PANTOCHINO PRODUCTIONS MUSICAL "THE EXECUTIONER'S WIFE" IN MILFORD UNTIL MOTHER'S DAY

“The Executioner’s Wife” doesn’t sound like a play for adults and teens or a musical but it is delightfully both. Have no fear, no animals are harmed, no blood is shed and no heads are separated from bodies. Rather it is a tale set in the Middle Ages, with a mild mannered King (Jimmy Johansmeyer), a mean spirited Queen (Susan Kulp), a reluctant newly appointed executioner (Justin Rugg) and his status seeking wife (Mary Mannix).

Credit for this wildly imaginative story and lyrics goes to director Bert Bernardi for intensely serious and silly shenanigans, rousing music by Justin Rugg, and elaborate costuming by Jimmy Johansmeyer. Until Mother’s Day, May 12, Pantochino Productions will be doing everything in their power to not behead anyone, guilty or innocent, in “The Executioner’s Wife” at the Milford Arts Council, The Mac. Bring the family, as well as chips and dips, carrots and cookies, to your cabaret table to munch during the show. Be forewarned the language, at times, can be a little spicy.

Come make the acquaintance of Susan Kulp’s regally domineering Queen, who insists that the Magistrate, an accommodating Killian Meehan, find a new executioner now that the current one has permanently retired, through death. With the good counsel of the Queen’s Lady in Waiting (Maria Berte), who is constantly being disrespected by her superior, she tries to support the Queen as she deals with the Queen's unfaithful servants Minerva (Katie Durham) and her chef Cassoulet (George Spelvin).

Unfortunately since the Queen no longer likes or trusts Minerva or Cassoulet, she requires the executioner to dispense with them forever. The Magistrate determines the peasant Drogo, an unsuspecting Justin Rugg, will be the perfect choice, a decision Drogo strongly objects to accepting due to his basic cowardice. Meanwhile the King has his own agenda, with a bevy of friends at his side. For Drogo’s wife Amelia, she is relying on her own wits and the help of her companions Hildegund (Shelley Marsh Poggio) and her husband Arvin (Josiah Rowe) to aid her out of Drogo's predicament.

Will the Queen control her mad cap desires and sexual urges? Can Amelia pull off a super tricky plan and save Drogo from beheading anyone? Will Minerva and Cassoulet survive their trauma? Will the King and Queen’s secrets be shared with all the residents of the village of Dungwich? Let the talented troupe of Pantochino Productions reveal the musical answers like “The Magistrate’s Patter,” “My Lust,” ”Run, Drogo, Run,” “Heads Will Roll” and “Long Live Life.”

For tickets ($30), go online to Pantchino Productions at www.pantochino.com. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Donations will be welcomed to the Great Give on May 1 and 2.

Heads may or may not roll. Come with the teens to follow the fun and bring goodies and drinks to share at your cabaret table.

"A BRONX TALE" SET TO MUSIC AT SEVEN ANGELS THEATRE IN WATERBURY

One incident in a person’s life, lasting only moments, can have a profound effect on his future. Just ask playwright and actor Chazz Palminteri who experienced such a cataclysmic event many decades ago.

When Chazz was a nine year old boy sitting innocently on a cement stoop in front of his Bronx home, he witnessed a murder. He saw two men fighting five feet in front of him, ostensibly over a parking space, when a third man stepped in to help his pal. He killed his friend's opponent and, thus, rescued his friend. The police, no matter how they tried, couldn't get Chazz, who was called by his given name Calogero, to testify.

The lad Calogero is captured winningly by Carlos Velasquez Escamilla while his older self comes to brilliant life in Christopher Rosa Cruz. The pair are wonderful as Chazz, telling his incredible story with sweeping power,as does the entire talented cast.

In the midst of this devastating encounter, Chazz's eyes meet those of the stranger's, who turns out to be Sonny, the capo di tutti capi, or "boss of all bosses" or godfather if you prefer. Joe Barbara is strong and magnetic and dominant as Sonny. The young impressionable lad soon finds himself swept into a different and exciting world that Sonny commands, into a fancy club, fetching coffee and cutting lemons and limes, rolling dice and collecting tips. Chazz's father, Robert Lomberto, a hardworking bus driver, does not approve of his son's new associates, nor does his loving mother Marissa Follo Perry. When Sonny tries to give him a lucrative job he refuses. Soon "C" as he is now called becomes Sonny's "penance, something good to leave behind."

