Connecticut Travel

Dorothy Lyman is most known for her work as Opal Sue Gardner on All My Children, and as Naomi Harper on the sitcom Mama’s Family. On April 27 at 3pm as part of the Palace Theater’s 2ND ACT series, she’ll share her unique and entertaining story about life during and after television fame. The 2ND ACT series is supported by the Village at East Farms, a Benchmark Senior Living Community.

Tickets for Lyman’s 2ND ACT are $20 and on sale now, as are all the presentations in the series. Tickets can be purchased at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St, Waterbury. Check here for our updated Health & Safety Guidelines https://www.palacetheaterct.org/your-visit/health-and-safety-policy .

Writing plays had always been an interest of Lyman’s since the mid-1990s, but success got in the way when The Nanny came knocking. Lyman went behind the camera, producing and directing a total of 75 episodes of The Nanny (all episodes of the third and fourth seasons, and all but four episodes of the fifth), even making a special guest appearance on the Fran Drescher sitcom.

Dorothy talks about her legendary career in television, before branching out from acting to her playwriting 2ND ACT, and much more! 2ND ACT is a monthly storytelling series featuring ordinary people sharing the extraordinary things they are doing in the 2ND (half) ACT of their lives! Inspirational, experiential, and comical, these after-50 life stories will ignite your own imagination to join the growing community of 2ND ACTers! The presentation is 45–60 minutes in length followed by Q&A with the audience.

About the Palace Theater

The Palace’s primary purpose is to revitalize the Greater Waterbury community through the presentation of the performing arts and educational initiatives in collaboration with area cultural and educational institutions. Its mission is to preserve and operate the historic Palace Theater as a performing arts center and community gathering place that provides a focal point of cultural activity and educational outreach for diverse audiences.

The Palace Theater gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support by Webster Bank, ION Bank, Drew Marine, Savings Bank of Danbury, Bank of America, Xfinity, Post University, Powerstation Events, City of Waterbury, CT DECD Office of Tourism, Republican-American, and WATR Radio.

Who doesn’t like to go on a treasure hunt? On April 15 and 16 get your best sleuthing skills in order and head out to the New England Carousel Museum and the Museum of Fire History located on 95 Riverside Ave. in Bristol. The sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

They have been hard at work cleaning out storage rooms, closets, and all the nooks and crannies to bring you some very unique and fabulous finds. All items will be individually priced and some items are as low as $5! They will be uploading more photos as the week goes on, so check the link often.

For a partial list and photos of some of the items, please visit the photo gallery by clicking here.

On April 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. KidsPlay located on Main Street in Torrington is offering a program featuring Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) from the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS) for an interactive presentation of the 12,000-year history of life in the Eastern Woodlands.

Kascak is the Education Coordinator at IAIS and Traditional Native American Storyteller and will share various visual and tactile resources to guide the discussion about how Eastern Woodlands Natives have adapted to their changing environment. With hands-on activities, participants will learn the importance of working together for the sake of the community, innovation through knowledge of natural resources, and how this knowledge can benefit everyone today. IAIS will bring along animal furs, replicated artifacts, organic instruments, and more contemporary items for an interactive and educational experience.

Reduced admission for this program ($2 per person) is offered because of the generous support from the American Savings Foundation and Nolin Selby Fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation.

About the Institute for American Indian Studies
Located in Washington, Connecticut, the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)—formerly the American Indian Archaeological Institute (AIAI)—was incorporated in 1975 as an outgrowth of local efforts to recover New England’s then-largely-unknown indigenous history. IAIS is a 501(c)3 museum and research center dedicated to providing unique, informative, and engaging experiences for our members and visitors alike.

About Darlene Kascak
Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) is the Education Director at The Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut. Her experience as an educator, tour guide, museum assistant and Traditional Native American Storyteller has taught her the importance of educating both young and old about the many misconceptions and stereotypes about her ancestors. Her style of teaching from a Native American’s point of view allows children and adults the opportunity to have a new understanding of Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples lives both in the past and in the present.

The Mattatuck Museum on West Main Street in Waterbury is hosting a Lithuanian Folk Art Easter Egg decorating workshop, on April 9 from 10 am to 12 noon. Participants will join Valerie Rogers for a folk-art experience celebrating the Lithuanian egg decorating tradition known as marguciai. Participants will use a scratching/etching method to create beautifully intricate designs. Participants will use a scratching/etching method to create beautifully intricate designs.

For Lithuanian Christians, Easter (Velykos) is the most sacred of holidays. It follows 40 somber days of Lenten moderation and marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each spring, Lithuanians commemorate the Passion of Christ by attending church services throughout Holy Week on Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

While the rites of these services are comparable to those in other parts of the world, many Easter traditions observed outside of church liturgy are uniquely Lithuanian. Holy Saturday is dedicated to painting Easter eggs (margučiai) and preparing the Easter Sunday feast. Traditional Lithuanian Easter eggs are stained with natural dyes extracted from bark, leaves, fruit, and vegetables. Stained margučiai appear in solid colors or patterns created when leaves or other materials are pressed onto the eggs during the staining process.

More famously, Lithuanians are known for their ornate margučiai, which are either hand-painted or hand-carved into magnificent works of art. With the hand-painted method, they use the tips of needles and other sharp objects to paint intricate patterns with hot wax. Then, after the wax hardens, they dip the eggs into colorful dye. After the eggs dry, they are heated and then pressed gently with towels or paper to remove the wax and reveal the pattern. With the hand-carved method, wax is not used. Instead, these eggs are dipped in dye first. After they dry, designs are etched into the shells with a finely tipped, sharp object. Both methods require artistic talent and patience and both result in extraordinary, heirloom-quality margučiai.

In Lithuania, the Easter Granny (Velykų Senelė) delivers Easter eggs and treats to children. Children often prepare for the Easter Granny by leaving empty homemade egg nests outside their homes in gardens and shrubs. On Easter morning, they wake to search for their hidden margučiai treasures.

All supplies for this workshop are provided by the Mattatuck Museum. No experience is necessary. There is limited space for this workshop and it is recommended that you register early. The cost is $25 for members and $30 for the general public. To register click here.