The Michael Chekhov Theatre Festival Board traditionally holds a summer picnic to help raise funds for the fall festival. This year’s event was held on Sunday, August 27th at The Market at Union Hall (just over the state line in North Salem, NY) recently opened by Jeffery Albanesi and Daniel Pereira.
A group of Chekhov supporters gathered around an elegantly set picnic table and toasted with rosé wine to summer’s finale and the upcoming theatre festival. The menu was vegan, wholly plant-based, and completely delicious. After the appetizers came vichyssoise, followed by a baby kale strawberry salad, and gluten-free garlic twists,. The main course, grilled artichoke hearts, was served with a wild rice salad with avocados, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives. The dessert was watermelon with a warm mint pear sauce.
The picnickers included Ridgefield residents Jennifer Dineen, artist Suzanne Benton, Valerie Swenson, and Jeffery Albanesi. The Market at Union Hall serves local, organic farm produce, gourmet food and scrumptious desserts with its delicious coffee. Located in horse country, it is a perfect setting for a picnic. Also in attendance was Jonathan Winn, of Ridgefield’s new theatre company Thrown Stone, his wife Amanda, Stephanie Trolle of Danbury and Michael Schoenberg of Redding. The meal was served and prepared by Chekhov board members Abby Walker and Marisa Del Monaco.
Proceeds from the event will go to this September’s Michael Chekhov Theatre Festival (newly renamed). In it’s ninth year, the festival, which has expanded to two weekends, will include:
2017 FESTIVAL SHOWS
Twelfth Night, a free, family-friendly Shakespeare in Ballard Park
Friday, Sept 22nd, 7PM
A Soldier’s Story, a one-man show performed at East Ridge Middle School
Saturday Sept 23rd, 2PM
The Butcher, a play reading by Thrown Stone performed at Town Hall
Saturday Sept 23rd, 7PM
Eternal Youth, a coming of age story performed at East Ridge Middle School
It is the mission of the festival to celebrate Michael Chekhov’s connection to Ridgefield by bringing professional theatre performances to the Town. Michael Chekhov operated a theater school/studio in Ridgefield sixty years ago and later in Hollywood, coached many Hollywood actors and was nominated for an Oscar.
Tickets to the festival, donations, volunteer opportunities and additional information can be obtained at www.chekhovfestival.com or by calling 203 274-0261.