Chazz is now influenced by two father figures. His dad Lorenzo gives him a card that states "Don't waste your talent," while Sonny teaches him life lessons like "It's better to be feared than to be loved" and "Never underestimate your enemy.” You are now invited to enter Chazz’s world courtesy of Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre with “A Bronx Tale The Musical” coming to town until Sunday, May 19. The new musical features a book by Chazz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, all based on Chazz’s original play.

Follow “C” as he grows up in the Italian section of the Bronx on Belmont Street surrounded by a crew of criminals, learns about women, falls in love with a girl from the colored side of town, a sweet Jane in the hands of Briana Maia, and in the process becomes a man. Tunes like “Belmont Avenue,” “I Like It,” “Nicky Machiavelli,” and “The Choices We Make” help tell his story.

According to the playwright, Chazz recalls his early years as an "outrageous time to grow up. I had a great childhood in an Italian neighborhood with happy times, sports and some violence." Writing about it has proven therapeutic, "a transference of energy from negative to positive." He is grateful his father lived to see his success.

Chazz Palminteri is a man of many talents, none of which he wastes, as his father had warned. A veteran of 50 films like "Analyze This" and "The Usual Suspects," he also runs classes three or four times a year "One on One Auditions" to "give back" and help young actors as well as hosts a new Baltimore restaurant "Chazz A Bronx Original." There his cold fire oven pizza cooks in 90 seconds, "sweet and fluffy on the inside, crispy and caramelized on the outside.”

For tickets ($45), call the Seven Angels Theatre, Plank Road, Hamilton Park, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at SevenAngelsTheatre.org. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Co-directors Joe Barbara and Janine Molinari beautifully handle the production, while Janine also smoothly manages the choreography, with Mark Ceppetelli providing the musical direction. Support the Pasta Drive for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury with a donation in the lobby.

As for those life lessons, Chazz Palminteri also has learned "family is important" and "stay close to the things you value." Come see his musical put all these lessons to good use.

SOMETHING WONDERFULLY "WICKED" AT THE BUSHNELL UNTIL MAY 12

It’s not easy being green, even if you’re Kermit the Frog or any green frog for that matter. Note how Shrek and the Hulk and the lowly artichoke have had their share of problems being accepted.

Long before Dorothy and Toto traveled by tornado from their farm in Kansas along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to visit the grand and powerful Wizard of Oz, there were a trio of women, mere girls at the time, who were destined to become memorable as witches. If you peek behind the bushes next to that famous road of yellow bricks, you might see what happens before Dorothy and Toto drop in for a visit.

Welcome to “Wicked,” sailing into the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford for an extended stay to Sunday, May 12. Based on the book by Gregory Maguire, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and story by Winnie Holzman, “Wicked” has won 35 major awards, a Grammy and three Tonys.

Kermit the Frog and Shrek know what it’s like to be judged by the color of your skin, in this case green. Even if you’re emerald hued and beautiful, you will still be labeled different. To discover the misunderstood heroine of “Wicked,” the fiery and independent Elphaba (Olivia Valli) who attends Shiz University and meets Glinda (Celia Hottenstein) and, unlikely as it seems, they eventually become best friends.

All is not well at Shiz University, run by Madame Morrible (Kathy Fitzgerald) where Doctor Dillamond, (Boise Holmes) is losing his ability to speak and, like all the animals, is being controlled by outside forces. With the help of Glinda and the princely Fiyero (James D. Gish), Elphaba finds herself using her magic powers to meet with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Tom McGowan) to save the animals and defeat the enemies. Little does she know who her fearful foes really are. As she tries to use her talents, she learns that controlling them and doing her spells is next to impossible.

With smooth direction by Joe Mantello, great sets by Eugene Lee, costumes in shades of kelly and lime by Susan Hilferty, clever lighting by Kenneth Posner, intense sound by Tony Meola and orchestration in great songs like “Popular” and "Defying Gravity” by William David Brown, “Wicked” offers a bounty of excitement for the whole family.

The “happily ever after” is not destined to triumph and here loyalties are tested and power becomes too tempting a prize. Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister, offers insights into herself and her big sister. As Nessa, she is crippled, in a wheel chair, selfish and self-centered. She desires more out of life and she is embarrassed by having a sister who is green. Wanting desperately to be normal, she blames Elphaba for all her problems. As Nessarose, she becomes the governor of Munchkinland and uses her magic powers to control her subjects. By turning to the dark side, Nessa earns the title of Wicked Witch of the East and Dorothy’s home eventually falls on her, crushing her until only her famous silver slippers remain. The slippers turn ruby later on.

