CENTER STAGE THEATRE TAKES YOU UNDER THE SEA WITH SPONGEBOB

A unique musical adventure awaits you if you are daring enough to travel under the sea to the fictional town of Bikini Bottom and make the acquaintance of one character known as SpongeBob SquarePants, delightfully created with courage by Harry Rosenay. Do not be dismayed that he resembles a square kitchen sponge as that’s just part of his charm. He lives in a pineapple house, in a coral reef, with nearby best friends Patrick Star,(Jack Schafler), his neighbor Squidward Tentacles (Isaac Motes) and Sandy Cheeks (Taylor Tunstall).

Conceived and directed by Tina Landau, with book by Kyle Jarrow, orchestrations by Tom Kitt, choreography by Christopher Gattelli and songs by a number of composers, “SpongeBob SquarePants The Broadway Musical” will be making its spectacular stop at Shelton’s Center Stage Theatre by theYouth CONNection, with students from ages 14 to 23, until Sunday, August 2 and the whole family is invited.

Originally a highly successful animated series on Nickelodeon, it has now garnered 12 Tony Award nominations. Filled with sponges, squid, starfish, snails and sardines, it quickly plunges the residents of Bikini Bottom into panic mode. A nearby volcano at Mount Humongous will soon erupt and the town will be destroyed.

The evil doers in town, the married couple Sheldon Plankton (Ian Rosenay) and Karen the Computer (Anna Edwards) have a plan to talk the citizens into entering their escape pod, but it’s really a plot to hypnotize the unsuspected to like the chum they serve at their restaurant the Chum Bucket. Their rival restaurant the Krusty Krab would be devastated. A fundraising concert is planned to help the cause.

While being only a sponge, the inventive SpongeBob has a plan of his own to save the town, calling on his friendship with Patrick and Sandy to help. Difficulties ensue and the townspeople are soon conflicted about whom to believe and to follow. Loyalties are tested and disaster seems inevitable. Come discover for yourself if Bikini Bottom is doomed to disappear forever. A giant cast of enthusiastic kids keeps the high energy jumping all the way to the top of the menacing volcano. Kudos to co-director Rob Esposito working with co-director Katie Sedlock who also works overtime as choreographer and costumer.

For tickets ($22-42), call the Center Stage Theatre, 54 Grove Street, Shelton at 203-225-6079- or online at centerstageshelton.org or boxoffice@centerstageshelton.org. Performances are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Can a lowly simple sponge find the courage to save his home and his friends and prove his bravery? Grab a crab, an octopus or a snail and help to save the day, turning the tide from “No Control” to “Hero Is My Middle Name” to “Best Day Ever.”

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE SALUTES AGATHA CHRISTIE

Playing the game of Clue with Professor Plum in the dining room with a candlestick will in no way prepare you for a visit to the Westport Country Playhouse for the hundredth anniversary of Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” Until Saturday, August 1, the story called her masterpiece will be filled with likely murder suspects, each hiding secrets and concealing motives. Since 1926, her crime novel has enjoyed being named in fifth place by the Crime Writers Association in Britain in a list of The Top Crime Novels of All Time, and has also been the first sound film in 1931, a radio play in 1939, an even longer radio play in 1987, a television play in 2000, and a graphic novel in Japan in 2018. Now sit back and thoroughly enjoy Artistic Director Mark Shanahan’s new adaptation of the original where you are challenged to find the killer. Evaluating clues and debating the possibilities is half the fun of the game.

The story’s narrator Dr. James Sheppard, a genial and helpful John Rapson, introduces the first victim, a Mrs. Ferrars, who committed suicide over her guilt at killing her abusive husband a year earlier. She is a rich widow in the English country village of King’s Abbot and engaged to marry Roger Ackroyd, Mark Silence, and this is all according to the milkman who shared all the gossip with Dr. Sheppard’s unmarried sister, a caring Erin Noel Grennan’s Caroline. Also quickly revealed is that someone has had knowledge of her crime and has been blackmailing her.

