Press Releases

Students Make Katharine Hepburn Theatre Come To Life

January 11th, 2019

(North Haven, CT. January 11, 2019) Giving even more credence that life imitates art more often than vice versa, a creative group of 2^nd graders from ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School (WIMS) located in Hamden will explore the iconic Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and bring past movie heroes back to life. The format will resemble a “wax museum” and then the student figures will come to life. After the tour on Thursday, January 17th, the students will dress up as famous silver screen stars of the past and come alive when a button on their hand is touched and give the history of each character. The actors and actresses being portrayed starred with Hepburn in her films, starting in the 1930’s through the 1980’s; one movie per decade being displayed, Starting with “Stage Door” and ending with “On Golden Pond.”

“What better way to learn about film history than to come to a grand setting as the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and be transformed into a notable film character?” says Ingrid Ellinger-Doviak, Magnet theme coach at WIMS. “It’s great for the kids to learn about people and movies of the past and how the theatrical arts can actually move people and create lasting common bonds with their friends and families.”

All the characters portrayed will relate to a past Katharine Hepburn movie such as Sidney Poitier, Lucille Ball, Clark Gable, and Jimmy Stewart.  The event begins at 10 a.m. and will continue for approximately an hour.  The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center is located 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT. WIMS is a K-8 school that serves over 600 students from Hamden, Meriden, New Haven, Wallingford and Woodbridge.  Students can also enroll through the Magnet School Parent Choice Program. To learn more about Magnet School Parent Choice go to: https://www.aces.org/schools-programs/magnet-school-parent-choice.

About ACES

Area Cooperative Educational Service’s (ACES) is to transform lives through education, innovation, and leadership. One of six Connecticut regional educational service centers, ACES is the regional educational services center for the twenty-five communities in New Haven and is both a school district and a non-profit services agency. ACES serves 2,300 students from fifty-seven communities throughout Connecticut at its three magnet schools and nine special education schools. ACES service divisions include international educational programs and services, technology, transportation, translation, behavior services and autism programs, extension therapy services (occupational and physical therapy), assistive technology, collaborative programs, professional development, human resources and financial services, and ACCESS, a vocational and life skills program for developmentally and physically challenged adults. ACES also runs the Open Choice program for New Haven County as well as a magnet school parent choice program for its Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School and Thomas Edison Middle School. Additionally, ACES runs the Middlesex County Early Head Start Partnership program. For additional information, go to www.aces.org.