Nessarose (Tara Kostmayer) understands how in seeking love and being thwarted, she becomes evil and totally misunderstood. In falling in love with Boq ( Kyle McArthur), a munchkin, she abuses her powers and ends up destroying herself.

For tickets to “Wicked” ($76 and up), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at https://bushnell.org/shows-concerts. Performances are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 2 p.m.on some dates and 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.

Grab your magic broomstick, don something green to wear and defy gravity at what Entertainment Weekly calls “the best musical of the decade.”

CENTER STAGE IN SHELTON DELIGHTS WITH "THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG"

Did you ever have a day, from morning to midnight, where nothing went right? From the moment the alarm clock failed to ring, your electric toothbrush doesn’t brush, and the milk for your favorite cereal goes sour, your day goes progressively down hill.

Imagine you are part of a theater troupe, the Cornley Drama Society, engaged in putting on a play “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” and they discover that they are trapped in “The Play That Goes Wrong” until Sunday, April 28. Come meet the talented troupe at Center Stage in Shelton where it all falls apart so beautifully. Before the action even begins Winston the golden lab goes missing. Did you see him? One minute later, the mantle on the fireplace collapses and a prominent portrait falls off the wall. Do you have your tool box ready?

“The Play That Goes Wrong” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields is a hoot of a farce as the poor unsuspecting cast tries to adjust to all the disasters that manifest and multiple by the minute. Come cheer on Melanie Byron, Hunter Smith, Terrance J. Peters, Dave Kaminski, Scott Sheldon, Lucy Babbitt, Paul Keegan and Briana Dawson as they play everyone from murdered bodies, police inspectors, fiancees about to be married, siblings, gardeners and housekeepers. The set, poised to fall apart in front of your disbelieving eyes, is the main character and should be applauded for its unpredictability.

Under the skilled direction of Betsy Kelso, the action is constant and a delightful and frightening surprise. Here timing is everything and the cast has to be on their toes and heads to master the intricate plot. Sometime the story is like a record stuck at one spot, sometimes the scotch drinks get out of control, often doors refuse to open and snow comes flying in every direction.The big question is who murdered Charles Haversham and who will be next? Come delight in the action and the mishaps that keep tumbling into the fray.

For tickets ($18-36), call Center Stage, 54 Grove Street, Shelton at 203-225-6079 or online at www.centerstageshelton.org. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Get into the madcap and slapstick action as this farce of a comedy rolls merrily along to laughter, with a few dead bodies in the way.

ARTHUR MILLER'S "ALL MY SONS" POWERFUL DRAMA AT HARTFORD STAGE

In wartime, a lot of unconscionable events take place, too many tragedies occur. What if you are knowingly guilty of one, and for no better reason than your own financial compensation, committing an act that directly results in the deaths of twenty-one innocent pilots? What if your husband or father were guilty of such an incident? Are there any circumstances that could justify such a deed?

Joe Keller finds himself in a predicament. During World War II he had shipped to the Air Force defective airplane parts, aircraft engine cylinder heads that were cracked, for Curtiss P-40 fighter planes, and caused crashes and deaths. Not only did he know he was guilty, he placed the blame on his partner and former neighbor, Steve Deever.

Head directly to Hartford Stage, do not pass GO, and sit in judgment on Arthur Miller’s intense drama “All My Sons” playing until Sunday, May 5. Even though it was written 75 years ago, its powerful message of love and loyalty, honor and honesty, ring with trauma and truth to this day. Enter Joe Keller’s world where that truth is seeping like quicksand to the surface, threatening to swallow his family whole. Michael Guston’s Joe has a lot to answer for these days. His wife Kate, a devoted Marsha Mason, can’t accept Joe’s guilt or the harsh reality that their son Larry is dead, even though he has been "missing in action" for three years.

At their younger son Chris’s (Ben Katz) request, Ann Deever, a lovely Fiona Robberson, has been invited to visit, someone Kate still calls “Larry’s girl.” In Kate’s mind, Larry is coming back. To complicate matters further, Chris wants to ask Ann to be his wife, knowing his mom can’t accept Larry won’t ever return, Ann’s father is in prison for shipping the defective parts and her brother George, an angry Reece Dos Santos, is coming to the Keller’s home to confront Joe about the truth.