The good doctor is soon summoned to the mansion of his friend Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy widower and owner of a nearby estate. Roger urgently wants to speak to him, but before he can, Roger is found with an antique dagger in his neck. When the local constable arrive, Allen Gilmore’s Inspector Raglan, a number of suspects have gathered to exclaim over the latest crime. They include Major Blunt, Richard R. Henry, Roger's niece Flora, Shereen Ahmed, Flora’s fiancee Ralph Paton, Joe Delafield, Flora’s mother Gertrude, Karen Ziemba, Roger’s secretary Helen, Nicole Shalhoub, Roger’s maid Ursula, Katy Tang, and, of course, the Butler, Parker, Tom Hewitt. Summoned to help solve the crime is also the famed, newly retired Anthony Cochrane’s Hercule Poirot. There are no end of suspects fully capable of being both blackmailer and murderer, all with assorted motives and numerous secrets they each are in no hurry to reveal.

Splashes of humor lighten the interrogations that ensue, as an inquest is promised, other villagers are questioned as to their whereabouts, and some red herrings are scattered. At intermission, it is a lot of fun to speculate on who the responsible party might be or if there could be a pair of murderers at work. The audience is encouraged to use their “little grey cells” in determining who had opportunity and who had a need for money, a desire for lust, or a seeking for revenge. Mark Shanahan directs this involving drama on a stylishly designed set by Charlie Corcoran.

For tickets ($60-90), call the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport at 203-227-4177 or online at westportplayhouse.org. Performances are Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Come test your detective skills on what Mark Shanahan calls his adaptation, “a labor of love,” one that stays mostly faithful to the original and be sure not to give away the name of the perpetrator when you laud his literary efforts.

MAGICAL MUSICAL "MATILDA" COMES TO NEW CANAAN THANKS TO STONC

The Summer Theatre of New Canaan has a special treat for children of all ages that is filled with music and mystery, magic and meanies, that will keep you on the edge of your seat at the air conditioned New Canaan High School on 11 Farm Road until Sunday, July 26 in New Canaan.

Imagine how Harry Potter must have felt being brought up by family members who were muggles and not understanding or compatible with his magical tendencies. Now think of a clever little girl, known for her creative and brilliant ways, who is being raised by less than intelligent caregivers. Her dad is a car salesman with all the attendant challenges in the honesty department while her mother is an amateur ballroom dancer who wants to be valued for her looks and dancing skills rather than her mind.

Come meet Matilda, a precocious and precious Charlotte Surak and the enterprising star of “Matilda the Musical,” created from a story by Roald Dahl and being brought to prominent life by Tim Minchin, music and lyrics, book by Dennis Kelly, and additional lyrics by Chris Nightingale, three weeks only.

At the age of five, Matilda has her hands full at home dealing with her parents, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood, (Christopher Hudson Myers and Rachel MacIsaac Myers), who are less than encouraging. They feel that their daughter is “batty” and do little to feed her intellect. At school, at Crunchem Hall, Matilda continues to fight the establishment as Agatha Trunchbull (Meghan Louise Taylor) is the headmistress from H-E- Double Hockey Sticks and gives tyrants and bullies a bad name.

Fortunately, Matilda finds allies who appreciate her in her meek but supportive kindergarten teacher, Miss Honey, (Mary McNulty) and Mrs. Phelps, (Keisha T. Fraser) the helpful librarian, who provides reading challenges and loves Matilda’s incredible stories. Here is a little girl who cut her imagination on Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling and is enamored by Will Shakespeare.

To help herself get along, Matilda is not adverse to using a little trickery to get the results she desires, like waking up her parents to their neglect of her needs. She also imagines an elaborate story of two famed acrobatics (Hannah Risner and Miguel-Andres Garcia) who can’t have children and the tragedy they experience. Matilda mischievously puts glue on her father’s hat so it won’t come off, gets blamed for eating a chocolate cake desired by the headmistress even though it was devoured by a fellow student Bruce (Jack Ranieri) and helps all the revolting students like Lavender (Valentina Miller) when a bug appears mysteriously in Miss Trunchbull’s water glass.

