All stories by Christopher Arnott on BroadwayStars

Sunday, June 29, 2025

A summer of William Shakespeare hits the outdoors at parks and lawns around CT by Christopher Arnott

The Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festivals continues its new format of alternate performances of two shows as other outdoor companies offer everything from "Hamlet" to "As You Like It."

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s schedule shrinking but still bursting with creativity and excitement by Christopher Arnott

This summer the center offers two new musicals getting their first public readings and a slew of cabaret performers trying out their new full-length concert acts.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:30AM
Saturday, June 28, 2025

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art becomes the Haus of Holbein with Henry VIII portrait on display by Christopher Arnott

Hans Holbein the Younger's famous "Portrait of Henry VIII" is on loan to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art from the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Italy.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Def Leppard, a ‘Jaws’ festival and an orchestra bring the fireworks this week in CT arts by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for June 29 through July 5 include British rockers, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga and Whitney Houston impersonators and an annual Fourth of July concert.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

New Haven play about ‘apizza’ delivers camaraderie, community and 90 years of history by Christopher Arnott

The 2025 International Festival of Arts & Ideas runs through June 28 in New Haven, including the final performances of the original family drama "Family Business: (A)Pizza Play" produced…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:06AM
Monday, June 23, 2025

Theater review: Legacy Theatre’s ‘Long Days’ takes a downer O’Neill drama and turns it into a comedy by Christopher Arnott

Gabe McKinley's "Long Days," a comedy about performing Eugene O’Neill’s downer of a drama “Long Day’s Journey Into Night," is having its world premiere at the Legacy Theatre.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Sunday, June 22, 2025

Capitol Groove Music Festival brings the live rock experience back to Bushnell Park by Christopher Arnott

The festival features Khruangbin, Cake, Bleachers, Sammy Rae & the Friends, Steel Pulse and 10 other major music acts, plus a new second stage with eight local acts.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Director shakes up Elvis-themed musical ‘All Shook Up’ for its 20th anniversary return to Goodspeed by Christopher Arnott

Daniel Goldstein, who was part of the creative team when the musical premiered at Goodspeed Musicals in 2004, is directing a new version to mark the 20th anniversary of its Broadway run.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, June 21, 2025

It’s pedal to the metal this week in CT arts featuring a wide range of rock bands by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for June 22-28 includes a handful of metal banks including Incubus, indie pop bands Friendship and 2nd Grade, the violin trio Sons of Mystro and comedians Marlon Way…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, June 20, 2025

Music sensation Jacob Collier to play UConn’s Jorgensen Center in October by Christopher Arnott

British multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier is the first announced booking for 2025-26 season at UConn's Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in Storrs.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:21AM
Thursday, June 19, 2025

Make Music Day to feature dozens of free concerts by local artists throughout Connecticut by Christopher Arnott

The internationally recognized event is a time when musicians of all kinds are encouraged to perform in their communities.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Yale Repertory Theatre announces 2025-26 season of Zora Neale Hurston, Ibsen and Ionesco by Christopher Arnott

The Yale Repertory Theatre has announced its 2025-26 season of five plays. This is the final season to be planned under the leadership of James Bundy, who has led the Yale Rep as well as the…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 07:00AM

Waterbury Palace’s 2025-26 Broadway series includes ‘Stereophonic,’ Blue Man Group and ‘Music Man’ by Christopher Arnott

The Palace Theater in Waterbury recently announced the six shows in its 2025-25 Broadway season.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:00AM
Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Theater review: Suburban goddess comedy ‘Hurricane Diane’ a welcome wind of change at Hartford Stage by Christopher Arnott

The Hartford Stage's season ends with the Madeleine George comedy about a mythic figure who seduces several women in modern-day New Jersey as a means of environmental activism.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:48AM
Monday, June 16, 2025

Stevie Nicks to play in CT as final date on her 2025 tour by Christopher Arnott

Stevie Nicks will end her 2025 tour in Hartford with an Oct. 25 show at the PeoplesBank Arena, formerly the XL Center, in Hartford.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 03:00PM
Sunday, June 15, 2025

CT LGBTQ Film Festival features timely documentaries on Supreme Court cases and culinary uprisings by Christopher Arnott

