Connecticut Theater Reviews

Review: CASH ON DELIVERY Delivers at TheatreWorks New Milford
by Jared Reynolds - May 15, 2023

Like a heart racing during a marathon, the pacing of a show can make it or break it. Pacing is one thing that TheatreWorks New Milford got absolutely right in their production of 'Cash on Delivery', by Michael Cooney. To put it simply: Sit back and enjoy....

Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES DREAM ON at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - May 14, 2023

On Saturday, May 13, 2023, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first-rate installment of playwright Roger Bean’s Marvelous Wonderettes jukebox musical series, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES DREAM ON, as put on by the Castle Craig Players, at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse, in Meriden, CT. ...

Review: GUYS & DOLLS at Fairfield Center Stage
by Sean Fallon - May 13, 2023

On Friday, May 12th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal production by Fairfield Center Stage, GUYS & DOLLS, which is one of the absolute best musicals ever written, with music by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on characters created by Damon Runyon.  As ...

Review: THE WINTER'S TALE at Hartford Stage
by Brooks Appelbaum - May 03, 2023

What did our critic think of THE WINTER'S TALE at Hartford Stage? The Winter's Tale, currently at Hartford Stage through May 7 and directed by Artistic Director Melia Bensussen, confronts an audience with a story difficult to believe from the start, whether or not one is a Shakespeare fan. Add to th...

Review: WIZARD OF OZ at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - April 23, 2023

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 2:30, I had the pleasure of seeing what is arguably the absolute best younger audiences production I have ever seen at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT, WIZARD OF OZ!  Phill Hill has created a phenomenal masterpiece in his adaptation of the classic story...

Review: CABARET at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - April 22, 2023

On Friday, April 21st, I had the pleasure of seeing CABARET at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT.  This highly thought provoking play has book by Joe Masteroff, and songs written by John Kander with lyrics by Frank Ebb.  Even though it was written in 1966, it addresses concepts that are...

Review: TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL at The Bushnell
by Ariana Straznicky-Packer - April 12, 2023

A jukebox musical depicting the true life story of the award-winning Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll, Tina Turner is now playing at The Bushnell through April 16th. Don't miss this incredibly moving, tour-de-force musical featuring an unforgettable cast and electrifying performances....

Review: THE ART OF BURNING at Hartford Stage
by Brooks Appelbaum - March 16, 2023

What did our critic think of THE ART OF BURNING at Hartford Stage? Kate Snodgrass' world premiere play, The Art of Burning, presented by Hartford Stage in association with Huntington Theater Company, is a disappointingly thin work, though the producing theaters are to be congratulated for supporting...

Review: THE 1980S at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - March 12, 2023

On Sunday, March 12th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal installment of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s Decades in Music series, THE 1980S.  Of the three so far, this one has been my favorite!  THE 1980S is written by Phill Hill, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Kaye, and perf...

Review: AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS 2023 at Ridgefield Theater Barn
by Sean Fallon - March 12, 2023

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, I had the pleasure of experiencing one of my favorite annual theater traditions in seeing AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS 2023 at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT.  This annual event is a new series each year of original one act plays, mostly in the comedy genre, and...

Review: The Tony Award-Winning Musical HADESTOWN Stuns At The Bushnell
by Brooks Appelbaum - March 10, 2023

The national tour of the much-lauded Hadestown is playing at the Bushnell in Hartford through March 12, and this production is nothing short of stunning....

Review: DOUBT at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - March 05, 2023

On Saturday, March 4, 2023, I had the pleasure of seeing DOUBT, yet another first-rate performance by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT.  I had previously seen the movie in 2009, but I must say that this play, which originally pre-dates the movie, is...

TOOTSIE is Unstoppable at The Bushnell
by Ariana Straznicky-Packer - February 24, 2023

Tootsie, the musical comedy based on the 1982 film of the same name, is visiting The Bushnell now through February 26th. With music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Robert Horn, this Tony-Award winning show shines a light on society's treatment of women and the trouble with show business, all ...

