Joseph Harrison - Page 11

With an array of musical influences including musical storytellers like Billy Joel and Tom Waits, French classical composers and gospel music, Daniel Zaitchik's sound was bound to be unique. This recent Ed Kleban award winner brings his new musical DARLING GRENADINE to the Goodspeed's Terris Theatre beginning August 18. The musical, which centers on a jingle composer, Harry, his girlfriend, Louise and their life in Manhattan tells its story with a contemporary but classic MGM musical feel. I had the chance to sit down with Daniel and talk about his inspiration for the show, the creative path it has taken (including a recent workshop at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center), and his own creative process.

When Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! premiered on Broadway in 1943, audiences were introduced to a style of theatre that would soon become a staple of American pop culture - the book musical. The show, borrowing from its pioneer subject matter, itself became a pioneer in the theatrical world, redefining what audiences would come to expect from a Broadway production. It is a wonder, then, that it would take 74 years for Goodspeed Musicals to mount its first production, ever, of this groundbreaking show. And judging by the quality of the show taking the stage each night at the Goodspeed (the second show in its current season), it was definitely worth the wait.

What do you get when you take one part book launch/cooking demonstration, add a heaping helping of auto-biographical comedy, mix in a portion of supernatural Jewish mother guilt and a strong dose of irreverence? In TheaterWorks' world premiere production of Jacques Lamarre's RAGING SKILLET, this recipe adds up to an evening of pure entertainment - one where audiences get their fill of stories, laughs, and if they are lucky, a taste of some of Chef Rossi's signature "anti-catering" dishes.   

It is not often that one gets a peek inside the creation of an iconic piece of art, and even rarer to see that story come to life on stage in a full-fledged Broadway musical. But for fans of the classic tale of Peter Pan, the new musical FINDING NEVERLAND, which is the opening production in The Bushnell's 2017 - 2018 Broadway series, does just that. Based on the Academy Award-winning film by David Magee and the play THE MAN WHO WAS PETER PAN by Allen Knee, FINDING NEVERLAND tells the story of author J.M. Barrie and his relationship with the family that inspired him to write one of the most beloved stories of all time. When FINDING NEVERLAND makes its way to Hartford August 1 - 6, the cast will include Sarah Charles who plays in the ensemble and also understudies the roles of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and Mary Barrie. I had the pleasure of catching up with Sarah and discussing the life of an understudy and her perspective on bringing this beautiful story to life on stage.

"They have measured many a mile to tread a measure with you on this grass." A very appropriate quote from William Shakespeare's comedy LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, which is playing through July 30th on the grounds of St. Joseph's University in West Hartford - a performance of the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival. Appropriate because audiences gather together (on the grass and underneath the beautiful summer sky) on blankets, lawn chairs, and camp chairs to view the outdoor production of the bard's timeless comedy. This experience is not only exciting in terms of the strong production, but also for the unique venue and opportunity to dine/drink al fresco while enjoying a night of theatre.

There are many reasons why people love to hear stories of the underdog making his or her voice heard and creating real change in the world. Sometimes it is because they can relate to the lone voice of reason cutting through the noise, or the brave soul willing to stand up for what's right, regardless of the consequences. But it is often the tale of the struggling souls who raise their voices, take action and change their circumstances for the better that really stand out and strike a chord. And in NEWSIES, the final production of Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) Summer Nutmeg Series, the stage comes alive with the "inspired by real-life" story of how a few young men "seized the day" and made a real difference.

???????Very few people can claim to have seen all 37 of William Shakespeare's plays in their entirety. It would probably take a lifetime to do this, not to mention the fact that some of the more obscure plays are rarely performed. However, if someone wanted to get a flavor for the Bard's entire body of work, presented in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, they need not go any further than Playhouse on Park in West Hartford to catch the final production of their current season - THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED.)

Sardines. Slamming doors. Relationships budding (and burning) before your eyes. A farce within a farce. And laughter, so much laughter. Take all of this and mix it together and you get Michael Frayn's masterpiece of a comedy NOISES OFF, which is currently playing as the Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) second production of their Summer Nutmeg Series.

Looking back at one's childhood with grown-up eyes can be revealing in many ways. Sometimes we understand better the sacrifices our parents made to give us the things they never had. And sometimes, exploring the past helps us find closure, clarity, and a sense of peace. In the Tony Award winning musical, FUN HOME, the character of Alison does just this - peers back at her life and reveals the joy and pain hidden in the past. Based on the acclaimed, autobiographical graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, FUN HOME arrives in Hartford at The Bushnell June 20 - 25. I had the pleasure of catching up with Kally Duling who plays the character of Joan, and who shared her insights on the show and its important message.

