<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>FC Buzz Weekend April 19-April 21</strong></p><p>HamletHub is proud to partner with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and FCBuzz to Elevate Arts and Culture in Fairfield County! Each week, look for a listing of weekend events and activities. The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the arts and culture across 15 towns in coastal Fairfield County. Sign up to receive a free eBuzz newsletter with top picks and spotlight events from the hundreds of events posted on FCBuzz.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/poetry-workshop-with-westport-poet-laureate-jessica-mcentee" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Poetry Workshop With Westport Poet Laureate</strong></a></p><p><strong>MoCA Westport</strong></p><p>Friday Apr 19, 6:00 pm - 12:00 am</p><p>April is National Poetry Month, and Westport’s Poet Laureate, Jessie McEntee, will lead you through a generative workshop inspired by the artwork at MoCA, and she’ll share some favorite ekphrastic poems. If time allows, participants might have a chance to read aloud from their notes and receive positive and encouraging feedback. Leave with building blocks for a new piece. Return with Jessie on the following Friday for MoCA Some Noise (April 26th at 6:30), an open mic for registered participants that promises laughter and connection. Share the ekphrastic poem that you’ve had a week to polish, or any other piece!</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/symphony-of-sorrowful-songs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Symphony of Sorrowful Songs</strong></a></p><p><strong>Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown</strong></p><p>Apr 19, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm</p><p>ORCHESTRA NEXUS invites you to a free concert, a one-night-only musical sojourn for the soul with GORECKI'S SYMPHONY NO. 3 featuring celebrated soprano Diana McVey. Górecki's Symphony No. 3 sets poems in Polish about the intense relationship between a mother and a child in times of loss. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience Górecki's unforgettable masterpiece that swept the world by storm and became an icon of the 20th century.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/ftc-presents-spafford" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>SPAFFORD</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Warehouse, Fairfield</strong></p><p>Friday Apr 19, 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm</p><p>Spafford is known for their astonishing improvisational ability and off-the-cuff extended jams, Spafford paints a picture in real-time each night with a musical palette known only to each other. It’s a private language comprising both their talent as musicians as well as their formidable catalog of influences, spanning 90’s alt-rock radio hits to Steely Dan and The Crystal Method.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/earth-day-weekend/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Earth Day Weekend</strong></a></p><p><strong>Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk</strong></p><p>Saturday and Sunday, Apr 20 to Apr 21, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm</p><p>Did you know? Earth Day is recognized as the biggest civic event on our planet! Since its founding in 1970, Earth Day has inspired billions of people to make a difference for our environment and our future. This Earth Day weekend, join us at Stepping Stones to explore the wonders of the natural world and discover how you can become an everyday Earth hero.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/pequot-presents-alien-a-documentary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Alien | A Documentary</strong></a></p><p><strong>Pequot Library, Southport</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 20, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>Join director and producer Vidyut Latay for a special screening of Alien, a documentary about legal, high-skilled immigration to the United States. Follow five Indian immigrants to the United States as they construct new lives for themselves and their families, Alien presents a human face to the immigration issues facing the United States.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/the-lions-gate-trio-at-fairfield-public-library/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>The Lions Gate Trio</strong></a></p><p><strong>Fairfield Public Library</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 20, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>Join the Library's trio-in-residence, Lions Gate Trio, for their last performance of the season, "Visions from France." The concert traces the near-constant transformation in music from France over the years, with pieces by French composer Chausson, his friend Gabriel Faure, and more recently, Christophe Bertrand.