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Fall for Us
Autumn 2007 at Charter Oak Cultural Center

Date Event Description
Thursday, September 6 at 5:30 p.m. Gallery Opening: Looking Back, Looking Forward This exhibit by Jill Henderson Pasanen shows the artist's movement, over the last ten years, from early watercolors to mixed media collage. Exhibit runs through October 26. Wine and hors d'oeuvres served. Free.
Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 p.m. Frijoles Colorados / Red Beans, written by Cristina Rebull Pradas In this outlandish comedy, an elderly couple who live locked in an abandoned mansion, find themselves in a frustrating situation-chronic hunger and the challenge of cooking red beans that were placed in a pot a century ago. To make matters worse, Federico and Matilde are hounded by an intruder and begin to speculate what will happen when the unknown 'entity' appears. Theatre of the absurd at its best! This play is part of Telón: New England's Only Spanish-Language Theatre Series and will be performed entirely in Spanish. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students. Sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Saturday, September 8 at 1:00 p.m. Open House Hartford Enjoy a master class with Spectrum in Motion Dance Theatre Ensemble. This afternoon session is part of two full days of free performances, free events, and free exhibits. Sponsored by Lincoln Financial Foundation and presented by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.
Monday, September 24 at 4:00 p.m. Sukkah Decorating Party Please come and help us decorate our sukkah, the booth built to celebrate the Jewish fall harvest of Sukkot. Refreshments will be served and fun will be had. Free.
Thursday, September 27, Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Witching Hour - Judy Dworin Dance Performance Ensemble Join the Judy Dworin Performance Project, in collaboration with the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society, for the premiere of The Witching Hour as history is brought to the present through the stories of 1600's Hartford-area women accused of being witches. The Witching Hour challenges the silencing of non-conformist voices historically and in the present moment as it raises the gender implications of Hartford's own witchcraze. Larger than life-size puppets, sets, and costumes by Anne Cubberly create a visual landscape for this innovative blend of dance, text and music for which the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble is known. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students.
Sunday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. Gathering of the Tribal Moon Drummers, dancers, musicians and others will gather around every full moon to participate in a truly tribal experience. We will start with basic Middle-Eastern rhythms to get the dancers moving and see where we go from there. Please bring instruments, the desire to dance or the enthusiasm to share in a tribal experience. Extra drums and other percussion will be available as well. Free.
Thursday, October 4 at 5:30 p.m.

EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31

Gallery Opening: The Anne Frank House

Come, walk through a life-size replica of the Secret Annex of what has become known as The Anne Frank House, where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary. Down to the upholstery on the couch and the pictures on the walls, this model will give you an accurate feel for what it was like to live confined in that house. Accompanying educational materials will help visitors better contextualize what they are experiencing. Exhibit runs through December 31. $5 suggested donation.
Thursday, October 4 at 5:30 p.m. Small Gallery Opening: Chuppat Shalom, Shelters of Peace This exhibit of magnificent chuppot (wedding canopies), designed and created by Michal Ayalon, features enchanting colored and textured fabrics in uniquely handcrafted designs that are influenced by the Shuks (markets) of the Middle East and the sunsets of the Sonora Desert in Arizona. Exhibit runs through December 31. Wine and hors d'oeuvres served. Free.
Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CaBaReT SoiRee! Featuring Zagnut Cirkus Orkestar, Dalia Carella and Melange Gitan This day's events feature two workshops (10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) with Dalia Carella, a world-renowned Near/Middle Eastern contemporary dancer, choreographer, instructress and global fusion artist. Her mystical and innovative dances and choreographies are taken from the tradition of the Near and Middle East including Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, as well as the North African countries of Morocco and Algeria. In the evening, a full-length dance spectacle will be hosted by Melange Gitan. Dalia will perform as will ZAGNUT CIRKUS ORKESTAR, a Brooklyn-based 6-piece ensemble specializing in traditional Balkan brass band music, combining elements of Greek, Turkish, Middle Eastern, Roma (gypsy) music and jazz. Come, deepen your understanding of the music and cultures of the Balkan region. Tickets for the performance are $15 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students. Workshops are $45 each or $80 for both.
Saturday, October 13 at 8:00 p.m. MotherSON Jeffrey Solomon's semi-autobiographical solo play depicting a mother and son's evolving relationship as they navigate the coming out journey has been hailed by critics across the country as funny, poignant, powerful and tender. Mr. Solomon plays the dual roles of mother and son in a performance the Chicago Tribune calls "powerfully personal, yet universal as family values." Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students.
Sunday, October 14 at 4:00 p.m. The Abu Ghraib Project Over the past three years, Daniel Heyman has used his art to investigate the torture of Iraqis by American personnel at Abu Ghraib Prison. Traveling to Jordan and Turkey with American lawyers, Heyman has met with dozens of victims of torture, and has created portraits of many of these Iraqis that open our eyes to the true human cost of this war. Heyman will bring examples of the project and will discuss his experience. $5 suggested donation.
Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. Chocolate and Wine Tasting Event! Charter Oak is proud to host a unique and exciting fundraiser featuring gourmet chocolatier, Diane Wagemann (Divine Treasures, Manchester, CT) and wine expert, Andrew Miner (Worldwide Wine Cellars, Vernon, CT). Excite and satisfy your taste buds as well as your conscience with vegan wine and gourmet chocolate that is organic, vegan, and fair trade! This fundraiser is to benefit the Compassionate Living Project (CLP), a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization that advocates ethical consumerism by cultivating critical thinking about consumer choices and empowering individuals with practical suggestions to practice sustainable and compassionate living.
Thursday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. Yiddishe Mamas: What We Learn About Jewish Mothers From the Story of Sophie Tucker and Others - A Lecture by Joyce Antler Joyce Antler, the Samuel Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture at Brandeis University, will talk about Yiddishe Mamas in the context of her new book You Never Call! You Never Write!: A History of the Jewish Mother. This lecture will take place at the Jewish Historical Society, 333 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, CT. That same evening, view the exhibit "Hartford Remembers: Sophie Tucker, The Last Red Hot Mama." $10.00 donation, $30.00 for patron wine, cheese and dessert reception. Call JHS at 860.727.6171 for more information.
Friday, October 19 at 8:00 p.m. Rock yer Socks Presents... A night of indie music with bands TBA. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. $6, $5 with a can of food for donation to Hartford Food Not Bombs. More info at www.rockyersocks.org
Sunday, October 21 at 4:00 p.m. Second Avenue Serenade: A Musical Journey Through the Lower East Side Acclaimed New York cabaret singer, Shelley Shields, performs songs from the Yiddish stage and screen, plus a wide range of folk and popular music that came out of that unique neighborhood in the earlier part of the 20th century. Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, Sammy Cahn, Irving Caesar, Abraham Goldfaden, Sholom Secunda, Abe Ellstein, Molly Picon, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker are just some of the illustrious names that emerged from the bustling, teeming streets of old New York. Many of them will be celebrated in this loving tribute to a unique place where talent and creativity triumphed over poverty, struggle and adversity. Tickets are $18 general admission, $12 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students.
Wednesday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m. Rock yer Socks Presents... A night of indie music with Aids Wolf, Old Time Relijun, Space Bop, DXB and more. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. $6, $5 with a can of food for donation to Hartford Food Not Bombs. More info at www.rockyersocks.org
Thursday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. The Miller Reel Jewish Woman Award Join us for the birth of a tradition! Starting this year, at every Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture, we will honor the work of a Jewish woman filmmaker. Our first honoree is Diane Nerwen. Ms. Nerwen is a video artist and media arts educator who has shown her work internationally, including screenings at the Berlin Film Festival, the New York Video Festival at Lincoln Center, the Guggenheim Museum, NY and the Tate Modern, London. Her work raises serious issues with humor and insight and will undoubtedly spur wonderful discussion which Ms. Nerwen will lead after the screening of several of her short films. Funded by the Miller Family Foundation. $5 general admission.
Friday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. Gathering of the Tribal Moon Drummers, dancers, musicians and others will gather around every full moon to participate in a truly tribal experience. We will start with basic Middle-Eastern rhythms to get the dancers moving and see where we go from there. Please bring instruments, the desire to dance or the enthusiasm to share in a tribal experience. Extra drums and other percussion will be available as well. Free.
Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. For Art's Sake, for Our Sake: An Animated Lecture on the Usefulness of Art: Liz Lerman Cultural difference is at the heart of many present-day misunderstandings, but culture can also be a vibrant source of solutions for contemporary life. Animated by excerpts from her company's repertory of groundbreaking dance works, choreographer Liz Lerman will discuss art as a force for change and a source of beauty (even as we redefine what beauty means). Tickets are $18 general admission, $12 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students.
Thursday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. Dancing in the Moonlight: A Benefit Performance to Support Dance at Charter Oak Charter Oak is proud to be home to seven local dance companies. To help nourish and support Dance at Charter Oak, these companies will each perform an example of their creative, innovative, beautiful work. The evening will conclude with a post-performance dessert reception during which you will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the choreographers, performers and other attendees. Tickets are $100 for performance and dessert reception.
Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Greater Hartford Artists' Open Studio Weekend

Charter Oak is excited to be an Open Studio location for this annual showcase of area artists. For more information about featured artists and other locations, visit the Open Studio website. All Open Studio locations are free and open to the public.

