All stories by Christopher Arnott on BroadwayStars

Monday, October 30, 2023

John Mellencamp coming to The Bushnell in March 2024 by Christopher Arnott

Longtime rocker John Mellencamp has extended his current tour and will play The Bushnell in Hartford on March 13, 2024. He last played there in 2016.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:54PM
Sunday, October 29, 2023

Christopher Arnott: Why this theater season in CT is falling short, quite literally, with plethora of 90-minute shows by Christopher Arnott

There are many elegant definitions of the live theater experience, including “the fabulous invalid,” “the empty space” and “the seeing place.” Here’s another one, based on most…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, October 28, 2023

It’s an award-winning week in CT arts from ‘Angels in America’ to Jason Alexander by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for Oct. 29 through Nov. 4 includes the plays "Angels in America" and "To Kill a Mockingbird", a conversation with Jason Alexander as well as lively rock tributes.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, October 27, 2023

Hartford Stage’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ welcomes a new Scrooge as the holiday favorite returns after three-year hiatus by Christopher Arnott

Hartford Stage has a new cast and new surprises as its popular production of "A Christmas Carol" makes its returns from a three-year break starting Nov. 24.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:41PM

Taking on contentious issue of abortion rights, ‘Mercy Street’ honored as 2023 American Voices in Literature Award winner by Christopher Arnott

Jennifer Haigh's novel "Mercy Street" was named the 2023 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award winner with a ceremony planned for Nov. 3 at The Mark Twain House and Museum.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Thursday, October 26, 2023

Long Wharf Theatre announces key events for its Spring 2024 season by Christopher Arnott

New Haven's now-itinerant Long Wharf Theatre company will stage Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” and Adil Mansoor’s “Amm(i)gone" in the Spring of 2024.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 03:44PM

Hartford Symphony Orchestra approves new contract for musicians. Here’s what it includes. by Christopher Arnott

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra and union representatives for the musicians announced the approval of a new four-year contract Wednesday.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Theater review: ‘Pride and Prejudice’ moves from parodic to romantic at Hartford Stage by Christopher Arnott

A new production of Kate Hamill's stage version of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is comedy, but it is seldom played as brassily as at Hartford Stage.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

It’s a ‘Mystic Christmas’ as another Connecticut-made Hallmark Channel holiday movie premieres by Christopher Arnott

Connecticut has known for years what a pleasant place Mystic is at Christmas time. Now the rest of the world will get a glimpse as “Mystic Christmas” premiers Saturday on the Hallmark Ch…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:15PM
Sunday, October 22, 2023

‘Private Jones,’ a show about a deaf WWI army sniper, prepares for both deaf and hearing audiences at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theater by Christopher Arnott

"Private Jones," a new musical by Marshall Pailet about a deaf WWI sniper, is getting a workshop production at Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theatre through Nov. 5.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

An alien sighting in CT? Military stopping by small towns? Not to worry, it is all for an upcoming movie by Christopher Arnott

"Article 92," a new movie that combines science fiction with a military-based moral dilemma, has been shooting on location in Bristol, Woodbury, Watertown, Prospect, Windsor Locks and elsewh…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, October 21, 2023

Review: Violinist Melissa White makes dazzling debut as this season’s Hartford Symphony Orchestra artist-in-residence by Christopher Arnott

Hartford Symphony Orchestra welcomed this season's artist-in-residence, violinist Melissa White, with an uplifting performance of Florence Price's Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:09PM

Sea Tea Improv gets ‘R Rated’ with some of Mark Twain’s raciest writings by Christopher Arnott

Sparks flew as Sea Tea Improv presented "R Rated Twain," a selection of the author's racy and salacious writings, at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:30AM

Let’s do the time warp again for Rocky Horror screenings, a Monster Jam and some paranormal frights this week in CT arts by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for Oct. 22-28 include Mudhoney and Pilobolus in New Haven, a paranormal convention at Mohegan Sun, Kevin Nealon being funny in Bridgeport and some Rocky Horror scre…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, October 20, 2023

Bad Bunny announces Hartford show at XL Center for 2024 ‘Most Wanted Tour’ by Christopher Arnott

Global superstar Bad Bunny is returning to the stage in 2024 with his North America "Most Wanted Tour" that includes a stop at Hartford’s XL Center on April 20, 2024.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:00AM
Wednesday, October 18, 2023

‘Dancing with the Stars’ tour to hit Mohegan Sun in January featuring Julianne Hough and other series regulars by Christopher Arnott