As the storm of secrets threatens to explode, friends and neighbors of the Keller’s come to call, gathering in the spacious backyard of their home, created by Riw Rakkulchon. The scene of the confrontation is filled with Dr. Jim Bayliss (Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr.) and his wife Sue (Yadira Correa), Frank Lubey (Dan Whelton) and his wife Lydia (Caitlin Zoz) and young Bert (Malachy Glanovsky). Melia Bensussen directs this drama where Joe Keller, in trying to protect his family and their future, is as flawed as the airplane parts he allowed to be placed on planes. Is there any excuse to profit from war? Enter the world of the Keller family and discover how patriotism can be distorted.

For tickets ($30 and up), call the Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford at 860-527- 5151 or online at https://www.hartfordstage.org. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Mark you calendars for a Hartford Stage Gala on Saturday, May 11 starting at 6 p.m. starring Andre´ De Shields: Diamonds and Decades, for the theater’s 60th Anniversary. The evening will include an after- party featuring open bars, food stations, your chance to win diamonds, plus the return of Savage Pianos for dancing.

Come see how principles and morality are weighed in the balance, responsibilities to a community are judged, a father’s love for his sons is tested, a Greek tragedy unfolds, terrible secrets are unmasked and boundaries are destroyed as Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” reveals how one family’s conflicts are brutally exposed.

"THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD" AT GOODSPEED DELIGHTFULLY MYSTERIOUS

The famed English author Charles Dickens inconveniently died in 1870 leaving his final novel, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” without an ending, thus making it a true mystery. What happens to the poor orphan Edwin Drood who is newly engaged to another orphan Rosa Bud and has grand plans to venture with her after marriage to the intriguing land of Egypt? The answers to these probing questions can all be answered to your complete satisfaction (as you get to decide whodunit by democratic vote) at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam by Sunday, May 2. Thanks to Rupert Holmes, the play is now a spritely and spirited musical performed by the Music Hall Royale Theater Company for your complete enjoyment and amusement. The fun begins when the colorful characters start up a lively conversation with you as they spring forth into the audience to say hello and cheerio before the curtain even rises.

Come make the charming acquaintance of Lenny Wolpe who serves as our narrator, master of ceremonies, chairman and major maestro of the Music Hall Royale who entertains and introduces the significant players and their often complicated roles. First we meet the choirmaster John Jasper (Paul Adam Schaefer) who is the music teacher for Rosa Bud (Riley Noland) and harbors an unnatural affection for her, perhaps due to his opium addiction. Rosa, meanwhile, has been promised in marriage to the adventuresome Edwin Drood (Mamie Parris, note her female name) and the two have lively disagreements in their courtship that had been arranged by their long dead fathers years before. Rosa also has caught the eye of Neville Landless (Levin Valayil), who is a twin to his sister Helena (Jetta Juriansz), from the exotic country of Ceylon, and have arrived in London under the guardianship of their mentor Reverend Crisparkle (Paul Slade Smith). Also figuring in the plot are Princess Puffer (Liz McCartney) who runs the opium den with a stern hand, Durdles (David Beach) who is frequently in his cups, his man Deputy (Marcus Montgomery) who guards him and Bazzard (Jamie LaVerdiere) is a clerk. Tunes like “Both Sides of the Coins,” “No Good Can Come From Bad,” “Off to the Races,” and “Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead” sparkle through the show.

On a lovely set designed by Ann Beyersdorfer, dressed fashionably by Hunter Kaczorowski, with delightful choreography by James Gray, enhanced by music directed by Adam Souza, and over all perfection by director Rob Ruggiero, we witness Christmas holiday celebrations and angry and sweet encounters by the citizenry until the moment Edwin Drood disappears. Who is responsible you might ask? And you have the power to decide by voting for the most likely culprit. The crowd of villains is mighty and long. Evaluate the clues carefully and eliminate the red herrings. The ending of this melodrama depends on you.

For tickets ($30-86, and check for special offers ), call Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main Street, East Haddam at 860- 873-8668 or online at boxoffice@goodspeed.org. Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Come play detective and get your deerstalker caps and magnifying glasses ready as you help catch a murderer and plan a wedding as this music hall mystery entertains upstairs and down and all around the town.

CT GAY MEN'S CHORUS OFFERING CONCERTS OF "PURE IMAGINATION"

For more than 35 years, the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus has offered delightful and spicy concerts on any number of topics, singing selections to entertain and tickle your fancy. This spring is no exception as, under the direction of Artistic Director Greg McMahan, they present ”Pure Imagination"in homage to the magical world of illusions, dreams, and fantasy. You are invited to enter their musical bubble of deliciousness at The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and again at the Sacred Heart Community Theatre in Fairfield on Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m.