Because of the Veteran's Day parade on Sunday, here are some alternate directions:

To go to Charter Oak Cultural Center:

From 91 South: Take the Airport Road/Brainard Road/Brainard Airport Road exit. Go right onto Airport Road. Go Right onto Wethersfield Ave. Wethersfield turns into Main Street. Take Right onto Charter Oak Ave. Charter Oak Cultural Center will be on your right, at 21 Charter Oak Ave. Utilize street parking.

From 91 North: Take the Airport Road/Brainard Road/Brainard Airport Road exit. Go left onto Brainard Road. Go left onto Airport Road. Go Right onto Wethersfield Ave. Wethersfield turns into Main Street. Take Right onto Charter Oak Ave. Charter Oak Cultural Center will be on your right, at 21 Charter Oak Ave. Utilize street parking.

From 84 West: Go to 91 South. Use directions above labeled “From 91 South”

From 84 East: Take the Prospect Ave exit. Go left onto Prospect Ave. Take a right onto Park Street. Turn left onto Main Street. Take Right onto Charter Oak Ave. Charter Oak Cultural Center will be on your right, at 21 Charter Oak Ave. Utilize street parking.

Sunday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. Music of Terezin During the Holocaust, music by Jewish composers was banned from public performance, but as part of the Nazi's manical propaganda machine, it was performed in the Czech Concentration Camp, Terezin. The Karas String Quartet will perform a moving tribute to that once forbidden music. Tickets are $18 general admission, $12 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students.
Thursday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m. Opening Reception: Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance in the Face of Persecution: The Ongoing Oppression of Falun Gong Practitioners in China The works in this international exhibit explore the beauty of a life lived in keeping with a higher order - a life elevated by its accord with truth, compassion, tolerance - while depicting, in turn, the grim realities of the cruel persecution that practitioners of Falun Gong have faced at the hands of China's Communist regime. Exhibit runs through December 21. Wine and hors d'oeuvres served. Free.
Thursday, November 8, Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. Bahay Kubo - Spectrum in Motion Dance Theatre Ensemble Bahay Kubo refers to a modest and simple traditional Filipino home made of a straw thatched roof supported by bamboo stilts. This concert is about how home is where our hearts live. Spectrum in Motion celebrates it's 25th anniversary by revisiting favorite repertory, creating new work, calling out to former company dancers, recruiting new ones, and watching current Company dancers mature into beautiful movers. Bahay Kubo is about how each of us is tied together, regardless of time and space. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students
Sunday, November 11 Sixth Annual Interfaith, Multi-Cultural Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass") Remembrance Part I 4:00 p.m. at Center Church, 60 Gold Street in Hartford CONCORA: Music of Remembrance and Hope Music of Remembrance and Hope reflects on the tragic events of the Holocaust and honors those persecuted and lost, but also celebrates the hope of the human spirit. This powerful program of music and narration testifies to music's life-affirming power, even in the face of absolute despair. This concert will serve as a prelude to Charter Oak's Kristallnacht commemoration. Tickets are $45 preferred seating, $25 general admission and $10 for students. Discounted tickets for neighborhood residents available. Please call 860.249.1207 for more information.
Sunday, November 11 Sixth Annual Interfaith, Multi-Cultural Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass") Remembrance Part II 6:00 p.m. We will meet on the steps of Center Church for a candlelight walk to Charter Oak, where a ceremony including music, dance, ritual and the witness of Hans Stargardter, a survivor of Kristallnacht, will take place. Gather with your neighbors to remember two nights in 1938 when the terror of the Holocaust began and the streets of Germany were strewn with broken glass. In this time of growing polarization and suspicion, join us as we stand together in solidarity to affirm the gifts and blessings of diversity. Ceremony at Charter Oak will begin at 6:30 p.m., light dinner to follow. Free.
Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. Shake the World - Film & Discussion Shake the World documents how, in 1999, the Communist Party began the crackdown on the spiritual group Falun Gong in China. One woman, caught in the turmoil, finds the courage to stand up against the impending genocide. A discussion follows the film, led by Dr. Wenyi Wang, known as the "White House Heckler," for speaking out at a press conference when President Hu Jintao, Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China, visited the U.S. in 2006. $5 suggested donation.
Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m. Rock yer Socks Presents... A night of indie music with bands TBA. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. $6, $5 with a can of food for donation to Hartford Food Not Bombs. More info at www.rockyersocks.org
Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 at 8:00 p.m. Las heridas del viento