The 38th Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival, presented by OutFilm CT, celebrates Pride month with 90 films and shorts, some with in-person screening and others online.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Acclaimed writer Joyce Carol Oates eager to make first visit to Twain House to dish on new novel by Christopher Arnott

Joyce Carol Oates will discuss her new suspenseful psychological thriller "Fox" at the Mark Twain House & Museum on June 20.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

CT theater illustrates its 110-year legacy as ‘birthplace of the nation’s hits’ by Christopher Arnott

The Shubert Theatre in New Haven unveiled a new mural by Eric March that celebrates its history with a montage of artists who performed at the venue before triumphing on Broadway.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:15AM
Saturday, June 14, 2025

Wadsworth museum’s ‘Made in Hartford’ exhibit makes the city look artfully good by Christopher Arnott

The decorative arts exhibit, showing through mid-July at the Wadsworth Atheneum & Museum in Hartford, covers centuries of the city's history and culture.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Legendary artists rock the stage this week in CT arts by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for June 15-21 include rock and blues legends, instrumental ensembles, comedy acts and Broadway cabaret performers.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:30AM
Friday, June 13, 2025

Theater review: TheaterWorks’ ‘Your Name Means Dream’ an electric tale of mortality and loneliness by Christopher Arnott

An android and a woman in need of medical assistance make an odd couple in "Your Name Means Dream" at TheaterWorks Hartford through July 6.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Long Wharf Theatre’s 2025-26 season to feature an August Wilson classic and Pulitzer Prize winner by Christopher Arnott

The Long Wharf Theatre has announced a three-show 2025-26 season of plays by Monet Hurst-Mendoza, Sanaz Toossi and August Wilson.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 05:00AM
Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Yes announces fall tour to honor classic ‘Fragile’ album with first stop set for CT by Christopher Arnott

The latest tour by classic British rockers Yes will be devoted to the band's 1971 album "Fragile," with the first stop scheduled at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:29PM

Theater review: The hills are alive with sound of sick humor in ‘The Baroness’ at Playhouse on Park by Christopher Arnott

“The Baroness” which could more accurately be called “The Baroness and Rolf,” builds up two minor characters from the Rodgers & Hammerstein hit “The Sound of Music” and takes…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:28AM
Monday, June 9, 2025

Some of big Tony winners, from Francis Jue to producer Jeffrey Richards, have CT theater connections by Christopher Arnott

At least eight artists with connections to Connecticut shows, theaters or schools were honored at the 78th annual Tony Awards on Sunday.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:03AM
Sunday, June 8, 2025

A CT theater founder is saying goodbye after 35 years. But she is not leaving the stage. by Christopher Arnott

Semina De Laurentis is leaving her position of artistic director at Seven Angels Theater, a company she founded in the late 1980s, but not before it hosts a celebration in her honor.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Why settle for just one headliner when you can see two or three this summer in CT by Christopher Arnott

There are dozens of exceptional double or triple or quadruple or sextuple bills happening in Connecticut this summer featuring everything from 80s and 90s rockers to musical outlaws.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Saturday, June 7, 2025

This week in CT arts offers more bang for buck with pop legends, talent contests and killer bands by Christopher Arnott

The Courant's arts picks for June 8-14 include Halsey, Steve Earle, Steve Conte, Chris Redd, Ringo Starr, a local talent showcase, a Queen tribute band, a musical about The Temptations and a…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, June 6, 2025

Jane Fonda to receive the 2025 Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award from The Kate in CT by Christopher Arnott

The award is presented annually to an individual who "embodies the spirit, independence and character of the legendary actress" during The Kate's fundraising gala.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:15PM

Spooky Popcorn is back this summer in CT offering free outdoor horror movies by Christopher Arnott

The annual free outdoor horror film series at Constitution Plaza in Hartford begins on July 12 with "The Conjuring" and ends on Aug. 30 with "28 Days Later."

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:36AM

Theater review: Bushnell’s ‘Back to the Future’ musical has self-aware silliness that’s endearing by Christopher Arnott

The musical based on the 1980s movie marvelously mocks the 1950s, the '80s and musicals themselves.

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 09:31AM