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09/12/2019 12:01 AMThe Season Begins: Ivoryton Playhouse is one of several theaters starting the fall season. Shear Madness, which has run for decades in Boston, is coming to Connecticut from Wednesday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 6. It’s an audience participation comedy-murder mystery. Set in a hair salon, everyone gets in the act of solving the murder of the landlady who lives upstairs. For tickets, visit ivorytonplayhouse.org or call 860-767-7318.
A Modern Take on a Classic: Cervantes’ classic story of Don Quixote has been adapted to the stage, movies, a musical (Man of La Mancha) as well as being adapted to different centuries and situations. Hartford Stage is opening its season with Quixote Nuevo, which is described “as an inspired, Tejano music-filled contemporary reimaging of the classic.” It runs Thursday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Oct. 13. It is set in a fictional modern day Texas border town where Don Quixote embarks on his quests. For tickets, visit HartfordStage.org or call 860-527-5151.
A Familiar Comedy: After giving us the fine and challenging The Scottsboro Boys this summer, Playhouse on Park in West Hartford is offering an old favorite: Nunsense. This review of the comic adventures of five nuns started a cottage industry for playwright Dan Goggins, who wrote a number of spin-offs. The show about the sisters of Little Sisters of Hoboken will feature a several Broadway performers. The show runs Wednesday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Oct. 13. It can be great fun. For tickets, visit PlayhouseOnPark.org or call 860-523-5900.
Billy Elliot: The last show this season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam is underway through Sunday, Nov. 24. Billy Elliott is the Tony winning show based on the popular British film. It features a score by Elton John. For tickets, visit Goodspeed.org or call 860-873-3668.
Calling Boy Actors: Goodspeed Musicals is holding an open audition for local boys to play Tiny Tim in its production of A Connecticut Christmas Carol. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28. Auditions are by appointment only. For information about the role, the skills needed, and more, call 860-873-0021, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment.
Broadway Musicals: A local Connecticut critic Stuart Brown has debuted an Internet radio station dedicated to both familiar and unfamiliar Broadway music. Sounds of Broadway airs 24/7. It features more than 4,300 songs from 523 musicals. In addition to playing complete scores, he also has many specialized thematic programs, including one of Halloween-related music. Visit SoundsOfBroadway.com to find out more about the station and how to listen.
New Staff: Long Wharf has named Hope Chavez as artistic producer, a new position that will oversee productions and work with recently named artistic director Jacob G. Padrón. Chavez was most recently the managing producer of The 24 Hour Plays National, which develops young actors, writers, directors, and producers.
A Broadway Trend: Producers (as well as book writers, composers, and lyricists) have tried to make successful Broadway musicals from popular and beloved film comedies. For the most part they have failed. Just recently, Broadway insiders are talking about the tepid box office for the new musical Tootsie and questioning its longevity. But in the past few years two other very popular films failed to excite Broadway audiences: Groundhog Day and Pretty Woman. There are some exceptions but often these were lesser known film comedies like Kinky Boots. Broadway musicals from musical films have been much more successful with everything from Beauty and the Beast to many other Disney films. The failure rate hasn’t stopped producers from continuing work on a variety of projects including musical versions of Mrs. Doubtfire and The Devil Wears Prada.
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 the Connecticut Critics Circle, New York’s Outer Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association.