All stories by Christopher Arnott on BroadwayStars

Friday, June 2, 2023

Artist provides both sights and sounds for latest exhibit at Wadsworth’s MATRIX gallery by Christopher Arnott

The Wadsworth's latest MATRIX gallery installment features Lisa Alvarado, who has been combining music with her art for over a decade.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:57AM
Thursday, June 1, 2023

Theater review: ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ does The Temptations’ legacy proud at The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

From the opening moments of "Ain't Too Proud" to the smashing rendition of “The Way You Do the Thing You Do,” the theatrical tribute to The Temptations is in constant motion.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:05PM
Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Rapper, songwriter and viral foodie Action Bronson bring his musical act to New Haven in July by Christopher Arnott

Rap star and food show host Action Bronson will be in New Haven July 20 for a concert at College Street Music Hall.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:21PM

Machine Gun Kelly returns to Mohegan Sun Arena in September by Christopher Arnott

Rocker/rapper Machine Gun Kelly is at Mohegan Sun on Sept. 7, the first time he's played there since his hit album "Mainstream Sellout" was released.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:15AM

Frederick Douglass and the history of Black representation in photography honored in new Wadsworth exhibit by Christopher Arnott

The new exhibit, "I Am Seen... Therefore I Am: Isaac Julien and Frederick Douglass," at the Wadsworth Atheneum features a film installation and is co-curated by Harvard historians Henry Loui…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, May 29, 2023

‘Webster’s Bitch’ plays with words and their ever-changing meanings at Playhouse on Park by Christopher Arnott

Jacqueline Bircher's new play, “Webster’s Bitch,” questions the power of words. It premiers at West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park May 31 through June 18.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, May 28, 2023

‘Ain’t Too Proud’ brings the souls of the Temptations to The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

Broadway musical "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations," which chronicles the legendary band's career, is at The Bushnell May 30 through June 4.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Wadsworth exhibit explores evolution of culture and summertime leisure wear by Christopher Arnott

You wouldn’t visit an art gallery in your pajamas, but you might be tempted to when you see some on display in the “Relax! Leisure and Style” exhibit at the Wadsworth.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, May 27, 2023

Broadway’s Billy Porter and Indigo Girls bring activism through the arts this week in CT things to do and see by Christopher Arnott

Time to get smart with your art as this week's picks include music from Billy Porter to Indigo Girls to Mamaglia and Mighty Soul Drivers.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, May 22, 2023

Correction by Christopher Arnott

The public visiting hours for "The Life and Legacy of Caroll Spinney" exhibit at Bracken Memorial Library in Woodstock were listed incorrectly in Sunday's Arts and Living Section.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 03:51PM
Sunday, May 21, 2023

Man behind Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch featured in CT gallery’s touching tribute by Christopher Arnott

The life and legacy of Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on "Sesame Street" for 46 years, is the subject of a gallery show in Woodstock.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, May 20, 2023

This week in CT arts mixes a bit of Trevor Noah with some Walker Hayes and a medieval faire by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for May 21-27 features a wide range of shows including a femme punk band, a drag queen and a play about professional wrestling.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Thursday, May 18, 2023

Acclaimed puppeteer Ralph Lee, the subject of a current UConn exhibit, dies at 87 by Christopher Arnott

Ralph Lee, an internationally acclaimed puppeteer who is the subject of a current exhibit at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut, died this week at …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:28PM
Sunday, May 14, 2023

Connecticut Ballet brings the living doll, ‘Coppélia,’ back to life at The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

Connecticut Ballet has revived its version of the comic ballet "Coppélia," which it has been doing on and off for 35 years. It is at The Bushnell's Belding Theater on May 20 and 21.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 07:00AM

Theater review: Goodspeed glows with a jazzy, sensitive, less sexist ‘Gypsy’ by Christopher Arnott

Jenn Thompson's production of "Gypsy," at the Goodspeed Opera House through June 25, has been given a deft modern makeover that returns it to its roots.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, May 13, 2023

CT offers wide variety of acts this week from a fundraiser featuring a Broadway star to a legendary Motown mix by Christopher Arnott

