Local
The Idols of March competition wraps up in Stamford
By Press Release
Mar 26, 2008 - 4:50:23 PM

For the past several months, students from throughout Fairfield County have been participating in free Shakespeare workshops presented by Curtain Call, Stamford ’s longest-running community-based theatre company. From all those participants, 20 finalists have been selected to participate in the final round of the organization’s IDOLS OF MARCH competition which will conclude this Friday, March 28, with two young performers being cast as the most famous star-crossed lovers of all time: Romeo and Juliet. The two selected actors will play the roles in Curtain Call’s fifth annual Shakespeare on the Green presentation this coming July. The program is free to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm in The Kweskin Theatre, at the Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue , Stamford , CT 06905 .

The Idols of March program is part of Curtain Call’s outreach initiatives to bring theatre arts programming into the community. “We constantly strive to be involved in the community in more ways than just presenting live theatre,” said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call Executive Director. “Nurturing young audiences and introducing them to the works of Shakespeare through the Idols of March program is just one way that we can do that, Ursone noted. Students from the following schools have participated: Darien High School , Fairfield Ludlowe High School , New Canaan High School , New York University, Stamford High School , Tomlinson School , Trinity Catholic High, School, Westhill High School .

Through the efforts of Curtain Call Associate Artistic Director Peter Barbieri, Jr. and Education Director Brian Bianco, a curriculum was developed and offered free of charge to any Fairfield County high school that wanted it. Creating a competition based on the American Idols TV show was Barbieri’s idea. “I thought it would draw the younger crowd of performers we’ll need for this production” Barbieri said. “We wanted to be as inclusive as possible, reaching especially those students who may not regularly participate in theatre arts programming,” Ursone noted. Bianco put together a team of teaching artists and went out into the community and they have taught classes for the past few months.

“The students involved have been amazing,” said Bianco. “There is so much talent and passion among these young performers that it was very exciting to be involved in this process,” he said. “Our instructors were amazed with the work that was done by these students in such a brief time” Bianco said noting that he can’t wait for this Friday night. “The commitment that the students have shown throughout the process impressed me, so that I know whoever is cast Friday night will work hard throughout the summer,” Barbieri said.

Since Barbieri serves as the director for Curtain Call’s annual free Shakespeare presentation, he will have the final say in casting, but the first two rounds on Friday night will be judged by a panel of five theatre artists, including Chad Rabinovitz (Director of the Westport Country Playhouse upcoming production The Pavillion) and Pam Brown (Shakespearean scholar and professor at UConn). Other judges include local stage director Joel Fenster who recently directed Julius Caesar for The Darien Players, and actors Kimberly Lowden and J. Kevin Smith, who have appeared in past Shakespeare on the Green presentations.

The ten participating finalist couples will each present a scene that they’ve prepared then will be critiqued and offered suggestions. The group will be paired down to five couples who will each present a scene from Romeo and Juliet. The final 6 finalists (three couples) will do the same scene from Romeo and Juliet but with different partners. All six finalists will be offered roles in the show.

Curtain Call is the non-profit community-based theatre company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue , Stamford , CT , providing year-round live productions as well as theatre arts educational workshops for youth and adults. Voted BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP 2005, 2006 and 2007 by the readers of Fairfield County Weekly and Best Performing Arts Group 2008 by the readers of StamfordPlus magazine Funding is provided by many local corporations, foundations and individuals, not the least of which is The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. For more information, call 203-329-8207 or go to www.curtaincallinc.com.

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