OPEN THE SACRED SCRIPT TO "GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!” LAUGH and LEARN

Are you familiar with that inventive man from Germany Johannes Gutenberg who long ago created the printing press and produced the first copy of the Bible. This all happened way, way back in 1454 and, according to records, only 180 copies were engraved and stamped, with color added by the purchasers. Just 49 remain of this first large-format typographic book printed in Mainz, Germany, with just 42 lines on a page. Moveable type in Korea accounts for the first printed book nearly a century before.

If you are naturally curious and want to know more about Johannes, then Playhouse on Park in West Hartford has just the answer for you. Before Sunday, February 8, plan to visit "Gutenberg! The Musical” created by Anthony King and Scott Brown for a history lesson courtesy of two energetic and enthusiastic men Jeremiah Michael Ginn and John Wascavage as Bud Davenport and Doug Simon with Miles Messier on piano as Charles and Jimmy Donohue as swing.

You are comically invited to the mostly imaginative journey to the world of Johannes Gutenberg, without benefit of Wikipedia or Google or any historical documents. “Gutenberg! The Musical!” originally written in 2005, centers on Bud and Doug who deliberately and determinately want to create a play about this guy named Gutenberg who is the only one in his depressing German town named Schlimmer who can read. One night this inventive lad decides to turn his wine press into a printing press and Bud and Doug find themselves off and running making stuff up, from A to Z, to create a highly fictional version that may or may not have a page or fact of truth.

Bud and Doug want to become producers on Broadway and set about “selling” their concept to any one with money enough to fund it. They stretch their talent and their truth, overlooking the facts as minor in significance. With a limited amount of talent, the pair are forced to play all the cast, using a series of hats with their characters’ names on them and switch the caps like Dr. Seuss’s story about Bartholomew’s 500 hats.

Aiding Gutenberg is his less than brainy but beautiful assistant Helvetica (note the pun on a printing type) and Monk, the villain of the piece, who is determined to foil Johannes in his quest by distorting the Bible verses and destroying the printing press. In this musical spoof, they sing all the songs and enthusiastically play all the parts. Their hope and dream is to persuade the producers to fund their crazy project straight to stardom.

For tickets ($ 55 adults, $52 students and seniors,$25 10:30 a.m.), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park, West Hartford at 860-523-5900 ext. 10 or online at http://www.playhouseonpark.org. Performances are Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.,Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 pm., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a talkback.

Show your ticket for a 10% discount at Gather 55, a theater dining partner.

A hearty Bravo and Hats Off to Bud and Doug for their exciting new adventure, and hope they break a leg or three along the way to Broadway.

A ROMP WITH ROMANCE OR INCIDENTS WITH INFIDELITY; YOUR CHOICE

For playwright Sandy Rustin, a beautiful 1920’s English cottage is the perfect setting to plant tulips, daisies and secrets. She is focusing her sense of humor on affairs, extra marital relationships and infidelity and manages to create a charming and hysterical comic farce. Husbands, wives and lovers run amok as partners exchange keys, reveal and confess intimacies, and question their choices in marriage and in cheating. Get your scorecard ready or dance card if you prefer as Hartford Stage, until Sunday, February 8, lets Cupid’s arrows fly hither and yon, striking wherever and whomever they may in “The Cottage.”

Sylvia (Mary Cavett) and Beau (Jordan Sobel), her husband's brother, have been rendezvousing once a year, for seven years, and now she has determined all by herself that they really should have married each other long ago. To that end she has determined to make that happen, without discussing it with Beau, by sending her husband Clarke (Craig Wesley Divino) and Beau’s wife Marjorie (Kate MacCluggage) telegrams confessing that divorces are in their future. Needless to say, the spouses in question, one nine months pregnant arrive at the cottage door.

Not to worry, the second couple are carrying on an affair of their own and Clarke is the father of Marjorie's baby, in case you’re worried. Next in the door is Dierdre (Jetta Juriansz), there to surprise Beau but is the unknown prize package to Sylvia. Last to arrive is Sylvia’s long lost, supposedly dead, teen lover Richard (Matthew J. Harris) who is currently married to Dierdre and has a reputation for murdering all of her illicit suiters. With the twists and turns of the plot, you will have fun matching all the partners as they hop on and off the merry-go-round of beds.

Enjoy playing the games, hide and seek, it, spin the bottle, charades, here comes the bride, dueling with feather dusters as Hunter Kaczorowski’s elegant costumes flit and flounce up and down the stairs of Tim Mackabee’s countryside romantic retreat, with the fine timing of Zoe Golub-Sass’s direction.

