Jerry's Girls -- Ivoryton

Archive Review--

A production of Jerry’s Girls, a two-hour musical celebration of the women of Jerry Herman’s musicals completes a run at the Ivoryton Playhouse Nov. 15. Amy D, Forbes, Julia Kiley, Mary Anne Piccolo, Jackie Sidle and Elizabeth Talbot belt out more than 30 tunes from ballads to showstoppers (Sidle’s rendition of "”Before the Parade Passes By”" is the highlight). The belting by some average voices get a little tiresome, but the audience enjoys as trip down Memory Lane (a couple nearby were sharing their experiences about being in the audience for the original production of Mame on Broadway. Standing out in the production are Pam Puente’s nicely crafted and unbelievably numerous costumes (new ones are worn for almost all of the numbers). Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30, Friday and Saturday at 8. Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Tickets $15 to $35 and are available by calling 860-767-7318 or by visiting www.ivorytonplayhouse.org

Ivoryton Holds Auditions

The Ivoryton Playhouse will be holding non-Equity and Equity auditions for all roles (adult male and female) for July and August musicals on Tuesday, May 18 and Wednesday May 19 from 6 to 9 pm at the Rehearsal Studio, 24 Main St., Centerbrook.

The shows run from July 7 to Aug. 1 and Aug. 11-Sept. 5. Singers and musicians who can sing are sought. Be prepared to sing a song in the style of the show and/or play instrument. Bring a picture and resume, stapled together.

Call 860-767-7318 for appointment. More information at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org.

HSO Closes Masterworks Series with Firebird

Karina Canellakis. Photo: Steve Laschever

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will close the 2009-2010 Masterworks Series with a program of “Orchestral Fireworks!” including Igor Stravinsky’s bewitching "Firebird Suite" Thursday, May 20 through Saturday, May 22 at 8 pm and Sunday, May 23 at 3 pm in the Belding Theater at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

The program will feature violinist Karina Canellakis in a world premiere performance of a new arrangement of Connecticut composer Charles Ives’ "Violin Sonatas," as arranged for orchestra by Music Director Edward Cumming. In addition, Canellakis will perform Saint-Saëns blistering "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for Violin and Orchestra."

Opening the program will be a short musical appetizer by Bohuslav Martinu entitled "La Revue de Cuisine" (The Kitchen Review). Featuring only one clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, piano, violin, and cello, this quirky ballet suite portrays the imaginary drama of a group of kitchen utensils.

Tickets are $30-$70; $10 with a student ID and are available in person Monday through Friday 10 am t 5 pm at Hartford Symphony Orchestra Ticket Services, 99 Pratt St., Suite 500, Hartford, by calling 860-244-2999, or online at http://www.hartfordsymphony.org/.

Baldacci, Grisham, Picoult Event to Benefit Mark Twain House

Among them, they have more than 400 million copies of their books in print. David Baldacci’s tales of Washington intrigue and corruption, John Grisham’s blockbuster legal thrillers, and Jodi Picoult’s moving tales of the extremes of human emotion have gripped many, many millions of readers over the years.

In a major event this fall, these three authors will be jointly discussing their work and considering the legacy of another immensely popular American author, one whose work has inspired each of them individually: Mark Twain. All proceeds from the event support The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford.
The three authors will take on the issues of writing, the publishing industry – and yes, their debt to Mark Twain – in “Between the Pages – An Evening with David Baldacci, John Grisham (top left) and Jodi Picoult" Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 8 pm at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT.

Tickets are $50-$125 and may be purchased online at http://www.mgmatfoxwoods.com/, by calling the MGM Grand Box Office at 866-646-0609 or in person at the MGM Grand Box Office.

Photos: Grisham, top, Picoult center, Baldacci at left by Joe Fazzino.

Doug Wright Joins Yale School of Drama

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright will join the Yale School of Drama faculty as a Lecturer in Playwriting for the fall 2010 semester. His primary responsibilities for the semester will be to lead the weekly Playwriting Workshop and to mentor students in the program.

Paula Vogel, the Eugene O’Neill Chair of the Playwriting Department, will take a one-semester leave of absence in the fall to work on a new play commissioned by Yale Rep through the Yale Center for New Theatre. Associate Chair of the department, Kenneth Prestininzi, will serve as acting chair during her leave.

In 2004 Wright was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award for Best Play, the Drama Desk Award, a GLAAD Media Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Drama League Award, and a Lucille Lortel Award for his play I Am My Own Wife. In 2006, he received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his book for the Broadway musical Grey Gardens. Most recently he was represented on Broadway by Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Rent, Smokey Joe's on Tap for CT Rep's Nutmeg Summer Series

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), the professional producing arm of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, is offering four productions in the Nutmeg Summer Series between May 27 and July 4, 2010 – its first full summer season since 2002.

Rent and Smokey Joe’s Café, are matched with All in the Timing, a comedic collection of six one-act plays, and these three productions are available as a subscription. The fourth production is a world premiere play presented by movement theatre artists, Split Knuckle Theatre, and is available as an “add on” to the subscription package.

Performances are 7:30 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays with matinees at 2 pm Saturdays and Sundays. Subscription package options range from $36- $84. Single ticket prices range from $6 to $37.

Call 860-486-4226 for tickets and additional information or visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

Here is some information about the shows:

Rent
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
May 27 – June 6
Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre

Its unforgettable songs, including “Seasons of Love,” “No Day but Today” and “One Song Glory,” propelled Rent to become one of the ten longest running shows on Broadway. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this rock opera is the story of struggling young artists – based on Puccini’s La Boheme but set in modern-day New York City.

All in the Timing
By David Ives
June 10 – 20
Nafe Katter Theatre

Six one-act comedic plays.

