Some Happy Fellas (and Gals) are Cast at Goodspeed

Casting is set for Goodspeed Musicals' The Most Happy Fella Sept. 20 – Dec. 1.

Leading the cast in the role of Tony will be Bill Nolte, whose numerous Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles, The Producers, Amour, Jane Eyre, 1776, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden, Me and My Girl and Cats. He previously appeared at Goodspeed in Man of La Mancha and Sweeney Todd. Mamie Parris will play opposite Nolte as Rosabella. She has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime, 110 in the Shade and The Drowsy Chaperone. 
Other casting: Ann Arvia (Marie), Daniel Berryman (Ciccio), Doug Carpenter (Joey), Natalie Hill (Cleo), Greg Roderick (Guiseppe), Martín Solá (Pasquale), Kevin Vortmann (Herman).

Rob Ruggiero directs; Parker Esse choreographs.

Tickets: 860-873-8668; goodspeed.org,

Special Events:

Girls’ Night Out: Friday, September 20, 7:00 pm. Celebrate Opening Night in style! Gather the girls for glitz and glamour Broadway-style with our Ticket ‘n’ ‘Tini special. Package includes one ticket to the 8 pm performanceand a specialty martini. A hot deal at $46 per person.

Wine Tasting: Sunday, September 22, 5:00 pm. Treat yourself to a sampling of fine wines, compliments of Shore Discount Liquors of Deep River, and hors d’oeuvres provided by the Gelston House of East Haddam. Only $12 with your ticket to the 6:30 pm performance. Reserve in advance through the Box Office.

Teen Nights: September 25 & 26, 7:30 pm; September 27, 8 pm. Introduce your favorite young person to the magic of musical theatre. Each adult who buys a regular-priced ticket on the specified dates may purchase a $15 ticket for a youth age 12 to 18. Meet the cast after the September  27th performance for autographs.

Lady Katharine Lunch Cruise: Enjoy Fall foliage on the Connecticut River. Add a leisurely cruise and sumptuous buffet aboard the Lady Katharine to your theatre ticket. Available on Wednesdays, October 2 & 23. Cruises depart at 11:30 a.m. $40 with your ticket to the 2 p.m. performance.

Trick-or-‘Tini Package: Thursday, October 31, 7:00 pm. This frightfully good Halloween special includes a ticket to the evening show and a specialty martini for only $46 per person!

Food Drive / Buy-One-Get-One Free Tickets: Monday, November 25. Two-for-one tickets for select seats to the 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. performances with a generous non-perishable food donation to benefit the East Haddam Food Bank.

Meet the Cast: Take part in a lively discussion with the cast after the Thursday evening performances on October 17 & 31 and November 14. Meet the Cast events are free with a ticket to that evening’s performance.

Friday Dinner Theatre Package:  Includes dinner at the Gelston House (located next door to the Opera House) and a ticket to the 8:00 pm performance. Only $76!

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Priests Play the Palace

Fathers Martin O'Hagan, Eugene O'Hagan and David Delargy, Photo: Courtesy of the Palace

Fathers Martin O'Hagan, Eugene O'Hagan and David Delargy, better known to their millions of fans as The Priests, will perform selections from their classical music repertoire at the Palace Theater in Waterbury on Friday, Nov. 22 at 8 pm. 

Tickets for the concert are $55 and $35. 

Since the release of their debut CD in 2008, the internationally-acclaimed trio of Roman Catholic clergymen has sold more than 3 million recordings, signed a $2 million dollar contract with Sony/BMG, and has been featured in a popular PBS performance special. Their eponymous album sold at such a frantic pace that it secured them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling classical debut of all time, and since then they have performed to sold-out audiences in major cities all around the world.

