SUMMER CONCERTS GALORE AT SEVEN ANGELS THEATRE IN WATERBURY

Get your calendars out and start writing in the special dates that Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury is serving up on a silver platter for your summer spectacular entertainment. The magic disco ball starts twirling this Friday, August 1 at 8 p.m. when “Little Lies" takes center stage: an eight-piece tribute band celebrating that great British band Fleetwood Mac. Tunes like “Over My Head,” “Little Lies,” “Rhiannon,” “Go Your Own Way,” " The Chain,” and “Don’t Stop” will surely top the charts of this brilliant cover band from Boston, hitting all the high notes. Claim your $35 tickets today.

With a little nostalgia musically The Jam Factory is ready and excited to celebrate the seventies with rock and rhythm, blues and soul, funk and metal and more, with their super seven-piece tribute band. They are ready to party with a parade of priceless hits. All you have to do is show up! The party begins Friday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Bluegrass more your stye and mojo, then Seven Angels has set aside Sunday, August 17 at 2 p.m. for a hearty dose of Billy Boucher’s Bluegrass Band, a harmonic mix of music and comedy in the image of the Grand Ole Opry. With banjos, washboards and kazoos aplenty, get ready for some fine storytelling, foot-stomping and plain old-fashioned fun. Tickets are $28.

Aching to relive the Woodstock Experience, whether you were there in 1969 or not, then get ready for a reminiscing dose of Back to the Garden on Saturday, August 23 at 8 p.m. They will recreate the atmosphere, the costumes, the characters and the magical mood that was the 1960’s in all its flamboyant flavor. Come relish in the tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Janis Joplin, and so many more! Tickets are $48.

Finish out the summer months with a visit to the Caribbean Islands as PanNeubean Steel brings Jamaica to Waterbury on Saturday, August 30 at 8 p.m. The soft sounds of soca, reggae, calypso, soul, fusion, contemporary and classic music will serenade you, led by musician and artist Jeffrey Clayton who injects his passion for the Caribbean into every tropical note. Tickets are $33.

Seven Angels is proud to proclaim its first Gospel Music Concert ever on Sunday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. featuring Waterbury native and saxophonist extraordinaire Quinn Mitchell and Friends. Raise a Praise Gospel Concert is sure to raise the rafters with heavenly music. Hallelujah, brothers and sisters! Tickets are $28.

For a change of pace, delight in a visit with those versatile Edward’s Twins who make the stars of Hollywood shine in front of your disbelieving eyes. On Saturday, September 13 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 14 at 2 p.m.,these two Seven Angels favorites will impersonate, down to the last eye lash, all your favorites, from Bette to Barbra to Billy Joel, Neil Diamond to Celine Dion, and so many more. Tickets are $58.

For tickets, call Seven Angels Theatre,1 Plank Road, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at boxoffice@sevenangelstheatre.org. Keep your summer jumping with joy thanks to Seven Angels Theatre’s robust musical offerings.

SPIRITED AND SPIRITUAL "SISTER ACT" AT CENTER STAGE IN SHELTON

If you're unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the definitely worst time and witness a murder, there may not be a good spot to hide. Just ask that wannabe cabaret lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier, spunky in the hands of Milki Ejara, who finds herself in just that dill pickle and predicament. Now her boyfriend Curtis and his gang , Nolan Young, with Harry Rosenay, Marquis Evans and Jose (JR) Resto, is after her and the best place for the police to hide her is just what William Shakespeare might have suggested. Deloris is told to "get thee to a nunnery.”

Until Sunday, July 27, the Youth CONNection of Center Stage in Shelton will be chasing Deloris as she seeks a safe place to hide. The good sisters will have the rosary beads ready for their newest novitiate as "Sister Act" comes to town. Just what Mother Superior (Mia Bekech) thinks of her latest charge is immediately evident. She's suspicious and deeply unhappy about her new uninvited guest. Thankfully Deloris’s old childhood friend Eddie (Larry Williams) is now a policeman and can help her transition to safety.

At the Queen of Angels Church, Deloris has become Sister Mary Clarence and reluctantly gives up her vices like smoking, drinking, dancing and suggestive clothing. With the help of perky and peppy Sister Mary Patrick (Isabella Mercado), Sister Mary Robert (Kate McPadden) and Sister Mary Lazarus (Grace Kennedy), Deloris gets indoctrinated into her new life and uses her previous life as a disco singer to inject the order's anemic sounding choir with new vigor and vitality. Boy, can she make those vocal cords turn heavenly.