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/opening-reception-for-first-ladies-paintings-by-tina-sarno/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Opening reception for First Ladies: Paintings by Tina Sarno</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Gallery at Still River Editions, Danbury</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 20, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>First Ladies is an exhibition of oil paintings by Tina Sarno of Silvermine, Connecticut. Sarno began</p><p>painting the series in 2018 at the suggestion of a friend, and she has painted over thirty-five to this date. When painting, Sarno seeks out historical portraits and biographical details for inspiration, revealing things that may not come out in a formal portrait. For example, one of her most recent works shows Grace Coolidge with her pet raccoon, Rebecca.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/cinderella-bd0c6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Cinderella</strong></a></p><p><strong>Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 20, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm</p><p>The timeless story of Cinderella and her journey to find love and happiness with the handsome Prince Charming, but this is unlike any Cinderella you’ve ever seen! Cinderella’s her wicked step mother and stepsisters try everything they can to keep Cinderella from attending Prince Charming’s Royal Ball, but with a little help from a magical fairy Godmother, Cinderella makes it to the Ball for a night she will never forget.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/transcendence-triumph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Transcendence &amp; Triumph</strong></a></p><p><strong>Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School</strong></p><p>Saturday, Apr 20, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm</p><p>Join the Greenwich Choral Society for its April Concert, featuring works by Franz Joseph Haydn, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Eric Whitacre and Ola Gjeilo.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/ftc-presents-the-zambonis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>The Zambonis</strong></a></p><p><strong>StageOne, Fairfield</strong></p><p>Saturday Apr 20, 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm</p><p>The Zambonis are a Connecticut-based indie rock band formed in 1991 by musicians Dave Schneider (The LeeVees), Peter Katis, Jon Aley, and Tarquin Katis. The Zambonis write songs exclusively about ice hockey. Schneider says of the band's musical style: “We’re the only band in the world whose two biggest influences are The Beatles and Wayne Gretzky!”</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/2024-spring-speaker-series-mountains-volcanoes-continental-rifts-how-connecticuts-geologic-past-has-shaped-our-modern-landscape/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Mountains, Volcanoes &amp; Continental Rifts: How Connecticut’s Geologic Past Has Shaped Our Modern Landscape</strong></a></p><p><strong>Fairfield Museum</strong></p><p>Sunday Apr 21, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm</p><p>Connecticut’s modern landscape is the product of our fascinating geologic past. The geologic history of our state is preserved in the bedrock and landforms of the region and spans approximately one billion years of Earth’s history. In this talk, we will explore the processes of mountain building and continental rifting that formed the bedrock of our state. We will also discuss how erosion and past glacial activity have modified our landscape and produced features such as Long Island Sound.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/noahs-new-ark-an-earth-day-musicalia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Noah’s New Ark, an Earth Day Musicalia</strong></a></p><p><strong>Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Bridgeport</strong></p><p>Sunday Apr 21, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm</p><p>Celebrate Earth Day with this engaging show. This show is a folk concert with a message, including ideas for a sustainable future for humans and non-humans to live and prosper. This Musicalia blends folk songs, including sing-alongs, readings, poetry, and humor. Consider it a “revels” for the environment. Not recommended for youngsters, it is PG-14, due to adult environmental issues.</p><p><a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/event/artist-reception-for-dana-phelan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Artist Reception for Dana Phelan</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Meetinghouse, Ridgefield</strong></p><p>Sunday Apr 21, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm</p><p>Don’t miss the opening of Pattern Language. Dana Phelan is a New England based artist working with light and nature, altered photographs, and sometimes physical paint and collage. Show runs 4/15 – 5/27</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/ann-talman-elizabeth-taylor-and-the-shadow-of-her-smile" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor And The Shadow Of Her Smile</strong></a></p><p><strong>Westport Country Playhouse</strong></p><p>Sunday Apr 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm</p><p>Get ready for this cabaret show directed by Bistro and MAC Award winners Lina Koutrakos with musical direction by Alex Rybeck.</p><p>See these and discover hundreds more events on the <a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">FCBUZZ EVENTS</a> page at <a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://culturalalliancefc.org</a> Sign up for the <a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cultural Alliance eBuzz</a> to receive top picks and spotlights each week in your inbox.</p>

