museum at the Norwich Free Academy is a collection of plaster-cast replicas of world famous sculptures. Slater Museum is one of the "Blue Star" museums.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced that nearly two dozen Connecticut museums will offer free admission this summer to active duty military members and their families as part of  “Operation Appreciation: Blue Star Museums.”

“It is just one more way we can say a collective ‘thank you’ for their service to our country. This initiative also opens more doors of opportunity for the public to enjoy and appreciate culture and arts in Connecticut.”

The campaign is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, a nonprofit group that supports U.S. military families.

‘Blue Star Museums’ runs from Memorial Day, May 31 through Labor Day, Sept. 6.

The participating museums are: Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, http://www.aldrichart.org/ Ridgefield

Barker Character, Comic & Cartoon Museum, http://www.barkermuseum.com/page.asp?PGNM=151 Cheshire

Bruce Museum, http://brucemuseum.org/ Greenwich

Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk http://www.contemprints.org

Danbury Museum and Historical Society, http://www.danburymuseum.org/danburymuseum/Home.html

Fairfield Musem and History Center, http://www.fairfieldhs.org

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, http://www.harrietbeecherstowe.org Hartford

Imagine Nation Museum, http://www.imaginemuseum.org Bristol

Lyman Allyn Art Museum, http://www.lymanallyn.org New London

Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center, http://www.mattatuckmuseum.org Waterbury

New Britain Museum of American Art, http://www.nbmaa.org

New Canaan Historical Society, http://www.nchistory.org

Norwalk Museum, http://www.culinarymenus.com/norwalkmuseum.htm South Norwalk

Old Tolland County Jail Museum, http://www.tollandhistorical.org/tollandcountyjail

Slater Memorial Museum, http://www.norwichfreeacademy.com/museum Norwich

Stamford Historical Society, http://www.stamfordhistory.org

Stanley-Whitman House, http://www.stanleywhitman.org Farmington

Stepping Stones Museum for Children, http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org Norwalk

The Golden Age of Trucking Museum, http://www.goldenagetruckmuseum.com Middlebury

Torrington Historical Society, http://www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org Hartford

Yale Center for British Art, http://ycba.yale.edu/index.asp New Haven

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, http://www.peabody.yale.edu/visit/index.html New Haven

For more information on participating museums visit:

http://www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index.php?st=CT#list

Posted May 31, 2010

As of Sunday morning, police have issued 906 speeding tickets this Memorial Day Weekend

The Connecticut State Police have released the statistics for the Memorial Day Weekend, from midnight Thursday, May 27 through 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 30.

Police responded to 150 motor vehicle accidents, 24 with injuries.

No fatal accidents were reported during that time period.

Police also made 50 DUI arrests, issued 906 speeding tickets and 636 tickets for seat belt violations (i.e. failure to wear one).

State police are out in force throughout the Memorial Day Weekend. Drivers are asked to call 911 if they see what looks like drunken driving.

The idea is to minimize the tragedies that occur on holiday weekends.

Posted May 30, 2010

UConn falls to St. John's in final game of Big East baseball championship

The Huskies dropped a 3-0 decision to St. John's in the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship title game on May 30 in Clearwater, FLA. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

The University of Connecticut baseball team dropped a 3-0 decision to St. John’s in the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship title game on Sunday afternoon [May 30] at Bright House Field in Clearwater, FLA

With the loss, UConn’s (47-14) run for its third BIG EAST Tournament title was halted, after the Huskies battled out of the loser’s bracket to contend for the championship crown.

The Huskies will now await a bid into the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team field will be announced on Monday, May 31 at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.

UConn's George Springer was named to the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team. UConn photo.

The Huskies will look to make their 16th all-time NCAA appearance and their first showing in the event since 1994.

With the win, Rutgers improves to 40-14 on the year and will receive the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

After finishing the tournament 13-for-19 with nine walks, seven runs scored and four RBI, George Springer was named to the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team, joined by UConn first baseman Mike Nemeth.

