TRAVEL TO IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE FOR A SENTIMENTAL SUMMER SPENT "ON GOLDEN POND"

Aging is not always easy, maybe never easy. Acknowledging one can no longer drive at night, needing canes and walkers, becoming forgetful,and looking at youth with envy can make our “golden” years seem tarnished. Spending your twilight years in a favorite place of tranquility, a summer home that has served your family well for almost five decades, may be an idyllic end to life and to a long and happy marriage. So feel the Thayers, Ethel and Norman, who are settling in for another season “On Golden Pond,” a sweet piece of nostalgia penned by Ernest Thompson. The Ivoryton Playhouse is fittingly bringing this heartwarming comedy to life until Sunday June 11. In the 1981 movie both Katharine Hepburn as Ethel and Henry Fonda as Norman earned Academy Awards for their roles. Rounding on eighty, Norman (James Naughton) is retired from teaching and, despite an increasingly poor memory and heart palpitations, he has retained his sharp wit and bitingly strong views on life. Ethel (Mia Dillon), ten years his junior, appreciates her hubby and the long marriage that they have grown comfortable enjoying. Sending a ripple of tremors through their familiar routines is the arrival of their divorced daughter Chelsea (Stacie Morgain Lewis) who is on her way to Europe with her new fiancé Bill (Josh Powell ). His son Billy (Sabatino Cruz) will be the summer guest of the Thayers, the “grandchild” they never had, and his presence will enliven the household in innumerable ways. What will Norman and Billy learn from each other? Will Chelsea be able to reconcile her differences with her dad? How will Ethel cope with the newest and oldest members of the family? How does the visit of neighbor and local mailman Charlie (Will Clark) change the dynamics of the story? This excellent cast balances love and laughter, sentiment with a touch of sadness, for an outstanding theatrical experience. Ivoryton Playhouse will present “On Golden Pond” under the direction of Brian J. Feehan on a beautiful set designed by Marcus Abbott. For tickets ($55 adults, $50 seniors, $25 students), call 860-767-7318 or online at ivorytonplayhouse.org. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Wednesday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the theater, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton. Spend a leisurely summer day with Ethel and Norman Thayer as they readjust to more than just the loons visiting them “On Golden Pond.”You will be enriched by the experience.

THE TEMPTATIONS "AIN'T TOO PROUD" WILL WOW AT THE BUSHNELL

Prepare to be electrified as the musical past rises up to astound you with the rousing and deeply rewarding story of one signature quintet: The Temptations. From their start on the streets of Detroit with Motown all the way to their induction into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this group is ready to take you along on their journey, one that resonates with the bonds of brotherhood, the connection of family, the need for loyalty and the ultimate cruelty of betrayal. The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts will try to control its enthusiasm as this story rocks the rafters with “Ain’t Too Proud the Life and Times of The Temptations” from Tuesday, May 30 to Sunday, June 4. Their tale reads like a roller coaster ride from how they met, the heights they hit and how the country’s civil rights unrest tested their togetherness. The Temptations smoothly orchestrated choreography and unbelievable harmonies drove them to the top of the charts, with an outstanding 42 Top Ten Hits, 14 of which rose like cream on a milk bottle all the way to number one, Get ready to hear such specials as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” "Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,“ ”Treat Her Like a Lady” and lots more. DSO†is Williams is the only member of the group, now 82, who began with the originals six decades ago.Otis is now joined by lead vocalists Ron Tyson and Terry Weeks, bass vocalist Willie Greene Jr. and the most recent member Anthony Grant. The group has been called by the editors of Rolling Stones “indisputably the greatest black vocal group of the Modern Era.” This show is based on Williams’ personal journey. For tickets ($42 and up), call The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at bushnell,org. Performances are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Motown superstars for more than six decades, experiencing triumphs and trials along the way, ultimately to international star power, come follow these trailblazers, termed the “Classic Five,” as they light up the Bushnell stage purely for your enjoyment.

