Author: Stuart Brown

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

As the pandemic tightened its grip on Connecticut earlier this year, many of the rest of us took the time at home to hone our bread baking skills, kill time on social media, or catch up on that Netflix series we had been hearing about. Not Marc Deaton, of Madison Lyric Stage. Instead, he sat down and wrote a searing memoir, which he then presented to a group of friends and supporters at a barn in his backyard in early fall. Deaton performed the play with three other performers to an appreciative and enthusiastic audience and has plans to present… read more

Theaters are anxious to resume, and most artistic directors say that people want to see theater, but safely. Right now, several theaters in Connecticut are trying different approaches to fulfilling these needs. Those that are doing so are relying on digital streaming of productions or a combination of live performances with a limited audience and streaming. Music Theatre of Connecticut, or MTC as it is usually called, is a small established theater in Norwalk. It was one of only three theaters in the east (and maybe nationwide) to receive permission from Actor’s Equity to resume productions. According to artistic director… read more

Two years ago, the Connecticut Critics Circle created a Mentor Program so that undergraduate college students could train to become theater critics. One of the 2020-2021 mentees is Sydney Reynolds of Quinnipiac University. She is a Media Studies major, Film minor, and will be pursuing her Master’s in Journalism next year. She is currently part of the Communications Honors Society with a 3.93 GPA. At just six years old, Sydney was already becoming involved in community theater as an actress and would continue this passion throughout her whole life. She is now heavily involved in Quinnipiac University’s television station, Q30,… read more

NORWALK — After six months live indoor professional theater has returned to Connecticut with Music Theatre of Connecticut’s production of Becky Mode’s “Fully Committed,” running through Sept. 27. The evening was going to be an enjoyable, if unique, experience. Music Theatre of Connecticut, or MTC, is one of three theaters in the country that has been approved by their state, the CDC, and the stage actors’ union Actors Equity Association. The other two being Weathervane Theatre in Whitefield, New Hampshire, and Northern Stage in White River Junction, Vermont. Traditionally, MTC would sit 110 people, but with current COVID-19 restrictions for… read more