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Comedy, Renovations, Announcements, and some Fond Farewells

Comedy Tonight: The Legend of Georgia McBride now at TheaterWorks through Sunday, April 22 is billed as a “feel-good” gender bender comedy with music. Written by Matthew Lopez, whose plays have been produced at both TheaterWorks and Hartford Stage, Georgia McBride tells the story of Casey, a washed up Elvis impersonator who is broke and learns his wife is pregnant. To make money he becomes a drag queen. Rob Ruggiero is directing. For tickets, call 860-527-7838 or visit twhartford.org.

Saying Good-bye: Connecticut theater goers will be sad to learn that actor James Colby died suddenly at the age of 56. Colby received raves for his many Connecticut performances, most at Hartford Stage. Among his notable roles there were Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Rev. Shannon in Night of the Iguana, and in A Moon for the Misbegotten. He met his wife, Alyssa Bresnahan while working at Hartford Stage; she appeared in Napoli, Brooklyn at Long Wharf last year. He also had extensive Broadway, television, and film credits. I should also mention that in late January, Olivia Cole died. She was last seen at Long Wharf in Having Our Say, but in the 1970s and ’80s she often performed there, sometimes with her former husband Richard Venture.

Renovations Planned: TheaterWorks is planning extensive renovations of its building, City Arts on Pearl, which is home to the theater and a community resource for non-profit organizations. The renovations, which are scheduled to begin this spring, will replace and upgrade the mechanical backbone of the 1927 historic building as well as upgrade the elevator and renovate both the theater lobby and performance space. TheaterWorks has raised $4.5 million toward the improvements: a $2.5 million grant-in-aid from the Connecticut Bond Commission and $1.5 in private and corporate donations.

A Classic Musical: Ivoryton Playhouse is opening its season with The Fantasticks, the off-Broadway show that ran for years and years, 42 in fact. This story of young love, meddling parents, and disillusionment runs from Wednesday, March 21 to Sunday, April 8. It stars David Pittsinger as El Gallo, who has the classic song “Try to Remember.” Others in the cast are Patricia Schuman, R. Bruce Connelly, and Branford’s own Ryan Bloomquist. For tickets, call 860-767-7318 or visit ivorytonplayhouse.org.

The Fantasticks’ Composer: Harvey Schmidt who wrote the music for The Fantasticks with lyricist Tom Jones, died on Feb. 28 at the age of 88. In addition to that show, the team also wrote the music and lyrics for 110 Degrees in the Shade and I Do! I Do! Their show Mirette had productions at both Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre and the Opera House.

Directors and Creative Teams Announced: Goodspeed has announced the creative teams for all six of its production in 2018. Don Stephenson, who directed Guys and Dolls will direct The Will Rogers Follies with choreographer Kelli Barclay; Rob Ruggiero (Rags, Fiddler on the Roof, and others) returns to direct Oliver! with James Gray doing the choreography. The Drowsy Chaperone will be directed by Hunter Foster and choreographed by Chis Bailey. At The Terris Theatre in Chester, You Are Here will be directed by Sarna Lapine, Cyrano by Erica Schmidt, and A Connecticut Christmas Carol by Hunter Foster.

New York Notes: Harry Connick, Jr., is heading the cast of a musical version The Sting that will play New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse. Connick is also part of the composing team. If all goes well, it may head to Broadway. It’s got a top-notch production team in charge. The production of George Bernard Shaw’s St Joan, which opens in April, features Tony nominee Condola Rashad as Joan, with Patrick Page and Daniel Sunjata in the cast. Another sad note, Tony winner Ruthie Anne Miles is hospitalized following a car/pedestrian accident in Brooklyn that killed both her young daughter and another child.

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.