News

Video: Woodbury Ballet to perform ‘The Nutcracker’

Taking the spotlight as Clara in ‘Nutcracker’

All eyes will be on Bethlehem’s Sophie Solury as the young dancer performs the central role of Clara in Woodbury Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Woodbury Ballet will be celebrating its 45th anniversary as it stages the holiday classic at The Palace Theater in Waterbury on Saturday, Dec. 4.   Clara is the character who […]

Video: Nutmeg Ballet dancers talk about ‘The Nutcracker’

Nutmeg Ballet readies ‘The Nutcracker’ for Hartford, Torrington this month

For this year’s performance of “The Nutcracker” to be staged by the Nutmeg Ballet, the conservatory’s executive director is trying something different from past productions. Previously, the ballet school would cast two different dancers to play the central role of Clara for each night. A younger dancer would be cast as Clara as a child. […]

In the Wings: Dick Terhune brings ‘A Christmas Carol’ to life in Waterbury, Torrington

Dick Terhune will be bringing his one-man “A Christmas Carol” to area venues just in time for the holiday season. Waterbury patrons can experience Terhune’s adaptation when City Youth Theater/City Stage Company presents two performances at the Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St., on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets, […]

Theater review: ‘Deck the Halls’ with laughs at Phoenix

You can catch the world premiere of “Deck the Halls – A Christmas Collection,” a brand new comedy written by Tim Phillips of Naugatuck, at Phoenix Stage Company in Oakville. This is a silly collection of holiday-themed stories held together by the idea of a holiday party hosted by a couple who work in the […]

Chow down and laugh at ‘Earlene’s Diner’ as Seven Angels celebrates ‘Last Call for Christmas’ Dec. 6-22

The character of Earlene had a modest start. The waitress at the center of Seven Angels Theatre’s latest production, “Last Call for Christmas at Earlene’s Diner,” started off her existence as Michelle Gotay’s Halloween costume. Then Gotay, a regional actor, did a YouTube video dressed as the character. The video then caught the eye and […]

Poetry, prose of inmates featured at ‘I Wrote That’

  On Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., as part of its “I Wrote That! series, the Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury will host an evening of story, poetry, and theater, written and performed by former inmates of Garner Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison in Newtown. The presentation is based on “Closer to […]

Video: Chatting about ‘Last Call for Christmas at Earlene’s Diner’ at Seven Angels

Christmas with a Celtic kick coming to Warner, Palace

Cian Walsh of Cork, Ireland is one of the stars of “A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland,” which comes to several cities in Connecticut this month. Back at home, Walsh is champion grade Irish step dancer. But how did Walsh – who joins a team of step dancers including nine-time world champion Alliyah […]

CT Music: For those about to rock, AC/DC comes to Foxboro

Music fans will be “Thunderstruck” next spring when AC/DC heads out on the road. The legendary rock band will bring its “Power Up Tour 2025” to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. on May 4, with special guests The Pretty Reckless. Tickets are on sale Friday at noon at TicketMaster.com. Known for their electrifying energy and […]

Boomer’s Guide: Father John Misty blesses 2024

I have found the musical nexus where Broadway, a pair of Georges (Gershwin and Harrison), David Bowie and T. Rex, Bob Welch-era Fleetwood Mac and England Dan and John Ford Coley and Pink Floyd have converged. And that nexus goes by the name Father John Misty. Or rather, his stage name is Father John Misty. […]

Mattatuck hosts accordion holiday concert

The Mattatuck Museum will once again host the Connecticut Accordion Association Orchestra for a holiday concert on Saturday Dec.7, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.   A full accordion orchestra, conducted by Peter Peluso, will perform seasonal favorites. The program will also include two pieces featuring a choral ensemble of fourth and fifth grade students from […]

UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down in front of N.Y. hotel (Updated)

Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, was killed by a masked gunman early Wednesday outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown where he was expected to speak to a ballroom full of colleagues, officials said. Detectives are investigating the possibility that the gunman was lying in wait for Thompson before the shooting. Thompson, 50, was walking past […]

Today’s Edition

Freshman Strong scores 22 points to lead No. 2 UConn past Holy Cross

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Freshman Sarah Strong scored 22 points and No. 2 UConn outscored Holy Cross by 30 points in the second half of an 88-52 victory on Tuesday night. Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 points and Paige Bueckers added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists for UConn (7-0), which led 33-27 at the […]