Her greatest triumph, however, is her defeat of the headmistress, who dismisses her students as “shriveled losers.” Come see how Matilda puts her properly in her place, because even the nicest child sometimes has to be “a little bit naughty.” Songs like “When I Grow Up,” “Naughty” and “Revolting Children” underscore Matilda’s path to happiness.

For tickets ($29-$94), call Simmer theatre of New Canaan at 203-966-4634 or online at stoncl.org. Performances are Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Allegra Libonati directs this exciting tale with skill and sensitivity.

Take a seat at your school desk with your plaid book bag, make some paper airplanes and spitballs and prepare to learn some important lessons about life, taught by a special child with telekinetic powers and her slightly revolting but enthusiastic friends.

HOLD ON FOR "THE WILD PARTY" AT PLAYHOUSE ON PARK

The Jazz Age is alive and well,if by well you mean atuffed with debauchery and exhaustive energy. It’s out of control, challenging, ablaze with madness and on fire with action. When you hear the words party and orgy, you don’t automatically think the two are synonymous, but tempers can explode and secrets can escape and emotions can be bombshells ready to accidentally ignite the night. West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park is sending out invitations to an event you won’t soon forget. Until Sunday, August 16, you are invited to “The Wild Party” with book, music. and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March and unforgettable is a mild reaction for what you will experience.

The vaudeville performers Queenie, a sleek Mollie Downes, and Burrs,a searching and unsatisfied Trevor Bunce, crave a little excitement in their relationship and decide throwing a party is a wonderful idea to inject excitement into what has become routine and stale. This anything goes event opens the door to more danger then they ever could have anticipated as their Manhattan apartment is filled with provocative people determined to let their inhibitions evaporate and have a wonderful wild time. The glamour of the Jazz Age exudes magical music and offers temptations that are quickly grabbed with naked abandonment. Queenie and Burrs are totally unprepared for what happens but that doesn’t stop them from freely participating in the sexual excitement.

You are invited, with an element of caution, to join in with the free for all party goers, Cory Simmons, Maddi Bowman, Kathleen Cameron, Caleb Barton, Lily Bucko, Elijah Martinez, Gavin Leahy, Julia Solecki, Joseph Rafael Davila, Kenneth Galm, Sophia Cantin and Kate Glennon, as they spiral in sordid and sensual ways, coupling in dozens of decadent pairings. Booze and drugs fuel the encounters as tempers escalate and threaten to raise the roof. All are seeking pleasure and an end to loneliness by whatever means necessary, no matter what the ultimate cost. Sean Harris directs this voyeuristic voyage, with challenging choreography by Darlene Zoller and stark musical direction by Colin Britt.

For tickets ($44-55), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860-523-5900. ext. 10 or online at www.playhouseonpark.org. Performances are Tuesday to Sunday with a talkback after the Sunday, 2 p.m. matinee.

All the guests are seeking change and drama, love and an end to being alone, but will this wild party provide them the answers they crave?

SKIP DOWN THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD WITH DOROTHY AT THE LEGACY THEATRE IN BRANFORD

One of the most beloved classics of musical theater history is lighting up the Legacy Theater in Branford until Sunday, August 9th. The Yellow Brick Road is beckoning you to skip along with Dorothy and Toto as they adventure to the land of Oz to meet the Wizard.

If you’re looking somewhere over the rainbow for blue birds, you know you’re not in Kansas anymore but rather on a unique and special journey to see that wonderful Wizard of Oz. Put Toto in his basket, fasten your ruby slippers, grab the hands of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tinman and prepare to travel to that magical land, in the Emerald City, where the famous and powerful Oz resides.

