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05/23/2019 12:01 AMYou Are Invited: Everyone is invited to attend the annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 3 at 7 p.m. at Goodspeed Theatre. Each year the group honors outstanding work and productions at professional Connecticut theaters. This year’s emcee is Broadway musical star Jennifer Cody, who is starring in the Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s production of Mamma Mia!
Multiple Theaters Receive Nominations: It just proves how terrific Connecticut theater is; the nominations for outstanding achievement in Connecticut’s professional theaters had representation from just about every theater eligible for the program. The following plays and musicals received multiple awards: el Hurican (Yale Rep), The Engagement Party (Hartford Stage), 12th Night (Yale Rep), A Flea in Her Ear (Westport), Make Believe (Hartford Stage), and Thousand Pines (Westport). Musicals receiving multiple nominations were Once (Ivoryton), The Music Man (Goodspseed), In the Heights (separate productions at Playhouse on Park and Westport), Cabaret (MTC), and Man of La Mancha (Westport). Winners are announced at the gala ceremony at the Goodspeed on Monday, June 3 at 7 p.m.
Scenic Design Contribution: Michael Yeargan, two-time Tony Award-winning set designer and co-chair of the design program at Yale School of Drama, will be the 2019 recipient of the Connecticut Critics Circle’s annual Tom Killen Award, recognizing his long service and achievement to theater in the state, New York and internationally.
’70s Hit Musical: One of the big hit musicals of the early ’70s, Godspell, is coming to Ivoryton in a production that runs through Sunday, June 16. (Actually Ivoryton produced the show in 1974 and then-newcomer R. Bruce Connelly was in the cast.) This show, with music by Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame), is loosely based on the Gospel of St. Matthew but set in the counterculture of the early ’70s. For tickets, visit IvorytonPlayhouse.org or call 860-767-7318. It is another show that is good for teens and preteens.
What Happens in College: Does it stay there? Actually, which is a two-character play now at TheaterWorks through Sunday, June 23, explores the issues and ramifications of the college dating scene and the intersection of gender and race on campus today. For tickets, visit theaterworksHartford.org or call 860-527-7838. While TheaterWorks’ theater is being renovated, Actually is performed at The Atheneum in Hartford.
Hit Musical: The Broadway hit musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee concludes the season at ACT-CT in Ridgefield. The show—about a group of awkward teenagers who are all spelling bee winners—runs Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 23. This is a really good show for preteens and teens, plus it is a lovely drive to Ridgefield. For tickets visit actofct.org.
NYC Awards: The Tony ceremony isn’t until Sunday, June 9, but other Broadway and off-Broadway theater organizations are announcing winners. The Outer Critics Circle (I am a member) gave its top new musical award to Hadestown and outstanding new play to The Ferryman. Top revival of a play was All My Sons, and the off-Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish) won the musical revival award. Acting awards in plays went to Bryan Cranston (Network), Elaine May (The Waverly Gallery), featured actor Benjamin Walker (All My Sons), and featured actress Celia Keenan-Bolger (To Kill a Mockingbird). For musicals the winners were Santino Fontana (Tootsie), Stephanie J. Block (The Cher Show), featured actor Andre De Shields (Hadestown), and featured actress Amber Gray (Hadestown). These may predict Tony winners, but often they do not.
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.