It is a staple image of American History - one that every American child learns about in school and one that comes to mind for many as the barbecues fire up and fireworks are prepared for Independence Day on the Fourth of July. I am speaking of the iconic image of the brave founding fathers signing the Declaration of Independence. But how often does one think about these men and what they actually might have been like (their quirks, their personalities, their dreams) trying to sort out how to move forward in what had to be a stressful and tumultuous time. This story of the men you know (Franklin, Adams, Jefferson) and some you may not (Rodney, Hall, Dickinson) and the journey they take together to work through conflict and declare their freedom from England comes to brilliant life on stage in the Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) inaugural production of their Summer Nutmeg Series, 1776.

From the very moment audiences enter the theater at Hartford Stage for its final production of the 2016-17 season, George Bernard Shaw's HEARTBREAK HOUSE, it is immediately apparent the evening is going to be quite unique. In what has been called Shaw's "most ambitious and prophetic achievement", HEARTBREAK HOUSE manages to bring to life the signature wit and social dialogue of Shaw's other works but with a sense of danger, intrigue and fascination - and under the direction of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, the Hartford Stage production accomplishes this and more.

Who hasn't thought about what it would be like to live forever? Not having to worry about getting sick, losing loved ones, or the ailments that come with old age would be great, but what if that choice came with the realization that those who you've already lost will be lost to you, forever. Would you still choose to do it? Those are the questions that one family is faced during a fateful road trip in the new musical DEATHLESS which opens at Goodspeed's Terris Theatre in Chester on June 2. I had the chance to sit down with the writer, lyricist, and composer of DEATHLESS, Zack Zadek and talk about his inspiration for the show, the process of bringing a new musical to life, and the emotional themes on display in this new production.

It is a classic East meets West tale and one that many count as their favorite musical, but when THE KING AND I, the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical plays at the Bushnell in Hartford, audiences will have the chance to experience this story in a whole new way. This production, based on the critically acclaimed version produced at New York's Lincoln Center, will take the Bushnell stage in Hartford May 30 - June 4. Playing Prince Chulalongkorn, the eldest son and heir to the throne, will be Anthony Chan. I had the pleasure of speaking with Anthony and learning about his experience with this beautiful classic.

Whenever one thinks about the RMS Titanic, often the first images that come to mind is the massive vessel - the largest ship of its time that was "unsinkable", which met an unthinkable fate on its maiden voyage across the sea. But what is truly remarkable about the fateful voyage are the stories of those on board, from the third class immigrants in the depths of the ship, yearning for a better life in America all the way up to first class, which represented a true "who's who" of American millionaires and businessmen. These stories, the stories of the human beings who boarded the Titanic never to return (or return the same), are on full display at the Broad Brook Opera House in the Opera House Players' current production of Maury Yeston and Peter Stone's TITANIC THE MUSICAL.

Everything today, is indeed thoroughly modern. From the cars we drive, to the mobile phones we are glued to, to the latest fashion, American society is all about following latest trends and embracing the fads of the day. This is something that has been the case for generation to generation, even the "roaring twenties", the setting for Goodspeed Muscials' season opener THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Something else that hasn't changed that much in the last hundred years - the self-starting, determined spirit of young people pursuing their dreams. That too, is on display in living color on the Goodspeed stage through Millie and the quirky characters that inhabit her 1922 New York world. And, in this production, Goodspeed Musicals infuses this tale with energy, fresh vision, and most importantly, fun.

Sometimes love is unpredictable. It may come at the strangest moments, when you least expect it - even when you are at your lowest point or have suffered a recent loss. But one thing is certain, when it does come, it is hard to shake and something worth seeing through. Such is the kind of love on display between the two characters in Arlene Hutton's LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC, currently playing at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford.

Anyone who knows me knows I am passionate about the theatre and about the rare and radiant feeling that can only come from a few hours in a darkened space connecting on an emotional level both with a set of actors and those around you sharing that common experience. Sometimes a play gets it right, sometimes it doesn't, but sometimes a production comes along that is something else altogether. It goes beyond entertainment, reaching in and touching you to your very core in a brilliant symphony of emotional energy. This is exactly what is happening at TheaterWorks in Hartford in its latest production - Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's NEXT TO NORMAL, and it is something truly magnificent.

Sometimes the impact a person has on the world is not completely clear until they are gone. And when that person has the innate ability to open eyes, shift perspectives, and change the course of someone's life, it makes their absence (and their influence) that much more profound. This is the impact of 14-year-old Leonard Pelkey as told in Hartford Stage's latest production, THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY.

The American Dream. Disillusionment. Political, and personal alienation. The right to be happy. All of these concepts come to vivid life on stage in Yale Rep's latest production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's dark, but brilliant musical ASSASSINS.

Sexual politics, liberation and the cost it weighs on those seeking it (and from whom they are seeking it from), and the fluidity of expression (both in gender and in sexuality) are all on display at Hartford Stage in its latest production of Caryl Churchill's CLOUD 9.