Check CHET out – and let CHET help you invest in your child’s future!

State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, as Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) is dedicated to promoting financial literacy across the state, and helping families save for future college costs.

Each year the CHET 529 college savings program hosts various promotions and events to help spread the word about CHET - how easy it is to get started and what a difference it can make for a child’s future. For example:

• CHET Baby Scholars – the state, through CHET, is offering $250 for every new baby born in Connecticut. Don’t miss out, tell family and friends about this great program to get families started early saving for college! Learn more at www.aboutchet.com/babyscholars
• CHET Dream Big! Competition (going on NOW through 3/30, learn more at www.chetdreambig.com ) – Drawing and essay contests for students K-8
• CHET Advance Scholarship – Coming up this fall, high school seniors and freshman can apply for $2,500 college scholarships. Learn more at www.chetadvance.com

What is CHET?  CHET is Connecticut’s 529 college savings plan. CHET offers tax advantages, including tax-free growth and withdrawals, and a CT state income tax deduction.  A CHET account can be opened with as little as $25, and family members and friends can help contribute. To read about all of CHET’s activity in the community, and to learn more about the plan, visit us online at www.aboutchet.com or call 888-799-2438.

CHET 529 College Savings Program is a Sponsor of The Palace Stamford’s:

Click Here to view Black Cultural FEST 2016

Classic Cars on Display at The Palace Theatre's 2015 Spotlight Soirée!

Jay Leno's name has become synonymous with two things: comedy and cars.  After the massive success of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno followed his passion to the garage and has created one of the best collection of cars ever seen.  He started a popular YouTube show celebrating classic cars, Jay Leno's Garage, and has test driven some of the greatest cars ever crafted.

To celebrate Jay Leno's visit to Stamford, The Palace Theatre will display five classic cars and two vintage motorcycles.  Here's a sneak peek at the beauties that will be featured on what is sure to be an unforgettable night! 

The Cars





1935 Rolls Royce 2025 Sports Saloon MSTK

1936 Senior Packard Sedan JR

1939 Hotchkiss 686 Cabourg CR

1962 Aston Martin DB-4 AW

1983 Ferrari 308 GTS QV AS

The Motorcycles



1948 Indian Chief



1963 Triumph T120C

Proceeds benefit upcoming Palace arts education programs!

Buy your tickets to the Spotlight Soirée HERE!



How Your Contribution Will Help The Palace Theatre on Fairfield County Giving Day

How Your Contribution Will Help The Palace Theatre on Fairfield County Giving Day

Thursday, March 5 at 12 AM will begin the annual Fairfield County Giving Day, a 24 hour event in which our community comes together to donate as much as they can to Fairfield County Non-Profit Organizations in order to create new opportunities for all citizens of Fairfield County throughout the year. 

The Palace is participating and hopes to raise $10,000!

Here’s a few ways in which just $10 can go a long way at The Palace.

Students participating in The Palace Theatre's various educational programs

You will bring education to the next generation of great performance artists

The Palace offers children from low-income and disadvantaged families the chance to attend world-class entertainment on our stage through organized trips. For five years, The Palace has awarded an Emerging Young Artist Scholarship in a specific field of study, to ensure ALL children have chances to succeed.

Participants of the Triple Threat Program at The Palace Theatre

The Palace has already served thousands of disadvantaged youth in Fairfield County this year; from providing educational show tickets to low-income schools to providing full scholarships for deserving students to our transformative performing and education programs.

The Palace believes that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the performance arts.

STOMP visits Cloonan Middle School with an inspirational performance

The Palace also partners with local schools to offer exclusive performances and motivational talks. The experience of an up-close presentation and meaningful question and answer session provides children the opportunity to receive career advice from arts professionals and the encouragement to stay motivated. 

Thank you letters from students of Cloonan Middle School

Education = scholarships for greater success in higher learning

Noelia, student who participated in the Triple Threat Program

Watch Noelia’s inspiring story about her transformation through The Palace’s Triple Threat Program

Daniel, student who participated in the Triple Threat Program

Watch Daniel talk about how The Palace’s Triple Threat Program has helped him as a creative person

Your money helps all of Fairfield County

The Palace is a large, multi-faceted theatre, but did you know we are also a 50c3 not-for-profit organization? Box office receipts only cover a fraction of what it costs to keep our doors open. The Palace has been a beacon for the best live performance – music, comedy, dance and theatre – since its curtain first rose in 1927, and where world-class artists continue to reach the minds and hearts of every patron who enters its doors.

