Monday, August 22, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Mr. Raymond Buzak Remembered in Feature Newspaper Article From This Date in 1968
Mr. Raymond Buzak, who passed away last December 19, was a highly-educated teacher of drama and English Speech for 15 years at Central High School in Bridgeport and 16 years at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield. Buzak, who received his degrees from the University of Connecticut and Fairfield University, was the subject of a feature story in the Bridgeport Sunday Post on this date, August 18, 1968. The following is the text of the article.
What do school teachers do during the Summer? Directing a play with adults is a change of pace for a drama teacher accustomed to working with teenagers during the year. Raymond Buzak, a teacher of drama and speech at Andrew Warde High School, is a talented actor as well as director.
The current production at the Polka Dot Playhouse of Agatha Christie's mystery-melodrama "The Mousetrap" was directed by Mr. Buzak. And, in the special showing of "Oliver!" which opened the season, he played the central role of Fagin in the Lionel Bart musical.
Like many schoolteachers, Mr. Buzak can look back on a variety of Summer experiences. He has sold encyclopedias and worked in a costume shop. He has even worked as a bookkeeper.
Some of his Summers were spent attempting to save historical buildings and items threatened by both redevelopment and progress. Some of the Summers were spent studying. He received his master's degree in supervision at Fairfield University and sixth-year certificate in speech therapy at Southern Connecticut State College.
His educational labors were balanced with European trips and by the excitement of helping to build the Polka Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport. His association with the theatre extends back 11 years.
Mr. Buzak is currently making plans for his work in the Fall with the Andrew Warde High School Thespians, who will be performing either "Can, Can" or "How to Succeed in Business." For next Spring, he is thinking about directing a serious drama, such as "The Lark."
Mr. Buzak is also planning a cross-country trek with his family of three children and his wife Carolyn. He is also thinking of European tours. If Mr. Buzak doesn't wind up in Ethiopia in some educational and cultural endeavor, there is a good possibility that he will be seen at the Polka Dot Playhouse, offstage, backstage, and onstage.
Mr. Raymond Buzak was a charter member of The Polka-Dot Playhouse, and he enjoyed playing many roles. An activist in the city of Bridgeport, he was a member of the Historical Society and had championed the "Save the Wheeler Mansion." During his retirement, Mr. Buzak did extensive volunteer work with the VNA, Geriatric Groups, prison ministries, and the Wednesday Afternoon Music Club, performing at various churches in Southport, Fairfield, Westport, and the Fairfield Recreation Department.
Paul
What do school teachers do during the Summer? Directing a play with adults is a change of pace for a drama teacher accustomed to working with teenagers during the year. Raymond Buzak, a teacher of drama and speech at Andrew Warde High School, is a talented actor as well as director.
The current production at the Polka Dot Playhouse of Agatha Christie's mystery-melodrama "The Mousetrap" was directed by Mr. Buzak. And, in the special showing of "Oliver!" which opened the season, he played the central role of Fagin in the Lionel Bart musical.
Some of his Summers were spent attempting to save historical buildings and items threatened by both redevelopment and progress. Some of the Summers were spent studying. He received his master's degree in supervision at Fairfield University and sixth-year certificate in speech therapy at Southern Connecticut State College.
His educational labors were balanced with European trips and by the excitement of helping to build the Polka Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport. His association with the theatre extends back 11 years.
Mr. Buzak is currently making plans for his work in the Fall with the Andrew Warde High School Thespians, who will be performing either "Can, Can" or "How to Succeed in Business." For next Spring, he is thinking about directing a serious drama, such as "The Lark."
Mr. Buzak is also planning a cross-country trek with his family of three children and his wife Carolyn. He is also thinking of European tours. If Mr. Buzak doesn't wind up in Ethiopia in some educational and cultural endeavor, there is a good possibility that he will be seen at the Polka Dot Playhouse, offstage, backstage, and onstage.
Mr. Raymond Buzak was a charter member of The Polka-Dot Playhouse, and he enjoyed playing many roles. An activist in the city of Bridgeport, he was a member of the Historical Society and had championed the "Save the Wheeler Mansion." During his retirement, Mr. Buzak did extensive volunteer work with the VNA, Geriatric Groups, prison ministries, and the Wednesday Afternoon Music Club, performing at various churches in Southport, Fairfield, Westport, and the Fairfield Recreation Department.
