Connecticut Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 5

BWW Review: THIS BITTER EARTH at TheaterWorks Hartford
by Brooks Appelbaum - March 01, 2022

This Bitter Earth, playing at TheaterWorks in Hartford through March 20, is a moving and poetic work that explores the love between two men, Jesse and Neil, and their central conflict....

BWW Review: THE DIVAS at Ridgefield Theater Barn
by Sean Fallon - February 13, 2022

On Saturday, February 12, I had the pleasure of seeing THE DIVAS at the Ridgefield Theater Barn, in Ridgefield, CT.  This story, written by Jack Neary, is a comedic series of seven different one act plays that depict the lives of fictional divas Bethel and Clarice, two middle-aged stage actresses wh...

BWW Review: RAPUNZEL at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - February 13, 2022

On Saturday, February 12, at noon, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another Phill Hill masterpiece, at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre, in Bridgeport, CT, a musical adaptation of the classic story of RAPUNZEL.  This is the story of a princess who is trapped by an enchantress, high up in a castle, waiti...

BWW Review: The NIGHT OF THE ASSASSINS overwhelm at Brookfield Theatre Of The Arts
by Jared Reynolds - February 06, 2022

The best part of reviewing shows is that I have the opportunity to see shows that I have never heard of before. I entered Brookfield Theater to see Night of the Assassins, and I settled in for what promised to be an intense afternoon; an intensity that surpassed all expectations....

BWW Review: 'ANGRY, RAUCOUS' ANYTHING BUT SHAMELESS at Hartford Stage
by Andrew Beck - February 04, 2022

Although “Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous” is the title of Atlanta playwright Pearl Cleage’s new play, it quite amply describes the two women at the center of this literary comedy....

BWW Review: NICKEL MINES at ACT Of Connecticut
by Sean Fallon - January 20, 2022

On Thursday, January 20, I had the pleasure of seeing a phenomenal show that I have been waiting to see for about two years!   It was well worth the wait!  The ACT of Connecticut has struck gold with NICKEL MINES, an emotionally intense musical based on the true story of an Amish school shooting, pe...

BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE at Fairfield Center Stage
by Sean Fallon - December 15, 2021

On Wednesday, December 15, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my absolute favorite annual shows, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as put on by Fairfield Center Stage.  This annual production is easily the show that I talk up the most frequently during the year, every year.  While in the past, it has b...

BWW Review: A Lesson Learned with DOT at Brookfield Theatre
by Jared Reynolds - December 15, 2021

Not every Christmas is a happy one- that’s just the reality of growing up- but that doesn’t mean that the holiday season can’t still be special. You must make the most of every moment you can because you never know when those moments will run out. This lesson rang loud and true on stage at the Brook...

BWW Review: WHO'S HOLIDAY! at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - December 12, 2021

Two weeks before Christmas my wife and I’d go To Meriden to see a phenomenal show The Castle Craig Players have done it again At the Memorial Playhouse of Almira F. Stephan A first rate performance we highly enjoyed With Dr. Seuss characters this show has toyed...

BWW Review: THE SANTA STORY at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - December 05, 2021

On Saturday, December 4th, at 12:00 P.M., I had the pleasure of seeing yet another Phill Hill written masterpiece, THE SANTA STORY, at Downtown Cabaret Theatre, in Bridgeport, CT.   Phill Hill has incredible writing talent in putting new spins on traditional children’s tales, while his creative geni...

BWW Review: A Holiday mix-up creates a delightful night at TheatreWorks New Milford
by Jared Reynolds - December 04, 2021

A holiday classic with a fun twist, 'What the Dickens?' takes the audience on a unique journey that is destined to delight and entertain!...

BWW Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - October 17, 2021

On Saturday, October 16, I had the pleasure of returning to the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT, to see the Castle Craig Players’ performance of STEEL MAGNOLIAS by Robert Harling.  Under the superb direction of Pam Amodio, this stellar cast provides what is both a humorous and em...

BWW Review: MAMMA MIA! at Fairfield Center Stage
by Sean Fallon - October 16, 2021

On Friday, October 15, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal production by Fairfield Center Stage, an innovative theatre company that continues to go that extra mile to bring the audience fresh new experiences with familiar shows that Fairfield Center Stage brings to life in positive w...

BWW Review: SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE at ACT Of Connecticut
by Sean Fallon - October 01, 2021

On Friday, October 1, 2021, I had the pleasure of returning to the ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT, to see yet another amazing performance, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ, a phenomenal show featuring the legendary music of songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who were the writers of many of the greatest r...

BWW Review: THE SOUNDS OF THE SEVENTIES at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
by Sean Fallon - September 11, 2021

On Friday, September 10, I had the pleasure of seeing THE SOUNDS OF THE SEVENTIES, reprised at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre. This approximate two hour performance includes nearly fifty different songs, performed by the extremely talented four original cast members. Mikayla Petrilla, Saige Bryan, Rob...

BWW Review: THE SUBURBS at Thrown Stone
by Sean Fallon - August 29, 2021

On Saturday, August 28, 2021, I saw THE SUBURBS, a three segment show, each segment written by a different writer, including Catherine Yu, Tony Meneses, and Phanésia Pharel, respectively. All three stories are directed by Kholoud Sawaf.  With THE SUBURBS, Thrown Stone has presented a world premiere,...

BWW Review: GODSPELL at Musicals At Richter
by Sean Fallon - July 25, 2021

On Saturday, July 24th, I had the pleasure of returning to Musicals at Richter, in Danbury, to see the absolute greatest performance of GODSPELL that I have ever seen! This musical allows creativity and originality to every theater group that performs it.  Musicals at Richter maximizes this freedom...

BWW Review: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - July 24, 2021

On Friday, July 23rd, I had the pleasure of seeing live theatre from the Castle Craig Players, again, their first live show since March of 2020!  Performing outdoors at the Hubbard Park Bandshell, in Meriden, CT, the Castle Craig Players return to live performances, right where they left off, with y...

BWW Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Fairfield Center Stage
by Sean Fallon - June 25, 2021

On Thursday, June 24, I thoroughly enjoyed Rogers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, performed by Fairfield Center Stage, under the open summer skies on a beautiful Fairfield evening, at Fairfield Museum Commons.  I always look forward to Fairfield Center Stage productions, because they take inno...

BWW Review: JUST DESSERTS at Legacy Theatre
by Sean Fallon - June 20, 2021

JUST DESSERTS brings top talent to the Legacy Theatre, giving people yet another reason to visit the lovely town of Stony Creek, CT. This original musical keeps the audience entertained from start to finish with intrigue and suspense as to who will win a baking contest and whether it will be won w...

BWW Review: AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS at Ridgefield Theater Barn
by Sean Fallon - June 19, 2021

One of my favorite annual theater traditions is attending AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT, always an amazing time with great comedy!  It was such a pleasure experiencing the 2021 AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS, on Friday, June 18.  I greatly enjoy the consistent high ...

BWW Review: IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at Castle Craig Players
by Sean Fallon - April 25, 2021

During the pandemic, I have greatly missed the consistent high quality live performances from the Castle Craig Players.  I am looking forward to when they will be able to perform live, again, which I hope will be very soon.  In the meantime, I am happy to say that now, online, the Castle Craig Playe...

BWW Review: THE SOUND INSIDE Reverberates Online at TheaterWorks Hartford
by Derek McCracken - April 20, 2021

Ethical boundaries and emotional bonds fray in playwright Adam Rapp’s THE SOUND INSIDE, a cryptic and creative trope-defying drama exploring a symbiotic and suspenseful Ivy League professor-student friendship. The 90-minute filmed-to-stream production from Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero an...

BWW Review: FUNNY HOW IT HAPPENS at Ridgefield Playhouse
by Sean Fallon - February 15, 2021

In FUNNY HOW IT HAPPENS, Jarrod and Kelli skillfully selected the songs they performed to incorporate songs meaningful to their relationship, songs significant to their careers, and songs that have traditionally been audience favorites.  Every song was an excellent choice, whether they performed the...

BWW Review: A QUARANTINE CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE at Fairfield Center Stage
by Sean Fallon - December 22, 2020

I had the pleasure of streaming Fairfield Center Stage’s production of A QUARANTINE CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE.  The innovative creativity from Fairfield Center Stage continues to mesmerize audiences with its ability to showcase a myriad of talented cast members and maximize available resources, eve...