All stories by Christopher Arnott on BroadwayStars

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Hartford Stage announces eclectic 2022-23 season, including two new shows, Agatha Christie and Shakespeare by Christopher Arnott

Hartford Stage has announced its 2022-23 season of six plays: "The Mousetrap," "Trouble in Mind," new plays by Kate Snodgrass and Christine Quintana, Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" and th…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:49PM

Adam Pascal returns to The Bushnell, this time as the lead in ‘Pretty Woman’ by Christopher Arnott

The national tour of the musical version of "Pretty Woman," starring Olivia Valli and Adam Pascal, is at The Bushnell April 26 through May 1.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Political protest theater troupe performing antiwar tragedy in streets around UConn by Christopher Arnott

Vermont's Bread and Puppet Theater will bring its adaptation of Aeschylus' "The Persians" to UConn for two performances on Saturday and Sunday. The anti-war drama will be preceded by street …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:24PM

Theater review: ‘Lost in Yonkers’ stuck in time at Hartford Stage by Christopher Arnott

Neil Simon's 1991 Pulitzer winner "Lost in Yonkers" is having a lackluster revival at Hartford Stage through May 1, starring and co-directed by the playwright's former wife and collaborator …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, April 17, 2022

Ballet Theatre Company ready to take the stage at The Bushnell with a reimagined ‘Aladdin’ by Christopher Arnott

Ballet Theatre Company will perform "Aladdin," with a score by Carl Davis and contributions from local Indian and Chinese choreographers, April 23 and 24 at The Bushnell. The project was con…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, April 15, 2022

Quinnipiac to host Black comics creators, scholars and celebrities for a DiasporaCon by Christopher Arnott

DiasphoraCon, April 23 at Quinnipiac University's North Haven campus, is a celebration of comic books and graphic novels created by Black writers and artists.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 04:48PM
Thursday, April 14, 2022

Hot historical musical ‘Six,’ Tony award-winning ‘Jagged Little Pill’ highlight The Bushnell’s 2022-23 season schedule by Christopher Arnott

The Bushnell announced its 2022-23 Broadway series of seven shows on Thursday. The shows include fan favorites and Tony winners such as "Six," "Disney's Aladdin," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "T…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:31PM

Theater review: An uncommon, rejuvenating ‘Next to Normal’ at Westport Playhouse by Christopher Arnott

A new production of at "Next to Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse challenges that clichéd framework with a racially diverse cast including Black and LatinX actors as the central family.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, April 11, 2022

Yale’s Christopher Betts to direct two shows at Hartford Stage under local fellowship supporting Black artists by Christopher Arnott

Christopher Betts was named the first Joyce C. Willis Fellow at Hartford Stage and will direct two shows for the theater over the next two seasons. Betts directed the current show at Yale Re…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 07:12PM

HartBeat Ensemble is re-emerging with its first full production of ‘Bee Trapped Inside the Window’ at Carriage House by Christopher Arnott

HartBeat Ensemble, the Hartford theater dedicated to social justice and anti-racism, is staging "Bee Trapped Inside the Window," a play about modern slavery, this month at its Carriage House…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, April 10, 2022

Review: ‘Choir Boy’ a tale of homophobia and self-awakening in a boys school by Christopher Arnott

Tarell Alvin McCraney's "Choir Boy" gets a new production at the Yale Rep, where McCraney heads the Geffen School of Drama's playwriting program. The play, set in a prestigious African-Ameri…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:16PM
Thursday, April 7, 2022

From ‘Cabaret’ to ‘Hamilton’ the top 12 must-see spring theater shows in Connecticut by Christopher Arnott

The top 12 theater shows for a renewed spring arts season include the return of "Hamilton," a local production of "Rent," several sociopolitical dramas and some outrageous comedy.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:42AM

Review: Backyard Theater’s ‘A Number’ offers an emotional and ethical view of human cloning by Christopher Arnott

Backyard Theater Ensemble is performing Caryl Churchill's cloning conundrum "A Number" at Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain through April 9.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Goodspeed ready to ring in the holidays with ‘Christmas in Connecticut — A New Musical’ by Christopher Arnott

Goodspeed has announced a new musical based on the classic holiday movie, "Christmas in Connecticut." It will play at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam from Nov. 18 through Dec. 30.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:01AM
Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Arte Popular, a collective of Latina artisans, launches its event to increase visibility and opportunities for the artistic work of the immigrant comm by Christopher Arnott