Nemeth finished the week with two home runs as well as 10 RBI for the Huskies.

Billy Ferriter and Dan Feehan added to the list of Huskies named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.

Posted May 30, 2010- a full account of the game by Vito J. Leo will be posted on Monday, May 31.

[UPDATED] UConn wins coach Penders' 'best game ever' to stay alive in Big East baseball tourney

UConn players celebrate after pulling out an 11-10 win over Rutgers Saturday afternoon to stay alive in the Big East Baseball Championship. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

[UPDATE Sunday, May 30  at noon - The University of Connecticut baseball team battled Rutgers to a 7-4 victory into the early hours of Sunday morning to advance to the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Final at Bright House Field [FLA] The Huskies will face St. John’s on Sunday in the 12:04 p.m. contest, which will be televised live on ESPNU. St. John’s enters the ballgame undefeated in postseason play this season after defeating top-seeded Louisville on Saturday night 5-3 to advance to the championship game. The Huskies defeated Rutgers twice on Saturday to earn the right to play in the championship contest. With the win, UConn improves to 47-13.Also, the 16 NCAA Baseball Regional sites will be announced on the afternoon of Sunday, May 30 on ESPN News and on http://www.ncaa.com. And the NCAA Baseball Selection show will be aired live on ESPN on Monday, May 31 at 12:30 p.m. – Kristin Altieri, UConn Athletic Communications]

CLEARWATER, FLA. – It took UConn five hours, 10 innings, 11 runs, 16 hits and four pitchers to finally defeat Rutgers in a Big East Baseball Championship semifinal Saturday afternoon [May 29], and to set up a rubber match between the two schools to determine which team advances to the title game on Sunday at noon (ESPNU).

Billy Ferriter stroked a two-out single that bounded off the first baseman’s glove, and allowed Kevin Vance to score from second base – giving the Huskies a hard-fought 11-10 victory.

“That’s got to be the best baseball game I’ve ever been involved in,” said seven-year UConn Head Coach Jim Penders. “The kids played their guts out. They were like two heavyweights out there, clawing at each other, trying to throw the knockout punch,” he said.

Earlier in the tournament, it had been Rutgers (30-25) that landed the first punch, beating UConn (46-13) by a score of 6-5 and dropping the second-seeded Huskies into the losers’ bracket.

But on Saturday, it was UConn that came away with the one-run win over the sixth-seeded Scarlet Knights.

Sophomore Nick Ahmed, who started the game at shortstop, came in to pitch in the top of the ninth after a 40-minute lightning delay.

Inheriting a two-on, no-out situation, he promptly got an out on a fouled sacrifice bunt, and caught the shallow pop in foul territory. (In the 10th, Ahmed made another athletic catch, running full speed to spear a pop-up near the Rutgers dugout.)

“Coach tells me to take charge out there,” said Ahmed who was, in effect, playing a very short shortstop from the mound (a pair of pretty putouts, plus an assist in his two innings pitched).

“I just went in there and tried to throw strikes, get some outs and bring up our bats and try to win the game,” said the 6-foot-2 right-hander from East Longmeadow, Mass. who hadn’t pitched since April 6.

“Nick is such a great competitor and a tremendous athlete,” Penders said of Ahmed, who picked up his first decision of the season. “He showed what he can do, coming in in that big spot for us. He was just awesome.”

With Ahmed showing off his defensive wizardry, his replacement didn’t get a chance to flash much leather in the infield. But he did manage to score the winning run. Kevin Vance, who reached on a one-out error in the bottom of the tenth and then advanced to second on a grounder by catcher Doug Elliot, scored the game winner when Rutgers first baseman Jaren Matthews threw high to the plate.

“A good throw would have had me, but the throw was high and the catcher left his feet and I slid right into him,” Vance said. “He was blocking the plate, so I had to go over him,” said Vance who had to scramble over the catcher to get his hand on the plate before being mobbed by teammates.