Our mission is to be the premier regional arts destination for exciting entertainment that also enhances and enriches the cultural, educational, economic, and social life of our community. At this time of year, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us reach this goal.

Thank you for your support! DONATE HERE

Arts Education at The Palace – An Essential Component of Our Mission

2014 Young Playwrights Festival participants thank Sheryl Battles (center) from Pitney Bowes for making the program possible

At The Palace Theatre, we believe in the thrill and the power of the performing arts to change lives, whether on the stage or in the audience.

Because of massive funding cuts in public schools, many children and teens are missing out on chances to develop their own creative expression. Arts education has been proven to contribute to academic and life success. Students learn confidence, problem solving, teamwork, perseverance and focus.

The Palace invests in nurturing a community of aspiring young performers and the next generation of engaged adults.  When young students walk through our doors they are experiencing theatre history. They are following in the footsteps of generations before them and creating their own artistic legacy.

         

           Dancers perform in 2014's Young Choreographers Festival

Scholarships & Free School Trips

While not all of these programs are free, our goal is to keep admission fees very low and, most critical for our mission, offer deep scholarships to students who would not otherwise be able to participate. Families and friends are provided with free tickets to every student performance.

For five years we have awarded an Emerging Young Artist Scholarship in a specific field of study, to ensure underprivileged kids with chances to succeed. The 6^th annual award in 2015 will be given to students who are learning playwriting.

Throughout the year, we provide children from low-income families the chance to attend world-class entertainment on our stage through organized school trips. Very often it is the first live show they’ve ever seen. In 2015, we estimate attendance to be 4,500 school kids at The Palace.

Help us continue to make and develop young aspiring performers in our community.

Donate $10 during Fairfield County Giving Day on March 5^th!

National Touring Cast of STOMP Meets & Greets 600 Local Middle School Students

Yesterday was not your typical day at Stamford's Cloonan Middle School. For a few hours, students had the chance to put down their pencils, join in the fun, and learn how to STOMP...from the pros! 

On January 8, tomorrow night, the Palace Theatre is presenting STOMP, the wildly entertaining dance-percussion theatrical phenomenon. Through special arrangement by the Palace, members of the show's national touring cast made an in-school appearance on Tuesday for 600 kids, grades 6 through 8. Following an exclusive performance of two numbers, "Hands and Feet" and the intro to "Matches," the 5 dancers invited students to join them on the auditorium's stage to share the experience and make a little noise of their own. A Q&A session between cast and students followed.

Check out these wonderful photos of the event from The Stamford Advocate.
 
STOMP’s history reaches back to the 1980s, to the streets of Edinburgh, where Luke Creswell and Steve McNichols thought it would be fun to entertain the public with their unique brand of explosive music. Their grassroots gigs soon caught the eye of Heineken, which debuted the show’s iconic dustbin dance to the world in a commercial. Since taking New York City’s downtown performance scene by storm in 1991, where the show continues its award-winning, record-breaking run at the Orpheum Theatre, STOMP has grown into a worldwide box office sensation – with movies, television shows and music videos added to its repertoire.

Various casts of STOMP have drummed their way around the world, performing more than 14,000 times in front of 14 million people in 50 countries. Connecticut native Kris Lee (Colchester), is one such “stomper.” After performing at the Orpheum since last year, she is now a member of the show’s national touring cast performing at The Palace tomorrow night.

STOMP cast member and Connecticut native, Kris Lee, in the classroom with students from Cloonan Middle School.

The Palace is dedicated to nurturing and working with young artists through our innovative arts education programs. In addition to coordinating this exceptional event, we have provided Cloonan Middle School with complimentary tickets to the performance to share with faculty, staff and students however they want. To make sure the preforming arts are accessible to all future artists, we have offered a special discount of 35% off regularly priced tickets to the entire local school community.

OH, WHAT TO DO WITH THE KIDS IN THESE COLD WINTER MONTHS?

Satisfied customers at Playtime at the Palace. Photo by Lisa Barlow.

