Joseph Harrison - Page 9

There are some stories that no matter the venue or format, find a way to touch your soul, brighten your day, and ignite a fire within you. One such story, is Louisa May Alcott's masterpiece LITTLE WOMEN, which has been adapted from the original 1868 novel into many forms including several movies and television series and even a Broadway musical. This musical version is currently being produced by the Connecticut Theatre Company in New Britain and it couldn't be a more thrilling, fresh, or heartwarming experience.

When the holiday season comes around it often brings with it staples of holiday theater - from Ebenezer Scrooge learning how to care for something other than money, Charlie Brown hearing from his friend Linus the true meaning of Christmas, or the Grinch increasing the size of his heart, theatergoers often are limited to old favorites for the season. That is why it is refreshing that the Connecticut Repertory Theater at UConn chose this year to offer a lesser known, yet equally poignant holiday tale with its current production of Paula Vogel's A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION. The production offers a set of stories that many may not have heard before with familiar (and not so familiar) music by Daryl Waters.  

It's a funny thing when a piece transcends its given medium and becomes ingrained in pop culture. People who have never seen a certain play/read the book/watched the movie find themselves familiar enough with the plot or the characters without ever really experiencing the piece in its entirety. For me, this has been the case for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST a story that was first told via the acclaimed novel by Ken Kesey, then the adaptation for the stage by Dale Wasserman, then the Academy Award winning film by Milos Forman. I had some familiarity with the plot and characters, but somehow, I was never exposed to it completely, and so it was with a fairly blank slate (those pop culture staples notwithstanding) that I approached Playhouse on Park's latest production.

In Shakespeare's day his plays served multiple purposes. In some cases, they created an escape for the people to forget their troubles and laugh or revel with and through the characters on stage. In others, the stories served as cautionary tales that made audiences think about their own lives through the lens of the troubles portrayed. Yet it was Shakespeare's history plays that aimed to take a pivotal moment in history and not only bring it to life for the audience to witness (and hopefully understand better), but to ground those stories in the present and allow those in attendance (and possibly those in power) to learn from the mistakes of the past. Thus, is the case with HENRY V, the current production being mounted at Hartford Stage.

It will come as no surprise to theater fans in Connecticut that we have an embarrassment of riches in our state when it comes to our favorite past-time. From multiple touring houses to some of the finest professional theaters in the country to top-notch community theater companies - Connecticut has it all. But what often gets overlooked in the sea of theatrical choices are the top-rated college and university theater programs right in our own back yard. After years of ignorance (or simple lack of awareness), I witnessed, first hand, the amazing work being produced by the students at one of these schools, The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. This dedication to not only learning the craft, but delivering a powerful and thrilling performance was front and center in the school's most recent production of Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields' classic musical SWEET CHARITY, which ran for just four (too) short days October 18 - 21st.

When does a passion for something become an obsession? And does the desire to share that passion with another person create a unique opportunity to build a bond or an opportunity to push the other person away? 'When we find each other, are we trying to recapture someone that was once lost?' These are some of the questions answered in Jez Butterworth's (JERUSALEM, THE FERRYMAN) THE RIVER, the opening play of TheaterWorks' current season in Hartford.

As a fan of musical theatre, there is nothing like sitting down with a favorite cast album and being transported (possibly for the umpteenth time) to fantastic worlds, bygone eras, or dramatic locales. These musical journeys help one forget the worries of day to day life and instead spend a couple hours with a smile on the face and a song in the heart. Imagine if the essence of that experience could be captured and put on stage, and you have the hilarious musical THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the final show in Goodspeed Musicals' 2018 season. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is one of those shows with something for everyone. For the die-hard theatre geeks (such as this writer) it is an exciting and thrilling, non-stop nod to the experience that only a musical can provide. But for everyone else, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is just a hands-down great piece of musical theater. With rousing dance numbers, powerhouse ballads, beautiful costumes, magical scenery, and hilarious situations, this is a show that everyone can fall in love with

There is something thrilling about discovering the backstory behind a treasured book, film or play. Learning about the origins of a favorite character or the life lessons gained long before they were introduced to you is a special thrill. This unique type of discovery, telling the tale of Peter Pan before he became the boy who would not grow up, is being brought to boisterous life in Playhouse on Park's inaugural production of their 10th season, Rick Elice's PETER AND THE STARCATCHER.

Do you remember when you were a child and the best of days were made up of adventures in the woods, tea parties with your stuffed animals, and fantastic sword fights between friends? These exciting, but entirely made up worlds entertained our young minds for hours on end and, for some, kept us from focusing on the harsh realities of life. For the characters at the center of Bess Wohl's world premiere play, MAKE BELIEVE, the opening production of Hartford Stage's 2018 - 2019 season, childhood fantasy fills a void and serves as a protective shield. Imagination shelters the children at the center of the play (and even their grown-up selves) from their real-life problems and provides a shared bond that carries on throughout their lives.  

