Long Wharf Theater comes to Bethany!

"Life is a stage and we are actors," so wrote the Great Bard William Shakespeare. But, how exactly do professional stage productions go from a playwright's inspiration to the grease of the stage and the cheer of the audience? Friends of the Bethany Library are hosting a special lecture and reception fundraiser on Tuesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at the Clark Memorial Library [538 Amity Road] in Bethany, that will tell the birthing story, so to speak, about Long Wharf Theater's current production of the musical Crowns - The Gospel Musical written by the award winning playwright and actress Regina Taylor. Madelyn Newman, director of education for the New Haven based theater, will also share how Long Wharf Theater selects, develops, and presents its productions. Tickets for the evening are $20 per individual or $35 for a couple. Proceeds from the event help pay the Friends of the Bethany Library fund a community pass for the Long Wharf Theater. This pass permits two individuals to free attendance at any regular Long Wharf Theater production.

Crowns - The Gospel Musical is adapted from photographer Michael Cunningham and journalist Craig Marberry's book entitled, Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats. This photography collection of African American women in their Sunday finery joins the portraits with personal testimonials weaving together their stories of faith with their choice of fashion. The musical uses these stories and traditions to tell the story of Yolanda, a young African American woman from Brooklyn, who is trying to understand her identity and place in the world after a family tragedy causes her to move to South Carolina to live with her Grandmother, Mother Shaw. The story is told as Yolanda and her Grandma's circle of friends prepare for and attend church services. In the end, Yolanda learns the rules and significance of the Sunday Crowns.

Residents of Bethany can attend performances of this musical for free by using the theater pass funded by the Friends of the Bethany Library. Working with the theater, the Friends purchase this special pass to make New Haven's theater more accessible to town residents. In its second year of usage, the pass has been used by homeschooling families, senior citizens, young couples, and recently arrived residents to the town. Almost every performance of every regular season production is attended by two Bethany residents because of the generosity of the Friends. One frequent user of the pass says, "I would never get out to the theater in New Haven without this opportunity. Being retired and on fixed income limits my world. Now I go to matinees with a friend and really enjoy being in New Haven."

The Friends of the Bethany Library, the auxiliary group of the Clark Memorial Library in Bethany, do more than provide the Long Wharf Theater pass. Toys for the weekly Ready for Reading playgroup our purchased through Friends' fundraisers. Updates to technology and cultural programs are sponsored by the Friends. Discount and free attendance passes to area museums and the Beardsley Zoo are also provided to the library for use by local patrons. Many of these passes are endowed by local families, who are members of the Friends. The Friends are able to support these community building endeavors at the library through their ongoing fundraising, which includes a permanent book sale at the library, special dining days at local restaurants, painting parties, and annual membership fees.

This is the second year of Long Wharf Theater's staff sharing insights into the world of stagecraft and the dramatic arts. The Friends of the Bethany Library hope to make this their annual crowning fundraising event. Last year's attendance did enable the Friends to fund the $500 pass to the Long Wharf and they are hopeful of the same response this year. To reserve attendance at Long Wharf Theater Night at Bethany call the Clark Memorial Library at 203 393-2103.