Westport Teen, Ryan Overly-Ryan, Takes the Stage at New Canaan’s Powerhouse Theatre
Actors Cooper Smithers (L) and Ryan Overly-Ryan (R). Contributed photoHigh school students are typically busy even without the excitement and pressures of community theatre rehearsals and performances. But four intrepid teens from Fairfield County, including Westport’s Ryan Overly-Ryan, have taken on the challenge. They have been cast in the upcoming production of Ordinary People which opens this Friday, Feb. 17, at New Canaan’s Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park, and runs weekends through Sunday, March 5. The show, a powerful and moving drama, is a production of Town Players of New Canaan.
Based on the book and Oscar-winning 1980 film directed by Robert Redford and starring Mary Tyler Moore and Donald Sutherland, Ordinary People is the searing yet heartwarming story of an ordinary family struggling to heal from an unexpected tragedy. The script plumbs the depths of our most profound and intimate relationships. As such, it is challenging to cast, requiring versatile, serious young actors to play the parts of young adults whose lives have been disrupted by loss and grief.
Deborah Burke, Ordinary People director, reflected on the casting process: "It was not an easy search but I am grateful to have found four remarkably talented and committed young adults with whom it is a pleasure to work.” Burke added that the participation of Dr. Michael Groat as an advisor to the cast helped immensely. Groat is the chief clinical officer of Silver Hill Hospital, a nationally recognized psychiatric hospital in New Canaan. He assisted the actors with understanding the myriad emotions of the play and portraying their characters with empathy and authenticity.
Overly-Ryan said: "Being in Ordinary People has been such a unique experience. I've never played a character like Jeannine before. I'm grateful to be in a production with such complex characters, and I hope that people who watch it can appreciate it just as much as those of us who are in it."
In producing Ordinary People Town Players aims to reduce the stigma of talking about mental health and to raise awareness of mental health resources in Fairfield County. It is partnering with multiple community organizations in this effort.
Overly-Ryan attends Staples High School. The three other teen actors of Ordinary People are Norwalk’s Laszlo Balazs and Tyler Nuzzo-Dozzier and Darien’s Chandler Hall. Balasz attends Brien McMahon High School where he participated in theatre productions not only as an actor but as a music director and accompanist. Nuzzo-Dozzier is a singer and songwriter in addition to acting. Hall attends the Fitch Academy at Darien High School. Despite their age, all four actors are seasoned veterans of community and professional theatre productions.
Ordinary People opens this Friday, Feb. 17 and runs through Sun., March 5, 2023, in New Canaan at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM.
A FREE performance for TEENS will be held Saturday, March 4 at 2 PM. It will include a post-show audience discussion with the director and cast, led by Dr. Andrew Gerber, president and medical director of Silver Hill Hospital. Adults are welcome to attend (with a regular ticket purchase) as long as they’re accompanying or invited by a teen. To reserve teen seats and purchase adult tickets visit here.
For tickets and more information, visit https://tpnc.org/shows/ordinary-people/.
Michael Staley Fleming Jr., 49, Died; “Kindest” Staples Student, Devoted Father, Husband
On Friday, February 10, 2023, the world lost a beautiful soul. Michael Staley Fleming Jr., age 49, of Darien, beloved husband of Adrienne Strouse Fleming, passed away. Michael was born in San Diego, CA on August 27, 1973 to Michael Fleming Sr. and Linda Peck Fleming of Norwalk, CT. Michael spent his early years living in Park City, Utah, where he developed a lifelong passion and skill for skiing while on the US Junior Olympic Ski Farm Team. At the age of 12, Michael moved with his family to Westport, CT where he continued to thrive and make wonderful friends. At Staples High School, he won the award for "kindest," an attribute he upheld for the rest of his days. He was the captain of the boys' ski team at Staples. He graduated from Colgate University in 1996 and moved to New York City in 1999, where he had a successful career in finance, mostly as an institutional broker, and continued to build beautiful friendships.
In 2011, Michael married the love of his life, Adrienne, and they welcomed three beautiful boys, Wyatt McCall, Ford Michael and Charles Morgan Fleming. While living in New York, Michael always said he wanted his boys to grow up in Darien, CT, and in 2020 they moved there. Michael's greatest joy was watching his sons grow and shine. He loved nothing more than teaching them how to ski and spending time with them in the mountains. Michael was his happiest and most at peace flying straight down a mountain on skis and he passed this passion on to his sons. They loved to chase his heels down the slopes, mimicking his every move so they could be just like him one day. His sons are, and forever will be, so proud of him. Skiing is the closest thing to having wings and we will never stop watching for Mikey in the sky. Hawk flying high means a clear sky, hawk flying low prepare for a blow.
