Brian Murray Co-Stars in "The Old Masters"

"Law & Order"’s Sam Waterston and Broadway veteran Brian Murray will star in the American premiere of Simon Gray’s 2004 work "The Old Masters," which will play New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre Jan. 19 to Feb. 13. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 9.

The show, directed by Michael Rudman, anticipates a Broadway run produced by John Martello and Elliot Martin.

"The Old Masters" centers on a meeting in a villa outside Florence, Italy in 1937 between art historian Bernard Berenson and art dealer Joseph Duveen.

Additional casting will be announced soon.

Waterston, who has starred in TV’s long-running series "Law & Order," has been a frequent performer in stage productions in New Haven in the past few years, at Yale Repertory Theatre (2003’s "The Black Monk") and Long Wharf (2005’s "Travesties," and last year’s premiere of Athol Fugard’s "Have You Seen Us?").

The three-time Tony Award nominee Murray is an Obie winner for his off-Broadway premiere of Edward Albee’s "The Play About the Baby." Broadway credits include "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," "Sleuth," "Mary Stuart," "The Crucible" and "The Little Foxes," among other shows.

Long Wharf has had an association with the British playwright, who died in 2008 at the age of 71, producing in the ’80s "Molly" and American premieres of his "The Common Pursuit" and "Quartermaine’s Terms."

Information: 203-727-4282 and http://www.longwharf.org.

Source: courant.com

>>Read Frank Rizzo’s blog on theater, the arts and entertainment at http://www.courant.com/curtain. And be the first to know by following Frank on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ShowRiz.

Producers, Directors Attending Bushnell Filmmakers’ Forum

Hartford’s Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Ave., is holding its first-ever Bushnell Filmmakers’ Forum on Aug. 13 and 14, and registration is open. Prices are higher for those who register after July 15, so those who plan to go should register now.

The event, Friday evening and the full day Saturday, will feature workshops on directing, screenplay writing and pitching, optional pitch appointments with film-industry professionals and three film screenings, with producers and directors in attendance.

The Aug. 13 screening will be "Rambling Rose," with director Martha Coolidge in attendance. The Aug. 14 screenings will be "Norma Rae," with producer Alex Rose in attendance, and "Ray," with producers Howard Baldwin (also the former owner of the Hartford Whalers) and Karen Baldwin in attendance. Rose and Coolidge will participate in the seminars Saturday, along with literary manager Peter Miller, screenwriting instructor Peter Fox and George Norfleet, director of the state’s Film, TV and Digital Media office. All the participants will be at a meet-and-greet on Aug. 13 and a dinner panel Aug. 14, open to forum participants.

Prices are $50 Aug. 13 only (cocktails and the screening), $325 Aug. 14 only (workshops, screenings and dinner), $350 for both, and $30 more for the pitch meet-up. On July 15, those prices go up to $50, $375, $400 and $40, respectively. Members of the general public who want to attend the film screenings only will be charged $25 per screening, or $60 for all three. Those tickets won’t go on sale until Aug. 1.

To register, visit http://www.bushnell.org

Susan Dunne (sdunne@courant.com)

Source: courant.com
Photo: t4tO_

As many people hit middle age they often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be.  We suddenly can’t remember where we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance’s name, or the name of an old band we used to love.  As the brain fades, we euphemistically refer to these occurrences as "senior moments".

While seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a detrimental impact on our professional, social, and personal wellbeing.

It happens to most of us, but is it inevitable?

Neuroscientists are increasingly showing that there’s actually a lot that can be done.  It turns that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions.   Thinking is essentially a process of making neural connections in the brain.  To a certain extent, our ability to excel in making the neural connections that drive intelligence is inherited.  However, because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort.

Now, a new San Francisco web-based company has taken it a step further and developed the first "brain training program" designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental sharpness.  Called Lumosity, it was designed by some of the leading experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford University.

Lumosity, is far more than an online place to exercise your mental skills.  That’s because they have integrated these exercises into a web-based program that allows you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills.  The program keeps track of your progress and provides detailed feedback on your performance and improvement.  Most importantly, it constantly modifies and enhances the games you play to build on the strengths you are developing - much like an effective exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use.

Does It Work?

