Theater Reviews
Almost Maine

Theater Works: Almost, Maine

 ALMOST, MAINE

As the northern lights hover in a star-filled sky, residents of the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal and the hearts mend - almost - in this delightful midwinter night's dream.

Almost,Maine


Performances: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 7:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays - 8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday Matinees - 2:30 p.m.
Tickets:

General Admission - $50

Senior Matinees - $35

Center Reserved Service Charge - $13

Student Rush - $17

Running time: 1 hour with no intermission.


Appropriate
for kids?:


NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ALLOWED FOR THIS SHOW




For tickets call 860.527.7838

 
The SantaLand Diaries
Theater: TheaterWorks
Production: The SantaLand Diaries
 Written by: Howard Steven Frydman

Merrily Subversive Holiday Comedy
The SantaLand Diaries
All New Production at TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford
The Season’s Newest Holiday Classic runs December 4 - 23, 2012TheaterWorks SantaLand Diaries

What
The SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello
a
The SantaLand Diaries is a merrily subversive holiday comedy about an out of work writer who takes a job as an elf at Macy’s Department Store. Last seen on TheaterWork’s stage in 2005, this hysterically funny holiday classic will be directed by Rob Ruggiero.  Jeff Kready (Broadway’s Billy Elliot and Goodspeed’s Carousel) stars as Crumpet, the sardonic Yuletide elf. The SantaLand Diaries is the perfect antidote to the season’s usual heartwarming holiday fare.

The production’s design team includes Michael Lenaghan (Sets), Peg  Carbonneau (Costumes), Stephen Quandt (Lights) and Mike Miceli (Sound).  Production Manager is Michael Lenaghan.
Storyline:
Crumpet, a wickedly funny elf, is back in this strange-but-true account of      adventures in holiday retailing.  This delightfully thorny comedy from acclaimed satirist David Sedaris exposes the seamy underside of Santa’s workshop when a down and out-of-work cynical writer desperately takes a job as a Macy’s elf during the holiday crunch.

Press:
Priceless observations, both outrageous and subtle.  Destined to hold a place in the annals of American humor writing.”


The New York Times


" A satirical brazenness that holds up next to Twain and Nathanael West."


- The New Yorker

"The SantaLand Diaries is quite possibly the thirty-one funniest pages of text published in the past quarter century … David Sedaris slays me."

 
- Seattle Weekly


When:
December 4 through December 23, 2012


Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays,
and Sundays: 

7:30 p.m
.

Fridays and Saturdays: 8:00 p.m.

Weekend Matinees:
2:30 p.m.


No Sunday Matinee - November 4th

Special Evening Performance - Sunday November 4th 7:30pm

a
Press Opening is Friday, December 7th at 8:00 p.m.

The Lobby and Gallery of American Art, sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, opens 90 minutes prior to curtain; seating starts 60 minutes prior.
a
Where:
TheaterWorks
City Arts on Pearl - 233 Pearl Street in Downtown Hartford
aa
Parking: Discounted parking is available to TheaterWorks' patrons for $5 at CityPlace Garage (diagonally up Pearl Street from TheaterWorks), 100 Trumbull Centre Garage (enter next to Quiznos) and the Q Lot, (adjacent to the Metropolitan apartment building).

Admission: All Seats – General Admission
$40

Current Subscribers
$30

Senior Discount – Saturday matinees
$35

Center Reserved Service Charge
$13

College-age Student Rush w/ID
$17 (subject to availability)

a
Holday Parties and discounts are available for groups.  Call for details.
a
For seats call (860) 527-7838.

NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 16 ALLOWED FOR THIS SHOW.

The SantaLand Diaries is not a part of the 2012 -2013 Season.
Read more...
 
Venus In Fur
Reviews by:   Howard Steven Frydman
Theater:       Theater Works
Production:   Venus In Fur 




Seriously Smart and Very Funny
Venus in Fur
At TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford
Dangerously Delicious Drama Runs October 5 through November 11, 2012

What:
Venus in Fur by David Ives.
a
Venus in Fur sizzles.  An emotionally charged audition becomes an electrifying game of cat and mouse in David Ives’s wildly intelligent,             fantastically funny, dangerous new play. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power, love and sex, the world of S&M meets the world of theater in this electrifying suspense-packed game of power.
a
Rob Ruggiero, celebrating his 20th year with TheaterWorks, directs Venus in Fur, the first play of the company’s 27th Season.
a
Liv Rooth stars as Vanda, a seemingly inept bumbling young actress.  As understudy to the Tony Award winning lead on Broadway, Liv is no stranger to the role.  She is joined onstage by David Christopher Wells as the insufferable Thomas.

