This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/08/2023 03:08 PMFrom Comedy to Musical: Many remember the film comedy Tootsie with fondness, particularly for Dustin Hoffman’s performance as the difficult actor who finds success being a woman. A Broadway musical version opened pre-pandemic. It had a fine score by Tony-winner David Yazbek and some fine performances. Now the national tour will be at the Bushnell in Hartford from Tuesday, Feb. 21 to Sunday, Feb. 26. For tickets, visit Bushnell.org.
Recommendation: Playhouse on Park is presenting an excellent production of Indecent through Sunday, Feb. 26. This engrossing work combines the stories of author Sholem Asch and the actors and others who risked everything to present his controversial play The God of Vengeance with actual scenes from the play.
Lots of Rock ‘n Roll: It is 1987, and developers want to convert Hollywood’s Sunset Strip into a mall. Three young performers set out to save the fabled landmark. That’s the plot outline for the Tony-nominated Rock of Ages, which will be at ACT-CT in Ridgefield from Thursday, Feb. 23, to Sunday, March 19. The show features the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, and more. For tickets, visit ACTofCT.org
Sunday Broadway Concerts: Legacy Theatre in Branford is bringing back its concert series. Six well-known Broadway performers are scheduled. The series begins with Nikki M. James (Tony nominee for Book of Mormon) on Sunday, Feb. 26 followed by Max von Essen (multiple Tony nominations and, most recently, Julian Marsh in Goodspeed’s 42nd Street) on Sunday, March 5. On Sunday, April 2, it will be Eden Espinosa (Wicked), and on Sunday, May 7, Tony nominee Jenn Colella (Come from Away). The series ends with Orfeh (Legally Blonde), on Sunday, June 25, and Hugh Panero (Phantom of the Opera) on Sunday, July 2. Legacy has lowered ticket prices for individual shows and the series and live stream. For information, visit LegacyTheatreCT.org
Clever Concept: The Broadway musical & Juliet has a clever concept. What would happen if in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Juliet had survived? Mix that with the music of Max Martin (“I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” “Oops!....I Did It Again!” and others), a great cast, and you have an enjoyable entertainment. I was totally taken with it.
Hot Ticket: The Irish Rep’s production of Endgame by Samuel Beckett is a hot ticket off-Broadway due to its outstanding cast. It features Bill Irwin, who has extensive credits with Beckett, as well as John Douglas Thompson, Joseph Grifasi, and Patrice Johnson Chevannes. It runs through Sunday, March 12. Grifasi was in the Long Wharf production of the play that featured Brian Dennehy.
New York Notes: Leopoldstadt, my favorite Broadway play so far this season, is running through early July. It’s terrific. The 1998 musical Parade will return to Broadway this spring following a limited run at New York City Center. It will star Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond. The show won multiple Tonys when it opened on Broadway. The subject matter is dark; it is the true story of a Jewish factory manager who was accused of rape and murder in Atlanta in 1913. When his death sentence was converted to life in prison, he was lynched. It begins previews Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Lots of Openings: In the next six weeks, many Broadway shows will begin previews. Among those on my radar are Jessica Chastain in a revival of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bad Cinderella, the revival of Sweeney Todd with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, a revival of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ and the Lincoln Center revival of Camelot featuring a revised book. These are just the tip of the iceberg of new shows that will open by the end of April.
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 the Connecticut Critics Circle, New York’s Outer Critics Circle, the League of Professional Theater Women and the American Theatre Critics Association.