"GYPSY" SHIMMERS AND SHINES AT GOODSPEED MUSICALS

Long before helicopter moms earned a bad rap for hovering over their offspring, there were mothers who enjoyed visions of stardom for their precious and precocious wannabe stars. The truth, unfortunately, is that commanding mamas really craved the spotlight for themselves and used their children to achieve what they were never able to earn on their own. To gain an insight into one of the most determined "stage mothers,” one who was aggressive, pushy, and obsessed with show business, come meet Mama Rose the maternal pit bull, overseeing the careers of her young daughters June and Louise. As the queen of smothering stage mothers, Mama Rose was uniquely suited to her task, advancing the marketing of her two little princesses of song and dance, with the goal of making them stars. To meet Mama Rose and her darlings of vaudeville, let the book by Arthur Laurents, the music of Jule Styne and the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim entertain you in the colorful musical “Gypsy,” prancing across the spotlights of Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam until Sunday, June 25. The incomparable Judy McLane is the perfectly passionate parent, the guiding force and iron ruler of her precious progeny. Emily Jewel Hoder and Laura Sky Herman portray Baby June and Dainty June respectively while Cameron Blake Miller and Talia Suskauer capture Baby Louise and grown up Louise. June and Louise will later be better known as June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee. Both girls rebel as they grow older, June running off at a young age to marry and Louise abandoning vaudeville for burlesque, establishing herself as a stripper at Minsky’s. Using humor and song as she shed her clothes, Louise reinvented herself as Gypsy Rose Lee and a queen of her genre, with a furl of feathers and flashy costumes. Philip Hernandez does an admirable turn as Herbie, the group’s agent and Rose’s infinitely patient love interest. Jenn Thompson takes credit for direction and Patricia Wilcox for choreography, Alexander Dodge for a great set and Eduardo Sicangco for costuming. “Gypsy” is based on the book written by the star who was born in Seattle, Washington in 1911, performed in movies as an actress and dancer, wrote murder mysteries and called Otto Preminger her boyfriend. Songs like "Some People," "Small World," "Let Me Entertain You,” "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Together Wherever We Go” and "Rosie's Turn" propel the plot. "You Gotta Get a Gimmick” with the strippers Mazeppa (Romelda Teron Benjamin), Electra (Victoria Huston- Elem) and Tessie (Valerie Wright) practically stops the show. For tickets ($30 and up), call Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam on the Connecticut River 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. (with select 2 p.m. shows), Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (with select 6:30 p.m. shows). Check out the specials available online. Clearly everything’s coming up roses for this delightful classic musical theater production that sparkles and shines and shimmers with passion.

THE CT GAY MEN'S CHORUS IS "HARD AT WORK" MUSICALLY

Get you tool belt, plumbers plunger, battery tester, hard hat, drafting pencil, stethoscope, bulldozer and bartenders shot glass ready to celebrate everyday people who do challenging and important jobs. The Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus is gearing up to salute you and your occupations in a trio of concerts entitled “Men at Work.” On Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. the Katharine Hepburn urn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook will be putting the ladders and office chairs ready to serenade the men who keep our country running. Due to the popularity of this event a third concert will be held on Sunday, June 4 at 4 p.m. when the CGMC gathers at the Conard High School Auditorium, 110 Beechwood Road in West Hartford, presented by West Hartford Pride. The macho guys of the CGMC will use their extraordinary musical talents to spotlight ordinary occupations as only the CT Gay Men’s Chorus can do. Inspired by the likes of Bon Jovi and David Bowie, Dolly Parton and Donna Summer, Carly Simon and Styx, Tina Turner and Glen Campbell, they will pay homage to all these performers who have had massive e hit recordings about workers and their everyday jobs. Be prepared to be wowed by the harmonies these guys are famous for producing, with side orders of seriousness and spunk. You eon’t be disappointed. Take note that they also serve up some special game nights. Come to the Annex Club, 554 Woodward Avenue, New Haven just off I-95 on Saturday, May 20 and again on Saturday June 17 when Kikki Lucia runs her Bingo Games, ones your grandmother never saw. Doors open at 6 and the games start at 7.Admission that includes cards is $25 and wine beer and cocktails are available for purchase. Call 1-800-644-CGMC for more information. For tickets ($33), go online to ctgmc.org. Look at jobs, work, occupations and careers in a whole new musical light, thanks to the exuberant and energetic men of the CT Gay Men’s Chorus. You’ll be delighted you did.

"WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT" SECRETLY HOPS INTO NEW HAVEN THEATER COMPANY

January 22, 2023 started the Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of the rabbit. It symbolizes prosperity, peace and longevity and is the epitome of hope. It is doubtful that there is any connection with the play “White Rabbit Red Rabbit” that is being performed by the New Haven Theater Company at the English Building Market, courtesy of its owners Robert and Carol Orr. Yet with the mystery surrounding this play, one never knows. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, May 18, 19. and 20, you are invited to a unique and quite different theatrical event. Beware, you might find yourself on stage taking part in the intriguing production. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. “White Rabbit Red Rabbit” was written by an Iranian, Nassim Soleimanpour, a writer who values freedom but is not allowed to leave his home in Tehran. His hopes were to craft a play that would travel the world when he wasn’t allowed to do so. Along the way it has garnered awards like the Dublin Fringe Festival Best New Performance, Summerworks Outstanding New Performance Text Award and The Arches Brick Award from the Edinburgh Fringe, all since its debut in 2011. What makes this production so different is its content (which I am not allowed to reveal), the fact that every night a new actor is given the script in a sealed envelope and challenged to read it sight unseen before a live audience, so there are no auditions or rehearsals, there is virtually no set (just a ladder, a table, two glasses of water and a vial of something I can’t discuss), and no director giving cues or notes. Are you mystified yet? Lest you think I am making this all up, let me name drop a few of the actors who have accepted the challenge in the past in New York: Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Thomas, Alan Cumming and Martin Short. The play has been translated into more than 30 languages and performed over 3000 times. The New Haven Theater Company members eager to mount the boards are Jenny Shuck, Marty Tucker, George Kulp, Steve Scarpa, Deena Nicol-Blifford and Trevor Williams. For tickets ($20), contact the NHTC who performs at the English Building Market, 839 Chapel Street, New Haven at newhaventheatercompany.com. Performances are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. The rabbits are a metaphor and not overtly political in nature. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times has deemed it “playful, enigmatic and haunting.” Come judge for yourself.

THE SISTERHOOD SERENADES IN "MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL"

For women of a certain age, the mention of menopause instills a modicum of dread; but does it have to do that? When the topic of menopause is introduced into a conversation, the reaction is usually not one of extreme laughter. Discussions of night sweats, bouts of forgetfulness, hormonal changes, incidents of insomnia, mood swings that rival carnival rides and food cravings do not usually engender humor. The exception would be Jeanie Linders’ outrageously funny “Menopause the Musical” celebrating more than two decades of demystifying “the change,” at the Palace Theater in Waterbury on Saturday, May 20 at 8 p.m. A quartet of mighty talented ladies meets at the lingerie counter at Bloomingdale’s during a sale. In the melee that ensues, as they fight over a sexy undergarment, the women create a sisterhood as they bond over the common symptoms each is experiencing as they push the calendar toward fifty. Front and center is the Professional Woman, the boss lady who storms off to the conference room only to forget why when she gets to the office door. She is joined by the sexy Soap Star who is fighting off wrinkles and fears that her best days on stage are over. Earth Mother is a flower child trapped in an adult woman’s body while the Iowa Housewife is so excited to be in the Big Apple that she almost forgets she needs her little pink pills to keep her life pleasurable. Two dozen songs are parodied in this ninety minute show that deals humorously with all the female issues that make menopause so memorable, whether they flash hot, drip wet, involve husbands, mothers or kids, are relieved by a quart of rocky road ice cream or promote the pharmaceutical industry in a rainbow of pretty pills. Each tune is incredibly clever in its accuracy and hysterical in its message, with dance movements to boot. You might even laugh when a hot flash ignites your body the next time around, For tickets ($28-58), call The Palace, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury at 203-346-2000 or online at www.palacetheaterct.org. Grab a sister, your mom, your daughter or a friend and plan to sing, clap and dance your way to confidence as you realize you’re not alone on this complicated journey through mid-life. Brave men are invited to come along too. They just might learn a thing or three.

