Friday, June 1, 2012

JACQUES LAMARRE TIMES THREE



If you’re in Hartford the weekend of June 2, you have to work hard to miss playwright Jacques Lamarre’s three openings.  He modestly refers to them as “Jacques-a-Palooza.”

The Unitarian Society of Hartford as part of its Performing Arts Series will present the Herstory Theater Reading of his drama “PIERCE,” at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 2 at 50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford.  This historical play deals with the tragic life of Jane Means Appleton Pierce, the religious and reclusive wife of Franklin Pierce who was elected President at the brink of the Civil War.

Born in Lamarre’s hometown of Amherst, New Hampshire, the Pierces have been extensively researched through letters and archives.  Will Jane be able to handle the rigors and responsibilities of being First Lady, a title she desperately does not want to assume?

For tickets ($15, or $30 for VIP seating), call 860-233-9897, online at www.ushartford.com or at the door.  The reading will be followed by a Talk Back with the playwright and Herstory Theater cast members.

The busy Mr. Lamarre will then head off to the Gay and Lesbian Film Fest at Cinestudio, 300 Summit Street, on the campus of Trinity College, in Hartford at 10:30 p.m., Saturday, June 2 for the screening of “Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads,” a film he co-wrote for drag queen performer Varla Jean Merman.  The festival runs from June 1 to June 9.  For information and tickets ($10, students and seniors $7), call the theater at 860-297-2463 or the festival at 860-586-1136, or online at http://outfilmct.org/.

As if that isn’t enough, Lamarre’s new play “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti,” a comedy he  adapted from the memoir by Giulia Melucci, will premiere this weekend at TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl Street, Hartford and run through Sunday, July 8.  A delicious diva in the kitchen, Giulia hasn’t mastered the correct ingredients for true love.  Share her tantalizing and tasty pasta, as she cooks up cures for a broken heart. 

For tickets ($50-63 or special kitchen seating at $76 that includes a front row table with wine and food), call the theater at 860-527-7838 or online at www.theaterworkshartford.org.  Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.

Come cheer for Jacques Lamarre at any one of his trio of exciting events or join his fan club and attend all three.

No comments:

Post a Comment