World Premier: Yale Rep presents the world premiere of peerless from Friday, Nov. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 19. The play by Jiehae Park is described as a “blistering funny comedy about the bond between sisters whose vaulting ambition will not be deferred at any cost.” The sisters are two high school students who hatch a plot to secure their places at the colleges of their choice. For tickets contact yalerep.org or call 203-432-1234.

Shakespeare in Storrs: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will conclude the fall productions at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre on the UConn campus in Storrs. It runs Thursday, Dec. 3 to Sunday, Dec. 13. The production, staying true to the title which refers to the holiday season, will be infused with the Christmas season. The comedy is typical of Shakespeare, women playing at being men, mix ups of love and more. For tickets, call 860-486-2113 or visit crt.uconn.edu.

Young Playwrights: Hartford Stage is accepting entries for the Young Playwrights for Change competition. This is geared to middle school students and students from Connecticut can submit plays answering the question: “What do you want to change about the world?” The three top plays will have a staged reading at their Youth Studio. Workshops will also be held. For entry forms and tips visit hartfordstage.org/young-playwrights-for-change.

Spring Awakening: The revival of the musical Spring Awakening now on Broadway through Sunday, Jan. 24, is a heart-breaking event. It originated from Deaf West theater on the West coast and combines deaf performers who sign with hearing performers, who shadow them and speak/sing. It is not distracting and adds to the emotion of this musical about German teenagers dealing with their sexuality in a repressive late 1800s small town. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com. To see my full review, visit 2ontheaisle.wordpress.com.

Charming Small Musicals: Two small musicals that are very different are currently in New York. Dames at Sea is a small cast musical that spoofs all those 1930s film musicals about naïve young girls who come to Broadway and become a star overnight. It features lots of terrific tap dancing and songs that remind you of those from the films. It is not a new show, but this is its first time on Broadway (the Helen Hayes Theater). Daddy Long Legs is a two person musical running in a small off-Broadway theater (Davenport on West 45th). You might recall the Fred Astaire-Leslie Caron movie musical with the same title. This show reverts to the original novel and its time period (the early 20th century) and a totally new score. Paul Alexander Nolan and Megan McGuinness are delightful in this gentle love story. Tickets for both shows are available through telecharge. To see my full reviews, visit 2ontheaisle.wordpress.com.

New York Notes: Tickets are on sale for Forest Whitaker’s Broadway debut in a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Hughie. The show begins previews Friday, Feb. 5 and opens officially on Thursday, Feb. 25. Tickets are available at HughieBroadway.com. The Steve Martin–Edie Brickell musical, Bright Star, begins previews on Broadway on Thursday, Feb. 25 with an official opening in March. Martin wrote the music and book with lyrics and music by Brickell. Tickets are on sale through Telecharge. Jersey Boys has celebrated its 10th anniversary on Broadway and is still going strong both on Broadway and on tour. The musical Waitress has opened its box office through Ticketmaster. The show based on the well-known movie starts previews in March and opens in April. Tony winner Jessie Mueller stars as Jenna.

Karen Isaacs is an East Haven resident. To check out her reviews for New York and Connecticut shows, visit 2ontheaisle.wordpress.com. She’s a member of both the Connecticut Critics Circle and New York’s Outer Critics Circle.