Arte Popular, a new collective of Hartford artisans who have immigrated from Spanish-speaking countries, held its first event Monday at the Park Street Library at the Lyric to promote local …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:35AM
Monday, April 4, 2022

New women’s suffrage statue stands tall at Hartford Public Library by Christopher Arnott

A new statue honoring women's suffrage and titled “The Art of Perseverance” by Canton-based artist Marilyn Parkinson Thrall was unveiled March 29. This strong, unyielding female figur…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, April 1, 2022

Punk rock art exhibit rocks MoCA Westport by Christopher Arnott

The “Punk is Coming” exhibit at MoCA Westport is an amazing explosion of work that concentrates on the early years of punk. The show runs through June 5.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:42PM
Thursday, March 31, 2022

Diana Krall, the HSO and lots of comedy among the Courant’s arts picks for week beginning April 3 by Christopher Arnott

Courant arts picks for April 3-9 include Diana Krall, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and indie rock exemplars Spoon.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:03PM

The American Museum of the Free Publication Distribution Box honors an unsung city icon by Christopher Arnott

A prank with higher pretensions, the American Museum of the Free Publication Distribution Box draws attention to derelict newspaper vending boxes on Hartford streets. A project by local come…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Rapper Dave East headlines free Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival this weekend by Christopher Arnott

The Trinity International Hip Hop Festival returns March 31 through April 3 with dozens of live musicians, rappers, dancers, graffiti artists, speakers, historians and filmmakers. The festiv…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 04:00PM

Review: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ finds light and hope amid teen angst by Christopher Arnott

The national tour of "Dear Evan Hansen" provides all the gravitas, angst and lilting melodies that first drew audiences to this downbeat Broadway hit five years ago. The show is at The Bushn…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:45PM
Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Former Billings Forge director is using the community-building skills he harnessed in Hartford to connect the people and businesses in Provincetown by Christopher Arnott

Mike Miller, who helped boost community spirits in Hartford when he worked with Billing Forge, now lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he's using those same skills to promote the peo…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:55PM
Monday, March 28, 2022

How Oscar winner and ‘CODA’ star Troy Kotsur kicked off his professional acting career in Connecticut by Christopher Arnott

Best Actor Oscar winner Troy Kotsur began his acting career in the early 1990s with Connecticut's National Theatre of the Deaf.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:54PM

Hartt School turns 100, with celebrations and reflections that look forward to next century by Christopher Arnott

The Hartt School turned 100 two years ago and is continuing to celebrate the milestone with talks and concerts that reflect current concerns about diversity, inclusion and social awareness.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, March 25, 2022

Arts picks for March 27 through April 2: A tattoo expo, TobyMac, ‘Evan Hansen’ by Christopher Arnott

Courant arts picks for March 27 through April 2 include the national tours of the musical "Dear Evan Hansen," the Christian pop stare TobyMac and the horror podcast "Last Podcast on the Left…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 04:41PM

After a COVID-induced delay, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ finally hits The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

The national tour of the Broadway hit "Dear Evan Hansen" comes to The Bushnell two years after it was originally scheduled, delayed by the COVID shutdown. The musical, which was recently tur…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Thursday, March 24, 2022

Goodspeed looks in the mirror to confront racial equity, diversity and homophobia by Christopher Arnott

Goodspeed Musicals has been working with consultants on issues of racial equity and inclusion to increase diversity both in the workplace and on the stage.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Connecticut student heading to Vegas to join Cirque du Soleil as a magician by Christopher Arnott

Connecticut-born magician TJ Salta, an entrepreneurism major at Quinnipiac University, will be performing his magic act in a new Cirque du Soleil show, "Mad Apple," in Las Vegas starting in …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Real Art Ways is back on track with a full gallery, regular cocktail hours and big plans for a bright future by Christopher Arnott

Real Art Ways offers a real service to local artists and arts-lovers, with four gallery spaces, a cinema and special live events including the monthly Creative Cocktail Hour.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Acclaimed author Alex Segura to talk about his latest novel, ‘Secret Identity,’ in Twain House event by Christopher Arnott

Alex Segura will discuss his new novel "Secret Identity" March 29 in a virtual event held by the Mark Twain House and Museum,

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, March 20, 2022

A thriving Madison Lyric Stage announces new season and new home by Christopher Arnott

Madison Lyric Stage offers musicals, operas and dramas for small audiences in a tent next to a historic house in Madison. The company's tenth summer season has just been announced.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

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