1776 - Ivoryton Playhouse

There are many parallels between today’s United States Congress and that of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia portrayed in the musical 1776.

Befuddlement and crippling stagnation are words that come to mind when referring to both institutions.  In the end, at least in the musical, the delegates from the 13 colonies, practice the art of compromise so the Declaration of Independence could be forged and signed.  Their diligence and hard-work should be an example to the current occupants of the White House, House of Representatives and Senate, which are all too often subsumed by squabbling and partisan pontifications.

 

The cast of 1776.  Photo by Jonathan Steele.

In 1776, receiving a workmanlike production at the Ivoryton Playhouse, we are witnesses to history as acrimony and narrow-minded politics are eventually put aside to shape our nation.  Kudos to the theater, in these tough economic times, for presenting a show with over 24 characters.  The set, designed by Starlet Jacobs, is well-appointed, accurately giving the audience an understanding of the claustrophobic conditions during the deliberations in the city of Brotherly Love. Kenn McLaughlin’s straightforward direction gets solid marks for being able to successfully guide the performers through the many scene changes without getting into each other’s way.  While the pacing is occasionally slow, some key performers keep the tempo bustling towards its eventual outcome.  He effectively utilizes Jessica Drayton’s Lighting Design to separate some scenes.  Robert Mintz’s understated choreography consists mostly of an intermittent two-step, and minimal shuffling around the stage.

 

Mark Aldrich and Josh Powell in 1776.  Photo by Jonathan Steele.

Book writer Peter Stone has done a superb job crafting a show humanizing such historical figures as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson all the while giving the audience a primer on American history.  It can sometimes be a bit talky (Broadway trivia fun fact—the musical has the longest interval between songs, thirty-minutes, of any show in Broadway history), but the combination of the interaction between characters and the machinations of a government in its infancy are effective and entertaining.

  

The score by Sherman Edwards, his lone theatrical effort, is glorious with nary a miss among them.   The songs add zest to the production and are performed with professionalism and aplomb.  The songs can be playful and humorous as with "Sit Down, John" and “But, Mr. Adams;" outrageous and gleeful ("The Lees of Old Virginia"), but also moving ("He Plays the Violin") and solemn ("Molasses to Rum").

 

Members of the cast of 1776.  Photo by Jonathan Steele.

The cast, garbed in period outfits designed by Heidi Hanson, is a mixed bag of performers, led by Mark Aldrich as the irascible, fiery John Adams.  The actor, passionate and committed in his role, gives a solid performance as the man who is described as “obnoxious and disliked.” 

 

Other notable performers in the large cast include R. Bruce Connelly as a well-rounded Benjamin Franklin, who delivers his witticisms with self-assured delight to friends and foes alike.  Josh Powell is superb as Pennsylvanian John Dickinson, a staunch defender of the British crown.  While you may disagree with his character’s viewpoints you cannot fault him for his unswerving convictions.  Dino Nicandros is silky smooth as South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge.  Soft-spoken, most of the time, he also displays an intense commitment to his principles.  Kelly McCormick’s Abigail Adams does not spend much time on stage, but she makes the most of her appearance especially with her golden voice is such songs as “Till Then” and “Yours, Yours, Yours.”  Andrew Fehrenbacher’s Thomas Jefferson comes across as being too much in the background rather than in the foreground.  While a supporting role, there should be more vigor in his time on stage. 

  

1776, ringing forth liberty and freedom at the Ivoryton Playhouse through July 26.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.

Swingtime Canteen - Sharon Playhouse

Looking to get into the spirit of our nation’s 250^th birthday?  A perfect option would be the jukebox musical Swingtime Canteen, playing at the Sharon Playhouse through July 5.

The thin plot, which, for a show like this isn’t too critical, centers on five women who are entering American troops stationed at an air base outside London.  They are led by the glamorous movie star Marian Ames (Margaret Dudasik), and include her young cousin Katie (Lucy Rhoades) on Trumpet; a former “Rosie the Riveter,” Topeka (Claire Marie Spencer) on piano; a wise-cracking drummer, Jo (Sarah Beth Palmer); and a perky, self-absorbed  sax player, Lilly (Michelle Lemon).  The women sing, in assorted combinations, over a dozen songs associated with the wartime era.  They include an extended Andrew Sisters medley, “His Rocking Horse Ran Away,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Sing Sing Sing,” and many more. 