"GYPSY" SHIMMERS AND SHINES AT GOODSPEED MUSICALS

Long before helicopter moms earned a bad rap for hovering over their offspring, there were mothers who enjoyed visions of stardom for their precious and precocious wannabe stars. The truth, unfortunately, is that commanding mamas really craved the spotlight for themselves and used their children to achieve what they were never able to earn on their own. To gain an insight into one of the most determined "stage mothers,” one who was aggressive, pushy, and obsessed with show business, come meet Mama Rose the maternal pit bull, overseeing the careers of her young daughters June and Louise. As the queen of smothering stage mothers, Mama Rose was uniquely suited to her task, advancing the marketing of her two little princesses of song and dance, with the goal of making them stars. To meet Mama Rose and her darlings of vaudeville, let the book by Arthur Laurents, the music of Jule Styne and the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim entertain you in the colorful musical “Gypsy,” prancing across the spotlights of Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam until Sunday, June 25. The incomparable Judy McLane is the perfectly passionate parent, the guiding force and iron ruler of her precious progeny. Emily Jewel Hoder and Laura Sky Herman portray Baby June and Dainty June respectively while Cameron Blake Miller and Talia Suskauer capture Baby Louise and grown up Louise. June and Louise will later be better known as June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee. Both girls rebel as they grow older, June running off at a young age to marry and Louise abandoning vaudeville for burlesque, establishing herself as a stripper at Minsky’s. Using humor and song as she shed her clothes, Louise reinvented herself as Gypsy Rose Lee and a queen of her genre, with a furl of feathers and flashy costumes. Philip Hernandez does an admirable turn as Herbie, the group’s agent and Rose’s infinitely patient love interest. Jenn Thompson takes credit for direction and Patricia Wilcox for choreography, Alexander Dodge for a great set and Eduardo Sicangco for costuming. “Gypsy” is based on the book written by the star who was born in Seattle, Washington in 1911, performed in movies as an actress and dancer, wrote murder mysteries and called Otto Preminger her boyfriend. Songs like "Some People," "Small World," "Let Me EntertainYou,” "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Together Wherever We Go"and "Rosie's Turn" propel the plot. "You Gotta Get a Gimmick” with the strippers Mazeppa (Romelda Teron Benjamin), Electra (Victoria Huston- Elem) and Tessie (Valerie Wright) practically stop the show. For tickets ($30 and up), call Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam on the Connecticut River at 860-873-8668 or online at Godspeed.org. Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select 2 p.m. shows), Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (with select 6:3- p.m. shows). Check out the specials available online. Clearly everything’s coming up roses for this delightful classic musical theater production that sparkles and shines and shimmers with passion.

A SWEET "DANDELION" IS BLOWING ITS MAGIC AT PLAYHOUSE ON PARK

How does it feel to be different and uncertain and wanting desperately to fit in with everyone else? We all have awkward moments but what if those moments stretch into hours and days and weeks? How would you cope? If your name is Dandelion and you are a slightly cowardly lion, you have a real case of insecurity. Whether you are five or fifty-five or even older, you are not immune to the condition. Everyone feels uncertain at some points in their life and Playhouse on Park in West Hartford has a musical selection for the youngest ones who might need a little help with reassurance. Until Sunday, May 14, come visit the animal kingdom for a lesson in being proud of who you are as the book “Dandelion” by Don Freeman, penned over five decades ago, becomes a world premiere musical of the same name with book and lyrics by Joan Ross Sorkin and lyrics by Mary Liz McNamara, recommended for pre-schoolers to grade 3. School field trips are also available. Come meet Dandelion, Sage Jepson, an insecure teenager who does not feel comfortable in his own rugged lion skin. He does not like his ratty yellow sweater or his wild hair and wishes he were someone else. When his whole homeroom gets invited to an impromptu party at the home of the popular Jennifer Giraffe, Liz Davis, Dandelion panics and is afraid to go. He realizes he needs to change to be accepted and liked so he gets a make-over: a new jacket, a curly mane, sunglasses and a bouquet of roses for his pretty hostess. Unfortunately for Dandelion, reinventing himself is not the answer, thanks to a bully at school named Roscoe, Ryan Phelps, who also verbally attacks Jen’s younger brother Toby, Jong Sang Rheu. Dandelion also finds himself encouraging Zippy, Dan Zimberg, a zebra who does not care for his black and white stripes but it is the encouragement of Pippa the parrot, Sydney Weiser, who helps Dandelion to realize that just being himself is the best message of all. Swings who can play all the roles are Alia Irshaid Robert and Niko Touros. Jill Zarcone directs this energetic cast in adorable costumes by Vilinda McGregor who sing and dance for almost an hour, with music direction by Kevin Barlowski and choreography by Darlene Zoller on a leafy stage created by Lindsay G. Fuori. For tickets ($22.50-25), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860-523-5900 ext. 10 or online at www.playhouseonpark.org. Shows are Saturday and Sunday May 6 and 7 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. (sensory friendly) and 1 p.m., and Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. School died trips are Tuesday to Friday at 10 a.m. and12:30 p.m., $7 per student. Children are encouraged to make a wish on a dandelion card, as if they are blowing the petals in the wind.

