Reviews of Past Productions (2017-2018)

The 2017-2018 season for the Connecticut Critics Circle (CCC) was June 1, 2017 through May 30, 2018. The following reviews from the past season by members of the CCC for award eligible theaters.

The Age of Innocence
Hartford Stage
April 5 – May 6, 2017

Geary Danihy
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Howard Steven Frydman
Lauren Yarger
Donald Brown
Joseph Harrison
Bonnie Goldberg
Nancy Sasso Janis
Tom Nissley
Stuart Brown
Brooks Appelbaum
Amy Barry

A Lesson From Aloes
Hartford Stage
May 17 – June 10, 2018

Geary Danihy
Nancy Sasso Janis
Zander Opper
Donald Brown
Tom Holehan
Tim Leininger
Tara Kennedy
Bonnie Goldberg
Stuart Brown
Karen Isaacs
Joseph Harrison

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Hartford Stage
September 7 – October 8, 2017

Nancy Sasso Janis
Tim Leininger
Bessy Reyna
Zander Opper
Brooks Appelbaum
Tara Kennedy
Howard Frydman
Tom Holehan
Bonnie Goldberg
Donald Brown
Tom Nissley
Joseph Harrison

An Enemy of the People
Yale Repertory Theatre
October 6 – 28, 2017

Zander Opper
Geary Danihy
Donald Brown
Bonnie Goldberg
Tom Holehan
Dave Rosenberg
Stuart Brown
Tim Leininger
Tom Nissley
Tara Kennedy
Karen Isaacs
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley

Appropriate
Westport Country Playhouse
August 15 – September 2, 2017

Geary Danihy
Tom Holehan
Susan Granger
Dave Rosenberg
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs
Tom Nissley
Marlene S. Gaylinn
Tara Kennedy
Stuart Brown
Irene Backalenick
Bonnie Goldberg
Brooks Appelbaum
Donald Brown
Lauren Yarger
Susan Granger
Joe Meyers
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley

As You Like It
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
April 19 – 29, 2018

Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley

Avenue Q
Playhouse on Park
September 13 – October 8, 2017

Geary Danihy
Nancy Sasso Janis
Tim Leininger
Tom Nissley
Zander Opper
Bonnie Goldberg
Howard Frydman
Karen Isaacs
Donald Brown
Joseph Harrison

Baskerville – a Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Long Wharf Theatre
February 28 – March 25, 2018

Bonnie Goldberg
Stuart Brown
Karen Isaacs
Donald Brown
Tim Leininger
Tom Holehan
Zander Opper
Tara Kennedy
Frank Rizzo
Amy Barry

The Bridges of Madison County
Music Theatre of Connecticut
November 3 – 19, 2017

Marlene Gaylinn
Zander Opper
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs
Geary Danihy

The Chosen
Longwharf Theater
November 22 – December 17, 2017

Geary Danihy
Tim Leininger
Tom Holehan
Brooks Appelbaum
Bonnie Goldberg
Stuart Brown
Tara Kennedy
Joe Meyers
Donald Brown
Tom Nissley
Dave Rosenberg
Karen Isaacs
Amy Barry

Constellations
Theaterworks
January 18 – February 22, 2018

Zander Opper
Stuart Brown
Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tom Holehan
Brooks Appelbaum
Tara Kennedy
Karen Isaacs
Tom Nissley
Donald Brown
Joseph Harrison

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (unabridged & revised)
Playhouse on Park
June 28 – 30, 2017

Geary Danihy
Stuart Brown
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs
Lauren Yarger
Zander Opper
Tim Leininger
Tom Nissley
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Joseph Harrison

Crowns
Long Wharf Theatre
April 18 – May 13, 2018

Geary Danihy
Tom Holehan
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Zander Opper
Tara Kennedy

The Crucible
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
February 22 – March 4, 2018

Bonnie Goldberg
Geary Danihy
Tim Leininger

The Diary of Anne Frank
Playhouse on Park
October 25 – November 19, 2017

Geary Danihy
Lauren Yarger
Nancy Sasso Janis
Zander Opper
Tom Nissley
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Karen Isaacs
Donald Brown
Stuart Brown
Joseph Harrison

Fade
TheaterWorks
June 1 – 30, 2017

Geary Danihy
Zander Opper
Stuart Brown
Tom Nissley
Brooks Appelbaum
Karen Isaacs
Tom Holehan
Amy Jay Barry
Bonnie Goldberg
Lauren Yarger
Tim Leininger

The Fantasticks
Ivoryton Placehouse
March 21 – April 8, 2018

Brooks Appelbaum
Geary Danihy
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Tim Leininger
Zander Opper
Stuart Brown
Bonnie Goldberg
Amy Barry
Karen Isaacs
Howard Steven Frydman

Father Comes Home From the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3
Yale Repertory Theatre
March 16 – April 7, 2018