These talented guys will be primed and ready to perform in their finery as they spin appropriately dreamy tunes that conjure up all our hopes and promises for the future, what we want on our horizon, where we wish our futures are progressing, how we dream our lives will manifest. Once again they will use a sense of humor to tease and cajole, encouraging the uncertain and unsure to risk taking a leap into the unknown.

According to McMahan, “Whether you’re a seasoned concert goer or looking for a magical evening out with the family, these performers are designed to enchant and inspire across generations. We know that our audiences enjoy a wide range of musical genres, and I’m happy to say that our singers love exploring all kinds of vocal styles.”

For reserved tickets ($35), go online to www.ctgmc.org.

Let the magicians of the CT Gay Men’s Chorus ply you with tricks and treats as only they can, and take you on a magic carpet ride of pure imagination.

MUSIC THEATRE OF CT IS ENTERTAINING "GHOST THE MUSICAL" UNTIL APRIL 28

Whether or not you believe in the supernatural and things that go bump in the night, you're sure to be captivated by "Ghost The Musical" as it flies into the Music Theatre of Connecticut until Sunday, April 28.

The iconic love story of Molly and Sam, Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, in the movie, all mixed up with murder and the magical machinations of a wannabe psychic brought to life by Whoopi Goldberg, has been transformed morphically into "Ghost the Musical." Dave Stewart with Glen Ballard have infused it with stirring songs, adding to the mystery created by Bruce Joel Rubin's book.

When a man attacks a young couple Molly (Allie Seibold) and Sam (Seth Eliser), as they return to their loft apartment in Brooklyn, it is the catalyst that sets off a chain of events. Sam, a banker, has discovered some accounts with discrepancies at work and wants to investigate them more fully. He confides in a co-worker Carl (Matt Mancuso) of his suspicions and Carl agrees to help him.

That night when Molly and Sam are on a date, attending an art exhibit for Molly, a sculptor, a thief tries to steal Sam's watch and wallet and he is killed in the struggle. Molly had just confessed to Sam of her love and her desire to marry him, but Sam shied away from returning his proclamation of affection and never said "I love you." When she says those three words, he can only say "Ditto."

Suddenly Sam is gone. His unfinished business on earth traps him here, as a ghost, and he is determined to help Molly, especially once he realizes she is in danger. In despair, Sam finds a psychic, Oda Mae Brown, (Ladonna Burns) who may or may not be a fraud, to help him protect Molly. He sends messages to Molly through Oda Mae but Molly is reluctant to accept the words she says.

Involving Carl and the police, Molly goes on an odyssey of discovery, hoping to connect to Sam in death as she never could in life. Songs like "Unchained Melody," "Three Little Words" "Are You a Believer," "Nothing Stops Another Day" and "The Love Inside" propel the plot.

Others in the cast act like a Greek chorus expanding the tale: Paul Aguirre, Miguel Angel Acevedo, Scott Mikita, Jeff Raab , Leeanna Rubin, Kayla Arias, and Teagan La’Shay. Poignancy mixes well with humor as director Kevin Connors delivers this well loved story of hope and redemption.

For tickets ($45 -60), call MTC, 509 Main Street, Norwalk (route 1) at 203-454-3883 or online at musictheatreofct.com. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Pride Night is Friday, April 19. MTC encourages you to donate to their Capital Campaign at www.musictheatreofct.com/newspace.

Discover the gyrations, graphics and special spirited effects that will explode this love story with astonishing results and make this a magical adventure of a musical.

COME TO THE CABARET ABOUT ELIZABETH TAYLOR AT WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE APRIL 21

Ann Talman and Elizabeth Taylor both made their Broadway debut in Lillian Hellman’s gripping play of greed and family battles in 1981 when Ann played Alexandra,13, the daughter to Elizabeth’s manipulative Regina. The friendship established there lasted until Elizabeth’s death in 2011. “The Little Foxes” was a semi-autobiographical play set in Alabama in !900 about a struggle for control of a family business at a time when only men were considered legal heirs. Regina, the formidable daughter, fought that decision. Because Ann was never close to her own mother, she developed a bond with Elizabeth (don’t call her Liz) where the Hollywood icon “mothered me.”

To learn about their intimate relationship over decades, come to the Lucille Lortel Barn at the Westport Country Playhouse on Sunday, April 21 at 7 p.m. for Ann Talman’s one woman show “Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile,” a cabaret show of songs and stories that will bring this iconic star to vibrant life. These deeply revealing stories matched with corresponding songs show Elizabeth as a motherly friend who helped Ann with dating advice, loaning her jewelry, as well as valuable life lessons. Who knew Elizabeth was a fun loving and wicked prankster who often did such outrageous things as greasing the show’s long impressive staircase railing with Vaseline and made silly faces to break up the actors. You will now know as well as learn interesting anecdotes about this great star in the firmament who was an outstanding part of Hollywood royalty. With her violet blue eyes and small stature, she was a trailblazer.

