BWW Connecticut: TOP PICKS February

Leslie Jackson and Tatyana Lubov in Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA. © Carol Rosegg

By Lauren Yarger
It's winter and this is supposed to be the quiet time in the theater season, but Connecticut apparently didn't get the message. We have tons of exciting theater coming up this month. Here are my top picks for February:

HARTFORD STAGE

Sexual politics and what it takes to reach CLOUD 9 - this doesn't sound relevant, does it? Sure does. It's Carl Churchill's comedy that follows a British family from colonial Africa to 1970s London. Promised are unexpected trysts, gender swap and role reversals. Associate Artistic Director ElizaBeth Williamson directs.

Feb. 23-March 19 at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford.

SEVEN ANGELS

Connecticut theater favorite R. Bruce Connelly teams with Seven Angels' Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis to form the iconic comedy team of George Burns and Gracie Allen in GEORGE AND GRACIE: THE EARLY YEARS. George and Gracie, their neighbors Blanche and Harry, and other memorable guests will be on hand as the cast pays homage to the comedic idols who influenced and inspired them with their impeccable comic timing and zaniness. The production will benefit Seven Angels Theatre educational and the High School HALO Awards programs. Julia Kiley directs.

Feb. 9-March 5 at Seven Angels, 1 Plank Road, Waterbury.

LONG WHARF

Long Wharf Theatre presents the world premiere of NAPOLI, BROOKLYN by Meghan Kennedy, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein. This is a co-production with New York's Roundabout Theatre Company, where it will play June 9-Sept. 3. It's 1960, Brooklyn. The women of the immigrant Muscolino family are desperate to find a life beyond their four walls, hiding dreams, loves and longings, each eager to find her own voice.

Feb. 15-March 12 at the C. Newton Schenck Theatre at Long Wharf.

Bonus:

"Becoming American" Story Slam, in conjunction with NAPOLI, BROOKLYN. Sign up to tell your story or come listen to your neighbors tell theirs 6 pm Monday, Feb. 13 at the Ives Main Library, New Haven. Sign up to tell your story HERE by Feb 1 to share your two-to-five-minute story about how you, your family "became" American, whatever that means to you-whether recently, or generations ago.

PLAYHOUSE ON PARK

One of Connecticut's most famous playwrights gets a run of one of his most dramatic plays set right here in the Nutmeg State: A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN by Eugene O'Neill will be directed by Joseph Discher. Set in 1923 on a small farm in the span of one day, the play follows a gruff and scheming tenant farmer, his headstrong daughter and their landlord who offers some romantic and other complications. Everything will seem different at daybreak.

Feb. 15-March 5 at Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd, West Hartford.

PALACE THEATER

It's sure to be a lovely night at the Palace Theater in Waterbury with a stop of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA. All of the songs you remember from the musical are there, but Douglas Carter Beane 's new book for this show has been updated with a politically-correct script to appeal to more modern audiences - just a heads up. The Palace also offers a variety of activities in conjunction with the four-show run like princess parties and the chance to win a date night package.

Feb. 24-26 at the Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury.

THE BUSHNELL

Another popular musical makes a repeat stop to ring the doorbell over at the Bushnell: Nine-time-Tony Award winning THE BOOK OF MORMON with music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. (Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the animated series "South Park" and Tony-Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the musical comedy AVENUE Q. The musical follows the exploits of two Mormon missionaries sent to Africa. It's hilarious - and very irreverent with explicit language - so there's another heads up for you.

Feb. 14-19 at The Bushnell. 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford.

MUSIC THEATRE OF CONNECTICUT

I'LL EAT YOU LAST: A CHAT WITH SUE MENGERS gets a run at the intimate Norwalk home of MTC - the perfect setting for this one-woman show where Hollywood talent legend Mengers (Jodi Stevens) takes on Tinseltown. Her client list included Chur, Burt Reynolds, Faye Dunaway and Barbra Streisand - who just might be calling tonight to give Sue the ax.

Feb. 24-March 5 at Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Ave., Norwalk.

CT REPERTORY

The producing arm of UConn's Drama Department takes on Clifford Odets' politically-charged play WAITING FOR LEFTY, directed by new Artistic Director Michael Bradford. In 1930's New York City, the Great Depression takes full force and union cab drivers wait for their leader, Lefty Castello, to choose if they will strike or not. Can you say contemporary given the recent taxi strike on JFK?

Feb. 23-March 5 at the Nafe Katter Theatre, 820 Bolton Road on the Storrs campus.

Lauren Yarger is second vice president of the Drama Desk, a voting member of the Outer Critics Circle and founder of the Connecticut chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She covers New York and Connecitcut theater and is a contributing editor to BroadwayWorld.

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