L. Frank Baum penned the original book in 1900 and in 1939 MGM transformed it into a marvelous motion picture that has been viewed by billions. This mysterious magical show was written by Harlen Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, with background music by Herbert Stothart. Stuffed with Munchkins, good and wicked witches, flying monkeys, a tornado, a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin man with no heart and a Lion with no courage, “The Wizard of Oz” follows the journey of Dorothy and her little dog Toto as they travel to the Emerald City in search of the great and mystical Oz. The magical movie is now celebrating over 80 years as a family classic. Called the “first totally American fantasy for children,” it will be sailing in a hot air balloon into the Legacy Theatre in Branford for a fabulous family experience courtesy of its wonderful cast.

Annika Jonker is precious and precocious as the adventurous Dorothy who puts her darling dog Toto (a debut role for Gus) into a basket and survives a tornado to land in a strange land called Oz. In the midst of the storm, the Wicked Witch is killed by Dorothy’s house and Glinda the Good Witch (Sarah Anne Hughes) awards Dorothy the prized ruby slippers. The Munchkins come to celebrate and before you can sing “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” three times, Dorothy and Toto are skipping down the Yellow Brick Road to Oz, and meeting Charles Romano's Scarecrow who desperately wants a brain, Garrett Van Allen’s Tinman who is aching for a heart and Jimmy Donohue’s Lion who is petitioning bravely for courage. Also complicating their mission is Olivia Fenton in Kansas as the meanie Miss Gultch and the even meaner spirited Wicked Witch who can do without both Dorothy and her pup.

Their journey is fraught with dangers, obstacles in their path like poppies, snowmen, Witch’s Winkies and Jitterbugs. Helping the little girl who only wants to get home to Kansas are her Uncle Henry (Rick Fountain), Professor Marvel (Rod Brogan), and Glinda the Good Witch who is always on Dorothy’s side.

Other active cast members are Lucas Dylan, Sophia Coppola, Nicholas Futris, Fletcher Hooten, Sophia Nardone, Madeline Olexy, Jenna L, Ptachcinski, and Ron St. John III who sing and dance with joy. Kudos go to Eric Santagata for his choreography as well as Hannah Ryan who bravely served as director, Jimmy Johansmeyer for his colorful costuming, Ryan Howell for his versatile set, and David Marottollo for sparkling music direction.

For tickets ($41.50-66.50), call Legacy Theatre, Stony Creek, Branford at 203-315-1901 or online at LegacyTheatreCT.org . Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.,. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Treat the children or grandchildren and yourself to one of the most enduring, charming and a little scary musicals of all time adapted by The Royal Shakespeare Company for your total enjoyment.

TIMELY PATRIOTIC MUSICAL "1776" SALUTES AMERICA AT IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE

Were it not for the patriotic fervor of John Adams, would we be a free and independent country today? To determine the answer to that historical question, seek the good counsel and wisdom found in Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards’ stirring musical “1776” being performed splendidly by the Ivoryton Playhouse until Sunday, July 26. Start waving your red, white and blue flags as you enter.

In the hot summer of that year in Philadelphia, representatives of each of the thirteen colonies are meeting at the Second Continental Congress to decide the fate of a fledgling nation. Should it surrender to the dictates of King George of England, the greatest protector on earth, or should it break free and declare its independence, even if that means war?

Heading the opposition, those who want to stay under England’s protective wing, is Pennsylvania’s John Dickinson, played with arrogant opinionated flair by Josh Powell. How to convince this handful of leaders to pit a tiny nation of two million against a mighty power five times its size is accomplished with the penning of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Women in the guise of Adam's wife Abigail (Kelly McCormick) and Jefferson's spouse Martha (Emelie Latzer) add their good counsel to their husband’s cause.