Margaret Dudasik, Michelle Lemon, and Lucy Rhoades in Swingtime Canteen.

All the performers have gorgeous voices, which blend beautifully together.  They have a believable chemistry that enhances the overall stage work of the show.  And they do play their own instruments, augmented by a marvelous backup trio of Mallory Kokus (clarinet, sax), Kim Bonsanti (trumpet, flugelhorn), and Lauren Seery (bass). 

The book by Linda Thorsen Bond, William Repicci, and Charles Busch encapsulates humorous backstage antics, poignant personal stories, and stirring moments of camaraderie.  The authors know a searing, complex libretto isn’t the point of Swingtime Canteen. They keep the material light and the verbal interplays short so the musical interludes can begin anew.

The cast of Swingtime Canteen.

Director Carl Andress paces the production with a lively spirit full of robust energy and enthusiasm.  Choreographer Krystyna Resavy provides the actresses with a few sprightly dance numbers that invigorate the production.

The Scenic Design by recent Connecticut Critic Circle winners Christopher and Justin Swader is festive, yet reserved; Aidan English’s Lighting Design effectively bathes the stage in an array of splashy and dramatic tones; while Sound Designer Graham Stone keeps the music dynamic and the sound effects authentic.  Costume Designer Kathleen Deangelis is on the mark with the period garb, and Bobbie Zlotnik’s Wig Design captures the essence of wartime America.

The cast of Swingtime Canteen.

Swingtime Canteen, playing at the Sharon Playhouse through July 5.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.

Sweeney Todd - Hartford Stage

Let the body count commence in the musical Sweeney Todd, receiving a historic co-production between two of the premiere professional theaters in the state – Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford.  The bold collaboration has spawned a thrilling rendering of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler classic.  Under the assured hands of Rob Ruggiero (Artistic Director of TheaterWorks Hartford), the show is infused with bold choices and creative flourishes.  The musical runs through July 5 at Hartford Stage.

 

Jackie Burns and Matt Faucher in Sweeney Todd.

Sweeney Todd is grand theater at its best.  Almost every element of the production, performed without a dedicated ensemble, is outstanding and strikingly performed.

The story opens on the streets of Victorian London.  We learn that, years earlier, Benjamin Barker, now known as Sweeney Todd, was unjustly hauled away to the Botany Bay penal colony in Australia by the unscrupulous Judge Turpin so he could have his way with his beautiful wife Lucy.  Now, back in the capital city, and after thanking the young sailor, Tobias, for saving his life at sea, he vows revenge on those who wronged him and ruined his life.  Complicating his plotting is the discovery of his grown daughter, Johanna, now the ward of Judge Turpin.  Taking up his old profession of barber, Todd teams up with Mrs. Lovett, the proprietor of a shop that sells “the worst pies in London.”  Together they plot murder, mayhem and retribution with ruinous consequences.

 

Lauren Maria Medina, Jackie Burns, and Matt Faucher in Sweeney Todd.

The book by Mr. Wheeler, an adaptation of playwright Christopher Bond’s original penny dreadful tale, is wondrously somber and delightfully homicidal as the individuals are propelled to their fates.  There is a healthy amount of humor mixed in with the pathos of the characters, who are well-defined and bring forth our sympathy as well as our detestation.

The score by Stephen Sondheim shows him at the peak of his composing prowess, and the entire cast is up to the demands of singing the challenging score.  This is his most fulfilling score full of gorgeous ballads (“Green Finch and Linnet Bird” and “Johanna”), impassioned compositions (“My Friends” and “Epiphany”), and wonderfully comic numbers (“The Worst Pies in London” and “A Little Priest”).  They brilliantly demonstrate his word-play savvy and proficiency for finely crafted melodies, which are exquisitely executed by the pit orchestra, under the direction of Wiley DeWeese.  Beth Lake’s Sound Design enables the melodies to soar even if, on occasion, the lyrics are hard to decipher.