For tickets ($20-115), call Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford at 860-527-5151 or online at HartfordStage.org. Performance areTuesday to Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

No guilt required as you laugh at the antics of these deliciously decadent participants in indecent peccadillos where these entangled sexual games are hysterically afoot.

STUPENDOUS AND SPIRITED "SUFFS" AT THE BUSHNELL

For women, the right to vote was a sacred privilege, one that was fought for and significant to win. The 19th Amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, hard battled after decades of struggle for suffragettes. Not all women, particularly Black and native American. won this fight immediately. This milestone was achieved after generations of protest during which women wrote, lectured, marched and even practiced civil disobedience to achieve a permanent change in the Constitution. Their victory, that began in the 1800’s, took decades to achieve. Women worked tirelessly to pass specific legislation state by state, went to court to challenge men over voting laws, picketed, held silent vigils, suffered hunger strikes, and even went to jail to show their resistance.

When President Wilson finally changed his position in 1918 to support this amendment, the political balance shifted its support. It was not until long into the 20th century, in 1965 , that minority groups finally gained the right to equal voting rights. Come patriotically join the parade of fearless women at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts when “Suffs”, with book, music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, unfolds its dramatic story from now until Sunday, February 1. Follow this powerful story as women from all walks of life risked their personal well being to gain the right to vote, even it meant the sacrifice of their lives.

A musical with a heartfelt message that mobilized females to fight for a captivating cause will excite and entertain and revolutionize. In the United States, these women followed the lead of their sisters in Britain, New Zealand and Australia to unite. With a motto "deeds, not words” they battled politicians and police, were attacked and sexually assaulted, smashed windows, and some, like 14 year old Emmeline Pankhurst began their dedicated campaign when only 14 years of age.

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With triumphant tunes like “Let Mother Vote,” “Wait My Turn,” “Show Them Who You Are,” “I Was Here,” “Finish the Fight,” and "Keep Fighting,” we meet heroines like Alice Paul (Maya Keleher), Inez Milholland (Monica Tulia Ramirez), Ida B. Wells (Danyel Fulton) and Carrie Chapman Catt (Marya Grandy) in this glorious all female cast, in this dedicated love letter to daughters, mothers, sisters and wives of history.

For tickets ($48.50-167.50), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at bushnell.org. Performances are at Wednesday to Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.,and Sunday at 1 p.m and 6:30 p.m. Visit the tables in the lobby dedicated to women and girls and voting.

Join the sisterhood and proudly carry the flag and march passionately for democracy, admiring and applauding the devoted women who dedicated their lives making the women’s right to vote a reality.

STOP AND APPRECIATE THE ROSES

The New Year 2026 is an open slate for beginnings and resolutions and opportunities. Appreciate and treasure life… Like the fragile beauty of a colorful butterfly flitting on a blazing star plant's petals. The glorious majesty of a single or double rainbow after a sunshower. The wagging of a velvet puppy dog’s tail symbolizing extreme affection. The sunshine of daffodils broadcasting a golden triumph of flowering perfection. The melodious tuffed titmouse announcing its presence sweetly in the New England branches. The joy of growing up in a neighborhood or community that embraces front porches and next door folks. Experiencing the togetherness of family and friends on holidays, happy and sad times, joys and sorrows. To recognize the pleasure of hugs, kisses and embraces, cherishing that you are never alone. To experience Christmas any month of the year thanks to Hallmark Movies,like Christmas in July, no snow. To pray for the day when peace will reign and everyone will enjoy enough to eat, clean water to drink, a sturdy roof over your head, worthy work earning enough money to pay bills and health insurance to cover medical needs. May no one suffer from need or want. To sustain education to guarantee learning across the playing field with equality for the world. May the world encourage learning and curiosity all the years of your life, for girls and boys. May everyone leave the world a little better than they found it. You have only to save one person to be credited with saving the whole world. May you be privileged to explore all the arts, hobbies, games, and sports that your heart desires…and never be picked last. May democracy reign peacefully across the globe with honest politician never being an oxymoron. VOTE. May freedom of religion rule supreme, and never be an excuse to wage war or to kill. May the immigrants who built countries be honored and valued for their contributions to our betterment. Let us all share the blessings we are able to enjoy and let no one suffer the wickedness of others. May everyone on earth know the glory of being loved, of earning a good name, of contributing to making this world a little better for having lived here, for enjoying good health and a long life. Whether you love nature’s magnificent sunsets or marshmallow frosted ice cream sundaes, glorious sunrises or intricate spider webs, may you imagine the beauty of nature bringing joy to your life. When you play the game of what the clouds look like- either elephant or egg or eagle- you have fun. May you perform random acts of kindness -anonymously- and never waste your days FOMO, with Fear of Missing Out. And, most of all, may you Never Postpone Joy!