CGMC MUSICALLY TRAVELS ACROSS THE POND

The Connecticut Gay Men's Chorus is busy traveling across the pond to celebrate the start of Pride Month with a double treat. On Sunday, May 22 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, the chorus will present “The British Are Coming!,” a delightful tribute to all things English, from Elton to Freddie, Posh to Petula and tons of great tunes in-between. According to the chorus's Artistic Director Greg McMahan, the most influential artists and sounds of pop music from the last five decades will be featured. “These are the songs that generations of LGBT people worldwide have danced to, cried to, and come out to among many other activities that I won’t mention here.” Come travel with these talented guys as they highlight the British invasion by the Beatles in the 1960’s, the glamor and New Wave years of the 1970’s and 1980’s, the sensation of the Spice Girls of the 1990’s, with a finale featuring the newer arrivals of the 2000’s. For tickets ($32), go online to katharinehepburntheater.org. You won’t need to pack a bag or renew your passport for this special journey to England courtesy of your tour director Greg McMahan and his talented friends.

ZELLER AND SQUIRES ENTERTAIN AT BRANFORD'S LEGACY THEATRE

Come meet Allan Zeller and Kimberly Squires of Milford who are ready and anxious to introduce you to a few of their favorite characters , created by playwrights Frederick Stoppel and Susan Cinoman. This talented pair have been acting together for years and have perfected their wonderful acting skills as real life husband and wife. You have the unique opportunity to see them in full costumed regalia at the Legacy Theatre in Stony Creek Branford this weekend tonight through Saturday. This series of one act plays are guaranteed to produce a lot of laughter and maybe a few serious moments as well. An evening of varied vingettes will take you on a wild ride, all the while showcasing this couple’s talents and style. Zeller and Squires will pull out all the stops to entertain and amuse, delight and tantalize. For tickets ($25), call the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road, Branford at 203-315-1901 or online at tix.com or www.LegacyTheatreCT.org. Performances are tonight at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Come let Allan Zeller and Kimberly Squires entertain you as only this special married couple and delightfully diverse acting pair have been doing for decades.

"ZOEY'S PERFECT WEDDING" TAKES A LEFT TURN FOR LAUGHS

If you’re planning a party, a wedding eclipses all other events. It does not for a moment compare to a mere birthday brunch or anniversary barbecue. The expectations for top flight and over the top arrangements are clearly in the mind of the bride, while the groom feels showing up in a tuxedo with the proper colored tie is his primary responsibility. If you’ve dreamed of this day ever since the minute you reached puberty, then you are ready to meet the current lady of the hour who is anticipating “Zoey’s Perfect Wedding” at TheaterWorks Hartford by Matthew Lopez until Sunday, June 5. Anticipating problems and solving them before they reach crisis stage is not even on the horizon Everything should be thoroughly examined and evaluated weeks if not months in advance. Color schemes, flower arrangements, tasting menu and cake sessions completed, listening to band selections for the best playlist, and, of course, the all-important wedding invitations and venue locations have all been scrutinized and dissected. Gowns for bride and bridesmaids and formal attire have been altered and fitted, coiffures have been styled, shoes have been tested at least a half dozen times, dance lessons have been practiced and the honeymoon reserved and paid for. Guest gift favors have been selected and wrapped and the countdown is getting alarmingly close. What could go wrong? Practically everything it seems…but to hilarious results. Come meet Zoey, a hopeful Rachel B, Joyce, who has such high expectations her Jewish family will engage with her new husband’s Southern clan who don’t know a hora from a kreplach (a dance from a dumpling). She has entrusted all the wedding’s thousand intricate details to her novice wedding planner, her cousin Missy, a sincerely trying to please Hallie Eliza Friedman. If money hadn’t been an issue, she would have asked her best friend from college Rachel, an outspoken Blair Lewin, an actual wedding planner, to do the honors. Rachel is busy with her own set of problems, trying to comprehend the sexual practices of her old friend Sam, a free thinking and acting Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, and the estrangement evident with her husband Charlie, a conflicted Daniel Jose Molina (at this performance Stephen Stocking). Meanwhile back at the turntable, DJ, an unconcerned Esteban Carmona, plays only the tunes he likes to hear. Being seated at the worse table becomes palatable when the guests discover it is near a bar no one else knows exists. After a few dozen tequila shots, no one cares any more that “situations” exist, that no food is being served, and that no one has the power to "keep chaos at bay.” You will not be bored and the action moves quickly along as do the many laughs, under the spontaneous direction of Rob Ruggiero. For tickets ($25 and up), call TheaterWorks Hartford, 233 Pearl Street, Hartford at 860- 527-7838 or online at twhartford.org. Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m.. Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on some days and 8 p.m. on all dates and Sunday at either 2:30 p.m. or 7:30 on May 15. Check online for the theater’s vaccination and masking protocol. No need to bring a present as Zoey and Patrick McCallister will be delighted to save you a seat of honor, front and center, at their nuptials.