Kenn McLaughlin directs this stirring and spirited footprint in our nation’s past with passion, on Scarlet Jacobs' sturdy congressional set, with a parade of colorful period costumes by Heidi Hanson and choreography by Robert Mintz. The music directed by Amy Jones adds a rainbow of sparks to the story, making for an evening of dramatic fever and comedic tension, all beautifully balanced and executed. Songs like “For God’s Sake, John, Sit Down,” “The Lees of Old Virginia,” “Cool, Cool Considerate Men,” and “ Molasses to Rum,” keep the spirit moving forward. Kudos to the entire cast that also includes John C. Baker, Michael Barra, Tommy Betz, Cory Candelet, Michael Cartwright, Ben Clouse, Sawyer Coffin, Christopher Conte, Galen Donovan, Joshua Steele Kelly, Kenneth Linsley, Kenneth Robert Marlo, Dino Nicandros, William Pazdziora, Elio Perez, Jason Pintar, Alex Stone, RebeccaTobin, Allan Zeller, Adelina Peretti and Nathan Szymanski.

For tickets ($65, seniors $60, students $25, with discount tickets available Thursday night if unsold) call the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton at (860) 767-7318 or online at info@ivorytonplayhouse.org. Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m., Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. , with matinees Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Many performances are already sold out.

Convince the “cream of the colonies” to vote yea to a rebellion to become the first to break free from a parent in the history of the world. March back in history with these patriotic souls who risked everything to write the Declaration of Independence to inform the world that England was our enemy that needed to be defeated. Controversial issues like slavery that the South wanted to preserve almost defeated the resolution. Luckily saner heads prevailed and democracy was preserved.

HAPPILY TAP YOUR WAY TO "CRAZY FOR YOU" AT GOODSPEED

If some of your idols are legendary tap dancing stars like Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and Sammy Davis Jr., have I got a spectacular show for you. Versatile foot steppers like Gene Kelly and Ginger Rogers were sensational on the dance floor during Hollywood’s GoldenAge and the joy they brought to the stage is enjoying a glorious rebirth at Goodspeed Musicals with its current highly energetic and exciting “Crazy For You” already extended until August 16 for ten more dazzling days.

Stuffed with the super duper songs penned by George and Ira Gershwin with a new book adapted by Ken Ludwig, “Crazy for You” moves from Broadway and the Big Apple way out west to Deadrock, Nevada. A dance happy banker Bobby Child is desperately eager to leave his monetary job in New York City and the job his mother (Michele Ragusa) and his fiancee (Hailey Thomas) want him to embrace. Bobby tries to impress the impresario of show business Bela Zangler (Edward Juvier) of his talents to no avail and soon finds himself on a mother-driven mission to the Gaiety Theater in Nevada to close its doors forever.

When the star struck Bobby, a facile footed Will Burton, sets eyes on Polly Baker, the lovely and spunky Brittany Zeinstra, whose father Jeremy Davis is the theater’s owner Everett Baker, he has two new goals: to save the Gaiety and win the girl. The obstinate saloon owner Lank (David Andrew Morton) and Bela Zangler himself have other ideas for the fate of the town and it takes a lot of wild and wonderful foot power and sensational songs like “Shall We Dance?,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Slap That Bass,” “Embraceable You,“ “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “Nice Work If You Can Get it,” and “Bidin’ My Time,” plus more.

Helping solve everybody’s problems are a pair of tourists from England Eugene and Patricia Fodor (Colin Bradbury and Michele Ragusa) and a New York showgirl Tess (Taylor Lane) who knows how to manipulate Bela to her way of thinking. A really cute number occurs when Bobby and Bela mirror each other as if two Bela Zanglers are definitely better than one. Michael Fling directs this charming romp in the 1930’s old west with fervor and style, on a clever set designed by Ann Beyersdorfer, colorful costuming by Joseph Shrope, sparkling music by Adam Souza and patriotic fireworks choreographed by Kelli Barclay.

For tickets ($47-123), call the Goodspeed, 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 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.and 6:30 p.m. This 1992 Tony Award winning musical comedy has been extended until Sunday, August 16.

Showgirls in sequins and spangles take on cowpokes and their pistols and down home practicality as a stage starved banker risks everything to save an abandoned theater and win the glamorous girl of his dreams at the same time.