 

Matt Faucher and Jackie Burns in Sweeney Todd.

Matt Faucher’s Sweeney Todd is the very essence of a tortured soul, radiating distrust and malevolence towards his enemies.  The actor brings a multi-faceted palette to the role ranging from overstated bravado to whimpering outcast. 

Jackie Burns brings a different take on the role of Ms. Lovett, so famously brought to life by Angela Lansbury in the original Broadway production.  Ms. Burns is still cunning, but not as daft, imbuing the character with a repressed sexuality that pairs well with Faucher’s Todd, perfectly forming a symbiotic, yet toxic relationship.

The rest of the cast is just as marvelous.  Edward Watts, as the lecherous Judge Turpin, gives the character a loathsome and contemptible sheen.  Tristan Caldwell’s Adolfo Pirelli oozes with insincerity and a devilish underbelly.  Willem Butler brings a hopeful gallant slant to the young Anthony Hope, while Lauren Maria Medina is angelic and at the same time tormented as the lovely Johanna.  Cole Thompson brings a pure innocence to the role of Tobias Ragg, the young assistant to the charlatan Senor Pirelli.  Carey Brown is solid of the mysterious beggar woman.  Brian Ray Norris is icily efficient as Judge Turpin’s lumbering henchman.

 

The cast of Sweeney Todd.

Ruggiero assuredly helms the musical, integrating all the actors and creative components into a superior production.  He has taken Luke Cantarella’s utilitarian Scenic Design, with small pop-up set pieces and a semi-circular walkway into the audience, and manufactured a landscape that is both chilling and sinister.  While I would have liked a more sizeable set with at least a small ensemble, the director compensates by moving some scenes into the architecture of the theater itself, such as when Mrs. Lovett unceremoniously locks poor Tobia into the furnace room, one of the tunnels leading out of the theater.

The design elements enrich the production with sometimes subtle, yet pronounced flourishes.  Fabian Fidel Aguilar’s costumes accurately reflect the clothing for both the upper and lower classes.  John Lasiter’s Lighting Design express a melancholy atmosphere.  His bold, bright red bathing of the theater’s back wall, when Mr. Todd does his “business,” is well-executed.

Sweeney Todd, playing at Hartford Stage through July 5.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information. 

CT Critics Give “All is Calm” and “A Chorus Line” Top Honors at 34th Awards Ceremony

   

Hartford — The compelling drama, “All is Calm,” a moving, captivating play about the Christmas Truce of 1914, which was staged at Playhouse on Park, and the 50^th Anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical, “A Chorus Line” at Goodspeed Musicals, took top honors at the 34th annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards (ctcritics.org) held on Monday, June 22, 2026.

 

The event, which celebrates the work from the state’s professional theaters during the 2025 – 2026 season, was held at Hartford Stage in downtown Hartford.  The ceremony was emceed by Stuart Brown, President of the CT Critics Circle.

 

“A Chorus Line” was also honored for Best Director of a Musical (Rob Ruggiero), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Diego Guevara), and Best Choreography (Parker Esse and Baayork Lee).  Ryan Mac from the Goodspeed Musical “All Shook Up” received Best Actor in a Musical.

 

Hartford Stage received three awards. The chilling, highly theatrical production of “Rope” was recognized for Costume Design (Risa Ando), and Best Direction of a Play (Melia Bensussen).  Their gripping staging of “Death of a Salesman” won for Outstanding Lighting Design.

 

Theaterwork Hartford’s world premiere of “Circus Fire,” staged in the round at the historic First Company Governor’s Foot Guard, won for Best Ensemble.

 

Two productions from A.C.T. of CT garnered three awards.  The musical “Waitress” received Best Featured Actress (Shaylen Harger) and Best Actress in a Musical (Abigail Sparrow).  Camilla Tassi was honored for Outstanding Projections for “Dear Evan Hansen.”

 

The Yale Repertory Theatre’s production of the 1959 absurdist classic, “Rhinoceros” by Eugène Ionesco, won for Best Actor in a Play (Reg Rogers) and Best Sound Design for Xi (Zoey) Lin.

