The Bijou Announces the SERIES Launch of “Real Stories, Real People”

Westport, CT - Ina Chadwick’s MouseMuse Productions (http://mousemuseproductions.com) announces its alliance with The Bijou Theatre (http://www.thebijoutheatre.com) located at 275 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport. The Bijou Theatre is rapidly building its reputation as one of the hottest arts and entertainment venues in Connecticut. By aligning with well-known production entities such as MouseMuse Productions, The Bijou Theatre is enhancing its entertainment agenda. Maintaining its 100-year old history, the management of The Bijou Theatre invested in a complete renovation as a 202-seat multipurpose movie house and concert hall, presenting live theater and all varieties of entertainment. Amenities inside The Bijou Theatre include a top shelf bar with glass barware, table service for tapas, and a cabaret-style atmosphere.

MouseMuse Productions has been producing live storytelling events in many venues in Fairfield County for the past three years. Now, the alliance with The Bijou Theatre further enhances the power of the personal narrative as entertainment. The series entitled “Real People. Real Stories,” encompasses ensemble shows, both written and performed by the authors, (the owners of their own stories) as well as one-person shows that are inspirational and transformational in their truth telling. They are at all times riveting, poignant, often humorous, but always entertaining and provocative for further community conversation.

Christine Donahue Brown, Esq., and Kathleen Reynolds, who run The Bijou Theatre and are co-producers of this unique series, both agreed, “The inspirational and motivational aspect of personal storytelling highlight how humanity can be shared with heart, soul and humor.” Chadwick said, “When The Bijou first reopened, both Brown and Reynolds knew that innovation in entertainment had to include an element of intimacy, yet also incorporate the searing reality of this era, but it had to be both moving, insightful and always in good taste. Come early to our shows, have a drink, meet your friends, socialize and even have a lite bite tableside, if you wish.” Brown added, “Our neighborhood is full of young artists and students, new condos, restaurants, art galleries, and there is street parking in addition to a well-lit parking garage across the street.”

The first show being presented at The Bijou Theatre by MouseMuse Productions will be on September 29, “Under the Covers, Where Our Voices Have Been Hiding.” This is a one-time exclusive performance by a talented ensemble cast of mostly Fairfield County women who range in age from 30 to 81. The show was first produced by Jill Jaysen at the Seabury Center in Westport, CT last year and played to rave reviews and sell-out crowds two nights in a row. Each of the cast members has written their own story as if they were sharing in their diaries.

“Under the Covers provides a window into the heart of the human experience and is performed with passion, authenticity and a gritty dose of reality that offers perspective, hope and restoration to performers and audience members alike,” said Jaysen who conceived and edited the work. Jaysen directed much of this same cast two years in a row for The Vagina Monologues.

Second in the series on Thursday October 18 is a show called “The Untouchables.” No one has blown away the highly discerning Moth judges as many times as Adam Wade. Eighteen-time Moth slam winner,

Adam Wade has gone on to be a Storyteller on late night TV and has been featured in TED videos as a motivational speaker who “tells” from the heart. Join a riveting round-robin of Storytellers who will try to keep up with Adam Wade in ten minute tales told from the heart: Joe Limone, Bill Bosch, and MouseMuse’s very own Ina Chadwick.

The final show in this series is a powerful one-hour theater piece called “Totally Kimleigh.” Kimleigh Smith takes the audience through a journey that is totally uplifting, totally heartbreaking, and totally powerful. The date of this performance is Saturday December 8, 2012.

To follow developments at The Bijou Theatre and MouseMuse Productions, visit both websites frequently for news and updates.  Call 203-247-3346 for further information.