Inside Notes And Comments About Connecticut And New York Professional Theater

Skeptical: I have to be skeptical of the proposed plan to redevelop the area around Stratford’s Shakespeare Theater, burned by arsonists in 2019. Since the theater closed in the early ‘90s, plans have been proposed, state funds allocated, lawsuits have been filed, and then it all falls apart. The current plan calls for three stages of development; the first is the redevelopment of the riverside area; part two is an outdoor musical pavilion that could accommodate 2,000 to 3,000 people. The last stage would be building a small theater (500 to 550 seats). Of course, there is a competing plan that envisions a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Based on history, I will bet that lawsuits and more will be filed. The plan does not discuss who would run the theater or what is proposed. With every theater in Connecticut having severe economic difficulties, the question must be asked: can Connecticut support another theater?

Murder Mystery Extended: Westport Country Playhouse’s production of Dial M for Murder has added one more performance to its run. It will now close on Sunday, July 30. For tickets, visit WestportPlayhouse.org.

Macbeth: You have until this Sunday to see the Capital Classic Theatre Company’s production of Macbeth, which is part of the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival. This production of one of Shakespeare’s best-known and shortest tragedies plays on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. It is outdoors, but in case of bad weather or excessive heat, it moves into the adjacent Bruyette Athenaeum. For information and reservations, visit CapitalClassics.org.

Rehearsals Underway: Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre in Chester will begin previews of Here You Come Again, a new musical, on Wednesday, July 26. It runs through Sunday, Aug. 27. The show is about a diehard Dolly Parton fan who imagines Dolly helping him through a trying time. It is packed with many of Dolly’s well-known songs. For tickets visit Goodspeed.org.

Stabilizing Westport Playhouse: The board of trustees has announced a plan to stabilize the finances of this 80+year old theater and introduce new programming. Like many theaters, the pandemic created an economic disaster. Subscriptions and individual ticket sales have dropped. The plans include a major fund-raising campaign (the last was 20 years ago), further cutting back staff, and eliminating the last scheduled production this season. The plan includes continuing the Script-in-Hand play reading series, more one-night shows, and a speaker series, “In Conversation with …” They promised that in Fall 2024, the theater will return to producing plays and its children’s programming. Let’s hope it works.

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.