It is no small feat to sit down and craft a full-length play and/or musical. The dedication and determination it takes for one to accomplish such a tedious task often requires years of experience both on and off the paper. Playwrights are a specific, unique breed that exquisitely mold language into effective and powerful dialogue. Their work is the foundation for the production. A heavy weight that many never dare to lend their shoulders to. However, at just sixteen year-old, Melody Rose, of Wilton, CT, took it upon herself to do just that.
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Just a block off the New Haven green you’ll find EBM Vintage, a market that specializes in all sorts of antique goods from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. If you go past the typewriters and kitchen gadgets, rotary phones, books, home décor and a few racks of clothes, you’ll find a small, cozy black box theater that’s home to the New Haven Theater Company. About 40 seats are lined up in three or four rows. The stage, only raised a step off the ground, is currently split into two settings; a homey apartment complete with couch sits to the right with a dilapidated and dirty living room to the left. The New Haven Theater Company [NHTC] is gearing up for the first show of their season, “Love Song” by John Kolvenback, which will be followed by Jordan Harrison’s “Marjorie Prime” and Dale Wasserman’s “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.”
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This year, The Laramie Project is sure to be one of the most produced plays across the country. In fact, usually is regardless of what year it is. But for one director in CT, the play is all the more personal. Because while much of the world knows Matthew through this play and his story, Shannon-Courtney Denihan got to know him while they were friends in college.
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When actor Dan Lauria was asked to return to his alma mater Southern Connecticut State University to perform the play “The Guys,” it seemed like the perfect timing to revisit his roots.
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“A dark, amusing look at romance…strikes just the right balance between wisdom and whimsy…light, bright, anti-romantic, and engaging,” according toThe Hartford Courant, LOVE/SICK is a collection of nine slightly twisted and completely hilarious short vignettes taking place in an alternate suburban reality (where a bride can literally get cold feet and a couple can simply forget to have a baby). This 80-minute romp explores the tragedy and comedy of relationships. Full of imperfect lovers and dreamers, LOVE/SICK is an unromantic comedy for the romantic in everyone.
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For actress Gabrielle Beckford, starring in “Crowns” is both the start of her professional career and a full circle moment. The recent Rider University graduate grew up in New York City and, while she was involved in all types of art from visual to culinary, her first experience as a performer was singing in church. But after a high school teacher cast in “Hair,” Beckford switched her attention from the pulpit to the proscenium. She started studying voice and dance, eventually completing a BFA in musical theater. It seems to be serendipity that her first professional role after college is in “Crowns,” a gospel-infused play Beckford says hits close to home. To learn more about the show and her experience playing Yolanda, both at McCarter Theatre Center and currently at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, I spoke to her over the phone. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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On Friday, May 4 TheatreWorks New Milford will premiere Mel Brooks' Zany movie-turned-musical musical, Young Frankenstein.The curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. every Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm on some Sundays through June 2.
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An investigation by a college newspaper has uncovered that a long-tenured faculty member of its theatre program has been accused by multiple female students of sexual misconduct. Even more, the college knew of the allegations, found the professor had violated sexual harassment policies, yet he is still employed to this day.
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Darko Tresnjak will step down as Hartford Stage's Artistic Director at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Tresnjak has served as the Tony Award-winning theatre’s artistic leader since 2011. A national search will be conducted to find his replacement.
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Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts announced today the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Age of Innocence, which will perform at Hartford Stage Thursday, April 5, through Sunday, May 6.
The Age of Innocence has been adapted for the stage by Douglas McGrath. Tony Award Winner Doug Hughes will direct. Four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines leads the cast, which features Sierra Boggess, Helen Cespedes, and Andrew Veenstra.
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TheatreWorks New Milford will open their production ofProof, a drama by by David Auburn. This production is under the direction of Frank Arcaro of Roxbury and produced by Sonnie Osborne of New Milford. The cast includes Anna Fagan of Stamford, Daniel Basiletti of Brewster, NY, Carey Van Hollen of Southbury and Viv Berger of Middlebury.
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The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, announces that multi-discipline creative artist Lin-Manuel Miranda will receive the 18th Monte Cristo Award. An alumnus of the O’Neill, Miranda’s first professional production was at the O'Neill's National Music Theater Conference with In The Heights in 2005. A gala dinner featuring a conversation with the honoree will be held at the Edison Ballroom (New York) on Monday, April 30, 2018.
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Westport Country Playhouse will present the under-the-sea musical “Nugget and Fang,” based on the popular book by Tammi Sauer, as part of its Family Festivities Series on Sunday, January 21, at 1 and 4 p.m. Produced by ArtsPower, the one-hour production is appropriate for grades Pre-K through 3. Tickets are $20.
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Long Wharf Theatre (LWT), in collaboration with Yale Repertory Theatre, is hosting the New Haven Regional August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC). Schools throughout the New Haven area will compete to send two winners on an all-expense paid trip to the National Competition in NYC where they will perform on a Broadway stage, see a Broadway play and have a chance to win college scholarships.
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Hartford Stage is one of twenty nonprofit arts organizations nationwide selected to participate in the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Catalyzing Creative Aging Program. This new multi-phase project, created in collaboration with Lifetime Arts, will support participating organizations in developing innovative, skills-based arts education programming for older adults.
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