Survivors, in addition to his wife and sons, include his parents, Michael and Linda Peck Fleming of Norwalk, sisters, Amy Fleming Kiggins (Andrew) of Rowayton, Ann Fleming of Norwalk, his cherished dog, Utah, and countless friends. Mike is predeceased by his father-in-law, Irving David Strouse of Rumson, NJ, and his grandparents, Edmund McCall and Jewel May Peck.
Michael will be remembered for his incredibly kind soul, his easy way of making others laugh, and his unwavering loyalty to his family and friends. He was a devoted husband and father, and his family was his every joy in this life. Michael will be terribly missed by all those who were fortunate to know him.
Calling Hours will be on Wednesday February 15, 2023 from 4 to 7 PM at the Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien. Mass will be at Saint Thomas More Church in Darien on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
"Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal," St. Thomas More.
Published by Darien Times on Feb. 14, 2023
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 7 to 16 mph.
Tonight
Increasing clouds, with a low around 34. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph after midnight.
Tomorrow
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 55. South wind 7 to 17 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Light east wind becoming north 6 to 11 mph in the evening.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. North wind 7 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Joan Litsky Rosenblatt Wetzler, 87, Died; Westporter, Longtime Social Worker
Joan Litsky Rosenblatt Wetzler, 87, of Westport CT passed away on February 10, 2023 in Bridgeport CT.
Joan was born in Waterbury, CT to Bernard and Freda Litsky. A competitive swimmer, Joan graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury and earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Clark University in Worcester MA. After earning her Masters in Social Work from University of Connecticut, Joan went on to work as a Social Worker at several JCCs in Norfolk, VA, Savannah, GA, Troy, NY, and Englewood, NJ. After her husband, Herbert Rosenblatt, died of a heart attack at the age of 38 in 1971, Joan remarried Fred Wetzler in 1973 and moved to Westport, CT. She was a Social Worker at the Family & Children’s Aid in Norwalk, then in the Inpatient Psychiatry Department at Norwalk Hospital and later, private practice until she retired.
Joan is survived by her older sister, Helen Goldberg of Bethany CT, Paulette Feinberg of VA, her three daughters, Amy (Charles) Rosoff, Jodi (Scott) Galin and Lisa (Marc) Krigsman, and her grandchildren, Heather and Ben Rosoff, Hannah Galin (Michael Katz) and Rebecca Galin (Sam Epstein), and Jamie and Em-J Krigsman, and her great grandchild Sophia Katz. She was predeceased by her first husband, Herbert Rosenblatt in 1971 and second husband, Fred Wetzler in 2010.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 12th at 9:30am at Temple Israel, Westport CT. Burial will follow at the Temple Israel Cemetery on Richards Avenue in Norwalk CT. Shiva to follow at the home of Amy and Charles Rosoff, Westport CT on February 12 following the burial until 6 PM and February 13 and 14 from 4 to 8 PM. For more information, to join a livestream, and to share a condolence message, visit www.greensfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Israel, 14 Coleytown Road, Westport, CT.
Morning Weather Report
Today
A chance of rain, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Light southeast wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Rain likely, mainly before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. South wind 14 to 16 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind 9 to 13 mph.
Westport RTM District 8 Seeks New Representative Following Departure of Former Rep
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is seeking candidates for a District 8 representative to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lisa Newman. In accordance with the Town Charter, Section C5-8C, the vacancy must be filled by a registered voter residing in RTM District 8. No party affiliation is required since Westport’s RTM is non-partisan. The term expires November 21, 2023.
Residents of RTM District 8 interested in being considered to fill the vacancy are invited to send a resume on or before February 22, 2023 at 4:00pm to Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton at JDunkerton@westportct.gov.
Space Heater Causes Near-Fire on Terra Nova Circle
The Westport Fire Department Communication Center received a 911 call this evening from a homeowner who reported smoke was filling their house. The fire department responded with 3 engines, 1 ladder truck, and the shift commander. Firefighters arrived and found smoke throughout the basement and first floor of the house. Firefighters found a small in fire in the basement due to combustibles being stored too close to a gas fireplace. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends keeping anything that burns at least three feet away from heating equipment including fireplaces.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tomorrow
Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 42. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
Rain likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 10 to 14 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.