Connecticut Critics Circle

Resist the urge to hibernate during the dark, cold wintery days. If you do, you will miss many promising theater productions and events. Right now, East Haddam is buzzing with activity. In January, with Goodspeed’s spring production still months away, you might think it would be quiet on the Goodspeed campus. Yet it is alive with actors, directors, composers, lyricists and book writers. As soon as it becomes January, rehearsals start for the Festival of New Musicals, which is entering its 15th year. The purpose is let the creative people behind new musicals see their works performed in front of… read more

Arts criticism is changing rapidly, and the internet has created more opportunities for people to get involved in the field, but success means more than just posting an opinion. Theater critic Lauren Yarger will run a five-week “Everyone’s a Critic” theater reviewing workshop at the Storyteller’s Cottage on Thursdays, starting Jan. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. The Storyteller’s Cottage is located at 750 Hopmeadow St. For more information, call 860-877-6099. The class will also attend a performance of Pride & Prejudice at Playhouse on Park on Feb. 20. Visit https://www.storytellerscottage.com/ to reserve a spot for $180, which includes admission… read more

Brief Cameo Productions is proud to announce the upcoming opening of its inaugural production: Ragtime the Musical in Concert. Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island, Seussical and Lucky Stiff), musical direction by Jill Brunelle, directed by Connecticut native Jim Clark and based on E.L. Doctorow’s distinguished novel, Ragtime is a truly unique and powerful portrait of America that is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike. Ragtime will run for one night only on January 11, 2020 at the Ivoryton Playhouse. The performance is at 7:00 p.m. and doors open… read more

“Tis the season to celebrate the holidays and area theatres are busy with jolly, entertaining and heartwarming productions. Start off visiting that energetic and enthusiastic elf Buddy who is in residence at Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre until Sunday, December 22. Jimmy Donohue plays the boy who crawls into Santa’s bag and ends up at the North Pole believing he is one of Santa’s helpers. Growing big and afraid he is a failure as a toy maker leads him to discover he is human. Buddy sets off for New York City to find his father. This musical adventure “Elf” is a… read more

Glenn Close’s iconic gown from Sunset Boulevard, one of Annie’s dresses from Annie, Dolly’s famous red gown from Hello, Dolly!, Alex Baldwin’s suit from A Streetcar Named Desire and much, much more. In fact, nearly 250,000 costumes and accessories are stored at Goodspeed’s costume collection warehouse in East Haddam. It began in the 1980s when the theater began purchasing costumes from Broadway shows and tours that were closing. It has grown since then to include not just costumes from Broadway but also from Opera productions. It includes everything from hates, gloves, purses, shoes, gowns, suits, shirts and even pantaloons are… read more

Save the date of Monday, June 29, 2020 for the annual Connecticut Critics Circle awards ceremony to be held at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. Long Wharf is no stranger to hosting the Connecticut Critics Circle awards, having been the locale in 2013. Previous hosts include TheaterWorks/Hartford Stage, Yale Repertory, Westport Country Playhouse, and Goodspeed Opera House. Celebrating the 30th year of the awards ceremony, the Connecticut Critics Circle has made it its goal to honor the actors, directors, designers and others who help produce outstanding professional theater in the stage. The Critic Circle’s current roster of 26 critics… read more

One, two, three, six and 22. A math puzzle? No – just a list of what happening in Connecticut theaters through the start of the holiday season. Here’s what the numbers all mean. One – A renovated theater reopens. TheaterWorks in Hartford which has produced three shows at the Hartford Atheneum will show off its renovated home on Pearl Street in October. The lobby has been enlarged, better and more convenient restrooms, an elevator, new seating and lots of improvements backstage will greet theatergoers and performers. Two – Two new artistic directors are taking the helm at two of our… read more

Bill Berloni has kind eyes, a steady presence and a calm voice. It isn’t difficult to imagine a shy or traumatized dog, large or small, trusting him at first sight. Berloni is a nationally-known humane trainer of animals used on stage, television and in film. His business, William Berloni Theatrical Animals, has been successful for 30 years, and he is the only trainer to earn a special Tony award. Berloni’s latest project is “Because of Winn Dixie,” directed by John Rando and running at Goodspeed Musicals through Sept. 5. The production stars Bowdie as the titular gentle giant (“a poodle… read more

Danilo Gambini is part of a triumvirate that includes Jecamiah M. Ybanez and Estefani Castro, the three fearless leaders, the trio of Artistic Directors, who are responsible for this summer’s Yale Cabaret. Titled ”Verano,” which means summer in Spanish, they have fashioned a four part line up of shows where they encourage you, the audience, to laugh, to cry and to fall in love. Now, at the half way mark in the season, you are invited to join a playground in the park to romp on a swing with the animal characters in Brazilian writer Jorge Amado’s whimsical children’s novel… read more

On June 9th, Ali Stroker won a Tony Award, making her the first wheelchair-user to win a prize at the top event for honoring Broadway talent. She is only one of a handful of disabled actors to win a major acting award in the US across any media (following Phyllis Frelich, Marlee Matlin, Harold Russell, and Christopher Reeve). She was also the first person in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway, making her debut in the 2015 “Spring Awakening” revival. Her Tony win is, of course, not just a huge personal achievement for the 32-year-old performer but a win for… read more

Connecticut theater doesn’t take a summer vacation. While some of the major companies – Yale Rep, Long Wharf and Hartford Stage take a summer break, others go on all year and still others present a summer only season. Long gone are the days of the “straw hat circuit” of productions that toured a variety of summer theaters in New England offering light comedies often starring B-list or aging Hollywood and TV names. Now you can see world premieres with leading performers as well as classic musicals, dramas and plays. You can sit outdoors or under a covering or in traditional… read more