AMY WINEHOUSE: BACK FROM BLACK AT SEVEN ANGELS

British singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse was an unfortunate member of the 27 Club, joining Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Jean-Michel Basquiat. They were all popular artists, writers, actors, musicians and athletes who died at the age of 27, often as a result of alcohol and drug abuse, including suicides, homicides and car accidents. Their fame came too quickly and ended too soon. A spotlight will be focused on Amy Winehouse, on her life and struggles, her triumphs and successes, from May 5 to 22 at Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury in “Back From Black.” In her too short meteoric career, Amy began writing songs when she was only 15, won five Grammys in one year, wrote autobiographical music from her soul, called her music “intense and emotional,” proclaimed “Hello, world, I’m here,” and wanted her fans to connect directly with her. Her death was termed “death by misadventure.” Her musical genres ranged from soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, Motown, punk and hip-hop. VH1 ranked her at #26 on their list of 100 Greatest Women in Music. She sang at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday party in London and crooned with Tony Bennett on a duets album, singing “Body and Soul,” her father’s favorite tune. Bob Dylan has called her “the last real individualist around.” She loved the 1960’s girl groups, especially the Ronettes whose look she imitated. Lady Gaga credits Amy for paving the way for unconventional women. Her fragile hold on reality may have contributed to her addictions to drugs and alcohol and her eventual tragic death. Her family established a Foundation in her honor to help young people deal with similar problems and emotional issues. To experience Alexa Renee as Amy and learn about her life and career come to Seven Angels Theatre, 1 Plank Road, Hamilton Park, Waterbury to hear her soulful voice and discover the musical legacy she left for the world. The Connecticut premiere show is directed by Sarah Knapp, with musical direction by Steven M. Alper, and a seven piece band. The musical journey also stars Joshua Nacionales and Moses Jacob. For tickets ($50), call Seven Angels at 203-757-4676 or online at SevenAngelsTheatre.org.. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Masks are recommended. Amy Winehouse was an international superstar who crumbled under her success. She was outspoken and unfiltered, answered to her own conscience and was always an original voice, one the world lost too soon.

"CHECKING IN ON CHARLES," CHARLES ISLAND THAT IS!

Are you into history and legend and what might have been? Do tales of buried treasure intrigue you and do you find the possibility of ghosts fascinating? Might a musical about a piece of land only fourteen acres long just off the cost of Milford be too tempting to ignore? Pantochino Productions is happy to satisfy all your mythical cravings with a new comedy “Checking in on Charles” weekends until Sunday, May 15 at the Milford Arts Council. Credit goes to Bert Bernardi for book and lyrics, Justin Rugg for music, Jimmy Johansmeyer for costumes and Von Del Mar for the interesting inn set. Part fact and part fiction, this new musical explores the Island House on Charles Island, circa 1905, where the notorious Captain Kidd and his pirate friends may have buried chests of treasure. Miss Bernice Britchard has just inherited the inn from her father, the Button King, and she is anxious to reopen the lovely facility to guests. Mary Mannix’s Bernice readily admits to being just the trifle bit scared and superstitious about her commanding new position, especially when she learns that curses come along at no extra charge. The previous inn keeper, one Miss Aurelia Biddle (Tracey Marble), is not happy to be demoted to housekeeper and doesn’t mind ratcheting up Bernice level of fear. Into the inn, parade a series of personages, from the handyman Mr. Sprig (Jeremy Ajdukiewicz), the new bell hop (Rick Calvo), a strange Mrs. Purdy (Janet Zamparo), a family of treasure seekers (Jimmy Johansmeyer, Rachelle Ianniello, Ryder Blanchard, Cara Marquis), a pair who want to turn the inn into a new Coney Island (Justin Rugg, Shelley Marsh Poggio), two nuns who are seeking donations (Valerie Solli, Maria Berte) and a new admirer of Bernice (George Spelvin). At this performance Eilee Dingus played the treasure seeker’s wife. With ghosts galore, enough slamming doors to sound like a farce, sand bars that appear and disappear, songs like “A Brand New Day” and “I’m Not Afraid,” you’ll have plenty of fun following the clues on the maps to the treasure. For tickets ($ 30), go online to Pantochino Productions, 40 Railroad Avenue, Milford at pantochino@gmail.com or showclix.com. Remember this is cabaret so bring food and drink to your table. Vaccine is recommended. Masks are not required while you are eating. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Great Give Days are May 4-5 to help support the theater at TheGreatGive.org. You can also contribute to the restoration of Charles Island to help purchase trees. Send checks to Charles Island Restoration LLC c/o Dolores Hannon, 110 Beach Avenue, Milford CT 06460. Be sure you have the real treasure map and follow the clues to help Miss Bernice Britchard find the gift chest her father so kindly left her.

