Lauren Yarger - Page 4

More impressive than two good actors doing what they do best, however, is how Ruiz, pictured right with Kline, fits perfectly in to the mix. He has stood out in roles at CT Rep's My Fair Lady, The Music Man and Man of LaMancha as well as in Yale Rep'sAmerican Night, but really shines here. He conveys real affection for his uncle, admiration for Al and somehow manages to be engaging without getting in the way of the veterans.

Connecticut's theater season heats up during the summer with regular and summer series offerings. Some of the top picks I am looking forward to:

A reception at 6:30 precedes the ceremony, which will begin at 7:30. All are welcome to attend the free event, which is fast becoming the theater-networking event in the state.

Maxwell Williams directs a talented ensemble to tell the story of three very different siblings gathering at their home, where quoting Chekhov, throwing coffee cups at the wall and channeling Maggie Smith are not considered strange.

A talented cast of four playsy 20 characters in ten sketches about love at its best and not-so-best set at "7:30 pm on different Friday evenings, Spring through Winter in an alternate suburban reality."

Strong performances highlight this production. Beach, who created the role of Henry in The Great American Mousical at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre in 2012 is a comic genius (loved him in the original Urinetown on Broadway). He's sleazy enough to be believable as the devil, yet sarcastic enough to be likable.

The stage directions for the musical don't say that it should be performed at Music Theatre of Connecticut's 45-seat theater in Westport, but maybe they should. The intimate space and wonderful circus-tent-themed backdrop by scenic designer Carl Tallent are the perfect setting for the one-piano musical.

Take one of his classic comedies, throw in a Fab Four group sort of like the Beatles and let Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong (AMERICAN IDIOT) write the music and presto: you have a modern, interesting show called THESE PAPER BULLETS.

Levy shows a wide arc of emotions as the character goes from educated woman in control of her life to someone not quite sure who to trust, including herself.

Singing 30 tunes popular in the era like 'Goldfinger,' 'Downtown,' To Sir with Love,' and the title song 'Shout,' the girls, identified only by colors that signify their personalities, try to embrace modern times while seeking the advice of columnist Gwendolyn Holmes

This tour is quite well done, with strong vocals for the leads. Evans nails 'I Believe' and Ncube shows a lovely soprano in her national tour debut. O'Neill, making his professional debut, shows solid comic ability as the awkward Cunningham

This production, helmed by Paul Mullins, is delightful in every way, with wonderfully full portrayals, a fanciful set (designed by Joe Keener III) and costumes (designed by Tiffany Delligatti) that are to die for.

In Noel Coward's time, and when one of his last plays, A SONG AT TWILIGHT was written in 1966, it must have been shocking to have the possible outing of a closeted gay man be the driving force of a plot. In 2014, when such a play is just one of a plethora of stories written by men, featuring male characters and very often, gay men's issues, we have to wonder why two of Connecticut's theaters have chosen to include a revival of it on their stages this season (currently it's at Hartford stage through March 16. It moves to Westport Country Playhouse April 29), especially when there are so many other great plays out there just begging to be produced.

Ropes become rooms and oceans, people become doors, gloves become birds and some very clever staging, directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers.

Once upon a time we could go to the theater and enjoy a play that made sense, challenged our thinking, moved our hearts and made us feel enlightened when the curtain fell.

A sweeping tale of friendship and devotion amidst the horrors of war combines with spectacular puppetry to bring Michael Morpurgo's children's novel WAR HORSE, to life on stage. It reins in for a tour stop at The Bushnell through Sunday.

The Dow may be plunging, but angst is at an all-time high at the pharmaceutical advertising company of Sutton, Feingold and McGrath where recent layoffs have the remaining employees pinning their hopes to an all-important presentation coming up by Jun Suk (Nelson Lee).

How can a person with keen intelligence believe in a God that can't be proven?

As always, Connecticut's professional theaters offerered a bountiful selection of excellent theater in 2013. It's hard to pick just a few, but here are some of the year's standouts from the theaters I cover for BroadwayWorld.com: