Previews
Hello! My Baby to be born at the Goodspeed
The final show of Goodspeed Musicals’ 2011 season will be Hello! My Baby, which constructs a fresh “all-American musical valentine” (to quote the press release) out of such hallowed hits of the early 20th century as “Ain’t We Got Fun,” “and “Stairway to Paradise.” The book’s by Cheri Steinkellner, author of the recent Goodspeed offering … Continue reading
Coup de Krapp at Long Wharf: Dennehy Does Beckett This Fall
Brian Dennehy’s coming back to Long Wharf Nov. 29-Dec. 18 to finish what he started a few years ago. In 2008, Dennehy and Joe Grifasi brought their bravura version of Eugene O’Neill’s Hughie to Long Wharf Stage II. It’s an established production which they’d brought to several other theaters before Long Wharf (which, coincidentally, had … Continue reading
Mark Jacoby’s Wicked Wizard Hits Hartford
Mark Jacoby had never seen Wicked until he learned that he’d be auditioning for the role of The Wizard in the musical’s first national tour. “The Wizard is not a big part, but it’s an interesting part. It’s more sinister than the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz. It’s political. Part of the success of … Continue reading
Colin Quintessence
Colin Quinn ends his two-week stand of his one-man show Long Story Short at Long Wharf with two performances today (Sunday the 21st, 3 & 7 p.m.), than heads to Chicago’ Broadway Playhouse Aug. 24-Sept. 10, where I imagine his fiercely friendly discourse on a slew of failed (or just plain funny) social systems will … Continue reading
City of Angels: Population 21 (playing 48)
Goodspeed’s announced the cast for their season-ending production of City of Angels (Sept. 23-Nov. 27). It’s a show that warmed the heart of Connecticut, since the original Broadway production won a Tony for Fairfield County resident (and diehard Westport Country Playhouse supporter) James Naughton. The first national tour which played the Shubert Theater in New … Continue reading
Westport Country Playhouse Knows What It’ll Be Doing For Over a (Magical) Year from Now
The Westport Country Playhouse hasn’t yet opened the final two shows in its current season (Suddenly Last Summer Aug. 23-Sept. 10 and Twelfth Night Oct. 11-Nov. 5), and they’re already announced their full slate for 2012. How quaint, to follow a calendar-year season schedule rather than the school-year model preferred by most regional theaters. But … Continue reading
Show Boating
My review of the pizzazzy Show Boat at Goodspeed Opera House will be posted any day now, but let’s get the sideshow out of the way first. For atmospheric accoutrements, no theater in the state beats the Goodspeed. This current show is Show Boat, so already the elegant old Opera House ties-in aesthetically without even … Continue reading
My Lips Are Sealed
Lips Together Teeth Apart opened last night at Westport Country Playhouse. The 1991 Terrence McNally vacationing-couples tragicomedy continues its Fire Island fireworks through July 30. I’ll be reviewing the production for the Fairfield County Weekly; that review will be out Wednesday. Rather than risk repeating myself here, you can tide yourself over for a few … Continue reading
And a Nun, and a Two…
A RARE PHOTO OF NONIE NEWTON BREEN NOT BEING A NUN. LATE NITE CATECHISM 2 PLAYS AT WHARF STAGE II JULY 13-AUGUST 21. Nonie Newton Breen has carved out a sweet little career dolling up in a habit and berating theatergoers as the nameless “Sister,” the indomitable conductor of Late Nite Catechism classes. She’s Sistered … Continue reading