Apparently it does. In randomized, controlled clinical trials Lumosity was shown to significantly improve basic cognitive functions. One study showed students improved their scores on math tests by 34% after using Lumosity for 6 weeks, significantly greater gains than those made by other students in the same class, who were not training with the Lumosity program.

The company says its users have reported clearer and quicker thinking, improved memory for names, numbers, directions, etc., increased alertness and awareness, elevated mood and better concentration at work or while driving.

While many of the games at Lumosity are free, a modest subscription fee is required to use the full program over the long term.

However, Lumosity is currently offering a free trial of their program to new users so that you can see how well it works before you decide to subscribe.  The trial is completely free (no credit card required) and the company believes the results will speak for themselves.

Click here to try for yourself.

Source: thinkbeauty

This article sponsored by Lumosity.com Copyright ThinkBeauty.com 2010

MONTPELIER, Vt. —A new national report says adult obesity rates in New England are lower than in most other areas of the country, but are rising.

The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report that among the six New England states, Connecticut scored best. Twenty-one-point-four percent of Connecticut adults were obese, second lowest to Colorado’s 19.1.

The second lowest obesity rate in New England was in Massachusetts, at 21.7 percent, followed by Vermont’s 22.8 percent, Rhode Island’s 22.9 percent, New Hampshire’s 25.4 and Maine’s 25.8. Obesity rates in all six states were up from last year.

Ten of the 11 most obese states in the country were in the South, with Mississippi topping the list at 33.8 percent of adults rated obese.

Source: ctnow
Photo: Ben Kimball

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Can wine really improve our health and increase longevity? Scientists are beginning to say "Yes!" Supposing that the theory is true — which wines give us the most bang for the buck?

Researchers have found that red wines rich in flavonoids are best for our health. Flavonoids are best known for their antioxidant qualities and help the body resist such maladies as allergens, viruses and carcinogens.

Red wines also contain anxioxidants, which help the body resist cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants and flavonoids.

Other red wines such as Merlots and red zinfandels contain fewer flavonoids, but more than most white wines. So, the best bet for drinking wine for our health is to stick to the dryer red wines.  Just because wine contains components that are central to good health doesn’t give us a free rein to get plastered every night. Don’t overdo it — but adding a glass of wine to your daily diet can definitely make a difference to our health.

Paracelsus, the noted 16th-century Swiss physician wrote, "Wine is a food, a medicine and a poison - it’s just a question of dose." As with almost any food or drink, wine consumed in large doses can be a detriment to our health.

Most health officials agree that one or two four-ounce glasses of wine per day can be beneficial to men, while women should limit their consumption to one four ounce serving per day.

Cardiovascular expert, Professor Roger Corder, has spent years studying the evidence of health benefits from red wine. In his new book, "The Wine Diet," he says he is convinced that most of us should include red wine in our every day lifestyle.

Corder discovered what he eventually labeled the "French Paradox." Specifically, he wondered why the French have a lower rate of heart disease despite the fact that their diet was extremely rich in fats. He concentrated his research on the southwest portion of France, where life expectancy seemed to be highest.

Professor Corder discovered that the region produces very tannic local wines, which contain the highest procyanidin (antioxidant) content of any wines, worldwide. This led him to further research on the amazing medical benefits of red wine.

While wine may not be man’s ultimate elixir or fountain of youth, it certainly behooves us to consider adding a glass of wine or two to our daily diet - and raise a "toast" to our continued good health.          

Source:howlifeworks.com

Another local restaurant makes a national list - but this time, for its famous dish’s fat content.

Doogie’s two-foot-long hot dog, the Newington eatery’s notorious flagship item, has been featured on Travel Channel’s "Man v. Food" and honored by Every Day With Rachael Ray magazine. But it was also recently named as one of Health.com’s "50 Fattiest Foods". The report examines the country’s most caloric restaurant foods, state-by-state.

"The average foot-long hot dog will set you back about 24 grams of fat, 10 grams of it saturated, which is more than enough for an entire day," wrote the editors. "But this is double that, plus it has bacon, chili, and cheddar cheese."

Reached for comment, Doogie’s owner Rock Aronheim laughed.

"I don’t care what they say about me as long as they spell my name right," he said. (Every Day editors incorrectly identified the restaurant as "Dougie’s.")

Source: ctnow.com
(Photo credit: Nick Caito/ ctnow.com)