Connecticut Theaters
Dell M for Movement
Had a fun ‘phone chat the other day with several members of Dewey Dell. The brash young Italian movement troupe has been at Wesleyan University in Middletown for the past week leading student workshops and performing the U.S. premieres of two of their distinctively colorful, kinetic and techno-pulsed movement theater pieces. The 20-minute two-character work … Continue reading
Belleville, Population Four
The spirit of Sarah Ruhl will still rule the Yale Rep, even after her season-opening adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters ends its run. The Rep’s just announced the cast of the second Rep show of the 2011-12 season, Belleville by Amy Herzog. The central role of Abby will be played by Maria Dizzia, whose last … Continue reading
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
The impetuous youth whirlwind pop spectacle Spring Awakening didn’t waste any time getting its performance rights into the hands of eager college theaters once the Broadway hit finally stopped touring. At least four Connecticut colleges have already announced plans to do Duncan Sheik and Steven Sate‘s modern-rock take on Frank Wedekind’s early 20th century “children’s … Continue reading
“Light” Entertainment
Lovely time at the Yale Drama Series reading last night. Even with all the swearing, cat-antagonizing and murdering in Shannon Murdoch’s play, the annual event remained a most civilized affair. The series’ new judge, John Guare, was right there in the front row while Murdoch, who’d flown from Australia for the occasion, chose to sit … Continue reading
New Light Shine, new Yale Drama Series judge, new life for a previous winning entry
Tonight (Monday Sept. 12) marks the reading of the latest winner of the Yale Drama Series. The play is New Light Shine by Shannon Murdoch and is described as a drama in which “four small-town lives are linked through a violent crime.” The reading is directed by Jackson Gay, whose work I was regularly entranced … Continue reading
The Suddenly Last Summer Review
Suddenly Last Summer By Tennessee Williams. Through Sept. 10 at Westport Country Playhouse. Directed by David Kennedy. Scenic design by Narelle Sissons. Costume design: Ilona Somogyi. Lighting design: Matthew Richards. Original music/Sound design: Fitz Patton. Performed by Liv Rooth (Catharine Holly), Annalee Jefferies (Mrs. Venable), Lee Aaron Rosen (Dr. Cukrowicz), Charlotte Maier (Mrs. Holly), Ryan … Continue reading
Pardon, my lord; I will not show my face until my husband bid me
I hope that Elm Shakespeare Company’s extraordinary set survives Hurrican Irene. You can help out the company by bidding on items in its online auction fundraiser, here. The auction closes at 11 a.m. Monday morning, Aug. 29. Something to do while you’re sitting around the house Sunday wishing you could be in Edgerton Park watching … Continue reading
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