Un joven se ve obligado a ordenar y clasificar los papeles y posesiones de su padre después de la muerte de este. Entre los documentos encuentra, guardadas bajo llave, unas apasionadas cartas de amor. Más inquietante resulta descubrir de quién procede las cartas.

Dispuesto a conocer la verdad sobre su progenitor, a quien le unió siempre una fría y lejana relación, decide visitar a este desconocido sujeto, para así conocer un poco más a su padre. De este encuentro surge una extraña relación, aunque está claro que bajo las apariencias se pueden esconder otras muchas cosas...

This play is part of Telón: New England's Only Spanish-Language Theatre Series and will be performed entirely in Spanish. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students. Sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

Saturday, November 24 at 8:00 p.m. Dream House by David Lally A workshop performance directed by Jacques Lamarre. A husband, a wife, two perfect children -- all living in the house of their dreams. The fantasy of "home sweet home" begins to come crashing down when infidelities, burgeoning sexuality, bitter accusations and denial invade their seemingly idyllic existence. As the family tears itself apart, mother and son become locked inside what was once their dream house, afraid to face the reality that exists outside and unwilling to acknowledge the decay that lies within. Join Charter Oak Cultural Center after Thanksgiving for Hartford-area playwright David Lally's debut drama -- the perfect antidote to the family holiday gathering. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and $5 for students.
Sunday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. Gathering of the Tribal Moon Drummers, dancers, musicians and others will gather around every full moon to participate in a truly tribal experience. We will start with basic Middle-Eastern rhythms to get the dancers moving and see where we go from there. Please bring instruments, the desire to dance or the enthusiasm to share in a tribal experience. Extra drums and other percussion will be available as well. Free.
Tuesday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m. Compassion or Evil This beautifully crafted and powerful film is about three friends who, when growing up, dreamed of a bright future and looked up to their former teacher as a role model. But when this teacher is tortured to death for her beliefs before their eyes, how will they respond? $5 suggested donation.
Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. Hartt School Dance Division's Senior Dance Concert The University of Hartford, in collaboration with the Charter Oak Cultural Center, presents the Hartt School Dance Division's, Senior Dance Concert.  This evening will feature premiere works by Senior Dance Composition students Jenna Dannenberger, Caitlin Doody, Danielle Harper, Cassandra Malizia and Heather Lombardo, as well as solo works by guest choreographers Lorelei Li Chang, James Robey, Katie Stevinson-Nollet and Paul Monaghan. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 seniors, $5 U of H faculty, staff and students. Discounts for COCC members and Let’s Go! Tickets and Reservations: 860.249.1207
Sunday, December 2 from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Mitzvah Mall The most fun and engaging way to teach children about the joy of giving, our Mitzvah Mall will provide young people with a chance to buy gifts that are truly meaningful. Instead of shopping at the mall, why not buy crayons for an after-school program, toys for hospitalized children, food for a homeless person or clothes for a victim of domestic violence in your friend's or relative's name? Participants get to feel, in a very concrete way, the power and impact of their generosity. Holiday shopping will never be the same again. $5 suggested donation.
December 7 - December 29: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, December 16 and 30 at 2:00 p.m. Ebeneeza - HartBeat Ensemble Charter Oak's Community Arts Partner, HartBeat Ensemble, reprises their main stage production, Ebeneeza, as a testament to the true spirit of the holiday season with this provocative adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. Set in present day Greater Hartford, Ebeneeza seeks to provide some contemporary answers to the classic question of Dickens' enduring morality play -- how does a heart become so hardened? Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members, and students.
Sunday, December 9 at 3:30 p.m. Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration The children of Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium's The Creative You (TCU) Program will share in storytelling, creative writing, visual arts, music, movement, spoken word and drama. Come, view original art, poetry and writing created by students and share in the celebration of Kwanzaa, a unique African- American celebration of life which focuses on traditional African values of family, community and responsibility. Free.
Monday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: The Struggle for Freedom (Followed by Falun Gong Demonstration) December 10 has been designated as "Human Rights Day." In the spirit of the day, take advantage of the unique opportunity to listen to the stories and insights of artists and others who have been persecuted by the Chinese government simply because they are Falun Gong practitioners. The discussion will be followed by a demonstration of the exercises that are part of Falun Gong practice. Free.
Tuesday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m. Learning to Repair the World Theatrical Performance At the conclusion of our 10 week program for Jewish, Muslim and Christian high school students called Learning to Repair the World, the participants will perform an original play they have written with the guidance of HartBeat Ensemble, that explores the social justice topics they looked at: AIDS, torture, racism, poverty, issues of sexual identity, etc. Come hear and see what our future leaders have to say about these important issues. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 seniors, Charter Oak & Let*s Go! Members and students.
Friday, December 21 at 5:30 p.m. Closing of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance in the Face of Persecution: The Ongoing Oppression of Falun Gong Practitioners in China The culmination of two months of programming, this evening will be a night to reflect on what we have learned and what we can do to bring healing. A special presentation will be made by the Connecticut Chinese Culture Association, and finally, for the Winter Solstice, we will honor the return of the light with ceremony and celebration. Free.
Sunday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m. Gathering of the Tribal Moon