 

Other winners were Christina Acosta Robinson for Best Actress in a Play for the Ivoryton Playhouse’s production of “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill;” Missy Drowse in the Ken Ludwig comedy, “Fox on the Fairway” at Music Theatre of Connecticut, for Best Featured Actress in a Play; Terrence Riggins received the Best Featured Actor in a Play for his powerful performance in August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” at Long Wharf Theatre; and Christopher & Justin Swader received Outstanding Set Design for the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Mousetrap.”

 

James Bundy, who is retiring as the Elizabeth Parker Ware Dean of the David Geffen School of Drama and Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre received a special award.  Rebecka Jones and Noble Shropshire were also recognized for their 25 years of continuous performance in the Hartford Stage production of “A Christmas Carol.”  Donna Lynn Hilton of Goodspeed Musicals was honored with the Tom Killen Award for lifetime service to the theater. 

 

The Annual Awards Ceremony was live streamed.  The recording will be posted to the CT Critics Circle website (ctcritics.org) the week of June 29.

 

Helping to present the awards were Connecticut Critic Circle members Karen Isaacs, Nancy Sasso Janis, and Tim Leininger.

 

The Connecticut Critics Circle was founded in 1990. The statewide organization is comprised of reviewers, writers, and broadcasters that cover the professional theaters throughout the entire state. The annual awards honor the actors, directors, designers and others who help make our professional theater so highly regarded in and outside the state.

 

 

 

“A Chorus Line,” “All Shook Up,” and “Rope” Top 2026 Connecticut Critics Circle Nominations

 

Goodspeed Musicals’ one singular sensation of  “A Chorus Line” and their high-energy jukebox musical “All Shook Up” lead the musical nominations for the 34^th annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards.  The Hartford Stage production of the thriller “Rope” is the top-nominated play.

 

The awards event, which celebrates the best in professional theater in the state, will be held Monday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Hartford Stage in downtown Hartford.  The event is free and open to the public.  Click here to reserve a ticket to the ceremony.

 

Both “A Chorus Line” and “All Shook Up” received 8 nods, including outstanding musical production and director.  “Rope” earned seven nominations, including outstanding play production and director.

 

Other outstanding play nominees are “All is Calm” – Playhouse on Park, “Circus Fire” – Theaterworks Hartford, “Death of a Salesman” – Hartford Stage, and “Rhinoceros” – Yale Repertory Theatre.

 

Also earning outstanding musical nods are “Annie “– Sharon Playhouse, “Waitress” – A.C.T. of CT, and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” - Goodspeed Musicals.

 

Receiving the annual Tom Killen Award for lifetime achievement in Connecticut theater is Donna Lynn Hilton of Goodspeed Musicals..  She is the current Artistic Director and has been with the theater since 1988, where she has a significant record of developing and producing new musicals.

 

Receiving a special award is James Bundy, who is retiring as Artistic Director at the Yale Repertory Theatre.  Also receiving special awards are Rebecka Jones and Noble Shropshire for their continuous involvement with the Hartford Stage’s production of A Christmas Carol.

 

The complete nominees are:

 

Outstanding Production – Musical

A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Annie – Sharon Playhouse

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - Goodspeed Musicals

Waitress – A.C.T. of CT

 

Outstanding Production - Play

All is Calm – Playhouse on Park

Circus Fire – Theaterworks Hartford

Death of a Salesman – Hartford Stage

Rhinoceros – Yale Repertory Theatre

Rope – Hartford Stage

 

Outstanding Actor in a play:

Peter Jacobson - Death of a Salesman – Hartford Stage

Tim DeKay  – The Counter – Theaterworks Hartford

Reg Rogers  – Rhinoceros – Yale Repertory Theatre

Daniel Neale – Rope - Hartford Stage

J. Quinton Johnson – Spunk - Yale Repertory Theatre

 

Outstanding Actress in a play:

Justis Bolding – The Counter – Theaterworks Hartford

Marianna Gailus - Hedda Gabler - Yale Repertory Theatre

Bernadette Sefic – Hurricane Diane – Hartford Stage

Christina Acosta Robinson – Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill – Ivoryton Playhouse

Sara Koviak – Your Name Means Dream – TheaterWorks Hartford

 