The production’s design team includes Donald Eastman (Sets), Alejo Vietti (Costumes), John Lasiter (Lights) and Vincent Olivieri and Beth Lake (Sound).  Production Manager is Michael Lenaghan.
Storyline:
Thomas, a beleaguered playwright / director, is desperate to find an actress to play Vanda, the female lead in his adaptation of the classic sadomasochistic tale, Venus in Furs. Into his empty audition room walks a vulgar and equally desperate actress - oddly enough, named Vanda. Though utterly wrong for the sophisticated part, Vanda exhibits a strange command of the material, piquing Thomas' interest with her seductive talents and secretive manner.  As the two work through the script, they blur the line between play and reality, entering into an increasingly serious game of submission and domination that only one of them can win.

Press:
"Venus in Fur invites both carnal and cerebral excitement…"


- Village Voice


"Ives has crafted a modern take on a classic tale, skillfully twisting his plot  and characters in a fast-paced journey into one man's entrapment by a clever, vengeful  female."


- Associated Press

"The teeter-tottering test of wills that takes place in Venus in Fur makes even the most fraught encounter between a domineering director and a sensitive performer     seem like a play date in the sandbox. Actors may be pleased to hear that in this    ninety minutes of good, kinky fun, the upper hand does not necessarily belong to the usual suspect."


- The New York Times
When:
October 5 through November 11, 2012


Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 
7:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays: 8:00 p.m.

Weekend Matinees:
2:30 p.m.


No Sunday Matinee - November 4th

Special Evening Performance - Sunday November 4th 7:30pm

a
Press Opening is Friday, October 12th at 8:00 p.m.

Lobby and Gallery of American Art, sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, opens 90 minutes prior to curtain; seating starts 60 minutes prior.
a
A free matinee for college students & faculty is offered Saturday, August 18th at 2:30 p.m., sponsored by Bank of America.
a
Where:
TheaterWorks
City Arts on Pearl - 233 Pearl Street in Downtown Hartford
aa
Parking: Discounted parking is available to TheaterWorks' patrons for $5 at CityPlace Garage (diagonally up Pearl Street from TheaterWorks), 100 Trumbull Centre Garage (enter next to Quiznos) and the Q Lot, (adjacent to the Metropolitan apartment building).

Admission: All Seats – General Admission
$50

Center Reserved Service Charge
$13

College-age Student Rush w/ID
$17 (subject to availability)

a
Discounts are available for groups.  Call for details.
a
For seats call (860) 527-7838.

NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ALLOWED FOR THIS SHOW.
CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE WITH STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT.

Venus in Fur is the first play of TheaterWorks’ 2012 - 2013 Season.

TheaterWorks’ 2012 – 2013 Season:


VENUS IN FUR by David Ives
October 5 through November 11, 2012
Press Night - October 12, 2012
ALMOST, MAINE by John Cariani
January 25 through March 3, 2013
Press Night - February 1, 2013
THE MOUNTAINTOP by Katori Hall
April 5 through May 12, 2013
Press Night - April 12, 2013
TBA
June 7 through July 14, 2013
Press Night - June 14, 2013
TIME STANDS STILL by Donald Margulies
August 9 through September 15, 2013
Press Night - August 16, 2013




 
NormaTerrisTheater-The Bikinis
Norma Terris Theatre
New Musical: The Bikinis

 Goodspeed Musicals celebrates summer fun in the groovy production The Bikinis a new musical beach party. 
This hip musical will run from August 9 to September 2 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., Goodspeed’s home for developing new works.

Back together again! The sixties girl group that everyone loves is bringing back the sun, fun and all the great songs they sang on the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore...all to raise money to save Sandy Shores Mobile Home Beach Resort. These Jersey Girls relive their heyday in a non-stop celebration of song with over 30 hits like “It’s In His Kiss,” “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” “Heat Wave,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” The Bikinis are irresistible!

The Bikinis is written and created by James Hindman and Ray Roderick and features music arrangements by Joseph Baker. 

Goodspeed Musicals, the first two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is jazzed to announce the cast of The Bikinis. This upcoming production will feature Lori Hammel playing Jodi.  Ms. Hammel appeared both on Broadway and in the National Tour of Mamma Mia!, and the National Tour of 9 to 5. Annie will be played by Meghan Duffy who appeared in Broadway’s Grease and in the National Tours of The Rocky Horror Show and Mame.

Karla will be played by Karyn Quackenbush of Broadway’s Imaginary Friends, Annie Get Your Gun, and Blood Brothers, and the National Tours of Annie Get Your Gun; Stop The World, I Want to Get Off; and The Sound of Music.  Ms. Quackenbush was last seen Off Broadway in Nora and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss And What I Wore. Karyn also appeared in Goodspeed’s Good Sports and Follow Thru. Barbara will be played by Regina LeVert who appeared in the National Tour of Fame - The Musical.

The Bikinis is conceived and written by Ray Roderick and James Hindman.  Ray Roderick, who is also choreographing and directing the show, has directed numerous Goodspeed Opera House hits including the recent sensation Mame, Singin’ in the Rain, My One And Only, and 42nd Street as well as last year’s Tin Pan Alley tuner Hello! My Baby at The Norma Terris Theatre. Mr. Roderick served as the Associate Director of the 2000 Broadway revival of The Music Man and co-conceived, directed, and choreographed the National Tour of Irving Berlin’s I Love A Piano. James Hindman has acted in several Broadway hits including Mary Poppins, 1776, and City of Angels.

