All stories by FRANK RIZZO on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Comedy 'June Moon' Just Swell At Williamstown Theatre Festival by Frank Rizzo

Summer Theater In Massachusetts Berkshires In Full SwingThe show: "June Moon" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Mass.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:15PM
Sunday, July 6, 2014

Leslie Uggams Starring As Mama Rose In Connecticut Repertory Theatre's 'Gypsy' by Frank Rizzo

First African-American To Play Iconic Role In 'Gypsy'Leslie Uggams is used to taking on roles that, in a different era, no one would expect an African-American actress to take on.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Monday, June 30, 2014

A Girl-Group Musical At Long Wharf by Frank Rizzo

A Girl-Group Musical, The Bikinis," Returns To ConnecticutThe Bikinis are back. The jukebox musical, which had a workshop production at Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theatre last year in …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:13PM
Friday, June 27, 2014

My Interview With Composer-Writer Mary Rodgers by Frank Rizzo

I love interviewing independent women in show business of a certain age who speak their minds. One of my favorite interviews was in 2002 was with composer-writer Mary Rodgers from his Centra…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:33PM

'Traces:' The Joy Of Play From The New Kids On The Block by Frank Rizzo

The show:  "Traces," part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, at University Theatre in New Haven.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Thursday, June 26, 2014

O'Neill Presenting New Musicals by Frank Rizzo

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford puts its 50th anniversay into high gear this week with the beginning of its National Music Theater Conference, running June 28 through to July 11, …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM

'The Events': When Tragedy Occurs, It Takes A Choir by Frank Rizzo

Receives U.S. Premiere At New Haven's International Festival Of Arts & IdeasThe show: "The Events," part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Have…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Saturday, June 21, 2014

'Endurance:' Icebergs, Actuaries and Leadership Vividly Depicted By Dynamic Troupe by Frank Rizzo

Split Knuckle Theater Makes New Haven Bow At Long WharfThe show:  "Endurance" at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Friday, June 20, 2014

Elevator Repair Service's ''Arguendo:" Disorder In The Court by Frank Rizzo

Part Of New Haven's International Festival Of Arts & IdeasThe show: "Arguendo" at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Acrobatic 'Traces' Part Of Arts, Ideas by Frank Rizzo

They jump, they tumble, they climb on poles like monkeys on crack. They're the young, athletic and sexy performers in "Traces," from the hip Canadian cirque group Les 7 Doigts de la Main (Se…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:04PM
Sunday, June 15, 2014

10 Rules On Creating A Theater Company by Frank Rizzo

The Folks From Split Knuckle Tell All

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Imaginative 'Endurance' Of Split Knuckle Theatre by Frank Rizzo

Physical Company's Latest Exuberant Play Plays Long WharfFive years ago Greg Webster had a dream in which a man in a business suit stood atop a copier machine as he was being attacked by pap…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 03:33PM

A Beauty Of A 'Bee' At Playhouse On Park: When Spellcheck Isn't Enough by Frank Rizzo

The show: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:17PM

Postmortem of "Ghost: The Musical:" The Spirits Are Unwilling by Frank Rizzo

The show: "Ghost: The Musical" at Hartford's Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Darko Tresnjak's Post-Tony Award Win Agenda by Frank Rizzo

'Anastasia,' "Campaign of the Century,' "Hamlet' -- And Partti LuPoneSo Darko Tresnjak, you’ve just won a Tony Award for outstanding director of a musical, what are you going to do n…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:02PM
Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Review 'Fingers and Toes:' Belabored Until They Start Dancing by Frank Rizzo

The show:  'Fingers and Toes' at Ivoryton Playhouse

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM

'Sing For Your Shakespeare' Revue: In The Very Best Of Taste by Frank Rizzo

The show:  'Sing For Your Shakespeare' at  Westport  Country Playhouse

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Monday, June 9, 2014

Edinburgh Hit 'The Events' A Highlight Of Arts And Ideas Fest by Frank Rizzo

Powerful Play At Yale Rep Explores "The Idea Of Evil And The Limits Of Forgiveness'David Greig remembers walking with his 12-year-old son in the Scottish Highlands in July 2011 when they sto…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:35AM
Sunday, June 8, 2014

Tony Win for Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak by Frank Rizzo

Darko Tresnjak, artistic director of Hartford Stage,"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" which was developed and premiered at Hartford Stage, became the first artistic director of a Conn…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:24PM

Tony Awards Quiz: Betcha Can't Get All 12 Answers by Frank Rizzo

Do you think you know the Tony Awards? Facts like how many times Neil Patrick Harris has hosted? Or The the year it began being televised? Maybe so, but what about the more difficult questio…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Monday, June 2, 2014

'A Chorus Line' At Jorgensen by Frank Rizzo

Broadway's Singular Sensation Comes To StorrsSummer has officially begun. How do you know? The first show of Connecticut Repertory Theatre's Nutmeg Summer Series begins, and it's one that's …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:54PM

Connecticut Critics Offer Nominations, Special Awards For Season's Best by Frank Rizzo

Billie Joe Armstromng, Athol Fugard To Receive Special NodsRocker Billie Joe Armstrong , South African playwright Athol Fugard and New Haven’s Broken Umbrella Theatre will be reco…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:55PM

How Will "A Gentleman's Guide..." Fare At The Tony Awards? by Frank Rizzo

One Man In The Balcony Has A Different PerspectiveDavid Polk will be in the balcony of Radio City Music Hall Sunday night at the Tony Awards telecast.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:18PM
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014

"Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike:' When A Cherry Orchard Isn't Enough by Frank Rizzo

Playful, Sexy, Caring Production of Durang Comedy At Hartfird StageThe show: "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" at Hartford Stage

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Thursday, May 29, 2014

New Musical 'Fingers and Toes' at Ivoryton Playhouse by Frank Rizzo

Robert Moss looks as if he could start another theater company tomorrow.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 04:43PM
Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Review: 'Gilbert the Great' -- If You Build It, They Will Have Fun by Frank Rizzo

The show: "Gilbert the Great" by Broken Umbrella Theater at Erector Square in New Haven.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM
Tuesday, May 27, 2014

High School Musical Awards At The Palace by Frank Rizzo

It's one of my favorite theater events of the year: the annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards. This year, 23 schools from around the state will compete on Monday, June 2, at …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:24PM

Cast Set For Connecticut Rep 'Chorus Line' at UConn by Frank Rizzo

Opener For Nutmeg Summer Series Of Musicals

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:08PM

Monkee's Mickey Dolenz To Star In New Comedy By 'Simpsons' Writer by Frank Rizzo

Premiere of Mike Reiss' 'Comedy Is Hard" at Ivoryton Playhouse

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:57PM
Sunday, May 25, 2014

Leslie Hendrix Of 'Law & Order' Joins Soap Hunk David Gregory At Hartford Stage by Frank Rizzo

Christopher Durang's Gang Talks About Sex, Lunacy In 'Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike'Life is more fun outside the morgue, says Leslie Hendrix.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:00AM