Rob Bassett

Nostalgia is a powerful tool. It can bring back memories that you had long forgotten, and it can make you smile with fondness. Everyone experiences nostalgia differently, but at its core, its job is to make us feel. The cast and crew come together to bring the joy of the Peanuts to life at Brookfield Theatre with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

We all have those shows that cut you to your core in a way that few other things can, and based on the opening night audience at the Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, Fun Home is that show for a lot of people. From the moment the band walked on stage, the cast and crew of Brookfield Theatre’s Fun Home had the audience caught: hook, line, and ring of keys.

For this production, tables and chairs have been pushed to the perimeter, lining the parallel side walls that face each other. That leaves the middle of the room and the fore and aft walls for the performers to move about, and move they do, in constantly fluid motion, under the sure-handed and sure-footed direction of Matt Austin and Jessica Chesbro. The effect is engagingly kaleidoscopic in a way proscenium staging is not.

On Friday, June 2, I had the pleasure of seeing NEXT TO NORMAL presented in the absolute most phenomenal way possible!  The Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT, has maximized the potential of this emotionally deep and powerful musical!  Directors Matt Austin and Jessica Chesbro combine their strong directing talents with their brilliant set design skills to create an immersive experience that draws the entire audience into the show!  This stellar cast of six first-rate performers brings their characters to life!  The stage presence of all six cast members and dynamics between them all yield authenticity that makes the audience feel the characters’ emotions, in this intimate setting.   The audience was truly moved by this story with book and lyrics written by Brian Yorkey, coupled with the music written by Tom Kitt, as performed by this amazing cast and live band, in this perfectly arranged venue for this show!

FINAL DRESS PHOTOS  from '[title of show]' at TheatreWorks New Milford from July 15 to 31.

? On  Friday, July 15, TheatreWorks New Milford will debut the musical comedy [title of show] with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell. The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on a three-week run. 

On July 15, TheatreWorks New Milford will premiere the musical comedy [title of show] with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell. 

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts presents 'The Other Place,' by Sharr White, Sept. 9 - 24.

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a youthful, refreshing, irreverent, funny, exciting, not-quite-politically-correct look at the twisted history of the United States as told through the strange saga of President Andrew Jackson, rock star.