<p>Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is thrilled to announce the opening of the Community Corner for the 2024 season. Community Corner offers a unique opportunity for local small businesses, crafters, and artists to connect with a broader audience by showcasing their products every weekend from 10am to 3pm, from April until October.</p><p>Community Corner is designed to bring the vibrant spirit of farmer's markets and vendor fairs to the heart of the zoo, providing a pop-up shop space available for rent. This initiative not only supports local businesses but also enhances the zoo experience, offering guests a chance to explore and purchase unique products in a charming farmstand setting.</p><p>Participants from the previous seasons have included a diverse group of 19 businesses ranging from artisanal crafters like Gemini Gems by Erica and Letter Story Bracelets, to specialty shops such as Ray of Rye Scents and Nath Soap Company. The variety continues with Enchanted Wishes, Artist Kim B, Team Woofgang and Co, Park City Harvest, Bark and Vine, Sound Style Rugs, and more.</p><p>Businesses interested in participating in Community Corner should note that all food products require licenses and permits approved by Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and the City of Bridgeport’s Health Department.</p><p>For more information or to reserve your space, please contact Lindsay Durkee at&nbsp;<a href="https://mailto:ldurkee@beardsleyzoo.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">ldurkee@beardsleyzoo.org</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>Westport, CT - ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has always been at the cutting edge of his field, recognized globally as a leader in sports media.</strong></p><p><strong>On&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://westportlibrary.org/event/startup-westport-innovator-of-the-year-award-honoring-espn-ceo-jimmy-pitaro-a-benefit-for-the-westport-library/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Tuesday, April 30</a>, he will be honored for his vision and contributions to sport and society with the inaugural&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startupwestport.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">StartUp Westport</a>&nbsp;Innovator of the Year Award.</p><p>The event will be held at 6:30 pm in the Trefz Forum at The Westport Library.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-westport-innovator-of-the-year-award-espn-chairman-jimmy-pitaro-tickets-865695597837" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Tickets are $25</a>&nbsp;in advance or $30 at the door, with the net proceeds going to benefit the Library.</p><p>The&nbsp;StartUp Westport&nbsp;Innovator of the Year Award is an annual honor given to a member of the greater Westport community whose work exemplifies the ability to embrace opportunities, forward-looking ideas, or technologies that shape the future for the betterment of the lives of others. For its first edition,&nbsp;this “Big Show” for&nbsp;StartUp Westport&nbsp;will focus on Pitaro, a business leader responsible for the continued success of ESPN, an iconic brand that is always part of the national conversation.</p><p>ESPN sports personality and Westport resident Mike Greenberg will interview Pitaro about his accomplishments during the awards ceremony.</p><p>“We could not be more excited to present this award to Jimmy for his outstanding contributions to the greater Westport community and beyond,” said Cliff Sirlin, president of StartUp Westport. “ESPN brings joy and excitement into the homes of hundreds of millions of people around the globe every day. Jimmy’s dynamic leadership and groundbreaking initiatives make him a worthy recipient of this honor.”</p><p>Said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer,&nbsp;“Jimmy Pitaro stands at the very pinnacle of his profession — someone who has indelibly changed how we consume sports as a society and who has shaped our culture in countless ways.&nbsp;We are thrilled to welcome him, and of course also the multi-talented Mike Greenberg, and to continue our collaboration with Startup Westport. Their partnership is invaluable, enhancing the fabric of Westport and its surrounding communities.”&nbsp;</p><p>Pitaro serves as the chairman of ESPN, a core business segment of The Walt Disney Company. His tenure at the worldwide leader in sports has been characterized by strategic advancements, innovative agreements, notable growth in ESPN’s digital and social presence, and a focus on audience expansion, solidifying his position as a visionary leader in the sports media landscape.</p><p>Pitaro, who has a BS in economics from Cornell University and a JD from St. John's University School of Law, has piloted ESPN to creative rights agreements with major entities like the NFL and UFC, expanded Disney's sports assets, achieved ratings success with shows like SportsCenter and ESPN's signature programs, and spearheaded the launch and growth of ESPN+, a multi-sport direct-to-consumer video service. He also is credited with identifying key business priorities — including innovation, storytelling, audience expansion, and direct-to-consumer strategies — and implementing a collaborative leadership style that resulted in impressive employee engagement and performance during challenging times.