With Ann’s help, you will gain insights about Elizabeth’s eight marriages, possibly a result of her sheltered childhood, and how she loved them each in her own special way, her perfume and jewelry empires and her opening night gifts to all the crew and actors for every show in every city, and her devotion to the cause of finding hope and a cure for AIDS. Because of her close friendship with actors like Rock Hudson and Montgomery Cliff, Elizabeth helped to establish, as a co-founder, The Foundation for AIDS Research. She did not abandon, as so many did, those she loved like Michael Jackson. Her grandchildren now run this foundation, that has raised more than $270,000,000, dedicated to research and awareness.

You will hear such inspiring tunes sprinkled throughout like “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Shalom,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Send in the Clowns,” and “How to Handle a Woman.” The evening is directed by Lisa Koutrakos with Alex Rybeck as music director on piano.

For tickets ($20), call the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Route One, Westport at 203-227-4177 or online at www.westportplayhouse.org.

In February 2023, on what would have been Elizabeth’s 91st birthday, Ann Talman debuted this charming and deeply personal reflection on her good friend Elizabeth Taylor, a grand dame who was "famous for being famous.” Come to the cabaret…to learn about Elizabeth Taylor's humanity and authenticity by one person who knew and loved her.

COME EXPERIENCE "A PLACE FOR US" ON JEWISH BROADWAY AT WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE MAY 8

A funny thing happened to actor and singer Ari Axelrod, not at the forum but at Eastern Michigan University when he was invited to present an academic evening on the history of the Jewish influences on musical theater. In October 2018 he wrote a script that was so well received he decided to take the talk/concert on the road. New York City’s Birdland booked it and it launched in January 2019 but then COVID hit. Even so, he performed it in parking lots and in masked venues. Now this one-man musical has evolved, growing like Topsy, and has become the favorite thing Ari Axelrod wants to do.

You have the unique pleasure of enjoying an evening with him at the Westport Country Playhouse on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. when he presents “A Place For Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway.” That night you will learn the what and why and how Jews were so instrumental in creating magical success on the Great White Way, with tunes and stories you may already know or ones that will be a delightful surprise.

With the enormous shadow of the October 7th attack on Israel looming, Ari Axelrod knows the world needs this show more than ever. He recently returned from the Jewish homeland where he felt safer than in New York City, even with the trauma there and palpable pain and grief. All Israel is suffering from the loss of life of October 7th and the hostages who still need to be released, as well as the suffering in Gaza. He feels hearts have been hardened because of this barbarism from Hamas that hasn’t been experienced since the Holocaust.

To Axelrod, people have forgotten Jewish joy with so much oy! He finds it amazing to watch his audiences rediscover songs they’d forgotten and find new tunes heard for the first time. He considers his show “an umbrella offering a look at what Jews have accomplished,“ with a little “Fiddler on the Roof” to start. He only does what he personally loves and can relate to, with changes to the production as the world changes, including deaths of men like Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick and Hal Prince. He also provides nods to the spiritual and the liturgy, to help the audience acknowledge the origin of this song or that prayer.

For Axelrod, “Our history is not only about how we survived but also about how we thrived." Jewish Week awarded him with a “36 to Watch Award” recognizing him as one of 36 most influential Jews in the United States. When he first heard, he thought it was spam but now he is equal parts amazed and surprised by this honor and validation. Broadway World hailed his show as “genuinely one of the finest shows this writer has ever seen.”

For tickets ($40), call Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Route One, Westport at 203-227-4177 or online at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. ADL CT Regional Director Stacey Sobel will have a conversation with Ari Axelrod after the show about the inspiration for it and how to cope with the increased levels of hatred and antisemitism nationwide.

When you attend this show, you will be asked what, why and who and discover what causes Ari Axelrod to be so committed and connected to it for deeply personal reasons. He promises you will discover Jewish vitality and how Jews thrive, and the ways light, in the Sabbath candles, Havdalah candles, Chanukah candles and yahrzeit candles illuminate our way. He quotes composer Sheldon Harnick of “Fiddler on the Roof” fame, on its 50th anniversary, with three lines from the musical Ari finds especially moving, “ God would like us to be joyful even when our hearts lie panting on the floor. How much can we be joyful, when there’s really something to be joyful for! To life! To life! L’chaim." Come light your way and be joyful with Ari Axelrod and explore your musical roots and your theatrical wings.

