by Susan Dumont-Bengston
At the April 12 Arts in Education performances of “Ellis Island: Gateway to a Dream” at The Ridgefield Playhouse, teachers were asked to have students write essays of their own families’ journeys to America. Each winner was honored with a $50 savings bond from Union Savings Bank and giant chocolate bars from the Playhouse. The Arts for Everyone underwriters, Christine Lodewick from the Philip H. and Christine Lodewick Foundation, and Anthony Gnolfo of Union Savings Bank were on hand for the awards ceremonies. Debbie Roche from Union Savings Bank attended the 10 a.m. performance with essay contest winners Alden Burns and Ben Sulzinsky of Farmingville Elementary School in Ridgefield.
This production of American Family Theatre, Inc., the nation’s premier producer of musicals for families and young audiences, was underwritten by Newman’s Own Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, The Philip H. and Christine Lodewick Foundation, The Wadsworth Lewis Trust Fund and Union Savings Bank.
Pictured left to right are Cassidy Haas, 8th Grade Middlebrook Middle School in Wilton; Shayna Gruder, 5th Grade Burr Elementary School in Fairfield; Julia Warman, 5th grade Burr Elementary School; Christine Lodewick of Ridgefield; Harrison Koivu, 5th Grade Home School Group in Ridgefield; Michael McMahon, 5th Grade Burr Elementary School in Fairfield; Anthony Gnolfo of Union Savings Bank in Ridgefield; Hannah Koivu, 3rd Grade Home School Group in Ridgefield and Allison Stockel, Executive Director of the Ridgefield Playhouse.