“We were fortunate on that last play,” Coach Penders said.

The tension in the late innings of this game was as thick as the menacing clouds that hovered over Bright House Network Field throughout the afternoon, causing the ninth-inning delay that led to Coach Penders’ moves, which ultimately led to a victory.

UConn starting pitcher Robert Van Woert gave up three runs in the first inning, including a leadoff homer by outfielder Michael Lang, but his teammates doubled that in the home half of the first.

The Huskies led 6-3 after the first, keyed by a two-run home run by dh LJ Mazzilli (yes, he’s former major leaguer Lee Mazzilli’s son).

Rutgers eventually tied the game in the fifth, and knocked out Van Woert, who gave up 15 hits in his 4+ innings worked.

The Knights then took a 10-7 lead with a three-run seventh off reliever David Fischer, who gave way to fellow sophomore Scott Oberg.

It didn’t take the Huskies long to take Fischer off the hook: Elliot slammed a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 10.

Oberg held Rutgers scoreless in his 1.1-inning stint and he was on the mound when the umpires ordered the game halted due to the threat of lightning.

UConn centerfielder George Springer, the 2009 Big East Rookie of the Year, was on base six times in the game, getting two hits and four walks.

Rutgers’ fifth pitcher of the game, Tyler Gebler, took the loss to drop to 1-3 this season.

Coach Penders said he plans to start 6-foot-5 freshman Pat Butler (2-1) in the nightcap against Rutgers which is expected to begin around 8 p.m. tonight [WHUS 91.7 FM], shortly after the St. John’s-Louisville game.

“Pat is very capable of giving us a good start and I have all the confidence he’s going to get it done for us,” Coach Penders said.

Posted May 29, 2010

Fresh, tasty and local – May 29 at the Storrs Farmers Market

This week at the Storrs Farmers Market. . .

. . .celebrate the (unofficial) start of summer with a “CT Grown” cookout!

We’ve got everything you need: fresh-picked veggies; all-natural beef, pork, and lamb; nitrate-free hotdogs; salad greens; pies and cookies; and even strawberries!

. . .our friend Johnnie is back with old time games and toys!  Children are invited to enjoy the hula hoops, stilts, and wooden horse rides.

. . .we’re at Mansfield Town Hall (corner of Route 195 and 275/South Eagleville Road) every Saturday from 3:00 – 6 p.m. now through November – rain or shine!

. . .Check us out on Facebook and become a fan!

What’s fresh?

Bailey’s Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup, Granulated Maple Sugar, Maple Vinegar, Bees Wax Candles, Honey Sticks, and Hosmer Mt. Sodas

Baldwin Brook Farm

Free-Range Eggs and Non-Pasteurized Milk in Glass Bottles (Half Gallons)

Beltane Farm

Fresh chèvre available in Dill, Chive, Herbes de Provence, and Black Pepper

Raw Goats’ Milk – Best to call and reserve some (860.887.4709)

Cranberry Hill Farm

Farm Fresh, Heritage Breed Eggs; Heirloom Vegetable Seedlings; Early Scarlet Globe Radishes; and French Breakfast Radishes

Culinary Expressions

Fresh-Baked Pies, Cookies, and Breads; Jams and More

Daily Greens

Fresh-squeezed Lemonade, Hot and Iced Coffee, Salads, Sandwiches, and Kale Chips

Dondero Orchards

Strawberries, Spring Plants, Jams, and More

Four Mile River Farm

Steaks, Kabobs, Nitrate-free, Hardwood Smoked Hotdogs, Kellidogs, Knockwurst, Kielbasa, Hardwood-Smoked, Nitrate-Free Bacon, Canadian Bacon, Nitrate-Free Corned Beef, and Beef Breakfast Sausage and Sweet Italian Sausage

La  Petite France

Fresh-baked French Breads, Pastries, and Croissants

Oak Leaf Dairy

Many regular favorite this week.  Soon to come: Summer Scents

Sean Patrick’s Plants

Hanging Baskets and Seedlings

Shundahai Farm

Spinach, Salad Greens, Rainbow Chard, Radishes, Turnips, and Eggs

Spring Acres Farm

We’ll be back next week!