Hailing from the Diocese of Down and Connor in Belfast, Ireland, The Priest are among the most recognized and successful acts in both the religious and secular worlds. Their audiences have included the British Royal Family and the Irish President, as well as the Pope and a crowd of 80,000 people in Hyde Park, England in September 2010. No ordinary superstars, these three humble men remain first and foremost committed to the cloth and donate the vast majority of their royalties to their charitable fund, which helps build schools in places like Cambodia, Uganda and Thailand, and looks after retiredpriests and the homeless.

Tickets for the Palace Theater’s presentation of The Priests are available online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000 or in person at the box office, 100 East Main Street in Waterbury. For more information, visit www.thepriests.com.

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HSO Fall Events at a Glance

Carolyn Kuan conducting the 2011 Talcott Mountain Music Festival. Photo:Steven Laschever

HSO AT A GLANCE: SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2013
Editors: Please update calendar listings to include the upcoming Hartford Symphony Orchestra events listed below. For more information about any particular event, please contact Katie Bonner Russo at kbonner@hartfordsymphony.org.

MASTERWORKS SERIES & SPECIAL EVENT: 70TH ANNIVERSARY OPENING NIGHT!
October 11 & 12, 2013
Friday & Saturday, 8:00 p.m.
Mortensen Hall│ The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Carolyn Kuan, conductor; Wu Man, pipa; Edward Clark, organ; Connecticut Youth Symphony, Daniel D’Addio, music director
Program: Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, “Organ;” Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor; Harrison: Concerto for Pipa and String Orchestra
We’re rolling out the red carpet for Opening Night! Two of the most famous works in the organ repertoire, Saint-Saëns’ massive Symphony No. 3 and Bach’s glorious Toccata and Fugue, will be played on The Bushnell’s historic, Hartford-made Austin pipe organ. Matched with the delicacy of the pipa – a Chinese lute – played by virtuoso Wu Man, recently named Musical America’s 2013 Instrumentalist of the Year.
Concert Benefactor: Hartford Hospital
To mark this special season opener, the HSO will host a special opening night celebration before the concert, including cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and food stations; a dessert reception with Carolyn Kuan and the guest artists will conclude the evening following the concert. Tickets for the Opening Night Celebration are $170 per person for subscribers and $225 for non-subscribers, which include preferred concert seating. Call (860)246-8742 ext. 326 for more information and to purchase tickets.

POPS! SERIES: DISNEY’S FANTASIA – LIVE IN CONCERT
Saturday, October 26, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Mortensen Hall│ The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Carolyn Kuan, conductor
Join us for a thrilling performance of Disney's groundbreaking marriage of symphonic music and animation, Fantasia. Magnificent repertoire from the original 1940 version and Fantasia 2000, including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and The Nutcracker Suite, will be performed by the HSO while Disney's stunning footage is shown on the big screen. Experience iconic moments and childhood favorites as you never have before!
Presentation licensed by Disney Concert Library © Disney.

MASTERWORKS SERIES: BEETHOVEN & BERNSTEIN
November 7 – 10, 2013
Thursday 7:30pm | Friday & Saturday 8:00 p.m. | Sunday 3:00 p.m.
Belding Theater│ The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Carolyn Kuan, conductor; Peter Winograd, violin
Program: Beethoven: Symphony No. 7; Piazzolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires; Bernstein: Fancy Free
Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony is paired with Piazzolla’s tango-inspired Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, featuring violinist Peter Winograd, son of HSO’s esteemed former music director Arthur Winograd. Plus, hear the ballet score Fancy Free – the first work in the HSO’s season-long tribute to composer Leonard Bernstein.
Concert Sponsor: The Katharine K. McLane and Henry R. McLane Charitable Trust

POPS! SERIES: SYMPHONIC SONDHEIM – A TRIBUTE TO THE COMPOSER’S CLASSICS
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Mortensen Hall│ The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Tim Stella conductor; Florence Lacey, Hugh Panaro, Ron Raines, and Lisa Vroman, vocal soloists
Experience the splendor of the HSO and singers performing the music of Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, Academy Award, and Grammy Award–winning composer Stephen Sondheim. This legendary composer's greatest melodies include works such as Follies, A Little Night Music, Company, Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sunday in the Park with George, and Sweeney Todd.
Premier concert sponsor: Richard P. Garmany Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

