Spotlight on the Arts

Pultizer Prize winning playwright Horton Foote, recently passed away at age 92. But his rich body of work over a lifetime in the American theatre, seemed to resonate with Connecticut audiences. We take a look at his ten year creative partnership with Hartford Stage, and its artistic director Michael Wilson.... read more

He led Hartford Stage from 1980 to 1997, earning it a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater. He's directed at the Met, on Broadway, and around the country.  Now, Mark Lamos has come back to Connecticut …. and he’s ready to make difference.   ... read more

The Kent Film Festival was a dream of Frank and Patrice Galterio, who made it a reality in a single year: 2006. Since then, for one weekend each spring, the festival takes over the village, drawing local residents, weekend homeowners and visitors from near and far who help to fill local inns and guesthouses. Attendance growth year-over-year has been 200%+ since 2006. ... read more

School music programs--and arts education in general—are considered vital to a young person’s development and success. Yet, in a tough economy, it’s a real struggle to keep good arts programs going, or to fund needy ones adequately.     Recently, Spotlight reporter Ed Wierzbicki discovered a teen music prodigy who won’t let her dreams of classical performance get in the way of helping others. He... read more

    For many of us, cooking up that special meal or drink is an improvisation. Once we’ve got the basics, we prefer to dabble instead of sticking to the recipe.  But how about your plates, serving platters, or that mug filled with an after dinner Cappuccino?  Ed Wierzbicki sets out to learn about the aesthetics of pottery, the other “side” of the food experience.        ... read more

Radius, the successful professional artist development program presented by The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, has been instrumental in jump-starting the careers of many area artists. Now, the partners have created Full Circle: Ten Years of Radius—a special anniversary exhibition. ... read more

Laura Halzack grew up in Suffield and began her dance training at the age of four.  She went on to full-time pre-professional training as high school sophomore, practicing 6 days a week.   After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in History from the University of New Hampshire, Laura studied at the Hartt School. Now, her dream has come true. She’s a professional dancer with the world famous... read more

American theater is experiencing resurgence in the use of puppetry, masks and objects, and not just for kids. Meet some up and coming Connecticut theater professionals who combine the old and the new, people and puppetry, to reach a new audiences. ... read more