Paul
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tony Procaccini of Warde's Class of 1976 to Host "Due Artisti" and "Lounging With Lombardi" Today, August 17, on Centanni Broadcasting Network
Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 product Tony Procaccini, pictured below at the left, will guest-host sessions of "Due Artisti" and "Lounging with Lombardi" on the Centanni Broadcasting Network today, Wednesday August 17, 2011. The shows will originate from New York City, and can be heard (and are usually archived at) http://www.centannibroadcasting.com/.
During "Due Artisti," Tony will feature the music of soprano Lia Carter. Ms. Carter, a Fairfield, CT resident, is a highly-acclaimed soprano from the Midwest who trained in New York City and has performed worldwide. In addition to singing regularly at many churches in Fairfield County, she has an upcoming engagement in Lincoln Center during the September 11 commemorations.
For "Lounging with Lombardi," noted author-historian-producer Chuck Granata will be Tony's in-studio guest.
Granata is the author of "Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording" and two other critically-acclaimed books. He has also produced numerous high-profile reissue projects, some of them focused on Sinatra's Columbia recordings. He is heard and see on radio and TV often, and is the producer and engineer for "Nancy for Frank," Nancy Sinatra’s weekly radio program on Sirius-XM satellite radio.
Procaccini and Granata will discuss his "Sessions" book and play music samples demonstrating ideas found in this seminal work, covering the major periods in Sinatra's recoding career and the various studios in which he recorded.
Tony Procaccini, a self-proclaimed "proud alumnus" of Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1976, is Music Director of Saint Patrick's Church in Bridgeport, CT, an Italian/English Interpreter/Translator, a Sinatra Historian, and the Music Director of the Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-Along sponsored by B.A.C.I.O., Inc.
During "Due Artisti," Tony will feature the music of soprano Lia Carter. Ms. Carter, a Fairfield, CT resident, is a highly-acclaimed soprano from the Midwest who trained in New York City and has performed worldwide. In addition to singing regularly at many churches in Fairfield County, she has an upcoming engagement in Lincoln Center during the September 11 commemorations.Married and with five children, Carter juggles her busy liturgical and non-liturgical performances with a steady teaching schedule. Her recent CD, "Song of Devotion," features twelve well-prepared pieces from various music genres. Her professional Website is http://liacarter.com/.
For "Lounging with Lombardi," noted author-historian-producer Chuck Granata will be Tony's in-studio guest.
Granata is the author of "Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording" and two other critically-acclaimed books. He has also produced numerous high-profile reissue projects, some of them focused on Sinatra's Columbia recordings. He is heard and see on radio and TV often, and is the producer and engineer for "Nancy for Frank," Nancy Sinatra’s weekly radio program on Sirius-XM satellite radio.
Procaccini and Granata will discuss his "Sessions" book and play music samples demonstrating ideas found in this seminal work, covering the major periods in Sinatra's recoding career and the various studios in which he recorded.
Tony Procaccini, a self-proclaimed "proud alumnus" of Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1976, is Music Director of Saint Patrick's Church in Bridgeport, CT, an Italian/English Interpreter/Translator, a Sinatra Historian, and the Music Director of the Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-Along sponsored by B.A.C.I.O., Inc.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Illustrious Warde Alumnus Tony Procaccini of Class of 1976 Hosting Internet Radio Shows
Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 graduate Tony Procaccini has embarked on a new endeavor, that of Internet radio show host. Though unrelated, he also attained certified interpreter status in the State of New York Court System in June of this year, a pursuit which started in earnest in 2010.
Since early this year, he has served as guest host, co-host and as a guest for a total of eight broadcasts of two shows entitled "Due Artisti" and "Lounging with Lombardi." These shows are normally hosted by DJ John Lombardi of Westchester County, but Procaccini gets "the call to the bullpen" to substitute for Lombardi often enough, sometimes on very short notice.
"Due Artisti" focuses on Italian music, or music in the Italian language, and/or as performed by Italians and/or Italian-Americans, while "Lounging with Lombardi" is an open format. Procaccini is the music director at Saint Patrick Church in Bridgeport, an Italian - English interpreter/translator, and Sinatra Historian.
On Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Tony and author/historian Lou Miano (pictured above) co-hosted "Lounging with Lombardi," a session devoted to the life and times of Russ Columbo. Miano authored the definitive book on the crooner who died tragically in 1934, at the age of 26. Miano's next book, which is nearly finished at the time of this writing, will be about Louis Prima who, coincidentally, was the mentor of Tony's mentor, Benny Rae of Bridgeport.
On July 27, 2011 (also a Wednesday, the normal broadcast date for both shows), Tony featured music of both living and deceased performers on "Due Artisti," with pianist Cristiana Pegoraro, tenor Ga'bor Carelli, soprano Krista Adams-Santilli and Jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini given roughly equal time. As noted in the broadcast, Procaccini has performed with Trumbull, CT resident Adams-Santilli in both liturgical and private settings, in a wide range of music styles.
On that same day, author Tom Santopietro (pictured at left) was Tony's guest for "Lounging with Lombardi." Santopietro wrote "Sinatra in Hollywood," a highly-acclaimed book on Sinatra's movies. The show focused on the book and included many samples of Sinatra movie music. Santopietro's next book, "The Godfather Effect," is due out in January 2012, when Procaccini hopes to interview him again.
Tom Santopietro has worked for the past twenty years in New York theater as a manager of more than two dozen Broadway shows, including A Few Good Men, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, A Doll's House, Master Class, Tru, The Iceman Cometh, and Noises Off. He is also the author of "The Importance of Being Barbra" and "Considering Doris Day."
He is also a lawyer (graduate of University of Connecticut School of Law), though not practicing.
The Centanni Broadcasting Network, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, broadcasts "to the world," as their ads tout. Their Web is http://centannibroadcasting.com, and many of their broadcasts are archived.
Paul
Since early this year, he has served as guest host, co-host and as a guest for a total of eight broadcasts of two shows entitled "Due Artisti" and "Lounging with Lombardi." These shows are normally hosted by DJ John Lombardi of Westchester County, but Procaccini gets "the call to the bullpen" to substitute for Lombardi often enough, sometimes on very short notice.
"Due Artisti" focuses on Italian music, or music in the Italian language, and/or as performed by Italians and/or Italian-Americans, while "Lounging with Lombardi" is an open format. Procaccini is the music director at Saint Patrick Church in Bridgeport, an Italian - English interpreter/translator, and Sinatra Historian.
On Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Tony and author/historian Lou Miano (pictured above) co-hosted "Lounging with Lombardi," a session devoted to the life and times of Russ Columbo. Miano authored the definitive book on the crooner who died tragically in 1934, at the age of 26. Miano's next book, which is nearly finished at the time of this writing, will be about Louis Prima who, coincidentally, was the mentor of Tony's mentor, Benny Rae of Bridgeport.
On July 27, 2011 (also a Wednesday, the normal broadcast date for both shows), Tony featured music of both living and deceased performers on "Due Artisti," with pianist Cristiana Pegoraro, tenor Ga'bor Carelli, soprano Krista Adams-Santilli and Jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini given roughly equal time. As noted in the broadcast, Procaccini has performed with Trumbull, CT resident Adams-Santilli in both liturgical and private settings, in a wide range of music styles.
Tom Santopietro has worked for the past twenty years in New York theater as a manager of more than two dozen Broadway shows, including A Few Good Men, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, A Doll's House, Master Class, Tru, The Iceman Cometh, and Noises Off. He is also the author of "The Importance of Being Barbra" and "Considering Doris Day."
He is also a lawyer (graduate of University of Connecticut School of Law), though not practicing.
The Centanni Broadcasting Network, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, broadcasts "to the world," as their ads tout. Their Web is http://centannibroadcasting.com, and many of their broadcasts are archived.
Paul
Monday, August 08, 2011
Class of 1976 Holds Successful 35-Year Reunion
AWHS 1976 Classmates,
The Reunion Committee wishes to express its sincere thanks to all those who attended our 35-year class reunion this past Saturday night and our day-after picnic in Fairfield.
The turnout was excellent, everyone seemed to have a great time, and school spirit was palpable throughout on both occasions.
