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02/28/2018 11:01 PMNew Plays: Ivoryton Playhouse is holding its Second Annual Festival of Women’s Plays this Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3. The playwrights have been working with directors and actors all week on these new works. It culminates in readings of the one act plays. On Friday, it is Henry, Louise and Henri by Kathleen Cahill, described as “hilarious look at the different effects of art on an American couple in Paris.” Following that will be To Fall in Love, Do by Jennifer Lane. “Scientists claim that there are 36 questions you can ask to fall in love with anyone. But can this seemingly simple exercise save even Wyatt and Merryn’s marriage?” On Saturday at 7 p.m. is Blood by Yael Hasekl about a young woman’s decision to donate blood to a sick pastor. After that is The Gentleman’s Pact by Karen Howes. It’s about a college professor who tells his colleague that he wants to marry the colleague’s wife. There is talk back each evening following the productions. For tickets, call 860-767-7318 or visit ivorytonplayhouse.org.
A Schedule Change: Hartford Stage announced that it will present a different Athol Fugard play as the last show of the season. Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act had been scheduled. Now Fugard’s A Lesson from Aloes will run May 17 to June 10. Darko Tresnjak will direct. He said he felt Aloes speaks to the current social and political environment. It deals with “how changing landscapes strain marriages, friendships, and communities.” The play debuted at the Yale Rep. I’ve been waiting to see a production of it for years. For more information, contact the Hartford Stage box office at 860-527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.
Hitchcock Adaptation: Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense film The 39 Steps a number of years ago was turned into a hit theater piece though with more humor added. Four actors play all the characters. Critics have described as Alfred Hitchcock interpreted by Monty Python. It’s next up at Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk, Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March 18. You’ll have a rollicking good time. For tickets, visit musictheatreofct.com.
Pulitzer Finalist: Yale Rep presents the 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist, Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Suzan-Lori Parks, Friday, March 16 to Saturday, April 7. It is described as part one of Parks’s American Odyssey. Set in the Civil War, Hero is offered his freedom from slavery in exchange for joining his master in the ranks of the Confederacy. It’s described as an epic filled with music, wit, and lyricism. For tickets, call 203-432-1234 or visit yalerep.org.
Season at the Terris: Goodspeed will present three new musicals this year at the Terris Theatre in Chester. This smaller theater is reserved for productions still in the development process; the productions are smaller though they still have sets and costumes. Opening the season is You Are Here,which will run May 18 to June 10. Set in July 1969 when man first walked on the moon, it’s about a housewife who finds that small changes lead to a life-changing leap. From Aug. 3 to Sept. 2 is Cyrano, a new musical adaptation of the legendary romantic play. The Grammy-winning alternative band The National is providing the music. The season will end with the return of A Connecticut Christmas Carol, Nov. 30 to Dec. 30, in what is described as a revised version. For tickets, visit goodspeed.org or call 860-873-8668.
Summer at UConn: Tony nominee Terrence Mann is returning to the Connecticut Repertory Theatre to oversee the Nutmeg Summer Series, which will include three musicals. The first is Disaster, a musical spoof of all those 1970s disaster films, June 7 to 13. Seth Rudetsky, who co-wrote the show and appeared in its Broadway incarnation, will reprise his role. Following is a concert version of Sweeney Todd (June 21 to July 1) with Mann as Sweeney. The series concludes with Jesus Christ Superstar, July 12 to 22. For tickets, visit crt.uconn.edu or call 860-486-2113.
Karen Isaacs is an East Haven resident who hosts radio shows broadcast on University of New Haven’s radio station, WNHU 88.7 FM, and online at www.wnhu.net.