THE NEW LEGACY THEATRE IS SERVING UP “JUST DESSERTS”

Move over, Martha Stewart, there’s some musical baking competition knocking at your door. Grab your rolling pins and aprons and watch five eager competitors vie for the title of Best Chef at the Jefferson County Bake-Off until Sunday, June 27 as “Just Desserts” is deliciously served up at the new jewel box, the Legacy Theatre at 128 Thimble Islands Road, in the charming Stony Creek section of Branford. Formerly the historic Puppet House Theater, where Orson Wells trod the boards and giant Sicilian puppets waged war, the Legacy Theatre has been ten years in the making and it is well worth the wait. Now is the time to show your support by attending “Just Desserts” A Musical Bake-Off with music by Brad Ross and book and lyrics by Barbara Campbell, and perfectly creative baking by director Bert Bernardi. It’s county fair time and your genial and jovial master of ceremonies Zack, a suave Jimmy Johansmeyer, has set aside his meteorologist cap to preside over the competition. Will the four year reigning queen Mildred, a determined Mary Ann Frank, continue her reign or will she be replaced by the eager young novice Emma, armed with a business degree as a detail oriented accountant, a focused Alyssa Bianca, who is intent on making it big? Or perhaps it will be the bubbly and effervescent Brandy, an intoxicating Mary Mannix, who will drink in the accolades as head chef? Wouldn’t it be ironic if Jean, who doesn’t really want to be on stage, and would rather be hiding her talents with the bandages and pills she dispenses as school nurse, take home the prize? Susan Kulp’s Jean is sweetly reluctant to admit her fondness for the competition unless it’s to admit her attraction to the dark horse stranger Lou, from the Bronx, a mysterious Perry Liu, who adventurously pitted lemons and olives in his first entry. The five remaining are challenged to bake cookies, pies and a wedding cake and tempt the judges to award them points. Fiercely they battle to win, some stooping to trickery and sabotage to swing the votes their way. With songs like “Improvise,” “Ready or Not” and “Eyes on the Prize,” they juggle difficult family matters, boyfriends and egos as the competition gets fiercer and the winner gets closer to being announced. Plan to root for your favorite as each is willing to risk everything for the coveted title. Now is the perfect time to support the newest theatre on the block as the Legacy Theatre opens its inaugural season. For tickets, call 203-315-1901 or online at info@LegacyTheatreCT.org or www.LegacyTheatreCT.org.. Performances in delightful air-conditioning are Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Plan to have lunch or dinner at one of the seashore eateries or dine at home, but leave room for a hearty serving of “Just Desserts” courtesy of the Legacy Theatre. You’ll be deliciously satisfied and may even ask for a second helping, but maybe not of the lemon and olive cookies (sorry, Lou).