If you have photos of the reunion and/or the picnic, you can send them to me (return e-mail from this message) and we'll be happy to post them. Photos from the night's photographer will be available soon, and will be posted when in our possession.
Two matters, quickly:
1 - In a late stage of the reunion, a female classmate lost a sentimentally valuable piece of jewelry. If any attendee has any clue or had a sighting of this item, please write back to me immediately or call me at 718.873.7421, so we can assist this classmate.
2 - Classmates wishing to update their profiles on our Web's "Classmates" page have experienced difficulty in recent times. When this glitch is corrected, it will be noted on the Web's home page.
The committee thanks all non-committee people who helped in this weekend's endeavors, and wishes all classmates the best of health for the rest of the summer!
Tony Procaccini
Reunion Committee Member
Website address: http://Warde1976.myevent.com
The Reunion Committee wishes to express its sincere thanks to all those who attended our 35-year class reunion this past Saturday night and our day-after picnic in Fairfield.
The turnout was excellent, everyone seemed to have a great time, and school spirit was palpable throughout on both occasions.
If you have photos of the reunion and/or the picnic, you can send them to me (return e-mail from this message) and we'll be happy to post them. Photos from the night's photographer will be available soon, and will be posted when in our possession.
Two matters, quickly:
1 - In a late stage of the reunion, a female classmate lost a sentimentally valuable piece of jewelry. If any attendee has any clue or had a sighting of this item, please write back to me immediately or call me at 718.873.7421, so we can assist this classmate.
2 - Classmates wishing to update their profiles on our Web's "Classmates" page have experienced difficulty in recent times. When this glitch is corrected, it will be noted on the Web's home page.
The committee thanks all non-committee people who helped in this weekend's endeavors, and wishes all classmates the best of health for the rest of the summer!
Tony Procaccini
Reunion Committee Member
Website address: http://Warde1976.myevent.com
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
"Rapidly Increasing" Turnout Expected for Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1976 35-Year Reunion This Saturday in Fairfield
The Andrew Warde High School 1976 Reunion Committee is happy to report that many classmates are apparently deciding to attend our 35-year reunion at a late stage, with the effect of rapidly increasing our expected attendance figure. We are very happy for this development.
A Webpage entitled "Look Who's Coming" has been added to the class's Website, so all can see the attendees' names. More names are likely to be added daily until Saturday, the day of the reunion. Go to http://warde1976.myevent.com/ or click the image below.
Thus, if classmates have not done so, we ask that they please RSVP to Tony Procaccini at aprocaccini@juno.com immediately, so the committee has an accurate headcount and can service you individually. We hope this makes it easier for you to attend.
Starting today, classmates are asked to make payments by credit card via the Website, since this is a fast, convenient and accurate way of paying which eliminates confusion at check-in time.
Don't forget: Bring your cameras, and consider sending your best photos to us for use on our class Web soon after the reunion.
A final "fun" note: Classmates can dedicate a song to an attending classmate; your request will be forwarded to the night's DJ. A Webpage with that list has been set up. Though we can't guarantee the DJ will have every song requested, we felt that giving this option would add some fun to the evening.
Thanks for your patience, and please, RSVP to us ASAP...
See you Saturday!
Tony Procaccini
Reunion Committee Member
718.873.7421
A Webpage entitled "Look Who's Coming" has been added to the class's Website, so all can see the attendees' names. More names are likely to be added daily until Saturday, the day of the reunion. Go to http://warde1976.myevent.com/ or click the image below.
Thus, if classmates have not done so, we ask that they please RSVP to Tony Procaccini at aprocaccini@juno.com immediately, so the committee has an accurate headcount and can service you individually. We hope this makes it easier for you to attend.
Starting today, classmates are asked to make payments by credit card via the Website, since this is a fast, convenient and accurate way of paying which eliminates confusion at check-in time.
Don't forget: Bring your cameras, and consider sending your best photos to us for use on our class Web soon after the reunion.
A final "fun" note: Classmates can dedicate a song to an attending classmate; your request will be forwarded to the night's DJ. A Webpage with that list has been set up. Though we can't guarantee the DJ will have every song requested, we felt that giving this option would add some fun to the evening.
Thanks for your patience, and please, RSVP to us ASAP...
See you Saturday!
Tony Procaccini
Reunion Committee Member
718.873.7421