HOT SUMMER NIGHTS IN NORWALK AT MTC

Music Theatre of Connecticut kicked off its summer season of Hot Summer Nights with an evening with Frank Mastrone who delighted the audience with “For the First Time in Forever, We’re Not Home,” a takeoff on the joy of being live in theater and no longer sitting in quarantine alone at home. With a rich, robust and hearty voice, he shared some of his favorite Broadway tunes from shows like “Frozen,” “Matilda,” “Phantom,” “Les Mis,” “Cabaret,” “Baby” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” many of which he performed. Whether he was crooning Bob Dylan or Steven Sondheim or Elton John, Mastrone was ever the showman and brought Broadway back better than ever. Get the candelabra glowing and don some glitter for one of the most gifted pianists is waltzing into town. Hold on to the ivories as David Maiocco’s recreates and pays tribute to Liberace with a cabaret performance you won’t want to miss, The baby grand will sing with authenticity and accuracy and joy as David dons the capes and persona of the great man himself on Saturday, July 10 at 8 p.m. “The Music of Jerome Kern” will sing out gloriously on Saturday, July 31 when Raisssa Katona Bennett takes center stage, opening the American songbook to some of music theater’s favorites. With style and charm, animation and confidence, she will infuse life into the lyrics of Kern’s most beloved offerings, like “Show Boat” and “Very Good Eddie.” Of the seven hundred songs he wrote, perhaps we will hear such classics as “Ol’ Man River,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “All the Things You Are,” “A Fine Romance” and "I’ve Told Every Little Star.” Hot Summer Nights will conclude with a triumphant bang as cabaret crooner Jeff Harnar entertains with “It’s DeLovely: Jeff Harnar Sings Cole Porter” on Saturday, August 7. Hopefully Harnar will hopscotch along many of Porter’s favorites like “Anything Goes,” “Kiss Me, Kate,” and “Can, Can,” pausing to alight on such standards as “Night and Day,” “Begin the Beguine,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “You’re the Top.” For tickets ($40-50), call Music Theatre of CT, 509 Westport Avenue, Norwalk at 203-454-3883 or online at musictheatreofct.com. All safety procedures will be observed. Don’t let your summer season pass by without stopping at MTC for a musical cabaret tuneup that is sure to rev your engines and have you performing in tiptop shape.