All stories by Christopher Arnott on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 13, 2018

Goodspeed Extends Run Of 'Cyrano,' Starring Peter Dinklage by Christopher Arnott

Eight extra performances have been added to the run of the new musical “Cyrano” at Godspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre in Chester. The show, which opens Aug. 3 and was originally s…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:50AM
Thursday, July 12, 2018

'Hand To God': Hanging Out With An Unhinged, Satanical Hand Puppet At Theaterworks by Christopher Arnott

‘Hand to God” is a harrowing, hilarious, hand-wringing comedy with tragic elements about a young man whose life is changed — and endangered — by an unhinged, demonically possessed ha…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:55AM

'Lion King' Making Summer Stop At The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

‘The Lion King” still rules. The circle of life brings Julie Taymor’s acclaimed stage version of the 1994 animated Disney feature back to The Bushnell for a two-and-a-half-week engagem…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:25AM
Monday, July 9, 2018

Waterbury Palace Motivational Series Highlights Life's Second Acts by Christopher Arnott

Theaters know something about second acts. The Palace Theater in Waterbury is giving the stage to Connecticut residents who have created second acts in their own lives. The inaugural Second …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 04:05PM

Comedy Round-Up: Jeff Dunham. Tammy Pescatelli, Kate Quigley. Leonard Ouzts by Christopher Arnott

Folks used to mock ventriloquists mercilessly as outdated, unfunny relics of comedy as it was a century ago. Then came Jeff Dunham. He’s made the ancient art of voice-throwing contemporary…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:35PM

Outdoor Shakespeare This Summer: 'Pericles,' 'Love's Labour's Lost,' 'Hamlet' And... by Christopher Arnott

Yes, Shakespeare has lurked in more than a few castles and dungeons. But most of the bard’s plays celebrate the outdoors — and in the summertime, that’s where you’re most likely to f…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Tuesday, July 3, 2018

'Jesus Christ Superstar' Resurrected At CT Rep by Christopher Arnott

From demon barber to son of God. Fresh from his triumph in the title role of “Sweeney Todd” for Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Nutmeg Summer Series, Terrence Mann now disappears backs…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:00AM

Comedy: Emma Willmann At Mohegan; Juston McKinney At Funny Bone by Christopher Arnott

New England natives dominate the comedy clubs this week. Emma Willmann, who’s from Maine, has become a New York fixture, performing at clubs throughout the city and making her late-night T…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:50AM
Monday, July 2, 2018

New Kids Company Populates 'Oliver!' At Goodspeed by Christopher Arnott

The Kids Company at Goodspeed Musicals may be new, but the youngsters already — as a particular set of lyrics from “Oliver!” goes — “consider themselves one of the family.” The n…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 03:35PM
Wednesday, June 27, 2018

'Pianist of Willesden Lane' Gives Encore At Hartford Stage by Christopher Arnott

In Connecticut, Mona Golabek has become a familiar face thanks to her one-woman show “The Pianist of Willesden Lane.” But that face really belongs to her mother. Golabek dons a red wig t…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:25PM
Tuesday, June 26, 2018

'Grease' Slips Into Ivoryton Playhouse by Christopher Arnott

The Ivoryton Playhouse, in a bucolic village of Essex, has cornered the market on musicalized urban teen angst. In recent summers, the theater has staged “Rent,” “West Side Story” an…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

Comedy Roundup: Seinfeld, In Living Colour Stars' Reunion Tour Coming To Casinos by Christopher Arnott

Stars of two groundbreaking TV comedy shows are in Connecticut this week — on the same night, at competing casino theaters. It’s been 20 years since the “Seinfeld” sitcom ended its n…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, June 25, 2018

Terrence Mann Kills It As 'Sweeney Todd' At CT Rep by Christopher Arnott

Within a few notes of the orchestra starting up, and a deep-voiced chorus member exhorting me to “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd,” I knew I was safe. Which is a funny word to use regard…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:25PM
Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Goodspeed To Stage Dickens' Tale Of Downtrodden 'Oliver Twist' by Christopher Arnott

‘Please sir, I want some more.” That’s the phrase that sets “Oliver Twist” in motion. It proclaims the title character’s innocence, his politeness, his meekness, his forthrightne…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM

G-Thang To Play Funny Bone; Tim Dillion Coming To Comix by Christopher Arnott

Gary “G-Thang Johnson” has an intriguing name, an intriguing film resume (“Moneyball” and “Disaster Movie”), and last year he starred in the TV series “Grown Folks.” He does …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Monday, June 18, 2018

Arts & Ideas 2018 Wraps Up With Peppy 'Sgt. Pepper' by Christopher Arnott

Mark Morris laughs when asked if he enjoys coming to the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven because it’s not so close to the Brooklyn headquarters of his internationally r…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:00AM
Thursday, June 14, 2018