UConn men: Hurley’s club eager to prove they’re still elite vs. Baylor

STORRS – The patience that UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley asked for from the Huskies’ fans wasn’t granted to him by the voters in the national polls this week as the two-time defending national champions slipped from No. 2 in the polls to No. 25 in the Associated Press poll and fell completely out […]

Region 20 voters OK bonding: Morris only town of four to reject $1.9M for Litchfield education debt

LITCHFIELD – Residents in the four Region 20 towns Tuesday voted 724-513 to approve the Board of Education’s request to bond $1.9 million to cover Litchfield’s existing education debt, as required by the plan that established the new school district. Litchfield passed the measure 403-213, Goshen 178-112 and Warren 79-45, while Morris rejected the request […]

History, Dec. 4

Today in History: December 4, Terry Anderson freed after nearly seven years as hostage By The Associated Press undefined Today is Wednesday, Dec. 4, the 339th day of 2024. There are 27 days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 4, 1991, after being abducted and held for nearly seven years as a […]

Morning 5: Yo Adrian!

Philly is getting ready to honor its favorite fictional son, Rocky, almost 50 years after the first movie premiered with RockyFest. Here are five things about the movies: 1) The Italian Stallion — Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for “Rocky” in three-and-a-half days, shortly after watching the championship match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner. […]

Shopping spree features boxes of Amazon returns for Friendly Hands Food Bank clients

TORRINGTON – Friendly Hands Food Bank plans to bring joy to its clients this Christmas with a shopping spree of new free stuff from Amazon. Friendly Hands Executive Director Karen Thomas said Tuesday staffers were going through boxes of Amazon returns ahead of a giveaway Thursday. “We just got in 75 Amazon boxes today,” she […]

Trump team to allow Justice to conduct background checks

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an […]

Missouri executes a man for sexually assaulting and strangling a 9-year-old girl in 2007

BONNE TERRE, Mo. – Rowan Ford knew Christopher Collings as “Uncle Chris” after he spent several months living with her family. On Tuesday, Collings was executed for sexually assaulting and killing the child, then dumping her body in a sinkhole outside a small Missouri town. Collings, 49, was put to death with a single dose […]

Democrats stick with Schumer as leader

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to […]

Yo Adrian! Philly ready to go the distance with RockyFest

PHILADELPHIA – Rocky Balboa fans are ready to go the distance – by bus, by ice skates, by 72 steps – to honor Philly’s favorite fictional fighter almost 50 years after the first movie launched the enduring series of an underdog boxer persevering despite the odds. Yo, Adrian, Philly finally did it! The city Rocky […]

Winsted officials say drinking water is fine

WINSTED — There is nothing wrong with the town’s drinking water. That was the message the town’s water department issued Tuesday via Facebook to dispel a rumor about lead in the water. “We want to assure everyone that our water is tested regularly and meets all safety standards,” the post states. “It is safe to […]

Driver charged with DUI after crashing into DOT truck on Route 8 in Naugatuck

NAUGATUCK — State police arrested a Milford man after a collision with a state Department of Transportation truck Monday on Route 8. Troop I in Bethany received reports of a crash at 2:11 p.m. on Route 8 south on the Exit 25A entrance ramp. Troopers arrived and identified Dante Maietto, 20, of Milford. He was […]

Morris man, 25, charged after exposing himself in parking lot

LITCHFIELD — A Morris man faces charges after police allege he exposed himself in a public parking lot. State police from Troop L responded to a local business Nov. 22 at 7:11 p.m. for a report of a man who exposed himself while he was in his parked vehicle. A complainant told troopers the man […]

Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s salute of veterans a show of patriotism

Patriotism is alive and well at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and School. I would like to thank Monsignor Vittorio Guerrera, Pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, for the exceptional Mass celebration on Thursday, Nov. 7 to honor all invited veterans and especially for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our […]

U.S. labor market continues to show strength

The solid job growth over the last six months, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is evidence of the significant strength of the U.S. labor market recently. The result of this job growth is that real (inflation-adjusted) incomes rebounded much faster after the COVID-19 recession than during previous economic downturns. Moreover, real wage […]