Your Part in Art

Here in southwestern Connecticut, artists of all sorts seem to be able to develop talents. The area boasts topnotch performance halls, stages, art galleries, schools and programs and mentors. The proximity to New York City doesn't hurt either.

However, young art and creators can't prosper without patrons.

Last month, Deborah Gibson played a supporting role in a new musical, "Saint Heaven" at Stamford Center for the Arts. During an interview, she told me that while she always prefers a larger role, she in part took this role to help support the new production. She questioned, "What art and plays will our generation produce?" She said unless you want to continously see only revivals, young people need to be involved in the production - and viewing- of new ventures.

The World Premiere of "Saint Heaven" at Stamford Center for the Arts was part of the Center's SCA Stages. The program was previously known as "the Fringe Festival." The mission of SCA Stages is to provide a supportive environment where new works can progress to the next stage of development. 

Saint Heaven has finished its run in Stamford. However, the producers hope the musical will either go on to Broadway or other stages in the future.  Currently, Deborah Gibson says she is in Los Angeles working on a musical of her own.

If you are not familiar with Gibson, at the age of 16 in 1986, she became the youngest person ever to write, produce, and perform a number one single. Since then she has managed to stay alive in the entertainment industry in various ways.  Here is a picture of me with her back in 2000 while she was promoting a new album in upstate New York. Click to enlarge.