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10/22/2020 12:01 AMCollaborative Work: It’s billed as a “workplace” comedy but Russian Troll Farm next up at TheaterWorks also seems very timely. According to press materials it’s about “the everyday banality of destabilizing democracy.” Author Sarah Gancher wrote Seder which premiered at Hartford Stage directed by Elizabeth Williamson, co-director of this piece. TheaterWorks is collaborating with TheatreSquared of Fyetteville, Arkansas. It is described as a “unique live theater experience with ‘digital magic’…a cross between theater, film and multimedia design.” Troll live streams through Saturday, Oct. 24 with encore viewing on demand through Monday, Nov. 2. To purchase a ticket which will give you the access to either the live stream or the encore, visit RussianTrollFarm.com or email boxoffice@twhartford.org or call 860-527-7838.
Another Bobby Kennedy: Chris Manuel will be Bobby Kennedy in MTC’s production of Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade which will be performed live both in front of a limited audience and live streamed from Friday, Oct. 23 to Sunday, Nov. 8. It will be interesting to see his interpretation of Kennedy and how the play differs from the filmed version offered by Playhouse on Park recently which started the author David Arrow. For tickets call 203-454-3883.
A Modern Musical: When ACT-CT in Ridgefield planned a production of The Last Five Years, a two-person musical, it was expected to be streamed only. But Phase 3 happened and now a limited audience will be able to see the production live. It runs from Wednesday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Nov. 15, starring Daniel C. Levine and Katie Diamond. For information or tickets either to be in the audience or stream it, visit actofct.org.
Long Wharf Events: No real details have been announced but Long Wharf Theater has listed three upcoming events. Starting Sunday, Nov. 1, members of Long Wharf (it is moving to a membership basis) can participate in a play-reading club. Friday, Nov. 13 to Sunday, Nov. 15 the theater is promising an open-air, in-person production. No specifics have been announced. On Dec. 4 to 6, three new plays will be workshopped. Visit longwharf.org for further information.
No Broadway: Once again the Broadway League has pushed back the reopening of Broadway theaters to May 30, 2021 at the earliest. One of the shows that planned on opening in the spring, The Music Man with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster has now announced that it will begin previews Dec. 20, 2021 and open officially Feb. 10, 2022.
Lots to Watch: Amazon Prime is streaming The Glorias, a biopic about Gloria Steinem written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Julie Taymore. Juliaane Moore, Alicia Vikander, and others portray Steinem with Bette Midler as Bella Abzug. Netflix will release in December, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman and directed by George C. Wolfe. This is Wilson’s 1920s play, which premiered at Yale Rep in 1982.
Benefit Concert: Kelli O’Hara will headline a benefit concert for the NY Pops on Monday, Oct. 27. The concert was filmed at the Riverside Yacht Club in Greenwich earlier. O’Hara will sing songs not only from the shows she has starred in but others as well. Tickets are available at nypops.org. The nice thing is that tickets to stream many benefits are very reasonable.
Public Television: Each fall public television stations air Broadway productions as part of the Great Performances series. These will air on Fridays at 9 p.m. during November. First up is One Man, Two Guvnors, a farce staring Tony winner James Corden. Next is Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles a documentary about the history of the musical, followed by Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn featuring the Broadway production and concluding with Lea Salonga in Concert.
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.