A CHORUS LINE, the hit musical about dancers auditioning for a Broadway show played for 6,137 performances in its original run and, depending on who you ask, there are numerous reasons for that. First, and foremost, audiences connected with the people on stage and their experiences. They saw their own wishes and dreams played out through the diverse and talented group of people assembled. The second reason is because it offers a unique variety of energetic musical numbers (with some amazing dancing, naturally) interspersed with dramatic monologues that get at the heart of the human condition. And third, and probably most importantly - it is simply a wildly entertaining musical. I am pleased to say that all of these elements (and more!) are present in the current production of A CHORUS LINE at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, CT.  

It is an instantly recognizable story. Skilled writer and romantic Cyrano de Bergerac crafts beautiful prose but can't let himself be loved due to insecurities about his looks. This classic story is being brought to life in a new and exciting way at the Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre with music by members of the Grammy Award-winning band, The National, and a stellar cast and creative team. Playing the character of Le Bret is Damon J. Gillespie who is just off a starring role on the TV show Rise. I had the pleasure of speaking with Damon and learning about his experience with this new twist on a classic tale.

It's always a treat to see something familiar come to life in a fresh and exciting way. Mixing the expected with the unexpected adds a certain thrill to any creative endeavor. This is the way it is with Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, which is being brought to life on stage (or, rather, under the sea) by the Warner Stage Company at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, Connecticut. The production, which plays through August 5th is every bit as magical and engaging as the original 1989 Disney film by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. On stage at the Warner, THE LITTLE MERMAID is bubbly, bright and a treat for both the young AND the young at heart.

Grief can be a very strange thing and people react to traumatic events in very different ways. Some may become reserved and avoid contact with people. Some may turn to their faith for support during trying times. Others, like the young man in TheaterWorks' HAND TO GOD, channel anger, fear and confusion into a demonic and controlling puppet. Yes, you read that right. In Robert Askins' Tony Award nominated play, young Jason and his evil puppet alter ego, Tyrone, wreak havoc on a small Texas church and raunchy, rude, unhinged hilarity ensues.

There is something glorious taking place at the Repertory Theatre in New Britain, Connecticut. The Connecticut Theatre Company is staging the very first community theater production of THE COLOR PURPLE, the hit Broadway musical with book by Marsha Norman and Music & Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Readers familiar with the beloved musical very likely may have the same initial reaction as this reviewer had - "A community theater production of THE COLOR PURPLE? Not sure how good that can be." Well, let me go on the record to say that this production by the Connecticut Theatre Company is absolutely breathtaking and does justice to every note, every scene and every heart-wrenching and beautifully written song in the musical. It is fresh and simple, and every bit as moving and life affirming as the original Broadway production (and its recent revival.)

"Please, sir. I want some more." These are the iconic words are spoken by young Oliver Twist at the beginning of Lionel Bart's classic musical OLIVER! This simple ask for more to eat sets Oliver out on a dangerous but exciting journey into a world where his innocence and positive outlook impacts all he meets. These words also sum up the experience of watching OLIVER!, which is the second show in Goodspeed Musicals current season. OLIVER! is a show that excites, enthralls and leaves you, in the end, simply wanting more. OLIVER! is one of those shows that doesn't get produced that often, possibly due in part to the number of children needed to pull it off appropriately, which is why it is thrilling to see Goodspeed give its signature treatment to this classic musical that many may not have experienced before (this reviewer included.)

THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE - piano virtuoso Mona Golabek's beautiful retelling of the story of her mother's escape from Vienna as a young woman on the Kindertransport - has returned for a limited engagement through July 22 at Hartford Stage and the performance is once again enthralling, beautifully told (and played) and something not to be missed.

For over 40 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR has been thrilling audiences and sparking conversation and debate between theatergoers and fans alike. Over those 40 years different productions have put their own spin on the tale of the last days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, told from the perspective of Judas Iscariot via a powerful rock score. From the original concept album and productions, to the film starring Ted Neely and Carl Anderson, and most recently with the NBC live production, this captivating story has shown a universal quality that continues to excite audiences as much today as when it premiered. And in that light, the final production of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT)'s Nutmeg summer series, does what JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR does best - thrills audiences while stimulating dialogue and introspection, long after the last chords of the score are through.   

The orchestra begins to play a quiet, foreboding melody as the cast takes the stage inviting the audience to "Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd", soon with a signature factory whistle the man himself, malicious, glaring and exuding an air of evil appears center stage. Thus begins what, for many, is an unlikely favorite musical, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's SWEENEY TODD. And, thus also begins Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT)'s current production of the hit musical. From that point on, though, all bets are off as the next 2 hours are filled with a performance that is fresh, exciting,  and downright chilling, and is certainly something not to be missed.

Home. Family. Finding where you belong. Themes that best describe the heart and soul of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning Best Musical, IN THE HEIGHTS which is now playing at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT. This powerhouse predecessor to Mr. Miranda's current smash hit HAMILTON, is a musical with a fresh and modern story and a palpable energy that bursts to life on the Playhouse stage.