More Music and Live Performances than Ever Before

By Holly Leibrock

Norfolk is a hub of outstanding talent and exceptional performance venues. Weekend in Norfolk (WIN) has capitalized on these talents and venues to offer storytelling, acting and more musical performances in one weekend than ever before at its locally renowned Infinity Hall and Music Shed, and at pop-up musician’s stages throughout town.

An old Native American proverb states, “Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” On Thursday, August 4, Infinity Hall will kick off the weekend’s subsequent performances when “Speak Up: Real Stories, Real People” takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. After two sold-out events at the Hartford location, “Speak Up” producer and founder Matthew Dicks, along with a team of storytellers including veteran Bobby Klau, will be sharing stories centered on their theme, “Grand Gesture.” As the team recollects life experiences you will be captivated by their anecdotes—laughing, crying and hanging on to each word as the tale unfolds.

Rosemary Gill will perform her solo show, “When Summer Stock Came to Town,” at Infinity Hall on Friday, August 5 at 8 p.m. A familiar Norfolk resident, Gill shares her accounts of the summer of 1999 when Greenwoods Theater came to town to recruit locals to play extras in an upcoming Broadway performance, but Gill was the only one who showed up for the auditions. Her one-woman play was performed at the library Memorial Day weekend to a packed house. She looks forward to sharing her account of life’s many winding avenues back at the “scene of the crime.” There will also be a chamber music concert featuring the music of Mozart, Hall and Hummel at the Music Shed Friday night at 8 p.m.

Both Infinity Hall and the Music Shed will keep the crowds jiving on Saturday, August 6. At 10:30 a.m., the Young Artists’ Performance Series will offer a free show in the Music Shed. Later in the afternoon, Infinity Hall will welcome the famous  Glenn Miller Orchestra, who will hit the stage at 1:30 p.m., performing several of their hits including “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” and “Moonlight Serenade.” Later in the evening, jazz vocalist Jane Monheit will command the Infinity stage at 8 p.m. with songs from some of her own albums as well as the work of Jane Fitzgerald. Also at 8 p.m., the Emerson String Quartet will offer classical pieces by Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Shostakovich at the Music Shed.

Sunday will round out Weekend in Norfolk’s extensive selection of musical performances with Brandt Taylor singing and playing guitar on the patio at Infinity Bistro at noon, and a children’s concert and the United States Coast Guard band at the Music Shed at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. Infinity will have live music in the bistro Sunday night, and the bluegrass band Seldom Scene on the main stage at 8 p.m.

There will also be pop-up stages around town, on the village green from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, The Sawtelles will be playing at the farmers’ market on Saturday morning, Collins and Bradley will be playing on Robertson Plaza from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon and Whiskey Jack will be there Sunday afternoon from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Weekend in Norfolk highlights the best of life in “The Ice Box of Connecticut.” With Yale’s Music Shed and Infinity Hall at the forefront of Norfolk’s culture, it is no surprise that the weekend will be packed with performances that celebrate the spirit of our town.

Photo of the WIN Twins, Mary Reeve and Margaret Alexson, at Infinity Theater, by Bruce Frisch.