Great entertainment is just the beginning at the Palace! The holiday season is a wonderful time of celebration and good cheer, yet these cold winter months that follow can be challenging to parents wanting to keep their little ones active and engaged. Welcome to PLAYTIME AT THE PALACE, your family-friendly solution to beating the post-holiday blahs with hands-on interactivity, creative thinking and lots and lots of laughter.



Check out this great feature about Playtime at The Palace in the Connecticut Post's GO section.

Our annual series is a rare opportunity for kids to get out of their seats and interact, up-close-and-personal, with our professional entertainers. Tickets are an affordable $10-$15 for children under 12 ($15-$20 for adults), and available now. 

A young puppeteer learns the tools of the trade. Photo by Adam McCullough.

Here's our remaining 2015 schedule: 

February 8 – National Circus Project
Featuring a lot of audience interaction & participation, the National Circus Project has a time-honored tradition of thrilling and entertaining audiences with its awesome acrobats, dazzling jugglers and cavalcades of capering clowns.

February 15 – How To: Puppet Show!
Kids get hands-on training with professional puppeteers (from Nick Jr.'s “Go, Diego, Go Live!”) to make their own puppets and perform a full-on puppet show, in just an hour.

February 22 – Silent Slapstick with Ben Model
A big hit returning from last year, kids laugh themselves silly at this program of uproarious ’20s comedy films, presented with a live pianist. Lincoln Center’s famous silent film accompanist and historian Ben Model improvises original scores for 3 short slapstick silent comedies. Presented in our Cinema. 

March 8 – Hatched: Life on the Farm
Hatched is the delightful musical story of a newborn chick emerging from her shell at sunrise to a strange and busy world. Performed through lively movement, handcrafted puppets and sprightly songs, the story is set amidst an American family farm.

March 22 – Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Refreshing simplicity and tuneful bounce mark this collection of splendid pop-rock songs for the wee set from singer-songwriter, Bari Koral, an expert at the clap-a-long song.

March 29 – Magical Stories
Set to the infectious rhythms of a djembe drum, an afternoon of rich tapestry of unforgettable stories from Ireland, England and Scotland about magical fairies, goblins, notorious kings and fearless princesses.

April 12 – The Amazing Max & The Box of Interesting Things
PBS Kids calls The Amazing Max "an awesome & hilarious live magic show" and The Huffington Post says, "his ability to astound is something to see!" The show bursts with striking visual magic, comedy and loads of audience participation. Magician Max Darwin makes objects appear out of thin air, defies the laws of physics, and performs miracles inches from spectator’s faces.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

GIVE THE GIFT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS!

As the longest running arts presenter in the area’s history, The Palace Theatre has been a beacon for the best in live entertainment since 1927. 

Almost every night of the week there’s something exciting happening here. Our dedicated fans enjoy mega-watt stars like Jay Leno and Jeff Dunham and hit shows like Earth, Wind and Fire and STOMP.

The Palace brings live new music to Stamford with Showcase 61, a hit series that showcases up-and-coming music artists in our hip UpStage space. 

Playtime at the Palace, a popular Sunday afternoon series for families, returns this winter with 10 lively, interactive shows. Plus, the Connecticut Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker, coming up next weekend, is a longstanding holiday tradition at the Palace!

We are a large, multi-faceted theatre but did you know we are also a not-for-profit organization? Box office receipts only cover a fraction of what it costs to keep our doors open. 

Generous contributions from our audience and patrons make up the rest of the resources we need to bring you outstanding live entertainment.

YOUR donation is also a gift for aspiring young artists who rely on The Palace to provide them with TRANSFORMATIVE educational programs and performance opportunities that aren’t available in most public schools.

 

The Palace provides children from low-income families the chance to attend world-class entertainment on our stage through organized trips.

For five years we have awarded an Emerging Young Artist Scholarship to ensure the next generations of artists have the opportunity succeed. 


Our mission is to be the premier regional arts destination for exciting entertainment that also enhances and enriches the cultural, educational, economic and social life of our community.


We can’t do it without YOU! 

As you make your holiday list this year and check it twice, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to The Palace Theatre. We've made it very easy. All you need is your phone: text PALACE to 27722 to give $10 today!

Thank you for your support!