ELI WHITNEY MUSEUM'S LEONARDO CHALLENGE TAKES FLIGHT ON MAY 18

Every year for more than a quarter century, the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop on the border of Hamden and New Haven has orchestrated a unique fundraising event in the spring: the Leonardo Challenge. This year on Thursday, May 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., their inviting site at 915 Whitney Avenue will be aflutter with their newest conception: Leonardo In Flight, number 27 to date. In past years, artists from across the country have been inspired to create objets d’arts with such unusual items as playing cards, wooden ice cream spoons, pencils, mirrors, clothespins, matches, buttons and more. In tribute to Leonardo who was clearly Mr. Invention, the designers and architects create mobiles, furniture, clothing, paintings, jewelry, games and so much more, giving free rein to their imaginations. These contributions are then auctioned off to the highest bidder. In this year’s flight of fancy, you may see items at the auction that can be bid on in person or by phone, either remotely or onsite. You might see entries of the flight of a bumble bee, an eagle, an airplane, Superman, a rocket, a cloud formation or any number of things. To date the museum has received entries such as Tianna Rome Kurek’s framed trio of butterflies, a set of fifteen greeting cards with a theme of flight by Martha Savage and a Freida Collage Portrait by Susan Clinard. Most items will start with a bid of $65. While the auction is indoors, the food, drinks and music will be outdoors and feature tasty presentations by the Big Green Truck Pizza, Small Kitchen BIG TASTE, Whole G Bakery, Sanctuary Kitchen, Bloom, Olmo, Black Hog Brewing Company and The Wine Thief. Live music will be offered by Jonathan Moore on cello, telling stories through his song. According to museum director Ryan Paxton, “Leonardo was an exquisite observer of the world and all his achievements came from those observations of the natural world.” The funds raised by donors and artists will support efforts to continue Leonardo’s imaginative soul to children, apprentices, and the entire New Haven community. For tickets, $75 for a single one, with levels that include Mechanical Flight (Dragonfly) $250; Wing Design (Bat) $500; Aeronautic Acrobat (Swift) $1250; Thermal Soaring (Kite) $2500; Dynamic Soaring (Albatross) $5000. Each level includes event tickets, tote bags and project sponsorship. Call the museum at 203-777-1833 or online at eliwhitney.org. On Thursday, May 11, from 7-8 p.m., a special talk by Dr. Sean Bradshaw from Pratt and Whitney and Dr. Philip L. Richardson from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute will speak on “What is the future of flight?” They will address how Leonardo da Vinci’s observations of flight have influenced modern aviation. Remember he dreamed of flying machines long before they became a reality. Ready for a delightful flight with no need for luggage or passport…take an inspirational trip to the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop on May 18. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. Fasten your seatbelts.

"the ripple, the wave that carried me home:" AN ODE AND OBITUARY TO WATER AND INJUSTICE

