CONNECTICUT THEATER REVIEWS

If I had a nickel for every time that I’ve reviewed the same show, I’d have 2 nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but I’m surprised that it took so long in my reviewing history to happen. It shouldn’t be a surprise, however, that in both cases, they are to review Christmas productions. For the fir...

Cozy, cute, and full of Christmas cheer. That’s what you get with Miracle on 34th Street. That was abound and aplenty at the Connecticut Theatre Company’s production of the motion picture classic! CTC’s production of Miracle on 34th Street kept the joy of the season at the heart of this produc...

Holiday traditions are sweet, but sometimes the stress of the holidays outweighs the joys. That's where Wreck the Halls comes in: It points out the pain of the holidays and is committed to making you laugh. And this raucous production of Wreck the Halls had the audience rolling!...

On Sunday, November 16th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first-rate production put on by Fairfield Center Stage, ANNIE! The venue is at Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield, a location that has become common for Fairfield Center Stage productions. ...

On Saturday, November 15, at 7:00 P.M., I had the pleasure of my very first experience with the Broadway on Main Theatre Company in East Haven, Connecticut, to see a phenomenal production of MARY POPPINS! This theater features scenery projections on the back of the stage wall and on the side house w...

On Saturday, October 11th, I had the pleasure of seeing a hilarious comedy GOD OF CARNAGE as put on by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT. The show is written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, and directed by Catherine Pelkey. Cather...

It never gets old. A farce about someone pursuing a great achievement, only to have that achievement at risk due to a misunderstanding, before introducing a doppelganger that just heightens the absurdity (and hilarity) until somebody figures out what's going on and wraps everything up in a neat litt...

Theater is vulnerability. You might see am actors on the stage think about their talent, their confidence, or their dedication, but all of that stems from vulnerability. You could of be the best actor in the world, but if you can't allow yourself to be vulnerable on the stage, the you'll always hold...

One man’s trash is another man's treasure. The grass is always greener on the other side. These phrases are all about perspective. Perspective can vary wildly from person to person and you cannot glimpse the whole story by only hearing one side. That is the premise of Brian Friel's Faith Healer, w...

How do you know when an audience has bought into your performance? The answer depends greatly on the type of show you’re producing: In the case of the jukebox musical, Escape to Margaritaville, maybe you find the entire audience singing the call-and-response before you tell them to!...

It’s always a big deal to have a worldwide premiere. To be able to take a piece of art that you have spent many years on- in this case, 8 years- and finally be able to present it to the world in an official capacity is such a satisfying experience; and one that keeps theater alive!...

Only a phenomenally performed show can successfully transport the audience, mentally, to another time and place. On Saturday, July 26th, I saw a show that drew me in so strongly that I had to remind myself that I was watching theater and not seeing reality unfold before my eyes!...

On Friday, July 25th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal show put on by Musicals at Richter, outdoors in Danbury, CT. THE LITTLE MERMAID, the musical, is based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen story and Disney animated movie....

In its current incarnation as the mainstage production of Musicals at RIchter (all of whose shows are performed under the stars at Richter Arts Center in Danbury, Connecticut), Evita’s undeniable spectacle remains joyfully intact – along with its other charms that easily hold an audience in its ...

For many, the mention of The Shawshank Redemption instantly recalls the iconic 1994 film that brought Stephen King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, to life. Etched into the American consciousness, it’s a slow-burn tale of cruelty, resilience, and—ultimately—hope. ...

Truly romantic dramatized love stories are rare these days, but on Saturday, June 7th, I had the pleasure of seeing what I would consider to be the most romantic love story I have ever seen acted out on stage! This is a phenomenal production put on at the Goshen Players Playhouse in Goshen, CT, a Ci...

On Friday, June 6th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal installment of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre's Decades in Concert series, Decades in Concert: 80S (2025). Of the three so far, this one has been my favorite! ...

On Saturday, May 10th, I had the pleasure of seeing SISTER ACT as performed by Fairfield Center Stage in Fairfield, CT, at Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield. ...

Whenever a theater decides to do The Producers, there is always a mix of joy, curiosity, and anticipation that wells up within me. There is a level of spectacle to any Mel Brooks story that can be a challenge to any theater who isn't prepared. The Connecticut Theatre Company was, in fact, prepared....

Theater is progress. Theater is always moving forward. Always innovating. Always creating something new. New Works are the lifeblood of the Theatre. Whenever a new play is given a World Premiere, it should be celebrated. TheatreWorks presented the world premiere of Upstate to great success....

On Friday, May 2nd, I had the pleasure of seeing another first-rate production as put on by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT, a comedy called HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, written by Alan Ayckbourn. Under the excellent directing of Pamela Amodio, this f...

A collection of vignettes and monologues bring to life some of the unsung heroes of the bible – women – in CALL FORTH A WOMAN, written, directed and produced by Treneé  D. McGee....

What's worse then being at a wedding that you're clearly not welcome at? Being at a wedding you're clearly not welcome at because you're still madly in love with the bride!...

If one has never seen Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, then now is your chance. The Town Players of Newtown, under the direction of Alexis M. Vournazos, have brought Frayn’s raucous masterpiece of “and then it went wrong” to life and left the audience in stitches!...

The Hole in the Wall Theater showed commitment, passion, and heart in bringing The Ferryman to the stage, and it’s a performance well worth seeing. The double doors opened, and the audience is greeted with the authentic interior of the Carney household. This cluttered, yet familiar space immediate...