This lively musical written by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and music by Alan Menken is based on the hit 1992 film comedy of the same name. Of course, eventually the gang traces Deloris down and invades her solemn hiding place. Glorious songs like "Take Me to Heaven," "Spread the Love Around" and "Raise Your Voice" send melodies straight to Cloud 9.

For tickets ($20-39), call Center Stage, 54 Grove Street, Shelton at 203-225-6079 or online at centerstageshelton.org. Performances are Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Kudos to co-director Rob Esposito, co-director and choreographer Katie Wedlock and music director John Morrow for jobs well done. Center Stage theatre features budding actors 12-23 in this their 20th anniversary. Next up is Little Women September 19-28.

Let Deloris and the Good Sisters entertain you with their angelic voices as chaos invades the religious order and friendship and justice are at stake. Hear the rafters ring with joy.

SUNNY SKIES ABOUND AT PLAYHOUSE ON PARK'S DELIGHTFUL "SINGIN' IN THE RAIN"

Snap on your yellow plastic slicker, don your shiny red rain boots, pop on a cute rain bonnet and inflate your sunny umbrella for West Hartford's Playhouse on Park’s truly delightful rain sparkled production of "Singin' in the Rain" until Sunday, August 17.This smash 1952 movie originally starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor was first brought to the stage in 1985 and continues to be a saccharine sweet crowd pleaser. Credits go to Betty Comden and Adolph Green for the screenplay and to Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed for the music.

The time is 1927 and Monumental Pictures has just released another silent movie hit, “The Royal Rascal,” starring that classic romantic couple Don Lockwood, a dashing Daniel Plimpton, and Lina Lamont, a lovely looking Carolyn Burke. But the old-fashioned heyday of silent films is suddenly taking a back seat to the new kid on the block, the talkies. Can Monumental and its two favorites make the transition? Only if Lina Lamont never opens her uncultured and raspy mouth. But who is going to tell her she sounds like a mad cat in heat, on her good days?

Enter the savior of the day in the personage of peppy and pretty, perky and polished Kathy Selden, a darling Lindsay Gloriana Bohon who has a voice song birds would envy. Don Lockwood’s good friend Cosmo, an ever clowning Robert Mintz has a solution lovely Lina never suspects: using Kathy’s voice to dub in all the words and melodies.

The choreography is non stop super, both wet and dry, thanks to the talents of Robert Mintz and the clever footwork of Mintz and Plimpton, The romantic songs like “All I Do Is Dream of You,” and “You Are My Lucky Star” are balanced by cheery ones like “Good Morning” and the silly ones like “Moses Supposes” and “Make ‘Em Laugh,” with the help of music director Melanie Guerin. Evan Hoffmann directs this puddle jumping joy without getting his own feet wet.

For tickets ($45-55), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860-523-5900, ext. 10 or online at www.playhouseonpark.org. Performances are Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.,Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.,and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Discounted morning performances are $25.00 on Thursday July 31st at 10:30 a.m. and Friday, August 8th at 10:30 a.m.

It’s umbrellas and thumbs way up for “Singin’ in the Rain.” Lucky stars shine in the sky in West Hartford and we’re not “Supposing" anything!

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE CELEBRATES MUSICAL THEATER CONCERT IN STYLE

Musical director Drew Wutke who, with Westport Country Playhouse Artistic Director Mark Shanahan, conceived an incredible concert "Broadway Scores at the Playhouse From Broadway to Hollywood,” arriving July 24 to 26, is most happy to discuss this novel project celebrating musical theater. He is responsible for the original arrangements. Wutke thinks of himself as a “tour guide” who hides “Easter eggs” that illuminate his love of musical theater. Whether it is a show that goes from Broadway to Hollywood’s silver screen, or vise versa, Wutke loves sharing the songs and stories that are most meaningful. He feels Westport Country Playhouse is the perfect venue for these magical musical moments, to pay homage to their history, to “conjure up our memories of the first time we saw the film (or play).”

Look for some classic tunes by Tevye the milkman wishing “If I Were a Rich Man, “ or a Gene Wilder Willy Wonka singing about the joys of a “Pure Imagination” or when a Baltimore teen in 1962 Tracy Turnblad belts out “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” or a delightful medley of tunes from “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Wiz,” and “Wicked” that close the show in spectacular emerald-green splendor.

