Connecticut Arts Connections

Elizabeth Williamson

Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak has announced the selection of Elizabeth Williamson as the company's Senior Dramaturg and Director of New Play Development. Williamson served the past four years as Associate Artistic Director and Literary Manager for Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, where she founded and ran the theatre's New Play Initiative

In other news, Jill Adams has been elected to serve as the new president of the theatrer's Board of Directors.

The Mark Twain House and Museum presents a screening of the blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones, a movie about a tough female black James Bond who takes on the drug merchants in her neighborhood On Wednesday, August 22,.

The 1973 film tells the story of Jones (Tamara Dobson), who is a model, but only to provide her cover story.  In reality she's a United States Special Agent specializing in drug trafficking in both the United States and abroad.  She burns down an evil drug lord's poppy field in Turkey, and the dealer -- known as "Mommy" (Shelley Winters) -- swears to get revenge on Jones, hiring the corrupt cop Officer Purdy to help.  Jones heads back to L.A. to continue to take down Mommy's drug business, and eventually Mommy herself.

Cleopatra Jones will be shown at The Mark Twain House & Museum on Wednesday, August 22, at 7:00 p.m.  Admission is $5.00 (free for Mark Twain House & Museum members).

Hartford Stage presents Hedda Gabler, the season opener of the Tony Award-winning theatre's 49th season, on stage from Aug. 30 through Sept. 23. Opening Night will be at 8 pm Friday, Sept. 7.

Roxanna Hope, who played Caroline Cushing in Frost/Nixon on Broadway, stars as Hedda Gabler. Also cast are John Patrick Hayden, Sam Redford, Sara Topham, Thomas Jay Ryan. Kandis Chappell and Anne O'Sullivan.

Jennifer Tarver, the award-winning Canadian director, who is closely associated with The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, will helm the Jon Robin Baitz adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece.

Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts opens its 2012-2013 signature lecture series, Open VISIONS Forum, with legendary broadcast journalist and co-editor of 60 Minutes Leslie Stahl at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, 2012. The award-wining journalist’s lecture is entitled “Inside 60 Minutes.” Following Leslie Stahl’s presentation, there will be an informal conversation and discussion with Professor Philip Eliasoph, OVF moderator, and Dr. James Simon, a former Associated Press reporter who created the journalism program at Fairfield University. Single tickets are $45. Moffly Media is the exclusive magazine sponsor for the 2012-13 Open VISIONS Forum series.