</p><p>In addition, Pitaro actively serves on various industry and charitable boards, showcasing his commitment to community engagement and industry development.</p><p>For his efforts, Pitaro was recognized by&nbsp;<em>Sports Business Journal</em>&nbsp;with inclusion in its prestigious “Forty Under 40” list for his dynamic leadership in sports and as its Sports Executive of the Year for 2019-20. He was also honored as the Multichannel News Sports Executive of the Year in 2018.</p><p>Greenberg is the host of the daily morning show&nbsp;<em>Get Up</em>, the NFL Draft,&nbsp;<em>NBA Countdown</em>, and his own ESPN radio program. He joined ESPN in 1996 as an anchor and subsequently served as one half of ESPN Radio’s&nbsp;<em>Mike and Mike</em>, one of the most successful sports radio programs in broadcast history. In 2016, Greenberg and his radio partner Mike Golicwere inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and Greenberg has also been inducted into Northwestern University’s Medill Hall of Achievement.</p><p>In addition, Greenberg is a&nbsp;<em>New York Times</em>&nbsp;best-selling author who has written two nonfiction books —&nbsp;<em>Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot</em>&nbsp;(2007) and&nbsp;<em>Mike &amp; Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life</em>&nbsp;— as well as two fiction volumes —&nbsp;<em>All You Could Ask For</em>&nbsp;(2013) and&nbsp;<em>My Father’s Wives</em>&nbsp;(2015).The money raised at the April 30 event will go to support the Library’s annual programming initiatives. Over the past year, the Library has hosted more than 1,000 free programs, bringing together 85,000-plus individuals — three times Westport’s population. Overall, donations and fundraising account for more than 21% of the Library’s operating costs and go to support, programming, events, and other initiatives.</p><p><strong>Registration link:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-westport-innovator-of-the-year-award-espn-chairman-jimmy-pitaro-tickets-865695597837" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-westport-innovator-of-the-year-award-espn-chairman-jimmy-pitaro-tickets-865695597837</a></p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Voices Cafe presents Jesse Terry and Sam Robbins in an amazing co-bill</span></p><p class="ql-align-center"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saturday, May 4th at 8pm</span></p><p>On Saturday May 4, 2024, at 8pm, Westport CT’s Voices Cafe will host the co-bill of Jesse Terry and <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sam Robbins.</span></p><p>Jesse Terry, a full-time touring artist for well over a decade, and Wilton CT native, promises a touching performance that will resonate deeply in the hearts of audiences. John Platt of WFUV shares <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Jesse Terry is a gentle soul with a formidable songwriting talent and a clear artistic vision.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This concert support social justice programs in our local community, under the guidance of The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport. This concert will be held at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport located at 10 Lyons Plains Road.</span></p><p><a href="https://voicescafe.org/show/live-in-person-damn-tall-buildings/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tickets and Information: </a> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Concert date is Saturday May 4th, doors open at 7:30pm, showtime is 8:00pm. Tickets and information are available at </span><a href="https://voicescafe.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://voicescafe.org/</a></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Concert admission is $25 per ticket. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Voices Cafe concerts offer a BYO setting with a choice of coffee-house style seating at tables or individual seating. Guests can bring their own beverages and snacks; coffee and sweet treats will also be available for purchase. Groups of four or more can reserve table space.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A portion of the venue proceeds will benefit social justice programs in our local community.</span></p>

<p><strong>Westport Country Playhouse Presents “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” from May 3 – 5</strong></p><p><strong>&nbsp;Written by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes, the play explores the “notorious RBG” with humor and heart.</strong></p><p>Westport Country Playhouse will present “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” a one-woman play written by Tony Award-winning playwright Rupert Holmes and directed by Laley Lippard, for three performances, Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m.</p><p>"I believe ‘All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’ will bring together the audience and the glorious RBG in an enlightening and touching encounter with the remarkable person behind the initials,” said playwright Rupert Holmes. "’All Things Equal’ offers each theatergoer the chance to better know this woman, her yearning for equality, and her love for this nation's precious institutions: Ruth ... Justice ... and the American way.”