Sherry Shameer Cohen - Page 4

Here's the story of the original bad boy of rock 'n' roll.

It would be nice if all theatres were coming back with a roar, but the pandemic is still hurting theatre companies and audiences. But horses have to run, writers have to write, and performers have to perform. To make the best of the current situation, the Westport Community Theatre is presenting a one-night cabaret on Thursday, October 21 at 7:30 and will feature various local talent.

The story of an A-list star twice over at the Music Theatre of Connecticut's MainStage.

If you don't know Frank S. Petrilli's work, it's high time you did. Petrilli has earned a stellar reputation as a director's director and a dramatist's dramatist, most frequently working in Connecticut. He is always available to bring his work again to New York City and beyond.

We've all missed Broadway and look forward to its return. Meanwhile, Marty ('Mr. Broadway') Thomas is going to perform at The Legacy Theatre in Connecticut in It's a Standard to Me.

Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical, which made its world premiere at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey two and half years ago, is again taking audiences by storm in bucolic Connecticut at Goodspeed by the River.

Show business is a tough business to break into even for those who have great training, good looks, amazing talent, and even good connections. Now imagine if you had to compete for roles while using a wheelchair. Meet Ali Stroker.

Tiny house. Big commotion.

Is there anything Joanna Gleason can't do and do well? Nothing that we can think of. Area theatergoers will no doubt want to see Gleason host 'Winter at the Playhouse: A Holiday Benefit Concert' in Westport in December. The Tony Award winner (as Best Actress in a Musical in Into the Woods) will bring her vocal group of three singers called The Moontones and will head a cast of Broadway performers including some Westport Country Playhouse alumni.

The world premiere translation and adaptation of Moliere's Don Juan is the closing play of the season at the Westport Country Playhouse. It's performed in modern dress, but the book is overly faithful to the original story of the narcissistic womanizer (played well by Nick Westrate). Warning: this is a hard play to like because Don Juan is not likeable and because some of it is vulgar and unnecessary. Nor can Don Juan command any respect because of the way he treats everyone, not just women. There were some patrons who walked out during the intermission. It was their loss to miss out on the rest of the play, which was worth seeing for Bhavesh Patel, who stole the show as Sganarelle, Don Juan's servant. He's a human mop, underpaid and having to clean up his master's messes.

Racism and homophobia reign in 1950s Houston, the setting of Ricardo Pérez González's world premiere of On the Grounds of Belonging. The play begins as white drag queen Thomas Aston (Jeremiah Clapp) from whites only gay bar, The Red Room, hides from a raid at The Gold Room, a blacks only gay bar. Thomas falls head over his high heels for Russell Montgomery (Calvin Leon Smith), a quiet, erudite journalist who has a not too distant past with fellow patron Henry Stanfield (Blake Anthony Morris). But against the advice of bar manager Hugh Williams (Thomas Silcott), Thomas and Rusty begin a serious love affair. This is not a good time or place to be an interracial gay couple, but their biggest threat is Henry, who bashes Thomas in the head out of jealousy and hurt. Mooney Fitzpatrick (Craig Bockhorn), the gay and bigoted owner of the two gay bars, tells Russell that Thomas, whom he loved like a son, died of his wounds. He threatens to lynch the person who killed him. Sounds a bit like Romeo and Juliet, but neither character dies at the end. They are just separated seemingly forever. Rounding out this excellent ensemble is Tanya Starr (Tracey Conyer Lee), a torch singer at The Gold Room, who helps Henry escape. All the cast members are genuine in their roles, playing them without stereotypes. You can't help but feel their loneliness. Bockhorn is chilling as a man who, with his partner, took in a very young orphaned Thomas, yet is vindictive enough to lynch someone. Lee is a talented singer as well as actress.

Lynn Nottage's powerful play, Mlima's Tale, which opened at the Westport Country Playhouse is a bit of a theatrical departure. It is an ensemble play that is not really character driven, but rather a linear narrative of the illegal poaching of elephants. Nevertheless, it is a must-see play for its informative story and superb performances.

Don't miss this tour-de-force performance by the multi-talented Hershey Felder.

Choreographer Doug Shankman makes the dance his own in this energetic production of a long-time favorite.

All Berlin's iconic songs and a background you may not know.