"CHICAGO" WILL RAZZLE DAZZLE YOU AT THE PALACE IN WATERBURY THIS WEEKEND

Musicals can be written about any topic under the sun, from sinking ships like the Titanic, to villains who try and often succeed in killing a president to mad barbers who make meat pies out of their clientele. So is it any wonder that there is a musical that touts the prowess of women who eliminate their husbands and boyfriends in grisly ways, and brag about their deeds. Seeking fame, fortune and the spotlight are tricky endeavors, especially if your claim to notoriety is murder. Come meet Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart who are competing for the same front-page headlines. With a lot of “razzle-dazzle,” these two femme fatales will sing and dance their way into your heart, just be sure there’s no pistol tucked among their prancing parts. As Broadway’s longest running revival and winner of six Tony Awards,now celebrating its 25th anniversary, plus being a smash movie hit, “Chicago” will be taking deadly aim at the Palace Theater in Waterbury for three performances only from Saturday to Sunday, December 3rd to 4th. This musical created by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with choreography by Ann Reinking, in the style of Bob Fosse, is stuffed with glitz and glamour. Based on a true story set back in 1924 Chicago, the show features two legendary beauties who are charged with murder and the less-than-scrupulous lawyer who is hired to keep them from the electric chair. While both ladies enlist the favor of Mama Morton, the jail’s accommodating matron, Roxie has the added benefit of the support of her faithful husband Amos, who sings a wonderful song that expresses how he feels about himself, “Mr. Cellophane.” Other great numbers are “All That Jazz,” “Reciprocity” and “We Both Reached for the Gun,” where the lawyer Billy plays ventriloquist to Roxie’s dummy. For tickets ($54-97), call the Palace, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury at 203-346-2000 or online at www.palacetheaterct.org. Performances are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Be electrified by this 2400 watt sparkler of a musical, with mayhem and murder front and center on the marquee. Get your jazz hands and feet ready for the razzle dazzle to begin.

IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS A NEW HOLIDAY FAVORITE: "WINTER WONDERETTES"

Even though Thanksgiving is barely a delicious and gratitude stuffed memory, the Ivoryton Playhouse wants you to hang wreaths on the door and put lights on everything that moves or not to get into the Christmas spirit. The year is 1968 and the place is the Essex Hardware Store and the Winter Wonderettes are in fine performing mode for your holiday entertainment. Until Sunday December 18th, this quartet of sweetly harmonizing and energetic ladies are pulling out all the merriment and mistletoe to make you a red and green tinsel laden spectacular present of musical delights. Created by Roger Bean, with choreography by Elizabeth McGuire, musical direction by Mark Ceppetelli and direction by J., Clayton Winters, the Winter Wonderettes - Katie Bates, Daron Elaine Cockerell, Meagan Lewis-Michelson, Emily Kay Shrader and swing Jordan Adams - are primped and primed to raise the roof with robust revelry. Put on your festive finery and play along as these gals polish the holiday props with signs of the season, from elves to reindeer, Santa’s throne to Christmas bells. They playfully squabble as they prepare to greet Santa who has their hardware holiday bonus checks, but they have a surprise in store. Tunes like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bell Hop,” ”Old Mister Kringle,” “Ring Those Christmas Bells,” “Sleigh Bells Ring” and “Santa Baby” and many more light up the holiday sky with joy. A few lucky audience members even get to show off their talents on stage. The ladies also take the audience around the world with holiday delight to a variety of countries. For tickets ($55 adults, $50 seniors, $25 students), call the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton at 860-767-7318 or online at ivorytonplayhouse.org Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Masks are encouraged but not required. Your Christmas stocking is packed with musical and dancing treats as this foursome sparkles and shines its way to being the stars on the top of Ivoryton Playhouse’s holiday tree.

SEVEN ANGELS THEATRE PRESENTS FOLK MUSIC TRIBUTE ON NOVEMBER 19

AllMusic has called Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. “among the most beloved entertainers of his era.” He brought a special signature to folk music, recording almost 300 songs, about 200 of which he wrote himself. Professionally, he was a gifted American songwriter-singer, guitarist, actor, activist and humanitarian, focusing his efforts on world hunger and the environment. You might know him better as John Denver. Calling Colorado his home for much of his life, in 1974 he was named poet laureate of the state. The gift of an acoustic guitar when he was 12 from his grandmother changed the course of his life, an unhappy one as part of a military family that relocated frequently. His stern father did not encourage his musical aspirations. Hits like “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Rocky Mountain High,” “Thank God I’m a Country Boy, “Annie’s Song,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders” and “Calypso,” mark some of his musical genius. On Saturday, November 19 Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., will present “Remembering John Denver” with singer, songwriter and tribute artist Ted Vigil. Vigil, who looks and sounds like John Denver, has performed with Denver’s lead guitarist Steve Wiesberg who stated “Apparently the audience thinks they all look and sound like John. I don’t see it. I see it with Ted. A very strong physical resemblance…Uncanny!” For tickets ($35), call Seven Angels Theatre, Plank Road, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at SevenAngelsTheatre.org. John Denver died in a plane crash, in a light plane he had recently purchased and was piloting in 1997 at the age of 53. Let Ted Vigil “convince you that John Denver never died! His look and sounds," according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “ are scary!” Scary good that is!