Stonewall Apiary

We’ll be back next week!

Storrs Regional FFA

We’ll be back next week!

Tobacco Road Farm

Spinach, Regular and Spicy Salad Greens, Arugula, Kale, Swiss Chard, Rhubarb, Cilantro, Dill, Baby Bok Choy, and White Turnips

Windhover Farm

Heritage Breed Lamb (Limited quantity still available) and Pork

Food for Thought… Freeze ‘em – Can ‘em – Jam ‘em

Make the most of your fresh fruits and veggies. Home preservation allows you to savor the flavors of fresh berries, tomatoes and more for months after their seasons.

Take some time now to learn about home preservation and to stock up on supplies.  Willard’s in Mansfield has plenty of canning supplies, and the Mansfield Public Library and the UConn Co-op both have a selection of books to guide you to successful canning, jamming, and freezing.

Don’t have time to get to the library?  Here are some useful websites:

National Center for Home Food Preservation (Info on how to can, freeze, dry, cure & smoke, ferment, pickle, and make jams & jellies)

Penn State Cooperative Extension: Home Food Preservation (Info on best ways to preserve specific foods, FAQs)

FreshPreserving.com (From the makers of Ball jars, tips on handling high- and low- acid foods and an on-line store)

Home Food Preservation Troubleshooting Guide (Just in case things don’t go quite as planned!)

Posted May 29, 2010

2010 Memorial Day weekend parades and ceremonies

Following are local 2010 Memorial Day ceremonies and parades:

Saturday

Lebanon

• The parade will start at 10 a.m. on West Town Street and proceed to the town green for a ceremony. In the event of rain, residents can call the town hall at (860) 642-6100 to see if the parade is canceled.

If the parade is canceled due to weather, a ceremony will be held at Lyman Memorial High School.

Sunday

Scotland

• Memorial Day observances in Scotland start at noon with a ceremony at the Scotland Town Green followed by a parade down Route 97 to Scotland Cemetery, followed by a ceremony at Scotland Cemetery.

Coventry

• American Legion Post 52′s color guard and firing squad will render honors at St. Mary’s Cemetery at 2 p.m. (across from the Miller-Richardson ball field); then proceed to the New Coventry Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.; the Center Cemetery on Route 44 at 3 p.m.; then the North Coventry Cemetery on Grant Hill Road; the Silver Street Cemetery; the Wrights Mills Cemetery on South Street and conclude at the Nathan Hale Cemetery on Lake Street.

Monday

Windham/Willimantic:

• In Windham/Willimantic, the annual Memorial Day pilgrimage begins at 7 a.m. from the VFW building located at 1415 Main St. with everyone invited.

The stops will be at the New Willimantic Cemetery, Old Willimantic Cemetery, South Windham memorial, Windham Center Cemetery, Windham Center memorials, North Windham Cemetery, St. Joseph Cemetery, Russian Orthodox Cemetery and Windham Veteran’s Greenway.

Following the pilgrimage, the group will return to the VFW on Main Street for coffee and doughnuts at approximately 9 a.m.

At 11 a.m., there will be an observance at Memorial Park on Main Street with a speaking program featuring Windham Town Manager Neal Beets as the guest speaker.

Following that program, the parade will form and march to the American Legion headquarters on Bricktop Road.

Mansfield

• Parade begins at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Route 195 and Bassetts Bridge Road.

It then goes down Route 195 toward Cemetery Road to the ceremony site at the new Mansfield Center Cemetery. Music will be provided by bands from E. O. Smith High School in Storrs and Mansfield Middle School.