'Band's Visit' Tonys Add To 'A Miracle Weekend' For New Britain's Thomas Perakos by Christopher Arnott

‘You saw me onstage at the Tonys, didn’t you?” Thomas Perakos says gleefully during a phone interview between late-night airplane flights Wednesday. Last weekend was a whirlwind for Pe…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:15AM
Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Week Two Of Arts & Ideas: Kaki King, A Post-Modern 'Merchant Of Venice,' And Amir Elsaffar by Christopher Arnott

Internationally renowned post-modern theater artist Karin Coonrod says she knows “there’s no ghetto in this play. It’s something people rush to tell me, that I know already.” Yet Coo…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 08:05AM
Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Long Wharf Sexual Harassment Report Finds No Internal Wrongdoing by Christopher Arnott

An internal review by New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre of its sexual harassment policies has found no fault with management or the board of directors over alleged misconduct by its former ar…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:35PM

Gloria Estefan Calls 'On Your Feet!' A Timely Message About Immigrants by Christopher Arnott

“My fans,” Gloria Estefan shares during a phone interview, “know me like Emilio knows me. For decades, they’ve been listening to my innermost being.” Apparently, fans think the bio…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:15AM

Rob Ruggiero Picks 10 Favorite Shows From His 25 Years At TheaterWorks by Christopher Arnott

‘I really cut my teeth as a director” at TheaterWorks, says Rob Ruggiero, where in the past quarter-century he’s directed more than 60 shows. Ruggiero — who also directs regularly at…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:40AM
Monday, June 11, 2018

Comedy At The Casinos: From Katt Williams To The 'Bumping Mics' Tour by Christopher Arnott

You can find four famous comedians spread out over three separate shows, in three different performance spaces at two Connecticut casino complexes, on the same hilarious Saturday night — J…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 02:50PM
Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Gilbert Gottfried Bringing His Crazed Comedy To The Kate by Christopher Arnott

He squints his eyes. He knows no boundaries. In other media, he has portrayed a parrot (in Disney’s “Aladdin”) and a duck (in old insurance company ads). He co-hosts his own “Amazing…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:36AM

Terrence Mann Takes On 'Sweeney Todd' As Part Of CT Rep Summer Series by Christopher Arnott

On Broadway, Terrence Mann is best known for being feline, French and furry. He was Rum Tum Tugger in “Cats,” Javert in “Les Miserables” and the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast.” …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 08:05AM
Monday, June 4, 2018

Arts & Ideas Kicks Off First Week With Strong Woman, Rapper Whodini by Christopher Arnott

The 2018 International Festival of Arts & Ideas kicks off in and around downtown New Haven June 9 and continues through June 23. The festival has a pronounced theme this year: immigration. T…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:30PM
Saturday, June 2, 2018

"In the Heights" Hits Playhouse on Park by Christopher Arnott

Until his “Hamilton” changed all the rules of what a hit musical could be, Lin-Manuel Miranda had a notable hit with “In the Heights.” The show ran on Broadway for three years, winni…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 06:00AM
Friday, June 1, 2018

"Invisible Hand" Has Fresh Urgency At TheaterWorks by Christopher Arnott

Some changes in “The Invisible Hand” are very invisible indeed. Following its initial success at Westport Country Playhouse in 2016, Ayad Akhtar’s gripping drama has been remounted at …

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:50AM
Wednesday, May 30, 2018

"Love Never Dies" Brings The Phantom Of The Opera Back To Life At The Bushnell by Christopher Arnott

Grandiose and grotesque, lush and lurid, strange and familiar, “Love Never Dies” lets its phantasmic freak flag fly through Sunday at The Bushnell. The romantic potboiler is Andrew Lloyd…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:35PM
Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Apartheid Drama "A Lesson From Aloes" At Hartford Stage Has Powerful, Relevant Message by Christopher Arnott

“A Lesson From Aloes” gives us one more reason to miss Darko Tresnjak when he leaves his post as artistic director of Hartford Stage at the end of next season. We know that Tresnjak will…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 11:00AM
Friday, May 18, 2018

'Love Never Dies' Revisits Phantom's Story by Christopher Arnott

Love may never die, but voices can change. Actress Karen Mason plays Madame Giry in Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to his greatest hit, "The Phantom of the Opera." In "Phantom," Giry is the he…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 12:20PM

'Chicago' Stops For Three Days At Shubert by Christopher Arnott

“Chicago” is a model of urban redevelopment. The musical, based on a 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins (based in turn on actual sordid events that occurred in Chicago while Watkins was…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 10:45AM

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