Sean Fallon

On Saturday, November 30th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another wonderful performance at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT.  The theatre for young audiences, that features adult performers, always manages to provide entertainment for the entire family so that parents can be entertained, themselves, as they experience the joy of watching their smiling children being entertained.  SANTA STORY 2 is yet another brilliantly written and performed story that is guaranteed to add to the Christmas cheer of all who see it!  Carly Jurman excels as the writer, director, and choreographer, showing her myriad of first-rate talents, including her acting performance as Mrs. Kringle.  She is joined by other highly talented cast members including Ashley DePascale, Andrea Pane, Emily Pisarra, JoJo Devellis, and Karen Hanley.  This stellar cast gels together excellently, with tight stage chemistry, all of them playing extras beyond their main characters, bringing positive energy to every role they play. 

On Sunday, November 10th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first-rate production put on by Fairfield Center Stage at Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield at 148 Beach Rd.  OLIVER!, the musical, based on the Charles Dickens book Oliver Twist, adapted for stage by Lionel Bart. is an exciting production that the entire family can enjoy!  Director/Choreographer Todd Santa Maria, Music Director Eli Newsom, and Children’s Chorus Director Elissa Ranney combine their talents to help bring out the best in this amazing cast!  A talented eight piece live band enhances the production!  When I was in the fourth grade, I had an ensemble role in this show, but have not seen it on stage, since.  Seeing it performed by Fairfield Center Stage brought back the childhood memories of one of the greatest shows for a young cast that has ever been written!

On Friday, November 1st, I had the pleasure of seeing a phenomenal opening night performance of IN THE HEIGHTS at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT! Set in Washington Heights in New York City, in a predominantly Latino community, this show delivers the right blend of drama, action, and comedy, enhanced by high quality dancing, singing, and acting, with music and dialogue delivered with the ideal combination of Spanish to create believability, and English so audience members who only speak English can clearly follow the story, while remaining intrigued and entertained.  The music, written by Lin Manuel Miranda includes moving slow ballads, intense rap and hip-hop, Salsa, and other mostly Latin influences.  Director Ben Tostado combines his talents with choreographer Olivia Rivera and music director Mark Ceppetelli to bring out the best in this first-rate cast!

On Saturday, October 26th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first rate production put on by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT.  Bram Stoker’s DRACULA is brought to life on stage, through the adaptation by Hamilton Deane & John L. Balderston.  The brilliant direction of Stephen Amato brings out the best in this stellar cast that includes Erin Aldrich, Timothy Barton, Sara Courtemanche, Griffin Kulp, Meghan Magner, Tullio Milani, Bill Rodman, and Mike Zimmerman, all who excel in their respective roles, as individuals, and as a collective group!

On Sunday, August 4th, I had the pleasure of seeing the musical GREASE at Musicals at Richter in Danbury, CT.  With book and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, director Jessica Smith combines her talents with music director Andrew Gadweh, and choreographer Melissa Arizzi to help bring out the best in this stellar cast of actors and actresses who come across as professional ringers, enjoying their roles, and radiating positive energy from the stage, drawing the audience right in, as we all enjoyed this wonderful performance in this newly renovated first-rate outdoor venue. 

On Saturday, July 27th, I had the pleasure of seeing SPRING AWAKENING as put on by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT. The stellar acting, singing, lighting, and choreography draws the audience right in.  The talented vocalists and skilled musicians combine to create the melancholy and ominous feel behind the music written by Duncan Sheik, with book and lyrics by Steven Slater, setting the tone of the story in a way that captivates the audience and reveals the deep and dark feelings of the characters. The song, 'I Believe,' a full ensemble number at the end of the first act showcases particularly strong harmonies.  Director Oliver Kochol, musical director Jill Brunelle, and choreographer Todd Santa Maria combine their skills to help bring out the best in this highly talented cast.

On Friday, May 31st, I had the pleasure of seeing the phenomenal musical WE WILL ROCK YOU at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT. This is neither a tribute concert to Queen nor a biography of their lives. Rather, the concept is similar to Mamma Mia! in that the show is a fictional story built around the music of one specific music group, in this case, Queen. Playwright Ben Elton, however, has written a storyline that digs much deeper. Director Andrea Pane, with Assistant Director Carly Jurman, Musical Director Mark Ceppetelli, and Choreographer Olivia Rivera bring out the best in this first-rate cast!

On Friday, May 3rd, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first-rate production by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT! This stellar cast keeps the audience entertained with their excellent stage presence, stage chemistry, and positive energy, as this intriguing story unfolds, THE 39 STEPS. Director Todd Santa Maria helps bring out the best in this phenomenal cast featuring Matthew Griffiths, Angelina D’Albero, Matt Monitto, and Gabriel Sousa. I was not previously familiar with this show, but seeing it performed by this cast, I feel as if they elevated it to heights that were never reached before! This casts’ delivery, mannerisms, and comedic timing shine through in ways far superior to that which could be detailed or explained in a script. The constant laughter and applause from this lively packed house strongly suggests that the rest of the audience tremendously enjoyed this show, as I did!