The cast of six features incredible West End and Broadway stars Leanne Robinson, Kristen Hahn, Aaron Arnell Harrington, Barnaby Reiter, Kat Rodriguez and Sean Steele. They will vividly bring to life surely some of your favorite tunes from such stellar musicals and films like “The King and I,” “Chicago, “The Color Purple,” “Singin’ in the Rain, “ "West Side Story,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “In the Heights” and “My Fair Lady” and so many more. According to Leanne Robinson, “We sound incredible and extraordinary. All ages who love musical theater are in for a special treat.” If you came to Westport’s concert last summer “They Made It a Musical,” you are primed and ready for another installment. Westport Country Playhouse is on a mission for four shows Thursday, July 24 at 8 p.m., Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m and Saturday, July 26 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.,under the skilled hand of John-Andrew Morrison for direction.

For tickets ($45 to $65), call Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport at 203-227-4177 or online at westportplayhouse.org.The restaurant Don Mem is offering complimentary salsa and chips or guacamole and chips with purchase of dinner for two. Make reservations at 203-557-6198 with your ticket stub.

Forget the muggy heat and slip into a cool air conditioned seat at Westport Country Playhouse and be transported to a land where musical theater reigns supreme, where you might want to sing along, hear tales you never knew before and just enjoy timeless scores that are eternal. Be prepared for a bountiful booster shot of Broadway beauties to tease your memories, awaken your heart strings and learn all over again how “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly."

DISNEY'S "THE LITTLE MERMAID" COURTESY OF SUMMER THEATRE OF NEW CANAAN IS ENCHANTING AND ENCHANTED

Prepare to dive into a shimmering sea to splash and swim with the adorable and delightful maiden of the deep Ariel, brought to life in all her quintessential cuteness by Laura Renee Mehl. Summer Theatre of New Canaan has assembled a delicious tale, that dates back to 1837 and a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, that will surely please the entire family, from little ones all the way to grandma and grandpa, until Sunday, July 27 at the air conditioned New Canaan High School, 11 Farm Road, New Canaan in all its musical and magical splendor.

Jump into the deep end of the ocean with Ariel as she bravely rescues the dazzling Prince Eric, a handsome and slightly confused Aiden Cole who must soon select a bride, with the help of his aide Grimsby (Jason Guy). yet doesn’t know how to decide. For her part, Ariel takes one look at his glorious face and kind eyes and sees hearts and orange blossoms. How can a mermaid with a tail of a fish for legs find happiness living on land, abandoning her watery home under the sea?

In this tale with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright, anything is possible. To prove it, Ariel cleverly trades her beautiful siren-like singing voice for a pair of sturdy human legs to win the prince’s heart. She makes a deal with a conniving sea urchin Ursula (Keisha T. Fraser). For a long time, Ariel has been unhappy with her life as the youngest of her six older sisters, living under the sea in Atlantica, and has been fascinated by the life she cannot have as a human, She even collects treasures of the world she craves to join.

Ursula seeks revenge against Ariel’s father the commanding King Triton, her brother, in the leadership role of Joseph Torello. With her minions Flotsam (Gary Mortier) and Jetsam (Logan Mortier) she watches Ariel’s every move hoping to get Triton’s crown and trident for herself. With Ariel's trusty sidekicks at her back, she lets Sebastian (Jason Williams), Flounder (Carlos V. Escamilla and Miles Langrick), Scuttle (Mike Katz) and Chef Louis (Christopher Isolano) help her win the day. Stellar direction is provided by Arbender J. Robinson, with choreography by Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd and tap choreography by Doug Shankman as well as stunning costumes supervised and designed by Lauren Nicole Sherwood.

For tickets ($33-93, with senior and children’s tickets), call Summer Theatre of New Canaan at 203-966-4634 or online at STONC.org or boxoffice@stonc.org. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Come see flying seagulls and a beloved romantic story courtesy of Summer Theatre of New Canaan to clearly be the highlight of your summer family fun.

GET "ALL SHOOK UP" AT GOODSPEED MUSICALS UNTIL AUGUST 24

If you are into pulsating pelvises and sizzling swivelling hips, Goodspeed Musicals has quite the show for you. Elvis is definitely in the building and by building I mean the wedding cake building on the Connecticut River in East Haddam. If not Elvis himself, then his essence and spirit and his music so plan to rock 'n roll over to the Goodspeed sometime before Sunday, August 24. The play is "All Shook Up", with book by Joe DiPietro and the songs of Elvis Presley. When a black leather jacketed stranger rides into town on a motorcycle in 1955 that is exactly what he does: he shakes up that little Midwestern town from its foundations. The town is repressed and has been under the iron rule of the mayor. Think “Footloose" collides with Will Shakespeare.