*** THERE ARE ONLY TWO GATHERINGS REMAINING! JANUARY WILL BE THE LAST***

Drummers, dancers, musicians and others will gather around every full moon to participate in a truly tribal experience. We will start with basic Middle-Eastern rhythms to get the dancers moving and see where we go from there. Please bring instruments, the desire to dance or the enthusiasm to share in a tribal experience. Extra drums and other percussion will be available as well. Free.

Wednesday, December 26 at 4:00 p.m. Kwanzaa Day Celebration: Umoja Join us for Hartford's biggest Kwanzaa celebration, honoring family, community and culture, presented by Charter Oak Cultural Center and Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium. Come see performances by master dancers, musicians and drummers and have the opportunity to participate in this joyous festival. Refreshments, vendors and local artists will all be on hand. Everyone is invited. Free.
Monday, December 31 First Night Hartford

Join us as Charter Oak welcomes in 2008 with live performances as part of First Night Hartford! This is Hartford's premiere New Year's Eve party, a multicultural, artistically unique experience with hundreds of professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits throughout the city. It guarantees to be an exciting evening - what better way to bid farewell to 2007! More info at www.firstnighthartford.org

KARL SALITER 2:30-3;15 p.m., 3:45-4:30 p.m.
Karl’s Comedy Circus is fast-paced, riveting comedy.  It starts with a comic monologue, and follows up with high skill circus arts, involving audience participation.  His skills include bowling ball juggling, mallet juggling, unicycles, fire eating, stilt walking, cigar box routines and more.  Don’t miss this exciting performance.

THE CONNECTICUT YOUTH SYMPHONY
6:30-7:15pm
The CT Youth Symphony is a full orchestra for advanced high school music students in the Hartford region. Join them as they perform Brandenburg Concerto's four and six by J.S. Bach, specially chosen for First Night.

HARTBEAT ENSEMBLE 8-8:45 p.m., 9:15-10 p.m.
Join Hartford’s premier up and coming theater company – Hartbeat Ensemble – as they present “Ebeneezah,” a modern twist on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, based in Hartford!  Watch the show’s main character as she follows her own past, deeply rooted in local venues and Hartford’s rich history.  Recommended for ages 12 and up. www.hartbeatensemble.org

Sunday, January 13 at 5:00 p.m. Anne Frank House Closing In the 3 1/2 months that the Anne Frank House took up residence in our gallery, many lives have been touched.  We have felt that Anne Frank’s spirit come to live with us.  Join us as we honor how much this exhibit has meant to Charter Oak and the community.  Panel discussion followed by a brief ritual of goodbye.

Friday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The Final Gathering of the Tribal Moon

***THIS IS THE FINAL GATHERING, LET'S GO OUT WITH BANG!***

“If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.” ~ Orson Welles


Drummers, Dancers, Musicians and others gather around the full moon to participate in a truly tribal experience. We will start with basic Middle-Eastern rhythms to get the dancers moving and see where we go from there. Please bring instruments, the desire to dance or the enthusiasm to share in a tribal experience. Extra drums and other percussion will be available as well. Free!