Local stars come out at mystery dinner theatre

WATERBURY, Conn. (March 10, 2008) – Waterbury Board of Aldermen President J. Paul Vance, Jr., Esq. and State Rep. Anthony J. D’Amelio are just two of the well-known local leaders who will debut their acting talents at the fourth annual Naugatuck Valley Community College Mystery Dinner Theatre.  The cast has come together to help fundraise for the campus’s new Technology Building.

This year’s show, “Suspicious Crossings,” will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at the Grand Oak Villa, 550 Sylvan Lake Road, Watertown.  The event will feature a full dinner, cash bar and silent auction.

Reservations for the historically sold-out event can be made until March 22.  Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling (203) 575-8045.

WATR 1320-AM radio personality Tom Chute will produce and direct this year’s interactive Agatha Christie-style mystery about a scandalous wedding and the murders that ensue, challenging the audience to solve “whodunit.”  Vance and D’Amelio will be joined on stage by fellow cast members:

• Mary Rosengrant Chiappalone, partner at Biondi & Rosengrant, LLC;
• Katherine Hanratty, president of Jaci Carroll Staffing,
• Dr. Peter Jacoby, E.R. services chairman at Saint Mary’s Hospital;
• Paul Largay, president of Largay Travel;
• Kathryn Luria, vice president of community relations at Webster Bank;
• Heather Tindall, public relations director at Waterbury Hospital;
• James Troup, dean of administration at Naugatuck Valley Community College.

The show’s gold star sponsor is Naugatuck Savings Bank.  Other major sponsors include Dunkin Donuts of Naugatuck, the Luxury Bath Center at Torrington Supply Company, the Palace Theater and Duffy & Fasano, Attorneys and Councilors at Law. 

Proceeds will support the NVCC Foundation Capital Campaign for outfitting the new Technology Building, which is expected to be completed by fall 2008.  It is the campus’s first new building in nearly 20 years and will consolidate all of the technology-focused programs under one roof. 

For more information about the NVCC Foundation, contact Audrey Thompson, associate dean of resource development, at (203) 575-8297 or athompson@nvcc.commnet.edu.

Naugatuck Valley Community College serves approximately 10,000 credit and non-credit students across western Connecticut.  The college is a non-residential institution, located at the intersection of Route 8 and Interstate 84, with more than 100 accredited programs leading to associate degrees or professional certification.  The NVCC Foundation, led by a board of community and business leaders, raises funds to meet major college needs and goals.