Outstanding Actor in a musical:

Trevor Martin – My Fair Lady – Ivoryton Playhouse

Ryan Mac – All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Clyde Alves – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - Goodspeed Musicals

Justin Matthew Sargent – Jesus Christ Superstar – Goodspeed Musicals

Omar Lopez-Cepero – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - Goodspeed Musicals

 

Outstanding Actress in a musical:

Kerstin Anderson – All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Avery Hope - Annie – Sharon Playhouse

Laura Renee Mehl - Little Mermaid – STONC

Abigail Sparrow – Waitress – A.C.T. of CT

 

Outstanding Director of a play:

Sasha Bratt - All is Calm – Playhouse on Park

Jared Mezzocchi – Circus Fire – Theaterworks Hartford

Rob Ruggiero – The Counter – Theaterworks Hartford

Liz Diamond – Rhinoceros – Yale Repertory Theatre

Melia Bensussen – Rope - Hartford Stage

 

Outstanding Director of a musical:

Rob Ruggiero - A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Daniel Goldstein – All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Arbender J. Robinson - Little Mermaid – STONC

Brian Feehan – My Fair Lady – Ivoryton Playhouse

Sara Brians – Waitress – A.C.T. of CT

 

Outstanding Choreography:

Parker Esse and Baayork Lee - A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Byron Easley – All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Robert Mintz - Singin’ in the Rain – Playhouse on Park

nicHi douglas – Spunk - Yale Repertory Theatre

Kelli Barclay – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - Goodspeed Musicals

 

Outstanding Featured actor in a play:

Samuel H. Levine  – Death of a Salesman – Hartford Stage

Terrence Riggins  – Gem of the Ocean – Long Wharf Theatre

Kurt Fuller - Noises Off – Legacy Theatre

Jimmy Johansmeyer – Noises Off – Legacy Theatre

Alaman Diadhiou – Spunk - Yale Repertory Theatre

 

Outstanding Featured actress in a play:

Adrianne Krstansky – Death of a Salesman – Hartford Stage

Missy Dowse – Fox on the Fairway – Music Theatre of CT

Grace Porter – Gem of the Ocean – Long Wharf Theatre

Felicity Jones Latta – Hedda Gabler – Yale Repertory Theatre

Jeannette Baryardelle – Spunk - Yale Repertory Theatre

 

Outstanding Featured actor in a musical:

Diego Guevara - A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Jack Rasmussen – Almost Famous - A.C.T. of CT

Cory Candelet - Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Ivoryton Playhouse

Scott Mikita – My Fair Lady – Ivoryton Playhouse

John Alejandro Jeffords – Waitress – A.C.T. of CT

 

Outstanding Featured actress in a musical:

Karli Dinardo - A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Mikaela Secada - A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Tess Marshall – Almost Famous – A.C.T. of CT

Jessica Crouch - All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Shaylen Harger – Waitress – A.C.T. of CT

 

Outstanding Ensemble – Casts of:

All is Calm – Playhouse on Park

Circus Fire - TheaterWorks Hartford

English – TheaterWorks Hartford

The Great Emu War – Goodspeed Musicals

The Mousetrap – Sharon Playhouse

 

Outstanding Set design:

Beowulf Boritt – All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Tijana Bjelajac – The Counter – Theaterworks Hartford

Christopher & Justin Swader – The Mousetrap – Sharon Playhouse

Riw Rakkulchon – Rope - Hartford Stage

David L. Arsenault – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - Goodspeed Musicals

 

Outstanding Costume design:

Tilly Grimes - All Shook Up – Goodspeed Musicals

Jimmy Johansmeyer - The Baroness – Playhouse on Park

Risa Ando – Rope - Hartford Stage

Lyle Laize Qin - Hedda Gabler - Yale Repertory Theatre

Elizabeth Saylor – My Fair Lady – Ivoryton Playhouse

 

Outstanding Lighting design:

John Lasiter - A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Matthew Richards – Death of a Salesman – Hartford Stage

Mary Louise Geiger – Rope - Hartford Stage

Dalton Hamilton - Waitress - A.C.T. of CT

Kirk Bookman & Nathan W. Scheuer - Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – Goodspeed Musicals