Review: Paula Vogel's INDECENT At Playhouse On Park
by Brooks Appelbaum - February 17, 2023

Paula Vogel's Indecent, now running at Hartford's Playhouse on Park through February 26, dramatizes the production history of a much older play, The God of Vengeance, written in 1907 by Sholem Asch....

Review: ESPEJOS/CLEAN at Hartford Stage
by Brooks Appelbaum - February 05, 2023

Hartford Stage is presenting a remarkable and courageous New England premiere: Christine Quintana's bilingual play, Espejos/Clean. The play gives us two very different women: Adriana, from Chetumal, Mexico, who speaks Spanish and a bit of English, and Sarah, from Vancouver, who speaks only English. ...

Review: SIX: THE MUSICAL at The Bushnell
by Ariana Straznicky-Packer - January 18, 2023

What did our critic think of SIX: THE MUSICAL at The Bushnell?Six: The Musical is a refreshingly self-actualized, informative, fun, empowering, modern feminist musical that is not to be missed. Bring your bestie and expect to have a blast....

Review: THE UGLY DUCKLING at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - January 08, 2023

This comedic musical stage adaptation of a classic children’s story has been brilliantly written and directed by Andrea Pane, who also performs in it, showing that in addition to his already well established versatile first-rate acting, he is also phenomenally gifted as a playwright and as a directo...

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE at Fairfield Center Stage
by Sean Fallon - December 11, 2022

On Saturday, December 10, at 8:00 PM, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my absolute favorite annual shows, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as put on by Fairfield Center Stage. This annual production is easily the show that I talk up the most frequently during the year, every year. I am also excited ...

Review: EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - December 04, 2022

On Saturday, December 3, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD, which is easily the funniest stage comedy I have seen in the last three years!  It is yet another first-rate Christmas comedy production performed by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memoria...

Review: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Yale Repertory Theatre
by Brooks Appelbaum - October 25, 2022

What did our critic think of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Yale Repertory Theatre? James Bundy, Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre and Dean of Yale School of Drama, often helms the first production of a season, and that production is often a classic play: Tennessee Williams' A STREETCA...

Review: 42ND STREET at Goodspeed Opera House
by Ariana Straznicky-Packer - October 22, 2022

Though I’m a huge musical fan, the 1933 film never really made a big impression on me. When I heard 42nd Street was coming to The Goodspeed, I hoped it would change my mind. Spoiler alert: It absolutely did! The timeless musical is a perfect addition to the season. It’s charming and delightful, as w...

Review: FUN HOME at TheaterWorks Hartford
by Brooks Appelbaum - October 19, 2022

What did our critic think of FUN HOME at TheaterWorks Hartford? The musical FUN HOME, based on Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir ('a family tragicomic') won five Tony Awards in 2015, including Best Musical. And Jeanine Tesori (music) and Lisa Kron (book and lyrics) made history by being the first fema...

Review: CALIFORNIA SUITE at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - October 16, 2022

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing Neil Simon’s CALIFORNIA SUITE as performed by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT. CALIFORNIA SUITE is different from a typical Neil Simon play in that rather than being one continuous story, ...

Review: PLAYHOUSE ON PARK'S 14TH SEASON OPENS TO STANDING OVATION WITH LADY DAY at Playhouse On Park
by Ariana Straznicky-Packer - October 04, 2022

Have you ever wished that you could go back in time and see your favorite musician in concert? Well, now is your chance at Playhouse on Park. Their 14th season opening was nothing short of spectacular....

Review: SUNSET BOULEVARD at Music Theatre of Connecticut
by Brooks Appelbaum - September 25, 2022

Director Kevin Connors (also the Artistic Director of MTC) has worked wonders adapting big Broadway shows to fit, literally and artistically, into his intimate theatre space, which has the audience on three sides of a postage stamp stage. His GYPSY was superb, as he understood that this is essential...