MAGICAL THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE BUSHNELL ON NOVEMBER 22

Do you believe in magic? Have you followed the journey of Harry Potter in books, plays and on the big screen? Do wizards and warlocks rev up your imagination engine? If so, then hold on to your wands and top hats for a superlative evening courtesy of “The Illusionists-Magic of the Holidays” for one night only on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. The Bushnell’s Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford will be ready to amaze the whole family with on stage thrills and treats. These five talented gentlemen have appeared around the globe, wowing spectators from London’s West End to Broadway, and all points in-between. Thanks to producer Simon Painter, Cirque du Soleil and Magic Space Entertainment, these superstars are out-of-this-world astonishing. Billed as a mind reader who doesn’t read minds, Chris Cox has his own shows in Britain’s “Chris Cox’s Mind Boggling Magic” and “Killer Magic.” Named “The Mentalist,” he’s known for his charisma and charm, always with a sense of silliness and mischief. He can make you think he’s reading your mind but is he? With magic skills that developed in his homeland of Korea when he was only 12, Hyunjoon Kim has collected a bookshelf of awards. He is skilled in pure hand manipulation, calling upon discipline and skills to achieve his goals with playing cards appearing and disappearing everywhere. The country of Spain offers a prodigy hailed as the “Magician D’Or”, “Golden Magician” and “Heir of Illusion”: Pablo Canovas. With beauty and charm, he creates illusions that defy belief. At the tender age of 4, Paul Dabek donned a blanket from the sofa and a top hat to wow his parents with his magic act skills. To date he is considered one of the funniest magicians across six continents. He is dubbed by Time Out magazine a “superb showman” and “simply stunning” by The Times of London and a “first class entertainer” by BroadwayWorld.com. Climb aboard his comedy train and discover for yourself what Dabek can do with a deck of cards, a newspaper, a scarf and a banana. Come witness James More, the world’s leading viral illusionist, who emerged in 2013 on Britain’s Got Talent and hasn’t stopped his magic act since then. From Britain to Russia, Australia to Broadway, More is a master with suspension and a sword. For tickets ($30 and up), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 203-987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org. Check online for the latest Covid information. Let this holiday magic show astonish and amaze as these five international performers show off their spectacular skills.

FLY ON A MAGIC CARPET TO THE BUSHNELL FOR "ALADDIN"

If you were granted three wishes after rubbing on a genie’s golden lamp, what might you request? Unlimited wealth, fame and eternal life? Love, happiness and good health? A mansion, a faithful pet, a devoted spouse? Friendship, joy and three more wishes? While you are dreaming, hop aboard a magic carpet and travel to Hartford’s Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, by way of Arabia, to experience Disney’s “Aladdin” until Sunday November 13. This Broadway musical is based on the animated Disney film with book by Chad Beguelin, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Beguelin. Imagine you live on the street, stealing food to live, using your wits and imagination to exist, when you sight the incredibly lovely Jasmine, the daughter of the sultan of Agrabah. If this sounds like you, then your name is Aladdin (Adi Roy) and you are destined for great and dangerous adventures. When you are invited to Jasmine’s exotic palace, you find a magical oil lamp in the Cave of Wonders, a lamp that contains a smart talking and intensely powerful Genie (Marcus M. Martin). He has the ability to grant you a trio of wishes and when you realize that Jafar (Anand Nagraj), an evil sorcerer, plans to steal Jasmine’s kingdom, you know exactly what you want and need to wish for from your new best friend. Meanwhile the genie has his own wish: his freedom. Will Aladdin be able to save Princess Jasmine (Senile Ahmady) from a forced marriage by her wacky father and protect her kingdom at the same time? With his trusty monkey Abu, he has quite the quest. For tickets($42 and up), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org. Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m and Sunday at 1p.m. Check online for any Covid restrictions. Go sailing across the skies with Aladdin and Jasmine as they discover how their friendship can blossom into an eternal love, capable of defeating evil.