</p><p>In “All Things Equal,” Court Justice “RBG,” played by Michelle Azar, welcomes a friend of the family to her cozy chambers to convey a sense of her life and its many trials: losing her mother the day before she graduated as valedictorian of her Brooklyn high school, being one of only nine young women studying law at Harvard while also raising a daughter and helping her husband battle cancer, fighting for women’s rights in the 1970s before condescending all-male courts, and taking courageous stands for human rights as a voice of reason amid a splintering and increasingly politicized Supreme Court.</p><p>&nbsp;“All Things Equal” is the story of an icon of straight-thinking American justice - an RBG who is not only “notorious” but victorious as she takes a stand for ordinary people facing the many challenges of a changing world.</p><p>&nbsp;<strong>Michelle Azar</strong>&nbsp;will portray Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She received an MA and BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and started working immediately as Janis Joplin in “Beehive.” She received Ovation Awards for her roles in both dramatic and comedic roles with her theatre company, Neurotic Young Urbanites, and was the 2016 Stage Raw Award winner for Best Actress in Eric Coble’s “My Barking Dog” at the Boston Court Theatre. Other favorite stage credits Bella in “Lost in Yonkers,” Berte in “Boeing, Boeing,” Masha in “Mayakovsky and Stalin,” “The Awakening of Spring,” and the creation of Constance Lily in the recent hit musical “Bronco Billy.” Select television and film credits include “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Magicians,” “Aquarius,” “Community,” and the recently released film, “Senior Moment” with Jean Smart and William Shatner. Azar is no stranger to the one-woman show, as her own original piece, “From Baghdad to Brooklyn,” continues to tour around the country after its sold-out premiere at the United Solo Festival in New York City.</p><p>&nbsp;Playwright&nbsp;<strong>Rupert Holmes</strong>&nbsp;has worked as a composer, singer, songwriter, playwright, and author. After receiving his education from the Manhattan School of Music, he began recording his own music. His 1974 album “Widescreen” was a hit and Barbra Streisand used some of the songs in her movie “A Star Is Born.” Holmes went on to write songs for five more Streisand albums and had multiple singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1985, he wrote the musical, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” loosely based on a Charles Dickens novel and won multiple Tony Awards, among other honors. Some of his other successful theater works include “Say Goodnight, Gracie,” “Curtains,” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray."</p><p>&nbsp;Director&nbsp;<strong>Laley Lippard</strong>&nbsp;is a director, creative producer, and educator. Lippard has directed and collaborated with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and Guthrie Theater, among others. World Premiere directing projects include Matt Pelfry’s “Pure Shock Value,” Eric Coble’s “These Mortal Hosts,” and the National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere of David Valdes’ “The Mermaid Hour.” Lippard was the co-founder and co-executive producer of The Chicago Home Theater Festival, a five-year, city-wide artistic network and annual event. She has taught, workshopped, and directed at many universities nationwide. Lippard is a member of the National Directors Fellowship and Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and holds an MFA in directing from Northwestern University.</p><p>&nbsp;Tickets are $45, $50, and $55.&nbsp;Running time is 95 minutes; no intermission. For full details, visit:</p><p><a href="https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/all-things-equal-the-life-and-trials-of-ruth-bader-ginsburg/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/all-things-equal-the-life-and-trials-of-ruth-bader-ginsburg/</a></p><p>&nbsp;A pre-show program for families, Together at the Table, on Friday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m., affords parents and their children an opportunity to enjoy a communal pizza dinner in the Playhouse’s rehearsal barn before attending the performance together. The discounted ticket, at $15 per person, includes dinner and show. Participants must attend as a family group with student-age children; limited availability.&nbsp;For reservations, call the Playhouse box office at 203-227-4177.&nbsp;The Together at the Table series is sponsored by Paige and Jodi Couture.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>WESTPORT, CT – The Westport Young Women's League (WYWL) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting its Grants Awards Luncheon featuring celebrity chef and guest speaker Lidia Bastianich. The fundraiser luncheon will be held on April 29 from 11:30 am – 2:30pm at the beautiful Branson Hall at Christ &amp; Holy Trinity Church, 75 Church Lane, Westport, CT.&nbsp;Cuisinart®, the popular home cookware and countertop kitchen appliance division of Conair LLC based in Stamford, Connecticut, is the official sponsor of the luncheon.