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02/15/2017 11:01 PMSocial Realism Drama: The Connecticut Repertory Theater on the UConn campus in Storrs is presenting two one-act plays from Thursday, Feb. 23 through Sunday, March 5. Waiting for Lefty is a classic 1930s play by Clifford Odets who is known for his social commentary and social action plays. It’s about a union of cab drivers in New York City during the depth of the Depression waiting for the union leader, Lefty, to tell them if they will strike or not. The closing play, Severance, is a new work by UConn grad Levi Alpert. As director Michael Bradford says, the new work “brings us closer to our present lives and looks at how wonderfully far and sadly how little we have traveled.” For tickets, call 860-486-2113 or visit crt.uconn.edu.
Veterans Work: Fairfield University is presenting War Stories at its Quick Center for the Arts on Friday, March 31. It is described as a unique collaboration that shares the stories of veterans from Homes for the Brave. The project employs a group of homeless veterans with a creative team including a writer, an artist, and a theater-make. Veterans may attend at no cost. For information, visit quickcenter.fairfield.edu.
Gender Switches: Cloud 9, billed as a provocative comedy, is next up at Hartford Stage. The play by British playwright Caryl Churchill runs Thursday, Feb. 23 to Sunday, March 19. It’s described as containing “unexpected trysts, gender swaps, role reversals, and power plays. Victorian repression clashes with liberal expression as the play follows a British family from Colonial Africa to London in the 1970s.” For tickets, call 860-527-5151 or hartfordstage.org.
Creative Teams: Goodspeed has announced the creative teams for its entire season both in East Haddam and Chester; three shows will be directed by women. Thoroughly Modern Millie (April 21 to July 2) will be directed and choreographed by Denis Jones, who choreographed Holiday Inn at Goodspeed. Oklahoma! (July 14 to Sept. 23) will be directed by Jenn Thompson, who directed Bye, Bye Birdie last year. Rob Ruggiero (director of Fiddler on the Roof and more) will direct the reimagined Rags (Oct. 6 to Dec. 10). At Chester, Deathless, (June 2 to July 2) will be directed by Tina Landau; Darling Grenadine (Aug. 18 to Sept. 17) will be directed by Kristin Hanggi; and Hunter Foster will direct A Connecticut Christmas Carol (Nov. 17 to Dec. 24). For tickets, visit goodspeed.org or call 860-873-8668.
Tony Nominee at TheaterWorks: Christiane Noll will headline the cast of TheaterWork’s production of Next to Normal. Noll was nominated for a Tony in the revival of Ragtime and won a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for her role in Mack & Mabel at Goodspeed. The musical by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics) won the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as numerous Tony awards. It tells the story of a suburban mom coming to terms with her bipolar disorder and how it affects her family. Rob Ruggiero will direct the show that runs from Thursday, March 23 to Sunday, April 30. For tickets, call 860-527-7838.
Terrific Musical: I have fallen in love with the musical now at New York’s Imperial Theater, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. It’s had a long road to Broadway, but I had never seen it. The plot revolves around Russia during the Napoleonic wars and is based on a tiny part of the classic and huge War and Peace. Josh Groban is making his Broadway debut as Pierre, which is not the romantic lead but a character part. He is terrific, as is the rest of the cast. The theater has been renovated so that it looks like an opulent night spot/restaurant and the audience sits all over the place. You may find an actor sitting next to you. The music, book, and lyrics are by Dave Molloy and they skillfully blend hints of Russian melodies with more modern genres. Playing through Sept. 3 at the Imperial Theatre, this is a show worth seeing. Tickets are available through Telecharge.com.
Karen Isaacs is an East Haven resident. To check out her reviews for New York and Connecticut shows, visit 2ontheaisle.wordpress.com. She’s a member of both the Connecticut Critics Circle and New York’s Outer Critics Circle.