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Ticket Information: To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact HSO ticket services at (860)244-2999 or visit www.hartfordsymphony.org. Single tickets go on sale August 19.
-Single tickets to the 2013-2014 Masterworks Series range in price from $35.50-$70.50.
-Single tickets to the 2013-2014 Pops! Series range in price from $20-$67.50.
-A limited number of $25 tickets are available for patrons age 40 and under at the Masterworks and Pops! Series’ Saturday performances.
-Student and children tickets, available for Masterworks and Pops! concerts, are $10.

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Quick Hit Theater Review: Oblivion -- Westport Country Playhouse

Katie Broad and Aidan Kunze. Photo: Carol Rosegg

Oblivion
By Carly Mensch
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Westport Country Playhouse

By Lauren Yarger
What's it All About?
Well, that may be up to you..... Pam (Johanna Day), a successful HBO documentary exec and Dixon (Reg Rogers), a burned out corporate lawyer who has suffered a breakdown, find themselves in a crisis when their teenage daughter, Julie (Katie Broad), decides to become a Christian. The couple doesn't believe in setting any rules -- right and wrong is all relative any way -- but when Julie lies about where she was (at a church retreat instead of checking out mom's alumni, Wesleyan) they decide they had better do some parenting and get their daughter back on track.

Dixon is a little more willing to hear his daughter's side. He has a little bit of a tie with religion, coming from a Jewish background, and he is the only one Julie will speak to. She and her mother have a relationship that borders on contempt -- at least where Julie is concerned.

Pam is downright bigoted in her disregard of who who might be weak-minded enough to allow themselves to be brainwashed by religion (her parents were two Marxist professors). Socially awkward Julie's exploration of Jesus comes through hanging out with her only friend, Bernard (Aidan Kunze), whose family attends some kind of Baptist Church there in Brooklyn, and who is filming Julie for a film project.

Deeper in the plot about the religious experience is a message about the fact that we all worship something. Pam needs to be in control -- she goes to great lengths to worm information out of Bernard; Dixon loves his weed and is hard at work on something else he worships: a pornographic novel about a middle-aged man and a teen girl. Bernard worships a film critic named Pauline and a number of scenes involve his speaking out the letters he has written her in the hopes she will view his film. And Julie just wants to feel something. Anything.

What are the highlights?
Mensch (she writes for TV's "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" in addition to plays) has a gift for contemporary -- and funny -- dialogue. The characters deal with some very real emotions. There is a lot of funny stuff here, especially the really awful chapter Dixon reads about his protagonist and the French ambassador's daughter....

Rogers is the most comfortable in the skin of his character here. He enjoys the aging hippy who needs to find some way to take responsibility. This character has the most range of the four.

What are the Lowlights?
The play is interesting and keeps us engaged, but never delivers. We're left wondering what it all means, especially when Julie's intense conversion, which has propelled the action, isn't fully explained. Bernard's church is a little weird -- there is a bunch of Eastern and transcendental stuff thrown in there which has nothing to do with Christianity and Julie doesn't seem to really know who Jesus is. Her explanation of being a Christian: "You agree to believe in Jesus even though he's not really there..." The piece puts me in mind of other plays that tend to express the questions about religion the authors have in real life, but doesn't offer any answers (because they don't have them either).

Character development isn't too deep. Julie is hostile, but all the way through, not just toward her mother. She doesn't seem very fun to be around, so it's not hard to believe she doesn't have many friends. But why is Bernard an exception? We don't know. Bernard is kind of dorky and only has one moment where he seems to have a backbone (and Kunze doesn't seem at ease in the role). The technique of having Bernard write to Pauline is overused. Day seemed to be tripping over a bunch of her dialogue. Brokaw, with numerous Broadway directing credits, doesn't use a strong enough hand in directing to bring it all together. Even if he did, the play itself doesn't seem to know where it's headed.