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LEARN SOME LIFE LESSONS WITH THE WHEEL LIFE THEATRE TROUPE AT LEGACY THEATRE OF BRANFORD

Do wheel chairs need and have a voice? Absolutely! The Legacy Theatre of Branford will prove the point with the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe when they present “Let’s Get Together” on Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m., Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m. This brand new world premiere is an original creation written and performed by the members who live these stories every day in a variety of situations. These scenes are guaranteed to make you more sympathetic and empathetic about their daily challenges, both the tribulations and the triumphs.

The focus will be on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it came to pass in the 1980’s and 1990’s and the brave people who literally and figuratively “stood up” to ensure its passage. These are civil rights that protect those with disabilities from discrimination. The troupe’s personal stories and struggles will be highlighted. According to Dana Canevari, a member of the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe since 2019, the show is “a slice of disability culture. It’s a human right to be treated respectively.” While many theaters do not provide access for performers or patrons, here at Legacy Theatre “there’s room for everyone on stage.”

“Let’s Get Together” wants to inspire understanding to educate audiences with real life situations to underscore problems and also provide solutions. “Even if it educates just one person, they can tell others,” according to Troupe cast member Wynter Knudsen.

For tickets ($15), call the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road, Branford at 203-315-1901 or online at LegacyTheatreCT.org.

Let your eyes be opened and your heart by educated by this amazing group of thespians the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe, and be inspired by all the understanding you gain on elevating the quality and dignity of life for us all.

DELIGHT IN THE MAGIC AND THE MUSIC OF THE EVERLY BROTHERS AT IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE

Ben Hope and Eric Anthony are new proud papas in real time as well as the creators and directors of an innovative tribute celebrating the music and stories of the Everly Brothers, being showcased until Sunday, April 28 at the Ivoryton Playhouse in “EVERLY The Music of The EVERLY BROTHERS." Sit back and start tapping your feet and snapping your fingers as these two clever and talented men take you on a journey to delight and entertain you. Two long time friends, they took on this challenge during the pandemic to write a show and you are sure to love their perfect product.

The lively and energetic tunes of the Everly Brothers began decades ago in Iowa with their musical family, on a radio show, and was encouraged by a friend Chet Adkins. Once they traveled to Nashville, they finally landed a contract with a small studio Cadence Records who handed them a song, “Bye. Bye, Love” that had already been rejected by 30 acts, including Elvis, and these young whipper-snappers turned it into a Number One hit. Writing their own songs and using the creations of Felice and Boudreaux Bryant and others, they went on to influence the likes of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Bee Gees, the Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel. In 2015 Rolling Stones ranked them as Number One on their 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.

Whether they are singing about Claudette, Mary, Jenny, Cathy, Lucille or Little Susie, they rock, combining rockabilly, rock ’n roll, country and pop in a pleasing harmony on steel-string acoustic guitars that made them so special. Ben and Eric share a plethora of great tunes, combined with a wealth of information about their lives, that is guaranteed to tell the whole story, even the troubles with addictions that stopped their performance parade for years. Come hear more than two dozen hits like “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” “Take a Message to Mary,” “Til I Kissed You,” “Cryin’ in the Rain,” “Cathy’s Clown,” and “Be Bop-A-Lu-La.” My only suggestions to improve this great show would be to include a little more sing-a-long and change the title to Everly Eternal or Eternally Everly. Just saying.

For tickets ($60 adults, $55 seniors, $25 students ), call the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton at 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.

Come let Ben and Eric share the story and the music of the Everly Brothers, who began at the ages of 8 and 10, pioneering country rock, witnessing the birth of rock and roll, with their incredible close harmony singing, struggling with the pressures of fame and addictions, to teach the world that “harmony is the ultimate love."

FIND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN "SANCTUARY CITY" AT THEATERWORKS HARTFORD UNTIL APRIL 25

We are all dreamers but too often that dream can translate into a nightmare. We all desire a home, safety, a future, but what if everything is a question mark and you are responsible for creating the bottom line, the end result, the conclusion of your personal story. For B (boy) Grant Kennedy Lewis and G (girl) Sara Gutierrez their future is uncertain. Both have come to America as immigrants, G lucky enough to now be a citizen, B unlucky enough not to be naturalized. These teenagers are both dreamers, hopeful of securing a home and a place in their new land. Enter their uncertain world thanks to TheaterWorks Hartford until April 25 in the involving drama by Martyna Majok ”Sanctuary City” and directed by Jacob G. Padrón and Pedro Bermúdez, in partnership with Long Wharf Theatre.

