Author: Stuart Brown

The historic Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, CT has launched a festival of new ten minute plays and musicals: Sharon Playhouse Writers Playground. The Writers Playground is committed to giving the talented writers, performers, directors and technicians in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut as well as the neighboring communities in New York and Massachusetts a platform to showcase their talents in their own backyard and see their visions realized. The Playhouse also hopes to empower all people of any age and background to use their voice to tell diverse stories of self-expression and creativity. Submissions will be accepted from writers in… read more

Critics’ Roundtable We asked members of the CT Critics Circle to talk about their most memorable night in a Connecticut theatre and what production of a play or musical they remember best. Below are the edited responses. What was the most memorable night in a Connecticut theater for you? Why was it so memorable? Stuart Brown: 1996 Goodspeed production of Sweeney Todd. When Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway to commercial and critical success, it had, I believe, the largest set every to grace a Broadway stage.  How, then, could this show go from mammoth staging to the picture postcard sized… read more

Long time Connecticut Critics Circle member, Frank Rizzo, writes a personal tribute to the actor Hal Holbrook, who passed away at age 95 on February 1, 2021. Holbrook, known for his signature solo-show “Mark Twain Tonight!” had a deep connection with Hartford’s Mark Twain House & Museum. read more

Editor’s Note: Sydney is one of the Connecticut college students participating in the CT Critics Circle (CCC) Mentor Program. The purpose of this program is to bring young perspectives and voices into the CCC as well as a broad range of ethnicities and backgrounds. With live theater on hold, members of the CCC have been branching out to live streaming productions such as this one. In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We sit, watch, and review. While we do toil over our words, there is no sweat produced, no vocal chords strained, or wigs in need… read more

Critics’ Roundtable We asked members of the Ct Critics Circle to talk about their first experiences with theater and what “turned them on to it.” Below are the edited responses. Participants include: TOM HOLEHAN – Stratford Town Crier, WPKN-FM; KAREN ISAACS – berkshiresfinearts.com, Shore Publications, 2ontheaisle.wordpress.com; BONNIE K. GOLDBERG – Middletown Press; NANCY SASSO JANIS – onstageblog.com, Naugatuck Patch; TIM LEININGER – Journal Inquirer, One Man’s Opinion; ZANDER OPPER – www.talkinbroadway.com; FRANK RIZZO – Variety, ShowRiz.com; SUSAN GRANGER – SSG Syndicate; KANTHALINA ANDREUS – CT Critics Mentorship Program. What was the first theatrical production you remember seeing? Bonnie Goldberg: When… read more

By Karen Isaacs – You still have time to stream three holiday productions – one is a classic, one a new adaptation of a classic and the third, a moving piece about WWI. All Is Calm – The Christmas Truce of 1914 Through Jan. 10 Playhouse on Park moved their scheduled production of this work with music from the theater itself, to outdoors, filming it at Auerfarm in Bloomfield. The show, which runs just over an hour tells the story of the British and German soldiers who during WWI met in “no man’s land” to celebrate a short Christmas truce.… read more

Christmas music from the Broadway stage is spotlighted on Sounds of Broadway (SoundsofBroadway.com), the 24/7 online Broadway radio station, this Thursday, December 24 from 5:00-9:00PM and a double dose on Christmas Day from 8:00AM – 3:30PM. “There will be music from dozens of musicals,” stated Stuart Brown, creator and programmer of the station. “Such well-known shows as White Christmas, Annie, Rent, and Billy Elliot will be represented, but there will also be songs from lesser known musicals such as Jollyana, Flahooley, and Greenwillow. Greenwillow was written by Frank Loesser who also wrote Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in… read more

Versatile could be Liz Callaway’s middle name. Her unique and warmly inviting singing style has been celebrated in such roles as Eva Peron in “Evita,” Norma Desmond in ”Sunset Boulevard,” Dot in “Sunday in the Park with George” and Grizabella in “Cats” to name but a few. In addition, she’s created concerts featuring the music of “Follies,” “Hair” and composer Stephen Sondheim. These are but a few of the Titanic tip of the legendary musical iceberg for this prolific artist. Right now you can bring the iconic Miss Callaway right into your living room until Monday, January 4, 2021 as… read more

By Karen Isaacs Sofa? Car? Or outdoors, socially-distanced? These are the options for enjoying holiday entertainment and attractions in Connecticut and New York City. All of us have our comfort zones when it comes to what we are willing to do, or not, during this pandemic. And, the reality is that the pandemic is still very much with us and health experts are urging us to celebrate the holidays in way that keeps us safe for us, and for everyone. Happily for us, that still leaves lots of room for fun. Read on to find out how to make sure… read more

Kanthalina Andreus is part of the Connecticut Critics Circle mentorship program for college students. She is a student at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport. Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy, a streaming co-production of TheaterWorks in Hartford, TheaterSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and in association with The Civilians, premiered on October 20 at 7:30 p.m. Unusual times call for unusual measures and filming entire productions while socially distanced is one many people are attempting. Written by Sarah Gancher, Russian Troll Farm is identified as a workplace comedy, but only one of those names fit. While it was going for funny office… read more