In the event of inclement weather, an abbreviated ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. in the Mansfield Middle School gymnasium. Tune in to WILI radio by 7:30 a.m. for any weather-related cancellation information.

Columbia

• The town’s annual ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on the town green near the intersection of Route 66 and 87.

Coventry

• The Coventry Lions Club will sponsor its annual Memorial Day pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday at the First Congregational Church, 1171 Main St. The menu includes sausage, pancakes and eggs.

After the breakfast, a parade, organized by the American Legion, will begin at G. H. Robertson School on Cross Street at 10 a.m. The parade will stop at the Veterans Green Memorial for services, and Lynn Robertson, a retired U.S. Navy commander, will speak.

Hebron

• An 11 a.m. Memorial Day parade will start at RHAM High School and proceed down Main Street.

Andover

• The Andover Memorial Day parade begins from the Andover Elementary School at 8:45 a. m. Monday.

The parade route will follow School Road to Route 316, then head toward the intersection with Route 6, where the town will hold a ceremony at Memorial Park .

Hampton

• A busy Memorial Day starts from 7 to 9 a.m. with breakfast at the Hampton Congregational Church.

The annual Memorial Day Parade then starts at 9:30 a.m. along Main Street, starting at the Hampton Congregational Church and ending at the Hampton Town Hall, where a special Memorial Day ceremony takes place at 10:30 a.m.

Then, from 11: 30 a. m. to 2 p.m., a Memorial Day picnic will take place on the grounds of the Hampton Town Hall and Hampton Community Center.

Additional observances are: noon, Little River Naval Memorial Ceremony at the end of Hammond Hill Road; a 1 p.m. concert on the grounds of the Hampton Community Center; From 1 to 4 p.m., there is a softball tournament on the fields behind the Hampton Town Hall; and at 7 p.m., there will be a staged reading at the Hampton Community Center.

Franklin

• Franklin Memorial Day ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a laying of wreaths at the Franklin Congregational Church on Meeting House Road.

After a brief ceremony, another wreath will laid Plains Cemetery Road on Under- The- Mountain Road at 9: 45 a. m. Monday to acknowledge veterans.

The parade will begin lining up at the boys’ senior field on Route 207, with the parade starting at 10:10 a.m. at Giddens Park, located behind Veterans Park.

The parade will then proceed to Pautipaug Cemetery on Route 207 for a ceremony at 10:30 a.m., followed by a brief address at Veterans Park, also on Route 207, at 10:45 a.m.

There will be a final ceremony at Giddings Park, at 11 a.m., followed by a picnic, including hot dogs and ice cream, at the park after the ceremony.

Eastford

• Eastford Memorial Day ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. Ceremonies will occur at General Lyon Cemetery and Grove Cemetery at 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., respectively.

The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at Eastford Elementary School heading toward Ivy Glenn Memorial library.

If there is inclement weather, the event will be held in the Eastford Elementary School at 9:30 a.m.

Ashford

• The Ashford Memorial Day parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department.

The parade travels along Routes 89 and 44.

A ceremony will take place in Pompey Hollow Park off Route 44 immediately following the parade.

Posted May 28, 2010

UConn goes on to play Rutgers Saturday in Big East baseball tournament

On Thursday, Freshman Dan Feehan picked up the win in relief against Cincinnati in the tournament opener. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

Pierre LePage went 4-for-4 with two RBI as the University of Connecticut baseball team eliminated Pittsburgh from the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship with a 7-2 win today [May 28] at Bright House Field in Florida.

George Springer added two hits, while Mike Olt went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Greg Nappo earned the win for his eighth of the year, and he became the 14th all-time Husky to earn eight or more wins in a single season.

With the win, UConn (45-13) will now play Rutgers on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

The Scarlet Knights have not lost in the postseason and are coming off two wins in the BIG EAST Championship, with victories over Pittsburgh (Wednesday) and UConn (Thursday).

Pittsburgh (38-18) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Cory Brownsten homered over the left field wall for his third home run this season.