Julianne Hough and numerous familiar faces from the long-running TV competition "Dancing with the Stars" are part of the show's latest live tour coming to Mohegan Sun Arena in January.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 04:13PM
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Theater review: ‘Wish You Were Here’ an enlightening, yet funny, look at how lifelong friendship were altered by political shifts in Iran by Christopher Arnott

Sanaz Toossi's very funny and also very trenchant social drama "Wish You Were Here" is at the Yale Repertory Theatre through Oct. 28.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, October 16, 2023

Cirque du Soleil announces two Connecticut shows for April 2024 by Christopher Arnott

You’ve heard of three-ring circuses, but how about two entire separate Cirque du Soleil shows coming to two different Connecticut cities in the same month? Internationally renowned Canada-…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 03:41PM

Theater review: Lizzie Borden rock opera at TheaterWorks Hartford could have — and should have — hit harder by Christopher Arnott

"Lizzie," a rock musical about the Lizzie Borden slayings, opened the TheaterWorks Hartford's season with bang that needed to be louder, angrier and bloodier.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, October 15, 2023

Make way for fall family-friendly shows in CT from Peppa Pig to Bluey to dinosaurs and more by Christopher Arnott

Kids shows from "Jurassic World Live" to singer/songwriter Laurie Berkner to "Bluey's Big Play" will be in Connecticut over the next few weeks.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Longtime CT theater director and Tony winner reflects on his 15 years at Westport Playhouse and what brought about his unexpected departure by Christopher Arnott

Mark Lamos, who was artistic director at Westport Country Playhouse for 15 years, announced his retirement earlier this year when the Board of Trustees drastically changed the programming mo…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, October 14, 2023

Grammy winners Samara Joy, Lady A and Jimmy Webb hit the stage this week in CT arts by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for Oct, 15-21 include 2023 Best New Artist Samara Joy, bandage-clad Here Come the Mummies, Les Claypool's Frog Brigade and new Hartford Symphony artist-in-residence…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, October 13, 2023

Hartford Symphony Orchestra extends music director Carolyn Kuan’s contract through 2027 by Christopher Arnott

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra has extended the contract of its current music director Carolyn Kuan for three more years.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:08PM

Goodspeed announces 2024 season with a mix of familiar and brand-new musicals by Christopher Arnott

The Goodspeed Opera House will be staging the musicals "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "South Pacific," "Maggie" and "A Christmas Story" for its 2024 season, beginning in April.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:54AM
Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Theater review: HartBeat’s ‘Possessing Harriet’ a complex drama about escaping slavery by Christopher Arnott

Kyle Bass' drama, "Possessing Harriet," at HartBeat Ensemble is a thought-provoking and highly entertaining play about what it was like to escape slavery in New York.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, October 9, 2023

Theater review: ‘A Hundred Words for Snow’ a well-told coming-of-age adventure at Connecticut Repertory Theatre by Christopher Arnott

UConn's Connecticut Repertory Theatre opens its season with an appealing coming-of-age saga by British playwright Tatty Hennessey, starring Téa Guarino as a 15-year-old girl traversing the …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:27AM
Sunday, October 8, 2023

Hartford Stage opens its 60th season with a multicultural ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Christopher Arnott

Kate Hamill's comical, yet thoughtful, adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" opens Hartford Stage's 60th anniversary season Oct, 12 through Nov. 5.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

From ‘Lord of the Dance’ to MOMIX to Derek Hough, fall is jumping in CT with live dance shows by Christopher Arnott

Big dance events coming to Connecticut this fall include Tandy Beal's dance/music/circus show "Joy!" at Trinity College, David Dorfman Dance and Derek Hough.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, October 7, 2023

Anniversary abound this week in CT arts from Lauryn Hill’s ‘Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ to Thrice’s ‘The Artist in the Ambulance’ by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for Oct. 8-14 include Lauryn Hill at Mohegan Sun, Thrice at The Webster, local musicians at the Glastonbury Apple Festival and 200th anniversary activities at Trinit…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, October 6, 2023

After two postponements, Bruce Springsteen reschedules Mohegan Sun Arena show for 2024 by Christopher Arnott

A new date for the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show at Mohegan Sun Arena has been announced for April 12, 2024, following postponements in March and September.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:53PM
Thursday, October 5, 2023

Theater review: ‘Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical’ an old-fashioned silly comedy at The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

"Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical," at The Bushnell through Sunday, is a non-stop rush of jokes, songs, dances and a heartwarming message about family.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:21AM