The Bikinis will be produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

The Bikinis will run August 9 - September 2, 2012. Curtain times are Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m, Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. (with the exception of August 9 which begins at 8:00 p.m.), Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at www.goodspeed.org.  For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events, and more visit us at goodspeed.org. 


 
GoodSpeed - MAME

THE SENSATIONAL MAME HITS GOODSPEED’S STAGE APRIL 20th

East Haddam, Conn., March 13, 2012: Goodspeed Musicals will “coax the blues right out ‘a the horn” with its much-anticipated new production of Mame. The bold and brassy musical comedy will run from April 20 – July 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Mame will be sponsored by Liberty Bank, Mohegan Sun, and The Shops at Mohegan Sun. [Official Press Opening will be May 9, 2012.]


Come along for the madcap adventures of Auntie Mame and her adoring nephew. Surrounded by an eccentric cast of characters, she celebrates the Roaring 20s, overcomes tragedy and sails through life without missing a fad or a dance step. Jerry Herman’s delightful score is packed with favorites “Bosom Buddies,” “We Need a Little Christmas” and more. Brimming with optimism and zest, Mame will keep you laughing while warming your heart!

Mame

Mame features Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman, a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and is based on the novel by Patrick Dennis and the play, Auntie Mame by Lawrence and Lee.

Louise Pitre, the Tony-nominated star of Broadway’s Mamma Mia!, will lead the stellar cast as Mame. Known as Canada’s “first lady of musical theatre,” Ms. Pitre also headlined the Toronto and US touring company casts of Mamma Mia! and is known for her signature performances as Fantine in Les Misérables (Toronto, Montreal, and Paris) and the title character in Edith Piaf.

Vera will be played by Judy Blazer of Broadway’s Lovemusik, 45 Seconds From Broadway, Titanic, A Change in the Heir, and Me and My Girl and Goodspeed’s Bloomer Girl. Young Patrick will be played by Lucas Schultz. Charles Hagerty will play Older Patrick. Agnes Gooch will be played by Kirsten Wyatt whose Broadway credits include Elf; Grease; High Fidelity; Urinetown; and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Ms. Wyatt’s also appeared in Goodspeed’s My One And Only and The Boy Friend.

The role of Ito will be played by James Seol of Broadway’s A Naked Girl on the Appian Way. Babcock will be played by Paul Carlin whose Goodspeed credits include 1776, The Boy Friend, Where’s Charley, Brigadoon, Red, Hot & Blue, and On The Twentieth Century. Woolsey will be played by James Beaman of Goodspeed’s How to Succeed in Business… and Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. Beau will be played by James Lloyd Reynolds of Goodspeed’s 42nd Street. Eli Baker will play Peter.

 The ensemble includes Erin Denman as Sally Cato (Goodspeed’s 42nd Street), Alan Gillespie, Beau Landry as Junior, Peter Leskowicz (Goodspeed’s Half a Sixpence), Denise Lute as Mother Burnside/Madame Branislowski (Broadway’s Monday After the Miracle and Goodspeed’s Show Boat), Eric John Malhum as Mr. Upson, Mary Jo McConnell as Mrs. Upson (Goodspeed’s Big River and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Kim Sava as Peegan, Melissa Ann Steadman (Goodspeed’s Carnival!), Kit Treece, Kellyn Uhl as Gloria (Goodspeed’s How to Succeed…), and John T. Wolfe. The swings will be Brittany Bohn and Nick Nerio.

Mame will be directed by Ray Roderick, who helmed many of Goodspeed’s recent hits, My One And Only, 42nd Street, and Singin’ in the Rain as well as Hello! My Baby and Double Trouble at The Norma Terris Theatre. Mr. Roderick served as the Associate Director of the 2000 Broadway revival of The Music Man as well as Co-conceived, Directed, and Choreographed the National Tour of Irving Berlin’s I Love A Piano. Choreography will be by Vince Pesce, who was Associate Choreographer of Broadway’s Anything Goes, The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town, and Little Shop of Horrors.

Mame is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.

Mame will run April 20 through July 1, 2012 [Official Press Opening May 9, 2011]. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

Dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theatre, Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals.  The first regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement), Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of the assisting production sponsor Liberty Bank; supporting sponsor Mohegan Sun; ovation sponsor The Shops at Mohegan Sun; Sennheiser, the official audio sponsor; United, the official airline sponsor; and Hoffman Audi, the official auto sponsor of Goodspeed Musicals. Goodspeed is supported in part by the Department of Economic and Community Development with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Production:                            Mame
Theatre:                                Goodspeed Opera House
                                            6 Main Street, East Haddam, Connecticut
Based on the novel by Patrick Dennis and the play, Auntie Mame by Lawrence and Lee
Book by:                               Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Music and Lyrics by:                Jerry Herman

Read more...
 
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