Drowning of children ages 1-4 is tragically the leading cause of death for pre-schoolers. Therefore, the teaching of little ones to swim, at a very young age, is paramount. What happens when pools are segregated and prevent Black kids from the privilege of entering the water? What might you do if your children were denied entry and, effectively, burdened with a lack of options? The story of one such family and the social injustice it reveals are the sensitive and illuminating drama “the ripple, the wave that carried me home” by Christina Anderson currently swimming upstream at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven until Saturday, May 20. The first thing we learn about Jennean Farmer’s Janice is that she hates water but she drinks it nonetheless. From the time she was a youngster growing up in Beacon, Kansas her parents Helen (Chalia Le Tour) and Edwin (Marcus Henderson) made swimming a center part of her life, encouraging her to perfect that skill. In her small hometown there were a trio of pools, two of a fine quality and designated for whites only and the third a poor substitute for the Black community. Janice’s parents devoted much of their efforts on opening all three pools equally while giving lessons to their neighbors. Now as an adult, living in suburban Ohio, Janice is painfully reminded of her childhood by a series of phone calls from a persistent Young Chipper Ambitious Black Woman (Adrienne S. Wells) who also plays the part of Janice’s vibrant Aunt Gayle. Janice does not want to know what the never ending phone calls are about until Aunt Gayle insists she answer. It seems her Kansas home is dedicating the pool that features so centrally in her youth to her father, the Edwin P. Cullen Jr. Memorial, and they want her to speak. The invitation sets off a flood of memories, many tragic, some humorous, others mindful of the struggle to end segregation. Janice is unsure of whether or not she should attend. The central family issues are surrounded by the bigger picture of how her race is treated by society and how little has improved over time. Tamilla Woodward directs this history lesson/involving family saga with skill and integrity, on a set by Emmie Finckel that splashes with joy at play’s end after wading through the shallows and depths. For tickets ($15-65), call the Yale Rep, 1120 Chapel Street, New Haven at 203-432-1234 or online at yalerep.org. Performances are Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Come learn that each of us is 60% water and all the benefits and injustices that surround the life giving force that is essential to us and our well-being. Plan to dive in and soak awhile in this thought provoking play that will challenge how you view the world.

TAKE FLIGHT WITH THE ELI WHITNEY MUSEUM ON MAY 18

Every year for more than a quarter century, the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop on the border of Hamden and New Haven has orchestrated a unique fundraising event in the spring: the Leonardo Challenge. This year on Thursday, May 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., their inviting site at 915 Whitney Avenue will be aflutter with their newest conception: Leonardo In Flight, number 27 to date. In past years, artists from across the country have been inspired to create objets d’arts with such unusual items as playing cards, wooden ice cream spoons, pencils, mirrors, clothespins, matches, buttons and more. In tribute to Leonardo who was clearly Mr. Invention, the designers and architects create mobiles, furniture, clothing, paintings, jewelry, games and so much more, giving free rein to their imaginations. These contributions are then auctioned off to the highest bidder. In this year’s flight of fancy, you may see items at the auction that can be bid on in person or by phone, either remotely or onsite. You might see entries of the flight of a bumble bee, an eagle, an airplane, Superman, a rocket, a cloud formation or any number of things. To date the museum has received entries such as Tianna Rome Kurek’s framed trio of butterflies, a set of fifteen greeting cards with a theme of flight by Martha Savage and a Freida Collage Portrait by Susan Clinard. Most items will start with a bid of $65. While the auction is indoors, the food, drinks and music will be outdoors and feature tasty presentations by the Big Green Truck Pizza, Small Kitchen BIG TASTE, Whole G Bakery, Sanctuary Kitchen, Bloom, Olmo, Black Hog Brewing Company and The Wine Thief. Live music will be offered by Jonathan Moore on cello, telling stories through his song. According to museum director Ryan Paxton, “Leonardo was an exquisite observer of the world and all his achievements came from those observations of the natural world.” The funds raised by donors and artists will support efforts to continue Leonardo’s imaginative soul to children, apprentices, and the entire New Haven community. For tickets, $75 for a single one, with levels that include Mechanical Flight (Dragonfly) $250; Wing Design (Bat) $500; Aeronautic Acrobat (Swift) $1250; Thermal Soaring (Kite) $2500; Dynamic Soaring (Albatross) $5000. Each level includes event tickets, tote bags and project sponsorship. Call the museum at 203-777-1833 or online at eliwhitney.org. On Thursday, May 11, from 7-8 p.m., a special talk by Dr. Sean Bradshaw from Pratt and Whitney and Dr. Philip L. Richardson from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute will speak on “What is the future of flight?” They will address how Leonardo da Vinci’s observations of flight have influenced modern aviation. Remember he dreamed of flying machines long before they became a reality. Ready for a delightful flight with no need for luggage or passport…take an inspirational trip to the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop on May 18. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. Fasten your seatbelts.