This week's Courant's arts picks include an Audra McDonald fundraiser, a Temptations/Four Tops double bill, "RuPaul's Drag Race" queen Robin Fierce and musicals based on "The Secret Garden" …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, May 12, 2023

Westport Playhouse announces departure of artistic director Mark Lamos by Christopher Arnott

Mark Lamos will leave Westport Country Playhouse, where he has been artistic director for 15 seasons, in January. He has been a major force in Connecticut theater since the 1980s.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:06PM
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Chelsea Handler back in Connecticut as a ‘Little Big Bitch’ at the Oakdale Theatre by Christopher Arnott

Comedian, author and TV host Chelsea Handler still loves getting out in front of people. She brings her latest standup tour, "Little Big Bitch," to the Oakdale Theatre Sunday.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:41AM
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Theater review: ‘the ripple, the wave that carried me home’ doesn’t float at Yale Rep by Christopher Arnott

Christina Anderson's tale of Black community activism and related issues of family and the workplace has trouble connecting all the threads into a workable drama.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, May 7, 2023

Arthur Miller fans on a mission to preserve the famous playwright’s CT legacy by Christopher Arnott

The town of Roxbury wants to add Arthur Miller’s writing studio to the list of places where famous writers honed their crafts in Connecticut. Supporters of the playwright’s legacy are ra…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, May 6, 2023

Comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short and current funny man Kevin Hart bring the laughs to CT in this week’s things to do and see by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for May 7-13 range from nostalgic acts like Kool & The Gang, a '90s rewind with Vanilla Ice, comedy from Kevin Hart and a festival of local bands in New Haven.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, May 5, 2023

Theater review: TheaterWorks Hartford’s ‘The Rembrandt’ is a disarming and delightful artistic journey by Christopher Arnott

Jessica Dickey's funny and philosophical play "The Rembrandt," at TheaterWorks Hartford through May 14, is given not just a carefully balanced production but is augmented by its artful sceni…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:30AM
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Renowned filmmaker and New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee headed to CT for public Q&A session by Christopher Arnott

Renowned filmmaker Spike Lee is delivering this year’s Mary and Louis Fusco Distinguished Lecture at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven on Saturday at 7 p.m. The event, to …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:29PM
Sunday, April 30, 2023

Wadsworth’s new ‘Chasing Rembrandt’ exhibit highlights the museum’s quest for a real Rembrandt by Christopher Arnott

Four artworks that are assuredly not by Rembrandt but were once believed to be are on exhibit through July 23 at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, April 29, 2023

Waterbury Palace brings seven more Broadway tours to Connecticut in 2023-24 season by Christopher Arnott

The 2023-24 Waterbury Palace Broadway season will include “Pretty Woman the Musical," “Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird," “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan," …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Thursday, April 27, 2023

Meriden Daffodil Festival features one of CT’s largest lineups of local music acts by Christopher Arnott

The annual Meriden Daffodil Festival, this weekend at Hubbard Park, features three stages of live Connecticut music acts.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 08:00AM

Broadway legend Mandy Patinkin brings ‘Being Alive’ to the Garde Arts Center by Christopher Arnott

Beloved actor Mandy Patinkin talks with the Courant about his decades-long singing career, an upcoming Showtime series and the state of his beard before Saturday's show at the Garde Arts Cen…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, April 23, 2023

Ballet Theatre Company will have a ball at The Bushnell with ‘Cinderella’ by Christopher Arnott

West Hartford’s Ballet Theatre Company has revived and revised its 2018 production of “Cinderella,” blending fantasy, beauty, comedy, drag, pageantry and Prokofiev’s sumptuous score …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 07:00AM

Goodspeed’s ‘Gypsy’ finds compassion for pushy stage mothers by Christopher Arnott

The classic musical "Gypsy," about famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee and her pushy stage mother, is getting a fresh production at the Goodspeed Opera House. The director, Jenn Thompson…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, April 22, 2023

Connecticut brings the funny and Fogerty this week in things to do and see by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for April 23-29 include John Fogerty at Mohegan Sun, a Connecticut Audubon bird event at Infinity Hall Hartford and a new play about racial injustice at the Yale Rep…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

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