A Night to Remember!
1926 Opening Night Reenactment
Memories that will last another Century!
Step back to 1926 and experience the glamour, excitement, and spectacle of the Garde Theatre’s opening night!
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the magic of the Roaring Twenties with live music, vintage entertainment, immersive performances, and interactive experiences throughout the theater.
The evening begins with a Cocktail Reception from 6:00–7:00 PM, where guests can enjoy signature cocktails, classic automobiles, strolling performers, a wandering magician, photo opportunities, and a mystical lounge featuring tarot card readers and live piano music. VIP guests will also enjoy exclusive perks, including a drink ticket and live caricature portraits by artist Vera Leeper.
At 7:30 PM, the historic theater comes alive with a feature presentation recreating the spirit of a 1926 opening night. Enjoy an organ processional and sing-along, appearances by Arthur S. Friend and Walter Garde, a symphonic jazz orchestra, an Arthur Murray dance showcase, vaudeville performances, a vintage-style newsreel, and a silent film presentation complete with live organ accompaniment and Foley sound effects.
Following the show, the celebration continues from 9:00–11:00 PM with an authentic Speakeasy on stage featuring a live jazz quartet, dancing, and plenty of surprises.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of the performing arts, or simply looking for a one-of-a-kind night out, A Night to Remember! offers an immersive celebration of the elegance, creativity, and excitement of the Roaring Twenties.
Schedule
- 6:00–7:00 PM: Cocktail Reception
- 7:30 PM: Opening Night Reenactment & Feature Presentation
- 9:00–11:00 PM: Speakeasy with Live Jazz & Dancing
Dress in your favorite 1920s-inspired attire (optional) and join us as we celebrate a
century of unforgettable entertainment!
Special Feature Performances by
Dakin Matthews
Dakin Matthews (as Porter J. White) is an actor, playwright, director, scholar, and teacher whose career spans Broadway, regional theater, film, and television. Recent Broadway credits include Camelot, To Kill a Mockingbird, Waitress, The Iceman Cometh, The Audience, and Rocky; he also appeared in Gore Vidal’s The Best Man and A Man for All Seasons, and contributed as adapter/dramaturg to Lincoln Center Theater’s acclaimed Henry IV. A longtime Shakespearean actor and scholar, he taught at Juilliard and the American Conservatory Theater, where his students included Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Annette Bening, and many others. His screen credits range from Gilmore Girls, The King of Queens, and Desperate Housewives to films including True Grit, Lincoln, and Bridge of Spies. At the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival, Dakin hired Steve Sigel as both musical director and performer, beginning a theatrical connection that happily returns to the Garde stage tonight.
Christopher Faison
Christopher Faison (as Noble Sissle) is a Broadway performer, national touring artist, cabaret singer, director, and vocal coach. A Norwich native, his credits include My Fair Lady on Broadway and tour, The Book of Mormon, Hello, Dolly!, and West Side Story in Helsinki. He is the creator of Here and Now: The Music of Luther Vandross and directed Chestnut Street Playhouse’s record-breaking production of Once on This Island. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, Christopher continues to perform, direct, teach, and mentor emerging artists.
Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra
The Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra is a “full bodied and polished brassy big band” (Jazz Weekly) made up of 17 of the finest musicians in New England. Formed in 2016 as the New London Big Band, for the past nine years they have played monthly for sold out crowds at the Social Bar + Kitchen in New London CT. The band has performed all over the country, including the Kennedy Center (Washington DC), the Birdland Jazz Club (NYC), Monks Jazz Club (Austin TX), and Hallowed Halls (Portland OR). The band has released three albums, the most recent of which, “Don’t Stop Now: the lost music of Thad Jones for Harry James,” reached #29 on the jazz radio charts.
Characters (in order of appearance)
Claude Hartzell: Robert Humphreville
Foley Artist: Jacob Graham
Rum Runners: Suzil Von and Tom Lazur
Song Leader: Phred Mileski
James G. Hammond: Steve Sigel
Walter Garde: Roger James Kuhns
Arthur S. Friend: Arthur Friend Fergenson
Vera Leeper: Elaine Mills
Theodore Bodenwein: Lee Howard
Lois Weber: Linda MacCluggage
Dancers: Crisen McKenzie and Jessica Megargle
Jugglers: Xaq Zukas and Dani Bobbi Lee
The World’s Fastest Melody Unit: The Sean Nelson Jazz Orchestra
Lobby and Oasis Room Performers:
Candy Girls: Adeline Burnett and Brielle Cole
Piano Players: Jack Madry, Sam Mayer, and Arthur Migliazza
Magicians: Michael OJ and Sean McCormick
Tarot Card Readers: Mystical Horizons, Frankie Ashun, and Alexis Viola
Dancers: Nathan Hale Dance Ensemble Director
Tarot Readings Provided by:
