MARK AUERBACH
“Les Misérables” Opens Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Summer Season
Terrence Mann, the Broadway actor who won the Tony Award playing Inspector Javert in the first Broadway production of “Les Misérables”, will play Javert again, when he directs the Connecticut Repertory Theatre production of the legendary musical, May 28-June 7, at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the UConn campus in Storrs.
Appearing opposite Mann, is Australian leading man David Harris as Jean Valjean. Ariana DeBose, direct from the new musical “Hamilton” at The Public, plays Eponine. She originated the role of The Supremes’ Mary Wilson in Broadway’s “Motown”. Broadway veterans Phillip Hoffman and Liz Larsen are also in the cast.
For tickets: 860-486-2113
Terrence Mann directs and stars in “Les Misérables” at Connecticut Repertory Theatre
“Once” at The Bushnell
“Once”, the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning 2007 film, visits The Bushnell in Hartford, after its long Broadway run (May 25-31). “Once” began life at Cambridge’s American Repertory Theater (which also sent “Hair”, “Porgy and Bess” “Pippin” and “Finding Neverland” to Broadway). The musical first opened Off-Broadway, and moved uptown in time to qualify for the 2012 Tony Awards. “Once” won eight Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”, and ended its run in early January.
“Once” features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright & screenwriter, Enda Walsh; direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of “Black Watch”, John Tiffany, movement by Steven Hoggett (“American Idiot”) and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (“Mary Poppins”), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (“Aida”), and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.
For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org
James Patterson (Photo by David Burnett)
Plan Ahead
James Patterson, the best-selling novelist, will appear in conversation with WNPR’s Ray Hardman live on June 17 as a benefit for the Mark Twain House and Museum. The performance will be held at Immanuel Congregational Church on Woodland Street in Hartford. For tickets: 860-280-3130 or www.marktwainhouse.org.
More Season Announcements
The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington has announced its summer season, which includes: the Boston Early Music Festival performing Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610; The Paul Taylor Dance Company, Pink Martini, and Graham Nash. For details: 413-528-0100 or www.mahaiwe.org
Tod Randolph in “The How and The Why” at Shakespeare and Company.
Silverthorne Theater opens their summer season in Greenfield, with Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth”, followed by Elizabeth Orndorff’s “Aidan’s Gift” (which won the theatre’s new play competition). The season also includes Yussef El Guindi’s powerful “Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World”. For details: www.silverthornetheater.org
Chester Theatre Company Artistic Director Byam Stevens will step down from his post at the theatre, after two decades in the role at the end of the the 2015 season. Chester Theatre Associate Director Daniel Elihu Kramer, will step into the lead for the 2016 season. For Chester Theatre’s 2015 season: www.chestertheatre.org
Keep in Mind…
The How and The Why is Sarah Treem’s compelling play about two women biologists who meet at an international conference to debate science, family, and sex. Treem is a writer for television’s “House of Cards”, “The Affair” and “In Treatment”. Nicole Ricciardi directs the Shakespeare and Company production, which runs through July 26. Tod Randolph and Bridget Saracino star. For tickets: 413-637-3353 or www.shakespeare.org
Good People, David Lindsay-Abairre’s 2011 Broadway play (which won a Tony for its leading actress, Frances McDormand), is onstage at Hartford’s TheaterWorks through June 28. It’s the story of a woman in South Boston, living paycheck to paycheck with her disabled daughter. She reconnects with a guy from the neighborhood, who’s now a successul doctor, in the hopes that he can ind her work and a ticket to a better lie. Rob Ruggiero directs. For tickets: 860-527-7838 or www.theaterworkshartford.org..
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