"BEE TRAPPED INSIDE A WINDOW" PROVOKES THOUGHTS AT HARTBEAT ENSEMBLE

Have you ever felt trapped? Maybe, not as frightening as being trapped in an elevator, or a cave, or a burning building? But, nonetheless, trapped in a situation, a lie, a need to find out who you are when all you have are question marks? These intriguing thoughts are raised by playwright Saviana Stanescu in her world premiere play “Bee Trapped Inside the Window” being produced under the direction of Vernice P. Miller at HartBeat Ensemble in Hartford until Sunday, May 8. The play surrounds the lives of a trio of women, the youngest being only twelve, an inquisitive Erin Lockett as Mia, who doesn’t understand her family and her heritage. Apparently her single mom Sasha, a controlling Jennifer Dorr White, was born in Russia and spent time in Africa where her black daughter Mia was conceived, and is now a wealthy and powerful business executive, but Mia is plagued with doubts. Who is her father? Why won’t her mom share any of her heritage with her? Why is it so hard to communicate with her? To add a little more mystery to their situation, they live next door to a family who employs a sweet, hard working domestic May, a dedicated worker Mami Kumari, who spends her days and nights keeping the family well fed, their sinks clean and the pet pooch exercised. Where did May come from? Her origin and story consume the journalistic nature of school girl Mia and engage her curiosity. Mia is now determined to discover the histories of all three, and most of all herself. She even composes stories about her mother’s problem with alcohol and investigates May’s situation, focusing attention on the domestic abuse she suffers from her family who never give her a day off from working nor pay her a penny over her decades of servitude. Like a bee trapped inside a window, these women are seeking a way out. Will salvation and redemption bring them the freedoms and the answers they seek or will they suffer more for having their personal window yanked open? This thought provoking play will make you debate the merits of disturbing the status quo and trying to make the situation better. HartBeat Ensemble’s mission is “To create provocative theater that connects our community beyond traditional barriers of race, gender, class and geography.” For tickets ($25, students and seniors $20), call HartBeat Ensemble, at Carriage House Theater, 360 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, at 860-548-9144 or online at hartbeatensemble.org. Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Proof of vaccination and marks are required. A special dialogue will take place on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. to noon. Visit hartbeatensemble.org to register. Come join Mia, Sasha and May as they struggle to gain their identities and discover their rightful place in our society.

"I DO! I DO!" EXPLORES LOVE AND MARRIAGE WITH MUSIC

Did you know that Nevada has the highest divorce rates in the country and Iowa the lowest? Do you realize every 36 seconds a divorce occurs somewhere in the United States and that we have the third highest rate of divorce in the world? While these statistics are discouraging, there is some hope. Conversation, compromise and commitment as well as love, luck and laughter can play a part. Also Branford’s Legacy Theatre has a splendid and fun two hour course in how to survive the roller coaster ride that is marriage in “I Do! I Do!” A Musical About Marriage, with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, playing romantically until Saturday, May 14. Michael and Agnes, the anxious groom and bride, exchange their vows and then face their first night as husband and wife together. Discovering a pillow embroidered with “God is Love” left by Agnes’s mother on their new four poster bed pleases her but not so much her new spouse. They sing “Together Forever,” ready to share the sorrows and happiness of their new life, as long as they both shall live. Is their marriage a paradise? As Michael proclaims “I Love My Wife,” they are off to a great start. He writes romantic novels to support the family as they both adjust to new family members Michael Jr. and Elizabeth. When they sing “My Cup Runneth Over With Love,” the merry bloom is still fresh on the rose. When Agnes shops to excess and calls Michael’s books dull, they are clearly changing and the tune “Nobody’s Perfect” says it all. He is now a man of some importance and women express their admiration much to Agnes’s dismay. She retaliates to this threat with an adorable routine as “Flaming Agnes.” Will their marriage survive a whiff of adultery? Is their love strong enough to weather the snows of yesterday? Do they still love and need each other? Al Bundonis’ Michael and Stephanie Stiefel Williams’ Agnes are wonderful as they handle all the curve balls that life flings their way, under the clever direction of Kevin Michael Reed and sweet choreography of Jen Buonfiglio and Company. For tickets ($35-60), call the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road, Stony Creek, Branford at 203-315-1901 or online at www.LegacyTheatreCT.org. Performances are 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. and 7 p.m. Masks are required for anyone not vaccinated. On Mother’s Day enjoy a concert by Broadway’s Ali Ewoldt, a series of one act plays May 19-21 by Kimberly Squires and Allan Zeller and two weekends of Bobby Darin tunes by Chaz Esposito May 20-28 as well as plays for children about Dragons and Tacos. The film That Funny Feeling will air on May 22, starring Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin and Donald O’Connor. So much to see and enjoy. Get ready to catch the bouquet or a congratulations new baby cigar as Michael and Agnes promise to love and cherish each other for at least five decades or until death do them part.