Pierre LePage picked up his second hit of the ballgame in the third with a double down the left field line before advancing to third on a fielding error by Pittsburgh’s John Schultz.

The junior was able to cross the plate on a Nick Ahmed sacrifice fly, his third of the postseason, as the Huskies tied the game at one in the top of the third.

The Huskies scored two runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead as Billy Ferriter recorded an infield single to short to score Mike Olt from third.

Olt earned his way on base with a leadoff double to right field, his 11th of the year. Ferriter later scored on an RBI single by LePage into left center.

Two Pittsburgh errors put Ahmed on second before the sophomore scored on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by George Springer.

For Springer, it was his seventh hit of the postseason and his second RBI.

With no outs, Springer stole second before advancing to third on another Pittsburgh throwing error.

With runners on first and third, Springer attempted to steal home on a ball that got by Brownsten behind the plate, but was thrown out trying to add to UConn’s run tally. Despite the out, the Huskies added the one run to the scoreboard to extend their lead to three at 4-1.

The Panthers led off the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back hits before Kevin Smith grounded into a double play, as Schultz scored to cut the Huskies’ lead to two.

UConn added two runs in the seventh, as Ferriter singled to right field to score both Mike Olt and Mike Nemeth, to give the Huskies a 7-2 advantage.

Greg Nappo allowed 10 hits, two runs and four walks in 5.2 innings of work in today’s ballgame before freshman Dan Feehan took the hill with two outs in the sixth after Nappo walked his fourth batter.

Feehan had another solid outing for the Huskies, allowing three hits in 2.1 scoreless innings. Kevin Vance came in to close out the game in the ninth as he walk one and allowed no hits.

The championship game is set for noon Sunday, May 30 at Bright House Field in Clearwater and is set to be televised on ESPNU. All other tournament games are streamed via bigeastbaseball.com

Posted May 28, 2010

CRT opens 2010 summer season with musical ‘Rent,’ May 28-June 6

Singing and dancing in the Life Cafe, in the Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Summer Nutmeg Series production of Rent, playing May 28-June 6 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

The Nutmeg Summer Series opens Friday, May 28 with the rock musical, Rent, which runs through June 6 at UConn’s Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre (in lower Jorgensen).

Its unforgettable songs – including  “Seasons of Love,” “No Day but Today” and “One Song Glory” – propelled Rent (book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson) to become one of the ten longest-running shows on Broadway.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Rent’s rock opera is the story of struggling young artists, based on Puccini’s La Boheme, but set in modern-day New York City.

Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Matinee performances are at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Single ticket prices for Rent range from $15 to $37.  Subscription package options range from $36 to $84.

Coming up next…

This will be the Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s first full summer season since 2002.

The Nutmeg Summer Series continues through July 4, 2010 with:

• All in the Timing, a comedic collection of six sketches, running June 10 through June 20 in the Nafe Katter Theatre (also located on the Storrs campus)

• Smokey Joe’s Café, playing June 24 through July 4 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre and

• Endurance, a world premiere play presented by movement theatre artists, Split Knuckle Theatre, from June 24 through June 27 in the Nafe Katter Theatre.

Tickets are now available for each of the productions (or for the entire series) by calling the Jorgensen Box Office at 860-486-4226 or visiting www.crt.uconn.edu.

Rent, All in the Timing and Smokey Joe’s Café can also be purchased as a subscription, with Endurance available as an “add on” to the subscription package.

The Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre and the Nafe Katter Theatre are located on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Both venues offer air-conditioned comfort and convenient free parking.

Subscribers also have the option of pre-purchasing dinner at the Nathan Hale Inn and ice cream dessert at the UConn Dairy Bar with their subscription packages.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) is the professional production arm of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

CRT’s Community Partners for the Nutmeg Summer Series include Hamilton Sundstrand, LeylandAlliance, Mansfield Community Center, Nathan Hale Inn, UConn Dairy Bar and The Chronicle.