Zander Opper
Donald Brown
Karen Isaacs
Bonnie Goldberg
Tom Holehan
Tim Leininger
Tom Nissley
Bessy Reyna
Amy Barry

Feeding the Dragon
Hartford Stage
January 11 – February 4, 2018

Nancy Sasso Janis
Stuart Brown
Geary Danihy
Tim Leininger
Zander Opper
Frank Rizzo
Donald Brown
Tom Holehan
Brooks Appelbaum
Tara Kennedy
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs
Amy Barry
Howard Frydman
Joseph Harrison

Field Guide
Yale Repertory Theatre
January 26 – February 17, 2018

Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Zander Opper
Donald Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tara Kennedy
Tom Nissley
Tom Holehan
Dave Rosenberg
Stuart Brown
Karen Isaacs

Fireflies
Long Wharf Theatre
October 11 – November 5, 2017

Geary Danihy
Lauren Yarger
Zander Opper
Bonnie Goldberg
Frank Rizzo
Susan Granger
Brooks Appelbaum
Joe Meyers
Irene Backalenick
Donald Brown
Tom Holehan
Dave Rosenberg
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Bessy Reyna
Tim Leininger

Fun Home
Music Theatre of Connecticut
April 20 – May 6, 2017

Bonnie Goldberg
Geary Danihy
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs
Donald Brown
Marlene S. Gaylinn

The Game’s Afoot
Ivoryton Playhouse
November 1 – 19, 2017

Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Zander Opper
Tim Leininger
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs

Grounded
Westport Country Playhouse
July 11 – July 29, 2017

Geary Danihy
Tom Holehan
Marlene S. Gaylinn
Donald Brown
Susan Granger
Zander Opper
Brooks Appelbaum
Joe Meyers
Tom Nissley
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs
Stuart Brown
Frank Rizzo
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley

I Hate Musicals – the Musical
Ivoryton Playhouse
September 27 – October 15, 2017

Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Brooks Appelbaum
Tim Leininger
Karen Isaacs
Zander Opper
Tom Holehan
Stuart Brown

The Importance of Being Earnest
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
October 5 – 15, 2017

Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger

Intimate Apparel
Playhouse on Park
February 14 – March 4, 2018

Tom Nissley
Geary Danihy
Stuart Brown
Zander Opper
Tim Leininger
Donald Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Karen Isaacs
Bonnie Goldberg
Joseph Harrison

Kiss
Yale Repertory Theatre
April 27 – May 19, 2018

Tom Nissley
Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
David Rosenberg
Tim Leininger
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs

The Legend of Georgia McBride
Theaterworks
March 18 – April 29, 2018

Joseph Harrison
Donald Brown
Stuart Brown
Geary Danihy
Howard Steven Frydman
Tim Leininger
Bonnie Goldberg
Tom Holehan
Zander Opper
Lauren Yarger
Frank Rizzo
Tom Nissley
Karen Isaacs
Bessy Reyna
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tara Kennedy
Brooks Appelbaum

Lettice & Lovage
Westport Country Playhouse
June 1 – 17, 2017

Geary Danihy
Zander Opper
Susan Granger
Bonnie Goldberg
David Rosenberg
Joe Meyers
Stuart Brown
Marlene Gaylinn
Karen Isaacs
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tom Holehan
Tom Nissley
Donald Brown
Frank Rizzo

Love Letters
Music Theatre of Connecticut
January 26 – February 11, 2018

Bonnie Goldberg
Marlene S. Gaylinn
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs

Love Quest
Ivoryton Plahouse
April 25 – May 13, 2018

Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
ord”>Nancy Sasso Janis

The Male Intellect – an Oxymoron
Seven Angels Theatre
September 21 – October 15, 2017

Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Bonnie Goldberg
Nancy Sasso Janis

Million Dollar Quartet
Ivoryton Playhouse
May 31 – June 25, 2017

Bonnie Goldberg
Brooks Appelbaum
Geary Danihy
Karen Isaacs
Zander Opper
Tim Leininger

Million Dollar Quartet
Seven Angels Theatre
October 26 – November 26, 2017

Nancy Sasso Janis
Bonnie Goldberg
Donald Brown
Tim Leininger

Murder on the Orient Express
Hartford Stage
February 15 – March 25, 2018

Stuart Brown
Geary Danihy
Nancy Sasso Janis
Howard Steven Frydman
Zander Opper
Tom Nissley
Bessy Reyna
Tara Kennedy
Tom Holehan
Tim Leininger
Donald Brown
Frank Rizzo
Laura Yarger
Karen Isaacs
Joseph Harrison

The Music Man
Sharon Playhouse
August 4 – 20, 2017

Tom Nissley
Stuart Brown
Nancy Sasso Janis

Native Son
Yale Repertory Theatre
November 24 – December 16, 2017)

Bonnie Goldberg
Zander Opper
Donald Brown
Tim Leininger
Tom Holehan
Geary Danihy
Bessy Reyna
Amy Barry

