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Arts & Entertainment

Lend Me Four Tenors … From Canada

Comics Raise Money for Ellington-Somers Football, Nzinga's Daughters Uncover Underground Railroad, 'Pride and Prejudice' Plays at CRT

When most choral groups and church choirs are clamoring for great tenors, having four onstage at once is, well, an embarrassment of tenors. And that’s what’s afoot Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 25 and 26, at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the UConn campus in Storrs. The Canadian Tenors, following closely on the popularity of other tenor clusters that began with Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras, perform a blend of classical and contemporary pop in diverse and powerful styles that charm thousands, move mountains and raise untold monies for public television. 

Clifton Murray, Victor Micallef, Remigio Pereira and Fraser Walters move from powerful anthems to the most beautiful melodies in a unique repertoire sung not only in English and French, but also in Spanish and Italian, reflecting their multicultural heritage and establishing the group internationally. The Winnipeg Free Press calls them easy on the eyes and the ears. 

Their holiday album entitled “The Perfect Gift,” went gold in Canada in only three weeks and was released by Universal in the U.S. last fall. The group is now composing some originals for “Continuing,” the album they plan to record this spring.

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The foursome has entertained royalty, appeared at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and at the G20 Summit, where they sang in front of world leaders such as Barack Obama. They have been named the Canadian Ambassadors for Toronto’s 2015 Pan Am Games, having written and performed the theme song.

Jorgensen’s doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 both nights. Casual cabaret food and drink can be had for $3-10 in cash. Regular tickets are $45, $38 and $34, with some discounts available. For tickets and information, call the box office at 860-486-4226, or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu.

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Football Can Be Funny

Back by popular demand, Ellington Football Comedy Night will feature comedian Chris Tabb at its annual booster club fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 26, in Vernon. Tabb has appeared on NESN’s Comedy All-Stars, which follows Red Sox games, and BET’s ComicView. Earlier this month, Tabb assisted a baker in a Food Network Challenge with a “Comedy Cakes” theme. He also hosts “The Chris Tabb Show” on Boston Comcast Cable TV. Tabb, a physical comedian and animated storyteller, describes himself as “a comic who appears in control and out of control at the same time.”

Other comics appearing Saturday night are John Garrison and Chris Dimitrakopoulos.

Keith Tautkus, coach of the Ellington-Somers football team, says there also will be an amateur comedian segment, which he won one year with a joke he declined to repeat for family readership. Tautkus still uses the Knights sweatshirt he won as a prize. “That’s always funny to see someone go up there to tell a joke they think is funny that might not be,” he said.

The evening will start at 7 p.m. at the Kosciuzko Club, at 1 Vernon Ave., Vernon, and the official laughs will start at 8.Tickets for hot and cold appetizers, the show and post-entertainment dancing to DJ-provided music are $30. The event is BYOB. For tickets or information, call Rich Gelsomino at 860-875-8046 or visit http://www.ellingtonfootball.com/Ellington_Knights_FootBall/Ellington_Football.html. Proceeds will go toward paying for football expenses not covered by the town budgets.

Multiple Musical Flavors at Stafford Coffee House

Three Connecticut musicians will return to the Stafford Coffee House stage Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Ben Muzio Town House, also known as the Old Town Hall. Recently appointed Town Troubadour, Jim Bailey, will be joined by Bruce John, known for his prolific regional appearances with his Eagleville Band. Bailey and John, who have a comfort level on stage that derives from performing often together, will draw from their country, blues, folk and rock repertoire. Singer/songwriter Kristen Graves of Westport will share her heartfelt lyrics and musical appeal with the coffeehouse audience.

The 7-9 p.m. Sunday event, sponsored monthly by the Stafford Arts Commission, is free, but non-perishable food items will be gratefully accepted for the Stafford Family Services Food and Fuel Banks. Refreshments are available. The Coffee House is located inside the Old Town Hall at 221 East Street (Route 19), Stafford Springs. For information, call 860-684-9500.

Nzinga’s Daughters Tell the Story

Discover cultural codes that reveal the story of the Underground Railroad with Nzinga’s Daughters on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at Mary Cheney Library in Manchester. This colorful women’s ensemble is known for its warm, embracing style that leads fans on an adventure of storytelling, poetry and song with audience participation, to boot. Nzinga’s Daughters have performed in the 2000 Amistad and OpSail celebrations and for many years at Hartford’s First Night.

This Black History Month program is free and sponsored by the Manchester Public Library and the Connecticut Humanities Council. Mary Cheney Library is at 586 Main St., Manchester. For information, call 860-645-0577.

Walking the Rails in Manchester

Get out of the book and take in some history on foot by joining the Cheney Railroad history walk Saturday, Feb. 26, starting at 1 p.m. This 2.5-mile stretch, built in 1869 to connect the Cheney silk mills to the main rail line in the North End of the town, was the longest private freight-and-passenger railroad in the country. The hike will trace the one-mile segment owned by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust and continue to Center Springs Park. Hikers will hear about railroad history and view maps and old pictures. The easy but bumpy walk will take almost two hours, without restroom availability. Participants should meet at the north side of Farr’s Sporting Goods, 2 Main St., Manchester, but are asked not to park in the store lot. Children will receive a special memento of the hike. The event is sponsored by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association family hike program. The hike will be held in all but extreme weather, which postponed the original event in January. For information, call guide Susan Barlow at 860-643-9776. 

‘Pride and Prejudice’ at CRT

Austen fans will want to check out the Connecticut Rep’s rendition of Pride and Prejudice at performances that start Thursday, Feb. 24, and run through March 6. In this favorite tale of social conflict, sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennett meets single, rich and proud Mr. Darcy. Can he find true love with a woman beneath his class? Can each of them overcome their own pride and prejudice? Can you keep from racing to procure tickets?

This Joseph Hanreddy/J.R. Sullivan adaptation will be performed in the Nafe Katter Theatre, 802 Bolton Road, Storrs. Tickets are $17 for Thursday preview, $26 for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and matinee performances, and $29 for Friday and Saturday nights. Student and senior discounts apply. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 and March 1-3; at 8 p.m. Feb. 25-26 and March 4-5; and 2 p.m. Feb. 27 and March 5-6. Tickets may be purchased one hour before performances at the theater box office or in advance by calling 860-486-4226. For information, call 860-486-1629 or visit http://www.crt.uconn.edu.

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