Young Playwrights Convene at The Palace on December 15

Intensive Arts-In-Education Program Encourages Students 

to Explore Creative Expression

The 2014 class of young playwrights, with guest teaching artist, Mathilde Dratwa. Photo by Lisa Barlow.

For at least four years, The Palace Theatre has served Stamford’s community of aspiring young artists as a sponsor and host of arts-in-education programs for kids, such as the Triple Threat Performer Intensive and the Young Choreographers Festival that was recently held at our venue. On Monday, December 15 at 7pm, our Young Playwrights Festival will present “Script to Stage,” a live, staged reading of an original 15-minute one-act play written by 12 students from two local high schools. 

The title of the play is "Glass Shards," written in collaboration by 12 young women who started the process with ensemble-building activities and journal writing.  After several drafts and revisions, the young women settled on a story of friendship despite the odds, and of the struggle for human connection even in difficult moments. They wrote every word, from the title to the last period. In the process, they learned about goals, obstacles, tactics and conflict as pillars of dramatic writing.

Jasmeen Lucero (L) and Marily Caicedo (R) rehearse "Glass Shards." Photo by Lisa Barlow.

“Script to Stage” is the culmination of 10 weekly sessions held this year at The Palace led by guest guest teaching artist, Mathilde Dratwa (New Victory Theatre, Roundabout Theatre). Once signed up, 9th through 12th grade students in the ALTA (Aspiring Leadership Through Action) program at Stamford High School and Westhill High School met every Saturday to collaborate on writing a play, deciding whether their work will be in English, Spanish or both, and if it should be a comedy, drama or musical.

The vision for the Young Playwrights Festival is to create a holistic environment that empowers the lives of these young performing artists by cultivating individual self-expression and nurturing their creativity and inner talents. During their time at The Palace with our visiting artist, students learned acting techniques to help them convey their stories. Literacy skills, diction, and self-esteem were also improved by reading written materials aloud for peer review. A free online program was used to introduce basic procedures of formatting a script.

At the end of the program, during which attendance each week is mandatory, students learned through discipline to observe and explore. High school students from our neighborhoods found and developed their own unique and personal creative voice. Join us on December 15 at The Palace to help these talented kids and their families celebrate their achievements.

The Young Playwrights Festival is made possible through a generous grant from Pitney Bowes. We'd also like to thank the Stamford Board of Education: Mike Meyer, Beryl Williams, Juan Pazmino and Douglas Fetchin, for giving us their students from the ALTA program.

Don’t Miss the 4th Annual Young Choreographers Festival - This weekend!

 

PalaceStamford.org

Looking to see some local dance talent? Join us Sunday, November 9th at 5pm for an evening of dance at the 4th Annual Young Choreographers Festival, “Voices & Visions.”

Through styles of Classical and Contemporary Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, Tap, Ethnic and Theatre Dance, aspiring, young choreographers will be able to present their original work to the general public, dance community, and family right here on the HARMAN stage.

The choreographers are between the ages of 13-18 years old and study dance at their schools and/or dance schools in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. They were involved in all aspects of the festival: choreography, auditioning dancers, choosing music, costumes, lighting and staging.

Our Young Choreographers Festival is one of our popular arts education programs, come see the different types of work from young dancers of various backgrounds and training!

For more information, please visit out website: http://bit.ly/1EoZtuC

The Palace Theatre and Institute of Rock Music Partner to Provide A Local Downtown Venue for Young Musicians

Organizations Co-Host Open House for Students and Families on November 8

Teen band, Front Row

For 10 years, Crescendo Productions’ Institute of Rock Music has been providing instruction for aspiring young musicians by experienced, versatile and classically trained professionals. Its collaboration with The Palace Theatre began this year, when students culminated their training with live, professional performances as part of the Theatre’s Showcase 61 concert series. To mark an expanded partnership in which The Palace will provide a facility for the Institute’s ongoing programs, the two organizations will co-host their first Open House for potential students and their families.

The fun, music-filled event will be held at The Palace Theatre on Saturday, November 8, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm, and will include live music performances by local teen bands, Birdwalk, Front Row and Surge. Free snacks and giveaways will be on-hand for guests, and the Institute will hold a raffle for one month of free lessons.

“We are very excited to be taking our partnership with The Palace to the next level,” says Institute of Rock Music’s Director, Byl Cote. “Playing in a professional venue provides invaluable real-life experience for students as they hone their skills and learn to create, perform and record their own music.”