Neil Patel's set is disappointing. All scenes take place on an all-in-one location that at first glance looks like the gym/library of a school with the back wall lined with cubby holes. Later, parts of it are used for the family's house, the basketball court at school, a movie theater, etc.

More information:
This world premiere of Oblivion runs through Sept. 8 at Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport. Tickets and info: 203-227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, www.westportplayhouse.org,

Westport Country Playhouse will host two special events, “Teen Night” and “Mom’s Day Off,” in conjunction with Oblivion.

“Teen Night” on Wednesday, Aug. 28, will offer an opportunity for teens who are interested in any aspect of theater to meet in the Playhouse Green Room for pizza and soda at 6:30 pm, learn about the show, and have an intimate Q&A session with Broad and Kunze. They will talk about their experiences in the professional theater business and what it’s like to originate a role in a world premiere. Each teen attending will receive one complimentary ticket and 50-percent discounted tickets for their guests (parents or friends).

“Mom’s Day Off,” on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 3 pm and Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8 pm will offer tickets at $30. On Aug. 31, moms will kick off the performance with a mimosa toast on the Playhouse patio. On Sept. 4, the audience is invited for a lively post-performance salon discussion of the thought-provoking play in the Smilow Lounge on the mezzanine level.

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Theater Review: Julius Caesar -- Elm Shakespeare Company

Jeremy Funke and Paul Pryce. Photo: Courtesy of Elm Shakespeare.. 

A Brisk Julius Caesar in Edgerton Park
By Tom Holehan
It's a brisk and relevant Julius Caesar currently playing under the stars in New Haven's gorgeous Edgerton Park. The modern dress production is the Elm Shakespeare Company's 18th season offering and it lives up to the group's well-earned reputation of presenting fresh, no-frills productions of classical works. What a good way to close out the summer theatre season.

More than most plays in the Shakespeare canon, Julius Caesar may equip itself the best to a modern dress rendering. The political intrigue that involves brothers Cassius and Brutus who, worried that Caesar has become too powerful, plan their own coup with a military takeover could speak directly to the events currently unfolding in Egypt.

Co-directed by theatre legend Alvin Epstein and Elm Shakespeare Company founder and Artistic Director James Andreassi, this Julius Caesar barely stops for breath as nefarious plots are hatched and the brothers entice a cabal of willing murderers in their devious plan. Epstein and Andreassi understand that once the deed is done, the tempo must pick up: blood flows and retribution begins. Their production is played without intermission and comes in well under two hours. At times, it may be too fast but with commanding actors in most of the leading roles, this Julius Caesar still rules.

Andreassi has given himself one of the play's best roles in Marcus Brutus and he plays the conflicted warrior with great power and insight. Also fine is Damian Buzzerio whose Cassius nearly browbeats Brutus into his lethal decision while Tracy Griswold's smug yet regal Caesar makes you understand why he is able to sway the populace.

Paul Pryce's enthusiastic Mark Antony is a vital presence though the famed "Friends, Romans and Countrymen..." is rendered a little too obvious and quickly here for my liking. It lacks political savvy though Pryce is charismatic enough to make it somehow still work. In the large supporting cast Jeremy Funke impresses in no less than three roles but some of the smaller roles stick out by being played by actors with far less experience.

Elizabeth Bolster's well-tailored suits for the men and sharp clothes for the women define this modern-dress Shakespeare with style. She is also credited with the handsome scenic design which simply but effectively sets a stage for royal intrigue. Jamie Burnett's lighting works beautifully under a starry sky at Edgerton but I do question the use of a roving follow-spot to sporadically highlight an actor. It seems oddly out of place but remains a minor blip. This is still a strong, straight-forward and accessible production of Shakespeare's great historical drama.

