April 2012 Archives

The Junior League of Greenwich, co-sponsored by the Greenwich Library, invite you to the Greenwich Youth Film Festival this Saturday, April 28 at 1 p.m. in the Cole Auditorium.

High school students in Fairfield and Westchester counties were invited to submit films in the following five categories: Creative, Animation, Documentary, Music Video, and Public Service Announcement.

More than 130 films were entered. Director Ron Howard judged the Creative entries; Blue Sky Studios judged the Animation entries; film producer Clay Pecorin judged the Documentary entries; film and television composer Jeff Cardoni judged the Music Video entries; and journalist Gretchen Carlson judged the Public Service Announcements.

The top five submissions in each category will be screened, and winners will be announced. Additionally, one of the final top five will be chosen as the overall winner of the Greenwich Youth Film Festival.

The event is free but tickets are required. Thursday, April 26, is the last day to reserve tickets online at the Junior League of Greenwich website. Remaining tickets will be available on Saturday at Cole Auditorium at noon.

Bob Smith returns to Greenwich Library with his popular "Nights with Shakespeare" series, this time focusing on As You Like It. Participants will meet in the Cole Auditorium every Wednesday at 7 p.m. from April 25 through May 30.

Shakespeare's romantic comedy was published in First Folio in 1623 but is widely believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600. The first recorded performance of As You Like It is in 1603.

At each session Smith deftly explores the complete text line-by-line, challenging the seminar participants to thought-provoking give-and-take discussions about each play, its history, its characters and its relationships.

Library Journal called Smith "the teacher we all should have had to introduce us to Shakespeare." The Boston Globe called him "inspired and inspiring."

A New York Times profile described Smith as, "A plainspoken autodidact whose passion for Shakespeare regularly breaks attendance records." The Sunday Times Book Review called his passion, "Contagious." A third Times feature said, "When Bob Smith twinkles at full throttle there's stardust everywhere."

Smith has taught and directed Shakespeare for the Temple University Graduate Program, Kent State, The National Shakespeare Conservatory, the State University of New York, NYU Musical Theatre Works and scores of other colleges and universities.

The series is free and open to all. Free copies of the play will be given to attendees.

Grace Chang and her dragon, Jin Jin, will light up the stage in celebration of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, on April 14 at 2 p.m. in the Cole Auditorium. Chang promises an incredible celebration with puppets, magical illusions, acrobats, mime and storytelling that will touch the hearts of children, and the inner-child within us all.

Chang was born in Beijing, China, to a family of famous entertainers. At a young age, Chang learned the art of magic/illusion from her grandfather, often in the courtyards of the Forbidden City. Some years later, Chang was selected as star illusionist and ringmaster in an internationally acclaimed Chinese circus. She is a multi-talented entertainer and performer and has appeared on stage and screen in both China and the United States, including the film The Joy Luck Club.

Since the publication of her first book, Jin Jin the Dragon, Chang and Jin Jin the puppet have had readings and performed magic shows at schools and libraries throughout the country. Chang's second book, Jin Jin and Rain Wizard, has given Chang the opportunity to introduce Chinese culture, history and folklore to children all over the world through her books and colorful stage shows.

This program is made possible through the support of the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees and contributions by generous donors. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first seated. For more information, please contact Yang Wang at (203) 622-7924. You can follow Greenwich Library on Twitter @GWLibrary or find us on Facebook by searching Greenwich Library.

John Gorka, described by Rolling Stone magazine as "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement," will perform at the Cole Auditorium on Sunday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m., as part of the Peterson Concert series. Gorka was first exposed to legendary folk troubadours like Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt as a soundman at Godfrey Daniels, one of the oldest and most venerable music institutions in eastern Pennsylvania.
Gorka has toured around the world and extensively in Europe covering Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany. Many well known artists have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black and Maura O'Connell. Gorka has also worked with Ani DiFranco, Lucy Kaplansky, John and Rob Genadek, and Patty Larkin among other noted musicians. His video for the single "When She Kisses Me" was in long-term rotation on VH1's "Current Country," as well as on CMT and the Nashville Network.
A New Jersey native, Gorka has released 11 critically acclaimed albums and one collection of works. The Peterson Concert Series is free and open to all through the support of the Peterson Foundation. Doors open at 3 p.m., seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. You can follow Greenwich Library on Twitter @GWLibrary or find us on Facebook by searching Greenwich Library.