 

Sound design:

Jay Hilton – A Chorus Line – Goodspeed Musicals

Darron L. West – Death of a Salesman – Hartford Stage

Joyce Ciesil - Hurricane Diane – Hartford Stage

Xi (Zoey) Lin – Rhinoceros – Yale Repertory Theatre

Jane Shaw - Rope – Hartford Stage

 

Projections:

Doaa Ouf – All is Calm – Playhouse on Park

Camilla Tassi – Almost Famous – A.C.T. of CT

Jared Mezzocchi - Circus Fire - TheaterWorks Hartford

Camilla Tassi – Dear Evan Hansen – A.C.T. of CT

Ke Xu – Rhinoceros – Yale Repertory Theatre

 

PLAYS (Number of Nominations)

Rope – 7

Death of a Salesman – 6

Rhinoceros – 5

All is Calm – 4

Circus Fire - 4

The Counter – 4

Spunk – 4

Hedda Gabler – 3

Gem of the Ocean – 2

Hurricane Diane – 2

The Mousetrap – 2

Noises Off - 2

The Baroness – 1

English – 1

Fox on the Fairway – 1

The Great Emu War – 1

Lady Day in Emerson’s Bar & Grill – 1

Your Name Means Dream – 1

 

MUSICALS (Number of Nominations)

A Chorus Line – 8

All Shook Up - 8

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - 6

Waitress - 6

My Fair Lady – 4

Almost Famous – 3

Annie – 2

Little Mermaid – 2

Dear Evan Hansen – 1

Jesus Christ Superstar – 1

Joseph and the Amazing – 1

Singin’ in the Rain - 1

 

 

 

 

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill - Ivoryton Playhouse

For a successful staging of the play with music, Lady Day in Emerson’s Bar & Grill, the show needs an actress who can not only sing with emotion and depth, but also be able to act.  Fortunately, the Ivoryton Playhouse’s production of Lady Day has the superb talents of Christina Acosta Robinson as the legendary singer Billie Holiday.

Christina Acosta Robinson and the cast of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.

Ms. Robinson possesses a marvelous singing voice that conveys Ms. Holiday’s sheer joy for singing as well as the pain she experienced throughout her short life.  The actress’s mannerisms and body language add detail and nuance to the role.  

 

The setting for the drama is supposed to be a rundown bar in Philadelphia, a city we learn she has a love/hate relationship with.  Scenic and Lighting Design Marcus Abbott has transformed the Ivoryton stage to a low-wattage venue, but the set could have, in effect, emphasized a less spiffed-up establishment, creating a plainer and shabbier bar.

Christina Acosta Robinson in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.

In the show, which features the character of Billie Holiday center stage for all but a few minutes, we find the once-in-demand singer at the tail end of her storied career.  This is one of her last performances before her death at 44.  Throughout the 90-minute, intermission-less performance, she sings over a dozen songs accompanied by piano player/companion Jimmy Powers (Manny Houston), a bass player (Eneji Alungbe), and drummer (Jocelyn Pleasant).  Mr. Houston also serves as Holiday’s not-always-accommodating foil.  Their bantering shows his love and respect for the performer, but also the caretaking approach he needs to keep the jazz singer on track. 

 

In between the musical selections, there is a continuous stream of off-color, funny, but also sad ramblings centering on her relationships with a number of individuals from her past, including her husbands and mother.  Ms. Holiday smokes and consumes glass after glass of alcohol.  They poignantly provide a window into the troubled personal life of the legendary singer. By the end of the show, she can barely stand, an intoxicated shell of a once proud and influential jazz singer.

Manny Houston Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.

Playwright Lanie Robertson smartly centers his work around the songs associated with and beloved by Billie Holiday.  Most of the dialogue before and after the songs is mere snippets of her pioneering career and rollercoaster life.  The show would have benefitted from more of the lively tales, raucously and entertainingly recounted by the performer, such as her story of searching for a women’s bathroom at an all-white, posh restaurant the Artie Shaw band ate at.

