Early May 2015 eNews

WELCOME TO OUR EARLY MAY eNEWS

As we're writing this email newsletter, it is POURING outside.  As they say, April showers bring May flowers, so we have all sorts of great things budding here at The Mark Twain House & Museum!  We welcome back international drag chanteuse VARLA JEAN MERMAN, host a free lecture on Mark Twain's secretary, and co-present the New England Premiere of a new play on the worst race riot in American history.  Of course, we are offering great writing workshops for you budding authors.  Take a moment to peruse our offerings and MARK your calendar for a great May!



EARLY MAY EVENTS 

For more details on all our events, please visit our website. 

VARLA JEAN MERMAN IS "A LOUISIANA SKANKEE IN CONNECTICUT COURT"!

Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. each evening


 

The Mark Twain House & Museum is pleased to announce the return of drag chanteuse Varla Jean Merman in a new show especially created for the Museum--A Louisiana Skankee in Connecticut Court.

 

"Merman combines the physical presence of a buxom Russ Myer starlet with a hint of perky Doris Day and the brassiness of her spiritual mother, Ethel Merman." --Variety

 

Varla appeared at The Museum several years ago in the hilarious sold-out show "The Lady Behind The Mustache."  Now the love child of Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman returns with this new show to delight and tickle the fancies of (mature) audiences.

 

To get a hint of the hilarity in store, check out Varla's YouTube Channel.  

 

Adults only. Reservations required. $30, $25 for MTH&M members. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.
 
 

The Trouble Begins at 5:30: Mark Twain's "Surrogate Wife"

Wednesday, May 13, 5:00 p.m. wine and hors d'oeuvres reception; 5:30 p.m. talk


Continuing our "Trouble Begins" series in the vein of Clemens' relationships with women, we explore a highly controversial one.  Scholar Marie Lavendier  will speak on Isabel Lyon, Clemens' secretary in his final years, after the death of his wife Livy.  Lyon at one time held power of attorney for Twain and has been referred to as Mark Twain's surrogate wife - but their relationship ended in a bitter split a year before the author's death. Lyon was written out of his official biography. Marie Lavendier is a lecturer at Tunxis Community College and lives in Lyon's former home in Farmington. 

 

The series is supported by Connecticut Explored magazine, Hot Tomato's restaurant, and The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum

 

Suggested donation $5.00.  Reservations recommended.  Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.



Celeste Bedford Walker's Theatrical Production BLACK WALL STREET

Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 p.m. each evening at the Artists Collective, 1200 Albany Avenue in Hartford

 

Presented by the Artists Collective and The Mark Twain House & Museum, for the 2015 Jackie McLean Memorial Celebration

 

BLACK WALL STREET brings to life a little-known portion of American history during the early 1900s-1920s. In the heartland of America, there was a Black community paradise. In the Greenwood section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, African Americans, Native Americans, and people of Jewish descent developed a networking relationship surpassed by none in modern day history, creating more than 600 businesses. 


 
It's June 1, 1921 -- an alleged incident involving a white female elevator operator and a Negro "shoe shine boy" ignited the simmering resentment and jealousies of neighboring white communities. In the aftermath of the worst race riot in US history, the once thriving business district of Greenwood lay smoldering and totally destroyed. 

 

Black Wall Street is produced by an award-winning creative team featuring Playwright Celeste Bedford Walker, Producer and Director Michael Green, and Executive Producer Voza Rivers. The production comes to life with award-winning actors and creative team members. BLACK WALL STREET has received acclaim from audiences and critics alike for its successful run in New York.  Generously sponsored by The Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation, The Hartford Dental Group, Northend Agents, and The Urban League of Greater Hartford.

 

Tickets for Black Wall Street are: $25 for advanced purchase general admission; $20 advance purchase for Artists Collective and Mark Twain House & Museum members, students, seniors and GHAC Lets Go Members; and $30 at the door for all.

 

Tickets are available via The Mark Twain House & Museum by calling (860) 280-3130 or by clicking here or by calling the Artists Collective at (860) 527-3205. Special Group rate tickets available. Call the Artists Collective for information. 


  

PLUS: there are more events coming up in late May--such as "The Sound of Music Story" and "Party Like a President!" Check our website for details! 

