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07/19/2018 12:01 AMCRT Announces Its Season: The 2018-’19 season at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) located on the UConn campus in Storrs will feature three productions on the main stage, and two in the Workshop Series. CRT is an arm of UConn’s theater department that integrates undergraduate and graduate students with visiting professionals. The season opens with The Grapes of Wrath from Oct. 4 to 14, then A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration by Paula Vogel from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9. In the spring, the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood will play from Feb. 28 to March 10, and then Henry IV (based on Shakespeare’s Henry IV parts 1 and 2) is scheduled from April 25 to May 7. The workshop series features Good Children from Oct. 25 to Nov. 5 and If We Were Birds from March 28 to April 7. For subscriptions and information, visit crt.uconn.edu or call 860-486-2113.
Outdoor Shakespeare: I’ll admit that I have never understood why so many groups produce Shakespeare plays outdoors during the summer. New York’s Public Theater uses Central Park. The Connecticut Free Shakespeare will present The Tempest as a new venue in partnership with the University of Bridgeport just off Seaside Park. It seems appropriate since the play is set on island. It runs Thursday, July 19 to Sunday, July 22. Performances are free. For information, visit ctfreeshakespeare.org. Elm Shakespeare will be performing Love’s Labour’s Lost in New Haven’s Edgerton Park, Tuesday through Sunday, Aug. 16 to Sept. 2. All performances are free, with more information at www.elmshakespeare.org/shakespeare-in-the-park. And Shoreline Arts Alliance will be presenting a Shakespeare on the Shoreline production, featuring Legacy Theatre, of Hamlet, from Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 1 to 5 on the Guilford Green, with all performances at 7:30 p.m., with pre-show and post-show talkbacks. More information is available at www.shorelinearts.org/hamletprogram.
Next at TheaterWorks: Hand to God was a surprise hit on Broadway several seasons ago; now it will be at TheaterWorks, Hartford from Friday, July 20 to Sunday, Aug. 26. Set in Texas, it is about a teen boy with anxiety issues who joins the Christian Puppet Ministry. When the puppet takes on an irreverent personality of its own, it upsets Jason’s relationships. It is not designed for children. For information or tickets, visit theaterworksHartford.org or call 860-527-7838.
New York Notes: Lots of shows have closed or announced closing dates. Some were limited runs, so it was expected. Among these are Angels in America, Boys in the Band, Three Tall Women, Travesties, and An Iceman Cometh. But others shows are closing due to low box office. Two musicals are in that group: Escape to Margaritaville and SpongeBob SquarePants. A Bronx Tale also will close, but that has run well over a year. All three of these musicals will tour, with A Bronx Tale already scheduled for Connecticut. Usually the summer is slow on Broadway, but this year several shows are starting previews in July including the dark comedy Straight White Men and the musicals Head Over Heels, Getting the Band Back Together, and Pretty Women. Perhaps the most interesting shows off-Broadway is the Irish Rep revival of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever starring Melissa Errico, the musical Desperate Measures, This Ain’t No Disco, and a revival of Smokey Joe’s Café.
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.