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04/18/2024 12:00 AMExcluded: Yale Rep presents The Far Country, a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, from Friday, April 26 to Saturday, May 18. The play by Lloyd Suh tells the story of a Chinese family trying to enter the US during the period of the Chinese Exclusion Act from the 1880s to the mid-20th century. For tickets, visit YaleRep.org.
From the Bronx to Waterbury: A Bronx Tale–The Musical is coming to Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury from Friday, April 26 through Sunday, May 19. The hit musical is based on Chazz Palminteri’s story, which he turned first into a one-man show. Palminteri wrote the book for the musical, and Alan Menkin wrote the music. The cast includes Joe Barbara who was in the Broadway and national tour cast. For tickets, visit SevenAngelsTheatre.org
Mellon Foundation Grant: Long Wharf Theatre has received a $1 million grant from the foundation to encourage its exploration of programming and presenting theater in new ways. Two other theatres in the US received grants. The grants are part of the Mellon Project called “(Re)Seeding the American Theater.” Long Wharf was invited to apply.
Wicked Returns: Wicked, which has run on Broadway for 20 years, returns to the Bushnell in Hartford for three weeks. The show is Hartford’s most popular musical and has made several trips to the Bushnell stage. It runs from Wednesday, April 24, to Sunday, May 12. For tickets, visit Bushnell.org.
Madison Rocks: On Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, the Deacon John Grave House in Madison will be rocking. Madison Lyric Stage presents Freedom: The Music of George Michael & Elton John. Tenor Marc Deaton will lead a cast of five, presenting the iconic music of the two. For tickets, visit MadisonLyricStage.org.
Family Series: Check out the Legacy Theatre in Branford’s Family series, which includes a variety of shows and events suitable for kids and families. On Saturday, April 20, is BubbleMania! Other events include a musical for young audiences, The Princess and the Pauper, Cardboard Explosion!, another new musical, Sweet Dreams: A Bedtime Story Comes to Life, and other events. For further information, check out LegacyTheatreCT.org.
Remembering: The theater has lost another playwright, Christopher Durang who passed away at 76. He was one of the many playwrights who emerged from the Yale School of Drama in the 1970s, including Terence McNally and Wendy Wasserstein. He was best known for his comedies, often with an absurdist flair. His play Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You was controversial. He won the Tony for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
Dreamers: Take the time to see Sanctuary City at TheaterWorks Hartford, running through Thursday, April 25. With all the debates and vitriol about immigration, this play makes it personal with the story of two Newark teens in 2002. Each was brought to the US by their parents when they were children. They are undocumented and face a tenuous future in the only country they have ever known. Contact TWHartford.org.
Guilty or Not: After you see Doubt–A Parable, now on Broadway through the end of April, you will wonder if your judgment is correct. This revival starring Lieve Schreiber and Amy Ryan with Zoe Kaza and Quincy Tyler Bernstine, makes us consider our certainties and the role that gut instinct can influence these. Go see it.
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