Smokey Joe’s Café
Words & Music by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
June 24 – July 4
Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre

Featuring the legendary songs of Leiber and Stoller, Smokey Joe’s Café features stunning song and dance performances of show-stopping tunes such as “Yakkety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Potion #9,” “Jailhouse Rock” and many more.

Endurance
Written by Nick Ryan in Collaboration with Split Knuckle Theatre
June 24 – 27
Nafe Katter Theatre

Office gymnastics meets daring Antarctic exploration in the unlikely setting of a Hartford insurance office.

Palace Plans KISS, Beatles, Carol Burnett Events, More

The Palace Theater in Waterbury has a number of events planned through May:

ALIVE! (KISS Tribute – New England) with guest RUSH TRIBUTE “LOTUS-LAND”
Saturday, May 15 – 8 pm
ALIVE! KISS Tribute (New England) accurately recreates KISS' legendary "Alive" 1975 live show, complete with full costume, make-up, boots, and stage production. Opening for the show is Rush Tribute Lotus Land, a three piece band dedicated to being the closest thing musically to the original band.
TICKETS: $32

CT Beatles Tribute Band: Abbey Road
Thursday May 20 - 7:30 pm
From Ed Sullivan to Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road is the complete Beatles Tribute show filled with great musicians, cool costumes and tight harmonies. A portion of the event’s ticket sales will benefit the Are You Dense? organization, committed to the early detection and prevention of Breast Cancer.
TICKETS: $35

LAUGHTER & REFLECTION WITH Carol Burnett (photo above, credit Randee St. Nicholas)
A Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions
Saturday, May 22 – 8 pm
In this intimate audience-interactive format, patrons are afforded a rare opportunity to partake in off-the-cuff banter with six-time Emmy Award entertainer Carol Burnett. Bring your questions and share in the fun with one of America’s most loved and respected performers.
TICKETS: $45-$125

CT Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra & Adrian Sylveen present “Pagliacci” and “Gianni Schicchi”
Sunday, May 23 - 7:30 pm
The CT Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and an international cast directed by Adrian Sylveen perform an operatic double feature of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” and Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” TICKETS: $34-$60

Nate the The Great
Thursday, May 27 – 9:30 am and 11:30 am
This pint-size young detective has found lost balloons, books, slippers, chickens, and even a lost goldfish. But when his neighbor Annie asks for help in locating her missing painting, it takes all of Nate's derring-do to solve the toughest case of his career, in this entertaining new musical. Part of the ShopRite Education Series.
TICKETS: $10

CT Rep Theater Gets New Artistic Director

Vincent J. Cardinal, the current Associate Dean of Performing Arts at Adelphi University, and formerly the Artistic Director of Miami’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre and Associate Artist with Circle Repertory Company, will begin as both Artistic Director of Connecticut Repertory Theatre and head of the Department of Dramatic Arts beginning August 23, 2010.

“I’m honored to join the company of theatre artists and educators who have built this nationally respected Regional Theatre and Department of Drama,” Cardinal said. “I look forward to extending the tradition of robust production and dynamic education at UConn.”

Cardinal replaces Gary M. English, the founding Artistic Director of Connecticut Repertory Theatre who served in the position for 15 years. English continues at the University of Connecticut as a Professor of Drama.

O'Neill Center Wins 2010 Regional Tony Award

The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, CT will receive the 2010 Regional Theatre Tony Award, presented on the recommendation of the American Theatre Critics’ Association.

The award will be formally bestowed at the 64th Annual Tony Awards ceremony on June 13. The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®, which are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing will air live on CBS on June 13 from 8 to 11 pm (ET) from Radio City Music Hall in New York

The O'Neill is home to six distinct programs: the O'Neill Playwrights Conference, Music Theater Conference, Puppetry Conference, National Theater Institute, Critics Institute and the Monte Cristo Cottage, O'Neill's childhood home located in neighboring New London.

The O’Neill was founded in 1964 by George C. White and named in honor of America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright. The organization previously received a special tony award in 1979.

The work of The O'Neill focuses on the script as it begins its journey to the stage. The actors work with minimal props and no sets or costumes, holding scripts in their hands, revealing for the first time the magic of a new play or musical, puppetry piece or cabaret act. Work first performed at The O'Neill has gone on to regional theaters, Broadway, movies and television. Students and professionals who have honed their skills at The O'Neill can be seen in these venues every day across the country. Others work behind the scenes as playwrights, directors, in stage management, publicity and a hundred other roles that the public never sees but are nonetheless essential to every production.

Among the 700 plays and musicals developed and premiered at The O'Neill are such notable works as John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves, Brian Crawley and Jeanine Tesori's Violet, Wendy Wasserstein's Uncommon Women and Others, Lee Blessing's A Walk in the Woods, and the Tony Award-winning Best Musicals Nine, Avenue Q and In the Heights.

Many works of August Wilson were developed at The O’Neill, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, and Fences, which won the 1987 Tony Award as Best Play and is currently in revival on Broadway starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.

Orphans' Home Cycle Keeps Winning Awards

Horton Foote's the Orphans' Home Cycle, directed by Michael Wilson, artistic director at Hartford Stage where the epic saga premiered prior to its run at Signature Theatre in New York, has been named Outstanding Play by the New York Drama Critics Circle and won this year's Lucille Lortel Award for best play of 2010 as well.

In addition, a special Drama Desk Award will be presented to the cast, creative team and producers of the play to salute the breadth of vision which inspired the exceptional direction, performances, sets, lighting, costumes, music and sound that made it the theatrical event of this season.

In addition, Bill Heck (at left Photo by T. Charles Erickson)has received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play along with Jude Law, Hamlet; Alfred Molina, Red; Eddie Redmayne, Red; Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge; John Douglas Thompson, The Emperor Jones; Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane.