Karen Isaacs

The opening production at Ivoryton Playhouse, I'm Connecticut , is a mildly amusing comedy that is more like a series of skits that make gentle fun of our state.

From the moment Alphonso Walker, Jr., walks down the aisle and onto the stage, I was riveted.

Two Adventuresome Choices: MTC (Music Theatre of Connecticut) in Norwalk has announced two adventuresome choices for next year's season. It will open with Harmony (Sept. 11 to 27), the musical written by Barry Manilow, based on the true story of the musical group Comedian Harmonists, who were popular in Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s until Hitler destroyed them. Next up, from Nov. 6 to 22, is Always… Patsy Cline. In the new year is Desperate Measures — A Musical Comedy Gone Wild (Feb. 5 to 21), based loosely on Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. The season will conclude with Clue (April 16 to May 2), based on the film of the popular game. For information and dates when subscriptions and tickets for individual productions will be available, visit mtcofct.

Rose Byrne and Kelly O'Hara are tearing up the stage in the Roundabout Theatre's production of Noel Coward's Fallen Angels . It is a delight.

The historic Goodspeed Opera House is rocking with the theater's opening production of the 2026 season.

Circus Fire , the world premiere production by TheaterWorks Hartford, is a stunning example of documentary drama.

Casting Set for Sweeney Todd: The big theater event in June is Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford's co-production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It is directed by Rob Ruggiero, TheaterWorks' artistic director, and performed at Hartford Stage. It runs from Friday, June 5, through Sunday, July 5. Matt Faucher will play Sweeney, and Jackie Burns will appear as Mrs. Lovett. Faucher, a Connecticut native, has performed often on Connecticut stages and received numerous award nominations. He also appeared on Broadway in Beautiful. Burns has appeared as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, as well as in Hair and Rock of Ages. Tickets are available at either HartfordStage.org or TWHartford.org. The open-captioned performance is Sunday, June 21, and the audio-described performance is Saturday, June 27.

Playing Billie Holiday is the type of meaty role any actor would die for. Billie Holiday is revered as one of, if not the premiere, jazz singers of the 20 th century.

Great for Kids: I saw A Year with Frog and Toad, based on the children's books by Arnold Lobel, on Broadway and was enchanted by the inventive musical. West Hartford's Playhouse on Park is presenting the musical as part of its Theatre for Young Audiences Series through June 6. It's recommended for children from pre-K through grade 5. For tickets, contact PlayhouseOnPark.org.

Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf in Death of a Salesman sounds like ideal casting; and Lane is giving a fine performance.