PLAYHOUSE ON PARK CREATES COMPELLING "FENCES" IN WEST HARTFORD

The poet Robert Frost always advocated that fences made good neighbors. Traditionally fences are built to keep something inside or to prevent someone outside from getting inside its boundaries. For Rose Maxson, it's the hope that her family will be kept safe and protected and for her husband Troy of eighteen years, the fence is to ward off the devil and the specter of death. To see an astonishing production of August Wilson's involving family drama "Fences," take your carpenter's tool box and head for West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park by Sunday, November 20. "Fences" is part of an amazing ten part cycle, the Century Cycle, with one play for every decade of the 20th century, about African-Americans living in August Wilson's hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "Fences" is set in the 1950’s. Jamil A, C. Mangan is magnificently flawed as Troy, a man whose ancestors were slaves and sharecroppers, who literally left his humble beginnings in the South, to walk North for a better life. A long stint in prison where he learns to hone his talent for baseball and his meeting with a strong and dedicated woman Rose were both defining moments in his life. Rose, beautifully captured by Yvette Monique Clark, knows what it means to "stand by your man." She is loyal and the sturdy bridge between Troy and the world. As Troy, the everyman,who works as a garbage man providing for his family, he holds his little universe together, with the knowledge that Rose is standing beside him. Whether he is loaning his son Lyons (Nestor Garland) ten dollars, helping his disabled brother Gabriel (Daniel Danielson) live on his own or share a bottle of bourbon with his best friend Bono (Eric Carter), Rose is ready to support him. When Troy actively interferes with their son Cory's (Khalfani Louis ) dreams of being a football star, Rose protests. Later when she learns of Troy's betrayal of infidelity, she rebels. Yet she relents and asserts her maternal instincts and takes his illegitimate child, (an adorable Sahana Arulampalam and Gibson Quinn), into their home. Kenny M. Green directs a sterling cast in an awesome production that defines theater at its best. Bravo! For tickets ($45=55), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860-523-5900 ext. 10 or online at www.playhouseonoark.org. Performances are Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Masks are encouraged but not required. Come meet Troy Maxson, the consummate story teller, who lives in the past and what could have been, and tragically allows that past to dictate his son Cory's future. “Fences” is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards.

FOLLOW THE FARCE "LEND ME A TENOR" TO NORWALK'S MUSIC THEATRE OF CT

If you’re a fan of farce, slamming doors, mistaken identities and comic confusion, then Norwalk’s Music Theatre of Connecticut has a wonderfully entertaining show for you until Sunday November 20. It’s always convenient to have a friendly neighbor close by when you need an unexpected ingredient for a baking project. Having good neighbors available to borrow a few eggs or a cup of sugar for a cake you are baking is one thing, but asking to borrow an operatic singer, a tenor, is quite another. You know the incredible number of details that go into making an event a success as well as the plethora of problems that can derail the big project, if you've ever staged a major fundraiser. For Henry Saunders, the manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, the bulk of the responsibilities are on his sturdy shoulders. He has invited the greatest Italian tenor of his day, Tito Mirelli, to perform his signature role of Otello. It's is a grand coup...until Mirelli fails to show up on the big day. Come help Saunders and his capable assistant Max cope with the multitude of mistakes that can cause mutiny in Ken Ludwig's comic farce "Lend Me a Tenor" being humorously brought to life at MTC. Expect slamming doors every other minute and comic timing that is precise and hysterical. Saunders, the bombastic boss Jim Schilling, doesn't start to panic until his prize diva is two hours late. He has sent his capable aide Max, an industrious Michael Faso, to the train station but he has come back to the hotel alone. Meanwhile the list of people anxious to meet Tito, for an autograph, an assignation, an audition or an acquaintance is getting longer by the moment, from Saunder's impressionable daughter Maggie (Alexandra Fortin), the bellhop who wants to sing (Jeff Gurner), Julia, the chairman of the opera guild who wants bragging rights (Jo Anne Parady) to Tito's leading lady Diana (Emily Solo) who wants her career to get a big boost. Everyone has an agenda of what they want Tito to deliver, not the least of which is his wife Maria, a fiery Cynthia Hannah, who is sick and tired of his excesses, in food, drink and women. Tito arrives and everyone pounces on him. When an angry and unforgiving Maria storms out of their hotel suite, she is the catalyst for an avalanche of mishaps from an overdose of medication to a mistaken suicide note, from a supper of shrimp mayonnaise on the verge of botulism to not one but two Otellos anxious to perform on stage. The cast is uniformly great as they slam doors and wreck havoc, including the super star himself, Frank Mastrone as Mirelli, in all his flamboyant and excessive splendor. Director Pamela Hill balances the panic and the pleasure, the frantic and the funny, with outrageously over-the-top results. Add in Sean Sanford’s fun set and Diane Vanderkroef’s sophisticated costumes for more delights. Bravo! For tickets ($40-65), call Music theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Avenue, Norwalk (route one) at 203-454-3883, or online at admin@musictheatreofct.com. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Masks are highly recommended but not required. Brush up on your opera and your Italian as the fun and fur fly when Tito Mirelli as Il Stupendo and his egotistical entourage come to town.