Rosarii Falvey, a trained pianist, music educator and founder of Crescendo Productions, opened the Institute of Rock Music in 2004. The students, on reaching a standard of proficiency demanded by the Institute, progress to play with a band where they would continue their musical studies but also perform with other like-minded students, thus developing team and listening skills as well as performing classic rock and contemporary music. In September 2014, together with the Stanwich School, Falvey developed a musical program for Pre-K and Kindergarten students in which children are introduced to rhythm and beat, musical notation, distinction and understanding of simple instruments from all over the world.

In its new Palace Theatre home, The Institute of Rock Music will be a year-round educational music facility that teaches kids how to play songs by their favorite artists and shows them how to analyze the songwriting of successful musicians and learn from the various techniques used to write, perform and record their own original compositions.

Showcase 61 first kicked off in Spring 2014 with a run of incredible performers entertaining sold-out crowds. Showcase 61, a true “listening experience” for all ages and audiences, recreates a New York club setting, featuring contemporary music artists in a relaxed atmosphere with café tables, waitress service, craft beers and local food offerings.

Apply for the 4th Annual Young Choreographers Festival

 

PalaceStamford.org

Are you a young aspiring choreographer between the ages of 13 and 18? Don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of the 4th annual Young Choreographers Festival. This unique experience will allow young dancers to collaborate with experienced professionals and create an original piece that will be performed on the HARMAN Stage.

Find details below:

• The 4th Annual Young Choreographers Festival will take place on November 9th, 2014. 
• Applications are due Monday, September 15th, 2014. (Download the application here)
• Choreography in almost every genre are welcome. 
• Participants must attend the Master Class on Choreography on Sunday, September 21st, 2014. 
• Choreographer's fee is $85 and includes Master Class and two tickets to the Festival Performance.
• Per dancer fee is $50 and includes two tickets to the Festival Performance. 

For a complete list of details and criteria, please refer to the info sheet.

Are you ready to find your own creative voice? Submit your application today and get inspired with our Choreographers Suggested Guide to Creating a Piece.

Finding Your Inner Voice - A Master Class with David Friedman September 27th

 

PalaceStamford.org

Join us Saturday, September 27th for a life changing workshop, for singers and non-singers alike. Here, you’ll work with David Friedman to change your ability to sing and perform in front of people, while also learning to apply these principles to all areas of your life.

This class size is limited and is available to those 16 years and older, please contact Carol Bryan(cbryan@PalaceStamford.org) to register!

When: Saturday, September 27th 2014
Time: 3pm - 6pm, Reception following the class
Fee for Participants: $150 per person
Fee for Auditors: $60 per person

 

About David:
David Friedman is a film and theatre composer, songwriter, author, lyricist and conductor based in New York City. He received a 1997 Backstage Bistro Award for Composer of the Year and a 1997 Johnny Mercer Award for Songwriter of the Year and a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th Annual MAC Awards. His Oratorio, King Island Christmas, won a Frederick Loewe Award and Dramatists Guild Award.

Triple Threat Performer Intensive Recap

PalaceStamford.org

Last week, young aspiring performers from the area joined us in our Triple Threat Performer Intensive. Students were able to study with seasoned Broadway professionals and teaching artists all week long to find their own creative voices. We’re proud to announce that 25 of the students were able to participate due to scholarships provided by First County Bank, Center Stage Dance Studio, and through the Robert N. Rich family.

"Everyone is so talented here to begin with and in the beginning it kind of made me feel overwhelmed, because I was like, Oh my gosh, everyone's so good at all this stuff.  But they taught me everything they know, or a lot of it, and that's helped me," - Greenwich High School student Willa Doss, via It's Relevant Stamford

Photo Credit: Richard Freed

Photo Credit: Richard Freed

Photo Credit: Richard Freed

Photo Credit: Richard Freed

Photo Credit: Richard Freed

COO of First County Bank Robert Granata and Tamara L. Ledwith, Vice President, Sales and Product Marketing Manager, pose with their 16 scholarship students. Photo Credit: Jen Powers

Photo Credit: Carol Bryan

We want to thank all of the budding young actors who participated last week!  The program will return next summer and to find out more about it, visit us on the web »