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Artistic Director DARKO TRESNJAK, Musician CHRIS LaGRAND and Actor CRAIG ANTHONY BANNISTER Are Featured Guests This Week on State of the Arts

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This week (Friday, August 12), Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, musician Chris LaGrand and actor Craig Anthony Bannister are the featured guests on State of the ARTS, which airs LIVE each Friday from 12noon to 1pmon WPKN-FM (89.5) in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Co-hosts of the weekly arts & entertainment program are Richard Pheneger and Peggy Nelson.

Darko Tresnjak, (inset) the Tony Award-winning Artistic Director of Hartford Stage, will join the hosts to talk about the recent success of his Broadway-bound production of Anastasia, as well as the seven productions in his upcoming 2016-2017 season and other special projects in the pipeline.

Musician Chris LaGrand is the executive producer and cast member in the role of Mick Jagger forSatisfaction/The International Rolling Stones Show, the touring tribute show to the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band. This highly rated show (Billboard & Pollstar) is entering its 15th year in production with over 2500 performances since 2001. Satisfaction/The International Rolling Stones Show is scheduled to perform at Bridgeport's Downtown Cabaret on Saturday, August 13 at 8:15pm

Craig Anthony Bannister is returning to Connecticut Free Shakespeare (CFS) as Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew presented outdoors and under the stars on the grounds of the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut. Performances of Taming of the Shrew are scheduled at on August 17-18-19-20-21 at 8pm. His favorite CFS shows have included Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet) and Cyrano DeBergerac (Le Bret). He is currently a company member of Only Make Believe, an Acting Company that takes interactive theatre to children in hospitals and care facilities.

State of the ARTS, featuring arts and entertainment personalities, airs LIVE each Friday from 12noon-1pm onWPKN-FM located at 89.5, streams worldwide online at wpkn.org and is now available via podcasts on WPKN Community Radio.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Orchestrations - Top 3
1. Ethan Popp, The Rescues - The Lost Boys
30.7% of votes
2. Lux Pyramid - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
14.7% of votes
3. Anders Eljas, Brian Usifer - Chess
12.3% of votes

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