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG as performed at Center Stage Theatre, in Shelton, CT, has the most spectacular set I have ever seen!  Director Betsy Kelso helps bring out the best in this amazing cast!  It is clear that the entire cast is having as wonderful a time performing their roles as the audience is having watching them perform!

On Saturday, March 2nd, I had the pleasure of seeing another phenomenal performance put on by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT, FOREVER PLAID, a comedic jukebox musical written by Stuart Ross. Director Melanie Del Sole, with help from musical director Nick Ciasullo and choreographer Stephen Koehler bring out the best in this amazing cast featuring Henry Tobelman, Stephen Koehler, Jeffrey Rizzo and Brandon Gregoire, accompanied by David Marottolo on piano. The show reflects the music of the male 1950s harmony groups, placing it into a highly entertaining storyline! The actors have incredible stage chemistry with each other, and amazing vocal harmony. Their dance maneuvers are performed with sharp synchronicity. Most importantly, it is clear that they are having an excellent time performing their roles, radiating positive energy throughout the audience.

What did our critic think of OKLAHOMA! at Center Stage Theatre?

The play is by Sandy Rustin, Hunter Foster, and Eric Price, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn. Under the wonderful direction of David Fritsch, the Ridgefield Theater Barn successfully put on yet another phenomenal production that combines comedy with murder mystery!

What did our critic think of WINNE THE POOH at Downtown Cabaret Theatre?

On Saturday, December 9th, at 2:00 PM, I had the pleasure of attending my favorite annual theatrical tradition, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as performed by Fairfield Center Stage, at Burr Mansion in Fairfield, CT.  In my youth, I have appeared in three stage productions of A Christmas Carol.  I have seen numerous movie versions, whether animated or otherwise.  I have also seen it on stage.  Fairfield Center Stage, however, has found a brilliantly unique new way of presenting this timeless classic story, while staying true to the original.  In A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, the audience moves from location to location inside and outside of Burr Mansion, following Ebenezer Scrooge and the other characters from scene to scene.  I am convinced that the absolute best live performance of this timeless story that has impacted generations, internationally, is this one annually performed by Fairfield Center Stage.  This is a wonderful experience all-around!  The direction of Kevin Pelkey, choreography of Lindsay Johnson, songwriting and musical direction of Clay Zambo, and stellar performances by this spectacular ensemble cast all combine to bring life to this phenomenal adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, adapted by artistic director Christy-McIntosh Newsom.

On Saturday, November 11th, I had the pleasure of seeing ELF, the musical, performed by Fairfield Center Stage, at Wakeman Hall inside First Congregational Church of Fairfield. With book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin and music by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, this musical is based on the 2003 movie. Director Marcelle Morrisey, musical director Clay Zambo, and choreographers Emily Frangipane & Kelsey Kaminski combine their talents to bring out the best in this phenomenal ensemble cast. The music is of the traditional show-tunes genre, a rarity in more recently written musicals.

NIGHT OF JANUARY 16TH is a three-act courtroom drama by Ayn Rand, set in 1933. Director Pamela Amodio helps bring out the best in this phenomenal ensemble cast who all appear to be greatly enjoying their roles! The case involves a young woman named Karen Andre who is standing trial, being accused of the alleged murder of her former lover and boss, Bjorn Faulkner.

On Sunday, July 30th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first-rate production put on by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT, INTO THE WOODS!  This is the first time I have ever seen this show performed live, and it has given me a whole new appreciation for this James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim masterpiece!   The brilliant direction of Ian Galligan combines with the musical direction of Nick Ciasullo and choreography of Todd Santa Maria to bring out the best in this stellar cast, and in this musical itself!  It is as if the musical was written to be performed by this cast! 

On Friday, July 28th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal performance by Musicals at Richter, in Danbury, CT, Meredith Willson’s THE MUSIC MAN.  Musicals at Richter has a talent in making their outdoor venue feel like the perfect venue for every show they put on, including THE MUSIC MAN, as the moon shines from behind the trees backstage!  They also manage to get the perfect cast for each show, with each cast member excelling at the role they play, as the cast gels together as a collective group of highly talented local performers who are spectacular in their stage presence, stage chemistry with each other, acting, singing, dancing, and ability to radiate positive vibes from the stage, helping the audience enjoy watching them perform as much as the cast enjoys performing!  The directing of David Halliwell combines with the musical directing of Peter Randazzo, and the choreography of Lindsay Miller to help maximize the talents of this stellar cast!

On Friday, July 7th, I had the pleasure of yet again being blown away by the incredible talent that Musicals at Richter, in Danbury, CT has found to star in their show, this time, being a musical comedy that I have never seen before, THE ADDAMS FAMILY.

On Friday, June 16, I had the pleasure of seeing a phenomenal performance of 9 TO 5, the musical, at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT.  I joined the opening night packed house in tremendously enjoying this production!  With book by Patricia Resnick and music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, this show, based on the movie, while comedic, also addresses the important issues of sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace, how both can take on various forms, and both can be devastating and infuriating to those who are subject to them.  This entire cast is spectacular in the way they perform their roles, under the direction of Andrea Pane, choreography of Christina Ronquillo, and musical direction of Zachary Kampler.