  

 
THANK YOU TO OUR NEW & RENEWING    (March 26 through April 21)
 


Amy & Ben Alamar

Jessica Southworth Bates

JoAnne Bauer

Patti & Richard Broad

P. Jo Anne Burgh

Kevin Chick

Samuel Harrison Chorches

Randy Clemens

Ken & Shirley DeBono

Dean & Cynthia DesRosier

Kay Lynne Dimmick

Carmela D'Onofrio

Branan Edgens

Eric Eichorn

Parnian Emami

Beth Fleet

Karl & Muriel Fleischmann

Ida Gall

Richard & Julianne Gallerani

Heidi & Joe Groeger

Joseph & Susan Iacovelli

Nancy Korb

Roger E. Lavallee

Jennifer Mariano

Donna Mercier

Christopher W. Minerly

 

 


Daniel & Rebecca Morris

Melynda Mudgett

Eileen O'Connor

Ivette Palacin

Vivian M. Partridge

Kathleen Peck

Colleen Pembleton

Manju L. Prasad

Carter A. Prescott

James & Teresa Ralabate

David E. Ramey

Eric Sandberg

Thomas & Margaret Savinelli

Bernice C. Schaefer

William & Claire Schamback

Alison & Tony Scherer

Janet Schwartz

A. Malaika Sharp

Paul Spinner

Linda Stamm

Lana Striker

Edward & Gayle Thibodeau

Barry Tomlinson

Jane Tufts

Christopher Vaughn

Richard A. Winslow

Linlan Xie


 

 

  
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS (March 26 through April 21)
 
INDIVIDUAL 


 

John C. Bird & Seung Lee

Perry W. Hasson

Dr. Robert P. Hockmuth

Alan & Becky Kreczko

Jim & Maureen Mallozzi

Jeffrey & Donna Oller

Jill M. Packard

Alison & Tony Scherer

Robert E. Stewart

 

INSTITUTIONAL 


 

Ahearn Family Foundation


 


IN HONOR OF JACQUES LAMARRE

 

Betsy Maguire


 

 

  

 
 Make the most of your donation, be sure to ask your employer about matching gifts.

 

The Mark Twain House & Museum: Spring Writing Classes & Workshops

 

Be the writer you've always wanted to be-- study at the home of America's greatest writer!

 

6-Week Classes ($265):

Self-Publishing (starts April 29)

Fiction (starts May 6)

Writing for the Web (starts May 6)

 

4-Week Classes ($199):

Writing From Found Texts (starts May 6)

Memoir (starts May 6)

 

One-Day Workshop ($40):

Memoir (May 9)

 

Don't miss out -- for the complete schedule of classes and workshops, or to register, please visit www.marktwainhouse.org or call (860) 280-3130.

 

Questions? Email [email protected].



 
MARK TWAIN STORE 
FEATURED ITEM OF THE MONTH

Mark Twain Plush  

 

Take him along on your commute by riverboat, your lecture tour, or your innocent trip abroad.

 

Anywhere you go, Mark Twain will remind you that if you're able to find the humor of your circumstances, you're not really roughing it.

He stands about 12" tall - as cuddly as the original. 


Pick one up in the store or order online here. $18.95



JOIN The Mark Twain House & Museum!

 

Enjoy the special insider benefits of membership in The Mark Twain House & Museum. And there's the sheer joy of being part of the legacy of Mark Twain, whose wit and insight remain alive today in 2014 -- over 150 years after Sam Clemens took on his famous pen name and entered history.

 

Submit our easy-to-use, secure online membership form or simply call 860-280-3112.

 

Make a DONATION Today!

 

Your donation to The Mark Twain House & Museum has a major impact on our ability to preserve this beautiful home, provide crucial educational programs for thousands of schoolchildren, offer mind-stimulating and spine-tingling events for adults, and welcome thousands of visitors each year. 

 

 ...and make your donation count double: Find out if your employer has a Matching Gift program.

 

Donate online, call 860-280-3112, or send your donation to: The Mark Twain House & Museum, Development Department, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06105.

 

Join the FRIENDS!

 

The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum offer wonderful speaking events, social gatherings, and fun volunteer opportunities. Pony up $30 and you'll get it all, too!

 

It's the volunteer organization that has supported the museum for more than 50 years. To join, call Membership Co-Chairs Chuck Paydos, 860-242-4825, or Dee Peters, 860-233-4066.

 

 

The Mark Twain House & Museum has restored the author's Hartford, Connecticut, home, where the author and his family lived from 1874 to 1891. Twain wrote his most important works there, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In addition to providing tours of Twain's restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and educational programs that illuminate Twain's literary legacy and provide information about his life and times. The house and museum at 351 Farmington Ave. are open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-247-0998 or visit us online. Programs at The Mark Twain House & Museum are supported by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council's United Arts Campaign.

 

David Cash, Publicist and Publications Editor

The Mark Twain House & Museum