 

Director Todd Underwood has successfully crafted an intimate nightspot, continuously positioning Ms. Robinson around the small staging area, giving the production an openness to what could have been a very static show.  The Director also skillfully injects a balance between the playfulness of the character and her slow disintegration.

 

Lady Day in Emerson’s Bar & Grill, playing at the Ivoryton Playhouse through May 31.  Click here for dates and times of performances.

 

 

Dear Evan Hansen - A.C.T. of CT

The musical Dear Evan Hansen has always been an emotionally powerful show that, even though it debuted on Broadway ten years ago, is still highly relevant today as mental health has become such a critical issue for many high school students. 

 

Evan Hansen is an extremely anxious high school student, on medication and seeing a therapist for his debilitating condition.  He has no friends and, for all intents and purposes, is invisible to his peers.  He is alone, until a classmate commits suicide. Through an escalating series of lies, fueled by unceasing and insatiable social media networks, his stature and presence begin to change with unanticipated and distressing results.

Kenny Lee and the cast of Dear Evan Hansen.

 

The book by Steven Levenson is an emotional rollercoaster of impassioned scenes and straightforward honesty that connects to today’s teenagers.  The story can sometimes be agonizing to watch as the characters try to negotiate the new landscape that is developing, changing, and spiraling out of control all at once.  But Dear Evan Hansen is not just about angst and crisis.  It also focuses on a multitude of relationships that are spawned and changed from the events on stage.

 

The score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul is heartfelt with penetrating lyrics that explore the inner turmoil Evan is going through as he confronts a new reality.  The songs can be raucous with an in-your-face impact.  They are playful, with a serious undertone.  And there are tender ballads that reach to the depths of the character’s souls as well as reveal the agony individuals feel upon the death of a son.

Kenny Lee, Gil Brady, Heather Ayers, and Olivia Foght of Dear Evan Hansen.

 

Kenny Lee stars as Evan Hansen who, as directed by Scott Schwartz, is inexplicably overly apprehensive with nervous tics, and fixations like constantly pulling on his polo shirt.  While the character is supposed to be tense and susceptible to panic attacks, the portrayal is too over-the-top, which yields an imbalance to the production.  Lee, however, like the rest of the cast, does have a wonderful voice that successfully convey the struggles he is facing.

 

Josh Hoyt, Amaya White, and Kenny Lee of Dear Evan Hansen.

The other members of the cast are superb.  Olivia Foght, a recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, is outstanding as Zoe, the sister of the deceased student.  The young actress deftly projects a lost innocence and whirlwind of emotions as she tries to make sense of the sudden change in her family dynamics and personal life.  Heather Ayers, as Cynthia Murphy, and Gil Brady as Larry Murphy, parents of the departed son, are terrific.  Their grief, confusion, and inner family turmoil strikes a chord with the audience. 

 

Kenny Lee and members of the cast of Dear Evan Hansen.

Maya Evans, as Evan’s mother Heidi, aptly and poignantly portray a mother frustrated and panicked over a son she cannot reach.  Erik Houck as Connor Murphy, the high school student who suddenly passes away, gives a marvelously layered performance in life and death. Josh Hoyt as Evan’s “relationship friend,” Jared Kleinman, provides a good dose of comic relief to off-set the weighty mood of the show.  Amaya White provides an exuberant performance as high school classmate, Alana Beck, a student not unlike Evan Hansen who yearns to be seen and recognized. 

Erik Houck, Josh Hoyt, and Kenny Lee of Dear Evan Hansen.

 

Except for the misstep with the character of Evan Hansen, Director Scott Schwartz proficiently guides the production from its inauspicious beginnings through to its cathartic ending.  He intelligently allows the material to unfold naturally without calling undue attention to the series of events that are unfurling onstage.  Schwartz skillfully incorporates the three mini-sets by Scenic Designers Christopher and Justin Swader into the show and nimbly integrates Camilla Tassi’s video projections of the social media maelstrom through pulsating, ever-changing window treatments.  Lighting Designer Charlie Morrison and Sound Designer Shannon Slaton effectively add to the hive of activity that enhances the dramatic tension of the musical.

 

Dear Evan Hansen, playing at A.C.T. of CT through June 21.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.