Julius Caesar continues at Edgerton Park, 75 Cliff St., New Haven through Sept.1. Admission is free - donations accepted

Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theater information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website:www.ctcritics.org.

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Calling Tiny Tim! Hartford Stage to Hold Kids Auditions for A Christmas Carol

Hartford Stage's A Christmas Carol with  Bill Raymond and children. Photo:  T. Charles Erickson

Hartford Stage will be holding auditions for child actors for the Tony Award-winning theater's 16^th annual production of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 3 to  6 pm each day. Callbacks will be on Friday, Sept. 20.

Auditions are for Non-Equity children of all ethnic backgrounds, 5-13-years-old. Children, who wish to audition may not turn 14 years of age until after Dec. 28, 2013.  Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Nov. 12, with performance dates from Friday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 28. 

Auditions are by appointment only, and there are a limited number of appointments available.  To schedule an audition call 860-520-7103 Monday through Friday between 10 am and 5 pm or email artistic@hartfordstage.org. Audition location and requirements will be discussed when parents or guardians call to arrange an appointment.   

A Christmas Carol is by former Hartford Stage Artistic Director Michael Wilson and has been presented annually since 1998.

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Mark Twain Happenings from Shakespeare on the Lawn to Twain on the River

As You Like It by William Shakespeare will be performed by the world-renowned tragi-comedians The Castle Theatre Company of Durham University, UK on the lawn at the Mark Twain House Saturday, Sept.r 14 from 2 to 4 pm.

Bringeth lawn furniture and blankets! Rain or shine! Ree Will (Shakespeare) offerings accepted.

Castle Theatre Company is one of the oldest theatre companies in Durham University. Set amidst the grounds of Durham's beautiful and ancient Castle, part of the city's World Heritage Site, the company has produced theatre of the highest quality for three decades. The company holds strong to a tradition of producing a 'Summer Shakespeare' performance, which offers outdoor theatrical entertainment in the gardens of Durham Castle, before embarking on a national tour to some of England's finest stately homes and large estates to perform to audiences across the country and around the world.

Take a Ride on the Essex Steam Train, Riverboat with Mark Twain this Weekend

This Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24 and 25, Mark Twain will create a unique experience, riding along and interacting with visitors on the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in Essex, CT.

Mark Twain, one of Connecticut's most famous residents, will visit the train and riverboat to do what he does best - entertain crowds with storytelling and humor. Always with a smile, always with wit, Mr. Twain plans to make the "Passengers from the Past" experience fun and exciting. A tip for your ride aboard the Becky Thatcher riverboat: be sure to ask Mr. Twain about the Tom Sawyer character the riverboat is named after.

The "Passengers from the Past" experience is new to the Essex Steam Train this year, and is designed to take passengers back in time alongside popular historic figures. Prior "riders" included President Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, as well as William & Helen Gillette. The special passengers are personified by some of the most renowned historic figure actors in the country. Visitors will get to spend quality time on the steam train and riverboat with some of the most interesting people in history. There are no additional fees for the "Passengers from the Past" experience.

Info here: http://www.essexsteamtrain.com/passengers.html.

Tom Lee

GILGAMESH: Love, Death & Power in Ancient Iraq
A reckless king seeks to become immortal and confronts all that it means to be human. What happens next in this thrilling epic -- Gilgamesh: Love Death & Power in Ancient Iraq -- will be relayed with consummate skill by Master-Storyteller-in-Residence Tom Lee Sunday, Sept. 22, at 2 pm. It's the first of an adult trio of "Grown-Up Storytime" appearances by the noted storyteller for adults, who has thrilled audiences at the museum in past years. 

Admission is $15; 90 minutes, not suitable for children.

An additional program ("Prince Ring" on Dec. 15) is suitable for children ages 7 and up! ($6). Tickets:

860-280-3130. 

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