"JAGGED LITTLE PILL" IS A MUSICAL PRESCRIPTION AT THE BUSHNELL

Alanis Morissette’s 1995 groundbreaking rock album has inspired a musical that will have Bushnell audiences jumping to their feet. The American family with all its wonderments, worries and warts will be revealed from Tuesday, May 9 to Sunday, May 14 in “Jagged Little Pill.” Come make the acquaintance of the Healey family from Connecticut. On the surface they are picture perfect, all that you would want for yourself. But life can be messy and surfaces don’t always reveal what is painfully obvious behind closed doors. If you look closer, you will see the cracks and stresses underneath that show painful truths: no family is perfect, nor should it be. In this explosive rock concert experience, you will bear witness to a marriage that desperately needs counseling, the inherent danger of opioids and the fear of taking one too many, the agony of being replaced in a relationship you once treasured and the pain of surviving the angst driven teenage years. Here the agony of keeping secrets and struggling to overcome problems abound in soul searching lyrics in tunes like "Hand Over Feet,” Hand in My Pocket,” “Ironic,” “Disappear,” and “You Ought to Know.” These songs of Morissette’s are often cowritten with Glen Ballard, with book by Diablo Cody, directed by Diane Paulus, choreographed by Larry Cherkaoul, with musical arrangements by Tom Kitt. For tickets ($51 and up), call the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at bushnell.org. Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Be prepared. “Jagged Little Pill” contains a plethora of social issues, from adoption, date rape, disability, addiction, racism and teenage trauma. This show also contains joy, strength, heartache, empowerment, catharsis, and love. As a jukebox musical, it has been termed “exhilarating and fearless." It has been nominated for a record 15 Tony Awards and declared “redemptive, rousing and real” by The New York Times as one of the “best hopes of Broadway."

A SWEET "DANDELION" BLOWS INTO PLAYHOUSE ON PARK

How does it feel to be different and uncertain and wanting desperately to fit in with everyone else? We all have awkward moments but what if those moments stretch into hours and days and weeks? How would you cope? If your name is Dandelion and you are a slightly cowardly lion, you have a real case of insecurity. Whether you are five or fifty-five or even older, you are not immune to the condition. Everyone feels uncertain at some points in their life and Playhouse on Park in West Hartford has a musical selection for the youngest ones who might need a little help with reassurance. Until Sunday, May 14, come visit the animal kingdom for a lesson in being proud of who you are as the book “Dandelion” by Don Freeman, penned over five decades ago, becomes a world premiere musical of the same name with book and lyrics by Joan Ross Sorkin and lyrics by Mary Liz McNamara, recommended for pre-schoolers to grade 3. School field trips are also available. Come meet Dandelion, Sage Jepson, an insecure teenager who does not feel comfortable in his own rugged lion skin. He does not like his ratty yellow sweater or his wild hair and wishes he were someone else. When his whole homeroom gets invited to an impromptu party at the home of the popular Jennifer Giraffe, Liz Davis, Dandelion panics and is afraid to go. He realizes he needs to change to be accepted and liked so he gets a make-over: a new jacket, a curly mane, sunglasses and a bouquet of roses for his pretty hostess. Unfortunately for Dandelion, reinventing himself is not the answer, thanks to a bully at school named Roscoe, Ryan Phelps, who also verbally attacks Jen’s younger brother Toby, Jong Sang Rheu. Dandelion also finds himself encouraging Zippy, Dan Zimberg, a zebra who does not care for his black and white stripes but it is the encouragement of Pippa the parrot, Sydney Weiser, who helps Dandelion to realize that just being himself is the best message of all. Swings who can play all the roles are Alia Irshaid Robert and Niko Touros. Jill Zarcone directs this energetic cast in adorable costumes by Vilinda McGregor who sing and dance for almost an hour, with music direction by Kevin Barlowski and choreography by Darlene Zoller on a leafy stage created by Lindsay G. Fuori. For tickets ($22.50-25), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860-523-5900 ext. 10 or online at www.playhouseonpark.org. Shows are Saturday and Sunday May 6 and 7 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. (sensory friendly) and 1 p.m., and Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. School died trips are Tuesday to Friday at 10 a.m. and12:30 p.m., $7 per student. Children are encouraged to make a wish on a dandelion card, as if they are blowing the petals in the wind.