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The Parker Project Benefit Concert

By Melissa Cercone, Editor/Publisher, Macaroni KID Fairfield-Trumbull-Shelton, CT March 28, 2022

Join The Parker Project and Rockwell Dance Center for a night of song & dance on April 30th at Trumbull High School. Proceeds from this year's benefit concert will go to the Steven A. Merrihew Performing Arts Scholarship and Capalbo Strong - Supporting Pediatric Cancer. 

Apr 30 | The Parker Project's 2022 BENEFIT CONCERT | Trumbull, CT Patch The Steven A. Merrihew Performing Arts Scholarship is awarded to graduating senior(s) from Trumbull High School who plan to continue their studies in performing arts or communications in college. Steven Merrihew was a singer, writer and actor and helped to raise $2,500 at the very first benefit in 2006 with the Performing Arts Center of CT (PACC - now Rockwell Dance Center). A few months after the event, Steven was unexpectedly killed in an auto crash. The following year in 2007 the scholarship was renamed in Steven's honor. Since then over $65,000 has been given out to Trumbull High School graduates who are going on to pursue dance, voice, acting, musical theater, music instrumentation, theater arts, theater production, lighting design, sound design or communications.

To apply for this scholarship you must be majoring or minoring in dance, voice, acting, musical theater, music instrumentation, theater arts, theater production or communications. Scholarship(s) will be awarded on both a talent and/or need basis.

Charlie Capalbo Battle with Cancer | Fairfield, CT | Capalbo Strong Capalbo Strong was founded in 2017 by a team of Fairfield Prep (mostly) hockey moms in support of Charlie Capalbo during his first battle with cancer. Charlie has since beat cancer three (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Leukemia) and is currently in his fourth battle. Capalbo Strong provides support for him and his family, and also raises awareness about pediatric cancer. True to Charlie's giving nature, he would like to see the proceeds from the benefit concert, made in his name, go to LIVFREE and Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer - two local charities for pediatric cancer that provide for our community.

LivFree | LinkedIn LIVFREE fights pediatric cancer with smiles and provides kids and their families an experience to help give them a break from treatment and provide some family fun time. Whether it's a visit to a movie theater or a sporting event they help families have something to look forward to during their tough time. LIVFREE was founded in 2016 in honor of Lauren Irene Vieira (Liv) as a way for her family to pay it forward after receiving tons of support from family, friends and their community as Lauren battled Leukemia. LIVFREE was founded in Shelton, CT

Infinite Love For Kids Fighting Cancer - Home Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer provides research grants to our country’s leading hospitals as well as prides itself in helping childhood cancer families both financially and emotionally. Jim McCaffrey, a Trumbull resident and Trumbull High School teacher, is the Vice President of Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer. Jim and his family lost their little girl, Mia, to childhood cancer and continue to support other families and children in her name. 

The Benefit Concert will begin at 7:00pm on Saturday, April 30th at Trumbull High School. Attendees will be treated to performances from:

Rockwell Dance Center:

Modern Company
Ballet Company
Hip Hop Company
Tap Company 

The Parker Project & Friends

Fairfield University Dance Ensemble

Trumbull High School:

Chamber Choir
Dance Team
Musical Theater Ensemble

Tim Warren (The Alternate Routes)

Garth West

Nikole LaChioma

Tickets are $20 and can be reserved via Venmo (@theparkerproject) and then picked up at the door under your name. General donations can be made by check or Venmo (@theparkerproject). Checks should be made payable to The Parker Project, Receipts can be requested from Nikole at Nikole.theparkerproject@gmail.com.

About The Parker Project
The Parker Project is a 501c3 Non Profit. Their mission is to expose new audiences to concert dance. They wish to bring the same level of concert dance found in NYC to CT and give back to the community.

About Rockwell Dance Center
Rockwell Dance Center provides students with a creative and inspiring dance education. They feel it is imperative that every dancer be given a strong technical foundation by utilizing proper terminology, training and anatomical understanding. RDC encourages artistry in a supportive and nurturing environment; we believe in recognizing and appreciating the individual strengths of each dancer. Their goal is to offer varied performance opportunities while giving back and sharing with our community.

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