In a classic example “Citizen Leadership,” Meghan Tarby of the Mad Hatter Boutique in downtown Seymour helped to raise $10,000 for the Strand Theater Renovation Fund.
Tarby and her colleagues organized a burlesque show at the Strand in June.
The proceeds will be matched by the Knights of Columbus and will be used to create a new marquee for the theater, the first phase of an extensive renovation project being planned.
The show was hosted by Tarby, Aimee’s Academy of Dance (both of Seymour, CT) and Zumba with Marissa Baglini (New Haven, CT). Auditions were open to the general public and the entire cast and crew consisted of volunteers from across the state. Special thanks to Stage Manager, Kathie Vrlik (Seymour, CT) and emcee, Alex Weston (Shelton, CT). Seymour Antiques was the primary site of a pin-up photo shoot, which allowed the show photographers, Karl Czerwiowski and Ron Burgess Jr. (Both of Seymour), to re-create the era in which Burlesque began.
In addition to Tarby and Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell, First Selectman Paul Roy was on hand to receive the check along with members of the Seymour Culture & Arts Commission, which is driving the project.