Newsies
CT Repertory Theater
July 6 – 16, 2017

Nancy Sasso Janis
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs
Bonnie Goldberg
Frank Rizzo
Stuart Brown
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Howard Steven Frydman
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tim Leininger

Noises Off
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
June 15 – 25, 2017

Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs
Nancy Sasso Janis
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tim Leininger
Joseph Harrison

Office Hour
Long Wharf Theatre
January 17 – February 11, 2018

Zander Opper
Joe Meyers
Bonnie Goldberg
Donald Brown
Tim Leininger
Tara Kennedy
Brooks Appelbaum
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Stuart Brown
Karen Isaacs
Amy Barry

Oklahoma!
Goodspeed Opera House
July 14, – September 27, 2017

Geary Danihy
Nancy Sasso Janis
Zander Opper
Dave Rosenberg
Tim Leininger
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Frank Rizzo
Stuart Brown
Brooks Appelbaum
Tom Holehan
Donald Brown
Karen Isaacs
Amy Barry
Howard Frydman
Bonnie Goldberg
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Joseph Harrison

Our Country’s Good
Connecticut Repertory Theatre

Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger

Raging Skillet
Theaterworks
July 20 – August 27, 2017

Stuart Brown
Geary Danihy
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Zander Opper
Tim Leininger
Tom Nissley
Bonnie Goldberg
Karen Isaacs
Howard Frydman
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Bessy Reyna
Lauren Yarger
Joseph Harrison

Rags
Goodspeed Musicals
October 6 – December 10, 2017

Frank Rizzo
Tara D.Kennedy
Zander Opper
Donald Brown
Nancy Sasso Janis
Geary Danihy
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Brooks Appelbaum
Lauren Yarger
Stuart Brown
Dave Rosenberg
Tom Holehan
Tom Nissley
Joseph Harrison

Red Hot Mama: The Sophie Tucker Story
Seven Angels Theatre
February 15 – March 11, 2018

Nancy Sasso Janis
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Zander Opper
Stuart Brown
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Karen Isaacs

The Revisionist
Playhouse on Park
April 11 – 29, 2018


Joseph Harrison
Nancy Sasso Janis
Geary Danihy
Howard Steven Frydman
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Stuart Brown
Donald Brown
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs
Lauren Yarger
Tom Nissley
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley

Romeo and Juliet
Westport Country Playhouse
October 31 – November 19, 2017

Bonnie Goldberg
Tom Nissley
Dave Rosenberg
Marlene Gaylinn
Tara D. Kennedy
Irene Backalenick
Joe Meyer
Frank Rizzo
Donald Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley

Saturday Night Fever
Ivoryton Playhouse
August 9 – September 3, 2017

Geary Danihy
Brooks Appelbaum
Zander Opper
Stuart Brown
Don Church and Tony Schillaci
Tim Leininger
Karen Isaacs
Bonnie Goldberg

Second Chance
Seven Angels Theatre
April 5 – 29, 2018

Nancy Sasso Janis
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Stuart Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Karen Isaacs

Seder
Hartford Stage
October 19 – November 12, 2017

Zander Opper
Dave Rosenberg
Nancy Sasso Janis
Susan Granger
Bonnie Goldberg
Tim Leininger
Tom Nissley
Tom Holehan
Donald Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tara D. Kennedy
Frank Rizzo
Joseph Harrison

1776
Connecticut Repertory Theatre
June 1 – 10, 2017

Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Stuart Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Howard Steven Frydman
Nancy Sasso Janis
Tim Leininger
Joseph Harrison

Sex with Strangers
Westport Country Playhouse
September 26 – October 14, 2017

Tom Holehan
Geary Danihy
Donald Brown
Zander Opper
Irene Backalenick
Marlene S. Gaylinn
Bonnie Goldberg
David Rosenberg
Tom Nissley
Tara Kennedy

Singin’ in the Rain
Summer Theater of New Canaan
July 6 – 30, 2017

Geary Danihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Susan Granger
Stuart Brown
Marlene Gaylinn
Brooks Appelbaum
Zander Opper
Karen Isaacs
Tom Nissley

Steel Magnolias
Playhouse on Park
January 10 – 28, 2018

Geary Danihy
Zander Opper
Tim Leininger
Stuart Brown
Donald Brown
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Bonnie Goldberg
Joseph Harrison

West Side Story
Ivoryton Playhouse
July 5 – 30, 2017

Tony Schillaci and Don Church
Donald Brown
Stuart Brown
Geary Danhihy
Bonnie Goldberg
Zander Opper
Brooks Appelbaum
Tim Leininger
Amy Barry
Howard Steven Frydman
Karen Isaacs

The Wolves
Theatreworks
October 5 – November 12, 2017

Lauren Yarger
Zander Opper
Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and Wayne Keeley
Tara Kennedy
Frank Rizzo
Tim Leininger
Stuart Brown
Donald Brown
Howard Steven Frydman
Karen Isaacs
Tom Nissley
Tom Holehan