</p><p>Bastianich is an Emmy award-winning public television host, best-selling cookbook author, successful restaurateur and the owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. She has published numerous cookbooks in addition to hosting her Emmy-winning television series&nbsp;<em>Lidia’s Kitchen</em>,&nbsp;<em>Lidia’s Italy in America</em>, and&nbsp;<em>Lidia’s Italy</em>.&nbsp;Among the numerous awards and accolades, Lidia has earned seven James Beard Awards and two Emmy Awards. In 2022, Lidia received the Silver Award from APT for 25 years on Public Television.&nbsp;</p><p>Bastianich expressed her enthusiasm about the Luncheon stating, “It is my pleasure to join The Westport Young Woman’s League for their Grants Lunch gala.&nbsp;I recall being a young immigrant to the United States and how our caring neighbors and local organizations gave my family support and advice while starting our new life. I know firsthand the impact of such generosity and the power of community in cultivating a successful future.&nbsp;It is my pleasure to be part of such a wonderful cause!&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color: rgb(52, 52, 52);">The luncheon event is a new fundraiser of the WYWL,&nbsp;</span>a nonprofit philanthropic organization based in Westport, CT since 1956 that also hosts the popular Minute Man Road Race and CraftWestport, its longstanding Westport-based fundraisers that support their community grants program.</p><p>“Each year, the WYWL grants program awards money to the most deserving nonprofits in lower Fairfield County who demonstrate a worthy project or need that aligns with one of three categories we support, namely: providing good health and well-being to the community, providing quality educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth and supporting underserved women with little to no means,” said Julianne Bochinski, Grants Director for the WYWL and also Chief Trademark Counsel for Conair, LLC.&nbsp;</p><p>“The luncheon promises to be a special curated culinary experience featuring select recipes from Lidia Bastianich herself. Guests will enjoy what we are calling ‘an elegant rustic lunch in Tuscany - Westport-style’ as we raise our glasses to celebrate the work of our wonderful 2024 Grants Award recipients,” Bochinski continued.</p><p><br></p><p>The lunch will begin with a one-hour reception for VIP ticket holders, who will get to chat with Lidia Bastianich, take photos, receive a personalized autographed copy of Lidia’s latest book,&nbsp;<em>“Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours”,&nbsp;</em>and enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by lunch in the main hall. General Admission ticket holders will enjoy lunch in the main hall featuring Lidia as guest speaker and will be eligible to purchase and receive a personalized autographed copy of Lidia’s book.In addition, all guests will receive an Italian cuisine themed gift from Cuisinart and are invited to purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Cuisinart® Custom 14-cup food processor that is currently the #1 Cuisinart®&nbsp;top selling food processor and ideal for making homemade pizza andpasta dough, pesto, sauce, shredding cheese, and more.&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">“Cuisinart is thrilled to sponsor this wonderful cuisine-centric fundraiser that will bring the community together to support a cause that benefits some truly worthwhile local nonprofits right here in lower Fairfield County,” said Shawn Killeen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cuisinart®&nbsp;Electrics.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To learn more about Cuisinart’s full product offerings, please visit:&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.cuisinart.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">www.cuisinart.com</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;and follow @cuisinart on Instagram.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify">Since the inception of The Westport Young Woman’s League they have provided grants totaling close to $5 million to nonprofits in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut, with over half that amount distributed in the past decade alone. Net ticket sale proceeds from “Lunch with Lidia” - the WYWL Grants Awards Luncheon event sponsored by Cuisinart® - will go directly into the WYWL community grants program to be awarded to future grant award winners. The 2024 WYWL Grant Award winners are: A Better Chance Westport, Caroline House, McGivney Community Center, CLASP Homes, Circle of Care, Club 203, Circle of Friends, the Levitt Pavilion and the Westport Farmer’s Market. </p><p class="ql-align-justify">VIP Tickets are available for purchase at $300 each and General Admission Tickets are $175 each. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, please visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wywl.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);"><strong>www.wywl.com</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;or visit:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://bit.ly/WYWLLidiaBastianich" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">http://bit.ly/WYWLLidiaBastianich</a></p><p><br></p>