Natalie, a sweet tomboy mechanic portrayed by Kerstin Anderson who works in her dad's garage, claims that she can fix anything that has wheels and when this stranger comes to town, Chad, she finds herself falling head over heels in love. Chad, a charismatic Ryan Mac, however, looks at her and only sees a scruffy faced grease monkey. With crinolines and bobby sox, the town is ready to accept everything that Chad advocates. He is a roustabout, a drifter and a rover. His goal is to travel from town to town and to fix them, clearly evident by the fact that he's wearing blue suede shoes. He gets the town on its feet and ready to dance and magically fixes the jukebox that has been broken since forever.

Matilda, the mayor, a mean spirited Amy Hillner Larsen, is the moral compass of the town and she is angry when this rock 'n roll rebel interferes with her plans. She soon sees her own son Dean, an obedient Jackson Reagin, suddenly change his ways and take up with Lorraine, a fun loving Jackera Davis, a girl Mayor Matilda finds unacceptable because she's an African-American. The mayor subscribes to the Mamie Eisenhower Decency Act and everything that Chad represents violates that. Elvis's music like "It's Now or Never," " Burning Love" and " I Can't Help Falling in Love with You”and twenty others punctuate the new feelings that Chad is advocating. True to Shakespeare's spirit, Natalie is in love with Chad, her friend Dennis (Jordan Matthew Brown) has secret feelings for her, Chad is in love with the museum director Miss Sandra (Jessica Crouch), Natalie's dad (Benjamin Howes) thinks he's in love with Sandra too, and Lorraine's mom (L Morgan Lee/Montria Walter at this performance) fancies herself falling for Natalie's dad. When Natalie finds she can't get anywhere with Chad, she disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Ed and does a typical Shakespeare ploy trying to inveigle her way into Chad's heart.

The mayor makes her feelings known when she sings "Devil in Disguise" about Chad and soon all the romantic complications are tangled together. Everyone is willing to risk everything for love but you don't have to worry. By the end, wedding bells are ringing over and over and over again and even Sheriff Earl (Kilty Reidy) finds his gumption to put Matilda in her place, firmly in his arms. Daniel Goldstein does dedicated duty as director while Byron Easley scores mucho points as choreographer, keeping the joint jumping. For tickets ($30-$90), call the Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main Street, East Haddam at 860-873-8668 or online at goodspeed.org. Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Get your dancing shoes on and plan to visit Elvis's clone Chad and the super talented gang as they put energy and spirit and heart into this wonderful musical "All Shook Up."

SEVEN ANGELS HAS AN EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHEDELIC CONCERT "RETRO PINK FLOYD"

A landmark occasion occurred in London in 1965 when one of the first British psychedelic groups hit the stage and changed the music world forever. Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright who began together in college while studying architecture were joined by Syd Barrett two years later, also a student studying the arts and a childhood friend of Roger Waters. Declining mental health caused Barrett to leave the group a short time later after David Gilmour was added.

With Mason on drums, Waters on bass, guitar and vocals, Wright on keyboards and vocals, Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, and Gilmour on guitar and vocals, the group produced Pink Floyd’s most successful studio albums, in 1973 The Dark Side of the Moon, in 1975 Wish You Were Here, in 1977 Animals, and in 1979 The Wall.

By 2013 Pink Floyd was one of the best selling music artists of all times selling more than 250 million records across the world. Tragically personal tensions among the band members took a huge toll on the band’s success. Despite their difficulties getting along, in 1996 they were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2005 the UK Music Hall of Fame. Three years later “their monumental contribution over the decades and the fusion of art and music is in the development of popular culture” led them to be awarded the Polar Music Prize.

The name Pink Floyd came from Syd Barrett, derived from two blues musicians he had in his record collection Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. To capture the experience of Pink Floyd, head to Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury on Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m. for a revisit to “the greatest range of all rock music” with Retro Pink Floyd’s performance featuring disco, rock, country and western, pop and psychedelic and a hearty dose of experimental explosion. This non stop show features Mike McLaughlin on guitar, Vox, Aaron Porchelli on guitar, Vox, Amy Porchelli vocals, Mark Downie on keyboards, vocal, FX, Scott Cole bass, vocal, and Steve Kida on drums, percussion, vocal with guest vocalists Amanda Rowe, Karen Shaw ;and Sam Sawyer. The band is called “Vocal Floyd” as the only band where every member sings at least one vocal (or many) and are called another level of a Pink Floyd tribute by fans.

For tickets ($30), call the Seven Angels Theatre 1 Plank Road, Hamilton Park, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at boxoffice@sevenangelstheatre.org. Watch for the headliners coming to Seven Angels all summer long!

In 2004, Pink Floyd was ranked #8 on MSNBC’s list of The 10 Best Rock Bands Ever,” while Rolling Stones ranked them at #51 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” Don’t miss your grand opportunity to hear Retro Pink Floyd perform the best of their best.