What if you faced their overwhelming obstacles on a daily basis. No wonder they cling to each other for companionship and courage. For B the constant fear of deportation looms overhead. Family issues are complicating their choices, with G coping with abuse and B’s mother wanting to go back home. G wants to go to college and B does too, but his status makes it impossible for him. They have a waltz of words as they examine their options, as the light and darkness weave over them. B’s mom has overstayed her visa which make him even more vulnerable.

These friends care deeply about each other. G is willing to go to great lengths to help, even to risking her future and big monetary fines and even prison by marrying him so he can get his green card. When G goes off to Boston to college, their goals get muddled and three and a half years past without action. When G finally returns to set the marriage in place, she encounters a new problem in Henry (Mishka Yarovoy) and the role he plays in B’s life now. How are lies, truths and guilt compromising them in their relationships? Is there a solution that will satisfy all their needs? How many sacrifices will each have to make before any of them has found a place to call home? For tickets ($25-70), 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 2:3- p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Talkbacks will follow Tuesday performances.

In addition two public and free talks will be held. the first Border Crisis on April 11 at 7 p.m. at Studio A, CT Public, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford and the second Impacts on Sanctuary Cities on Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at Center Church Meeting House, 675 Main Street, Hartford. All are welcome.

Be like King Solomon and judge for yourself what are the best answers for this Pandora’s box of complicated immigration issues that deserve our attention and solution, today more than ever before.

COME VOTE FOR "RANDY RAINBOW FOR PRESIDENT" AT THE SHUBERT THEATRE APRIL 27

If you are fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough) to be born with a name like Randy Rainbow, you may seem destined to be a show business star. Though his German ancestors had a family name in the old country of Regenbogen, his birth certificate is officially colorful and exotic, even if that elusive pot of gold took decades to materialize.

For a shy, introverted boy who was gay, he was teased and bullied as a lad and it took decades for him to emerge as a beautiful butterfly from his cocoon to become the writer, comedian, video producer, singer, actor, editor and talented technician he is today. To bathe in his genius, plan to attend “Randy Rainbow for President” at New Haven’s Shubert Theatre on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of inspired parody and shtick courtesy of the man himself with all the red, white and blue humor of the times.

Randy Rainbow has raised political parody to an art form. In his New York apartment, he originates videos with his unique ideas, with songs and commentary about people he admires like Barbra Streisand and politicians he deems unworthy to hold office. His creativity and characterizations are clever and on target, hysterical and hilarious, all the product of his imagination and world view.

Growing up on Long Island and later southern Florida, Randy Rainbow’s father was an entertainer and entrepreneur and both his grandmother and mother encouraged his love of musical theater. This show business loving family provided him with ballet lessons and opportunities to stage backyard musicals. He escaped bullying by classmates with musical summer camps and later by entertaining on cruise ships, while he waited to grow up and gain confidence. Moving to New York, he took odd jobs in restaurants and as a receptionist, notably for a talent agency.

During the pandemic, he felt he was “needed” and made his breakthrough on YouTube, creating a video about being Mel Gibson's love interest, based on Mel’s personal family rants. His decision to create skits about Donald Trump was a big boost to his meteoric rise in popularity and launched his career to new heights. To him, Trump is a “project,” great for his career but not so much for the country. His new best selling book “Playing With Myself” tells many of these stories.

Randy Rainbow doesn’t consider himself a political pundit. He feels he has to go from "truth,” what he feels is right, and dress up in a wig and costume and use his "secret sauce” to live out his childhood dreams. To see him at the Shubert Theatre is to have a “communal experience" in person, as he follows his path in life. He is opinionated and proud of it, providing levity, comfort and joy to people, growing in courage over the years, now with Podcasts where he kibbitzes with his idols and heroes. There is even talk about a show coming to Broadway so be on the lookout for a possible big announcement.

For tickets ($49.40 and up, with two special VIP packages available), call the Shubert Theatre, 247 College Street, New Haven at 203-624-1825 or online at www.shubert.com.

Hop on the campaign bandwagon and vote for Randy Rainbow who has clearly come a long way since his first job in the Big Apple as a server at Hooters. With his trademark pink cat eye glasses firmly in place, he is set to deliver a heaping bowl of stylized shtick uniquely his and his alone.