Haiku Moment with Westport’s Poet Laureate
Haiku Moment with Westport’s Poet Laureate Diane Lowman
You spin me right round
You lift me up put me down
You knock my sock off
Westport Country Playhouse Presents a Virtual Class “Acting for the Camera” for Young Artists
Instructor and actor Tenisi DavisPress ReleaseWestport Country Playhouse will present a virtual educational class for young artists, “Acting for the Camera,” with SAG/AFTRA and AEA actor Tenisi Davis on Saturdays in April and May, via Zoom.
“Acting for the Camera,” for ages 14 – 18, will focus on honing a young artist’s craft and working on an audition monologue. The class will explore film acting techniques, including setting up a home studio, slating and framing, and performing a monologue. Five sessions will run on Saturdays from April 10 through May 8 at 10 a.m. On May 22, the artists will record their pieces on the Playhouse stage (following Covid-19 protocols.) The class will culminate with a private, virtual sharing of the pieces on June 4.
Instructor for “Acting for the Camera” is Tenisi Davis, a native of Bridgeport, and an actor who has performed in theater, film, national commercials, and network television projects. On stage he has appeared at Collective Consciousness Theatre in New Haven and the Capital Classics Theatre Company in Hartford, among other venues. Davis has received accolades for his portrayal of Frederick Douglass in the one-man show “Frederick Douglass: An American Slave,” including the Barry M. Gordy Artistic Award from the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, a proclamation from the governor of Connecticut, and the key to the city of Bridgeport.
Davis received his formal training in the theater arts program at Housatonic Community College, Performing Arts Center of Connecticut, Alvin Ailey Foundation, and Music and Arts Center for Humanity, where he accepted the Coming Up Taller Award for excellence in the arts from President George W. Bush. Davis continues to fulfill his passion of acting while giving back to his community through ReBirth Arts Collective, an arts and production company that he co-founded.
“My hope is to give a solid foundation that will prepare my students for a healthy and successful career in the performing arts industry,” said Davis. “The world is changing in so many different ways and we must be ready to adjust with it. With this workshop being presented by the legendary Westport Country Playhouse, I plan to give industry tips and secrets to do just that. I want to say thank you to Westport Country Playhouse for having me. And to the students, show up ALIVE AND READY TO WORK! Can't wait to virtually meet you."
Fee is $275 for the five-week class, running approximately 90 minutes each week. Scholarships and payment plans are available. Maximum class capacity is 10 students. Applications, due by March 29, are available at www.westportplayhouse.org/show/actingforcamera.
Education programming at Westport Country Playhouse is generously supported by Roz and Bud Siegel.
Due to the global pandemic, the Playhouse campus remains closed since March 2020. The Playhouse management will be following the science, and guidelines from theater artists’ unions and the State of Connecticut Department of Health in deciding when and how to safely open its buildings to the public.
For Westport Country Playhouse tickets and information, visit westportplayhouse.org, leave a message on the box office voicemail at (203) 227-4177, or email at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. The Playhouse’s physical box office is closed during the pandemic, but staff is working from home, returning phone messages and answering emails. Please understand with the high volume of inquiries, it may take up to 72 hours to respond. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
Westporter Dave Briggs will Host March Madness Coverage
Press ReleaseWestport resident and broadcast journalist Dave Briggs will be hosting FastBreak, a digital show covering the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Dave will be partnering with two Kentucky basketball legends, Rex Chapman and Tony Delk, during the first two rounds of March Madness (photo of all three is attached).
FastBreak's coverage will be in the style of NFL's Red Zone and will feature live game action, analysis and social media reaction. It airs this Friday and Saturday all day starting at noon, and Monday and Tuesday from when the games tip off until they end.
Viewers can watch FastBreak on the website: https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/watch
or the March Madness Live App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ncaa-march-madness-live/id423246594
News 12: Westporter Wants to Clear Name after 2019 Arrest, Running Again for First Selectman
Westporter TJ Elgin during his News 12 Connecticut interview yesterday. Screengrab from News 12 Connecticut video interview. Westport man runs for first selectman, looks to clear name after 2019 arrest
News 12 Staff, March 17thA Westport man says he's running for office again despite being arrested over a year ago - and he's looking to clear his name.
TJ Elgin is back on the ballot for Westport first selectman. He ran for first selectman before and also for Rep. Jim Himes' seat.
Elgin was arrested at the end of 2019 after neighbors thought he was burglarizing a home. He says police used excessive force. The case has since been resolved.
First Selectman Jim Marpe did not comment on Elgin's campaign, and says he doesn't even know if he's running yet.
Westport Republican Town Committee Chairman Joe Sledge confirms that Elgin has filed as a candidate for this November's election.
He says anyone has the right to file.
Elgin says he is in the process of filing with three different parties for Westport first selectman. He says his platform focuses on environmental issues.