The director/choreographer of Rent

The director/choreographer of the CRT’s production of Rent, Art Manke is a five-time winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award.

His recent credits include a sold-out run of Noises Off and the West Coast premiere of Bach at Leipzig for South Coast Repertory, The Miracle Worker for the Denver Center Theatre Company, and The Constant Wife, Private Lives and the American premiere of Noel Coward’s Star Quality for Pasadena Playhouse.

He is a co-founder and former artistic director of A Noise Within, L.A.’s acclaimed classical theatre company.

The cast of Rent

Corey Bradley (Benny) most recently appeared in the Broadway revival of Ragtime.  His Broadway National Tour credits include Mamma Mia!, Chicago, Fosse, and West Side Story (International). His film/TV work includes Disney’s Enchanted (principal dancer), Sex and the City, Nickelodeon, and Spike Lee’s “He Got Game.”

Kaitlin Monte (Mimi) has performed in more than 50 productions, including The Seagull (Nina), High School Musical 2 (Gabriella), Rent (Mimi), The Hole (Nadia) and Little Women (Jo March). Most recently, she co-hosted New Year’s Eve in Times Square for the international webcast.  She is a former Miss Tampa and currently tours with the USO Liberty Bells performing for our men and women in uniform.

Lauretta Pope (Joanne) graduated in 2008 from UConn’s Professional Actor Training Program (audiences may remember her as Sally Bowles in Cabaret). She has appeared in six productions and obtained her equity card for Kiss Me Kate (Lilly Vanessi), Closer Than Ever (Ensemble), Seussical (Gertrude), The Witches, Speech and Debate (in the role of Diwata, which won her a Pitch Magazine’s Best of Kansas City Award for Best Comedienne) and My First Time.

Rachel Rosado (Maureen) is a senior BFA Acting major. Previous credits include Tommy, The Comedy of Errors, Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party, Hair, The Skin of Our Teeth, The Three Penny Opera and Thin Air: Tales from a Revolution at CRT.

John Shuler Quertermous (Angel) has appeared in Little Women and A Thousand Cranes at Syracuse Stage and Oklahoma! with SU Drama.

Kyle Szen (Roger) is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Music Theater at Baldwin-Wallace College. His favorite credits include The Wedding Singer, Chess, Brooklyn, The Wild Party, and Grease.

Joshua Wright (Mark) is a current graduate student at New York University/Steinhardt and has worked professionally with the Houston Shakespeare Festival, Houston Children’s Theatre Festival, T.U.T.S., Theatre LaB Houston, and the Main Street Theater, among others.

Noah Weintraub (Homeless, Gordon, Mr. Gray, Pastor, et. al) is a recent graduate of UConn, with a BFA in Acting. Credits include: CRT – The Who’s Tommy (Cousin Kevin), Abraham Lincolns Big Gay Dance Party (Anton Renault), Hair (Woof), Spring Awakening (Hansy Rilow), The Threepenny Opera, and Pentecost.

Scenic designer Michael Anania has Broadway credits that include Laughing Room Only starring Jackie Mason, A Change in the Heir, Run for Your Wife, Canterbury Tales, The View From Here, and The Gathering starring Hal Linden.

Costumer designer Lucy Brown is a recent graduate of the MFA Costume Design program at UConn. She has been a Costume Designer for CRT on Hair, A Man for All Seasons, Pentecost and Macbeth.  Other costume design credits include a new adaptation of A Doll’s House in NYC, The Buddy Holly Story at The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, The Oresteia at Oddfellows Playhouse, and Endurance with Split Knuckle Theatre Company.

Lighting designer Al Crawford is Founder and President of Arc3design and has worked extensively in dance, theater, opera, corporate and social events, and themed entertainment.  He was recently appointed to the adjunct faculty at UConn’s School of Fine Arts, and is enjoying his twelfth season as the Lighting Director for the Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater.

Posted May 27, 2010- as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan