Ainsley Novin News

On Saturday, December 9th, at 2:00 PM, I had the pleasure of attending my favorite annual theatrical tradition, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as performed by Fairfield Center Stage, at Burr Mansion in Fairfield, CT.  In my youth, I have appeared in three stage productions of A Christmas Carol.  I have seen numerous movie versions, whether animated or otherwise.  I have also seen it on stage.  Fairfield Center Stage, however, has found a brilliantly unique new way of presenting this timeless classic story, while staying true to the original.  In A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, the audience moves from location to location inside and outside of Burr Mansion, following Ebenezer Scrooge and the other characters from scene to scene.  I am convinced that the absolute best live performance of this timeless story that has impacted generations, internationally, is this one annually performed by Fairfield Center Stage.  This is a wonderful experience all-around!  The direction of Kevin Pelkey, choreography of Lindsay Johnson, songwriting and musical direction of Clay Zambo, and stellar performances by this spectacular ensemble cast all combine to bring life to this phenomenal adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, adapted by artistic director Christy-McIntosh Newsom.

Experience the magic of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' with Fairfield Center Stage's immersive production at Burr Mansion. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas through a unique tour, complete with carolers, figgy pudding, and apple cider!

On Saturday, December 10, at 8:00 PM, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my absolute favorite annual shows, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as put on by Fairfield Center Stage. This annual production is easily the show that I talk up the most frequently during the year, every year. I am also excited that it has returned to the Burr Mansion, where it originally was performed, and where I feel it fits the best! Fairfield Center Stage has successfully repeated the groundbreaking excellence that I experienced for the first time back on December 22 of 2018.  This is a show I have subsequently enjoyed every year since then!

The Sherman Players will present CARRIE: THE MUSICAL based on Stephen King's classic thriller, opening Friday September 30th at 8:00 p.m. Get a first look at photos here!

On Friday, September 30, The Sherman Playhouse will open its third production for the 2022 season, CARRIE: THE MUSICAL, directed by Bradford Blake (2021's WRECK THE HALLS and 2019's CABARET) with music direction by Charles Smith. Produced by Al Chiappetta, the curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. for a four week run.

The Sherman Players will present their third production of the 2022 season, CARRIE THE MUSICAL, based on the novel by Stephen King, written by Lawrence D. Cohen with lyrics by Dean Pitchford and music by Michael Gore. CARRIE will be directed by Bradford Blake, with music direction by Charles Smith. The producer is Al Chiappetta.

I was fascinated from the moment I first heard that Fairfield Center Stage was going to perform a musical called THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, as I did not previously know that such a musical existed.  What I knew, however, is that if it is being put on by Fairfield Center Stage, it is going to be a phenomenal production!   On Friday, June 17th, I had the pleasure of experiencing Fairfield Center Stage’s continued commitment to providing excellent theater that goes that extra mile, when I saw THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL on opening night, at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT.   Director Joel Fenster, musical director Benjamin Doyle, choreographer Lindsay Johnson, artistic director Christy McIntosh-Newsom, and Executive Producer Eli Newsom all combine their talents with the rest of the crew and this stellar cast to give the audience yet another first-rate performance!

Fairfield Center Stage (FCS), a community theater group, will present a 2 weekend run of the hit Broadway show THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL in Fairfield this June. The show runs for two weekends, June 17-25 at Fairfield Ludlowe High School Auditorium.

On Wednesday, December 15, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my absolute favorite annual shows, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as put on by Fairfield Center Stage.  This annual production is easily the show that I talk up the most frequently during the year, every year.  While in the past, it has been at the Burr Mansion, and was virtually performed last year, this year, it is at a new venue, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which Fairfield Center Stage has also made perfectly fit this show!  Fairfield Center Stage has successfully repeated the groundbreaking excellence that I experienced for the first time back on December 22 of 2018, and have subsequently enjoyed every year since then! 

Fairfield Center Stage, a community theater group, is continuing its 2021/22 season with its annual production of A Christmas Carol Experience, December 15-19. This year's production will be hosted by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 661 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT.

On Friday, October 15, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal production by Fairfield Center Stage, an innovative theatre company that continues to go that extra mile to bring the audience fresh new experiences with familiar shows that Fairfield Center Stage brings to life in positive ways that the audience has never seen before.  Here we go, again, with MAMMA MIA!, which is written by Catherine Johnson, based on the Swedish group Abba’s songs that were written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.  Performed outdoors on the back lawn of the Scandinavian Club, in Fairfield, CT, the venue fits the show perfectly!  With the help of the strong skills of choreographer Kelsey Kaminski, executive producer Eli Newsom and artistic director Christy McIntosh-Newsom bring out the best in this outstanding cast of talented actors and actresses who have tremendous stage chemistry with each other.  The cast members all shine forth with positive energy that radiates outwards through the audience, creating a positive vibe that enhances the audience’s enjoyment of this production, seeing how much the performers are clearly enjoying their roles.

Fairfield Center Stage will present an outdoor production of the hit musical MAMMA MIA! in Fairfield this October.

Fairfield Center Stage (FCS), an environmental community theater group, along with partner Fairfield Museum & History Center, will present an outdoor musical production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in downtown Fairfield this June. The show runs for five performances over one weekend only: June 24-27, 2021 at Fairfield Museum Commons at 370 Beach Rd behind Old Town Hall.

Fairfield Center Stage, a community theater group, begins its second season of the online variety show, FAIRFIELD CENTER COUCH, with a holiday variety special, FAIRFIELD CENTER COUCH HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA! This performance will be broadcast on Facebook Live and also be made available on YouTube after the performance.

Fairfield Center Stage, a community theater group, resumes its postponed 2020/21 season with A Quarantine Christmas Carol Experience, December 19-20. The show will be live streamed on YouTube, and will also remain available for purchase after the live performances.

Fairfield Center Stage, a local community theater group, will present an outdoor, socially-distanced ABBA-themed concert on the back lawn of The Scandinavian Club on Saturday, October 24th 2020 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

Fairfield Center Stage, a community theater group, will produce the seventh annual 'Playathon', a presentation of new 10-minute plays to be written, cast, rehearsed and performed in the course of a 26-hour timespan.

Award-winning Pantochino Productions, Milford's professional not for profit theatre for family audiences will present a special event, a?oe1970,a?? for three performances March 27 & 28 at the MAC, Milford Arts Council on Railroad Avenue in Downtown Milford.

I am convinced that the absolute best live performance of this timeless Charles Dickens story that has impacted generations, internationally, is this one performed by Fairfield Center Stage.  This is a wonderful experience all-around!

Opening night of Roald Dahl's MATILDA, as presented by Fairfield Center Stage, at Fairfield Ludlowe High School Auditorium yielded a large audience with profound applause.  With book by Dennis Kelly and music & lyrics by Tim Minchin, numerous differences from the Roald Dahl book or movie adaptation can be found in the stage production.   Perhaps the most spectacular of these is seeing an object on stage appear to move by itself, and writing on a board seeming to magically appear, concepts that can be written about or adapted to screen, but in those formats can never quite mesmerize people to the degree that these meticulously performed stage effects dazzled the live audience in this production.