Love Letters

February 5th : 8 p.m. February 6th : 8 p.m. $15.
Little Theater of Manchester, Cheney Hall
Manchester, CT
860-647-9824

http://www.cheneyhall.org

Cast includes Mike Zizka and Ginny Freese on Feb. 5; and Colin McEnroe and Debi Freund on Feb. 6.

Listen to Joyce Hodgson – Executive Director of the Little Theatre of Manchester CT talks about Cheney Hall on Spotlight on Connecticut - CLICK HERE

Big Red For The Arts Benefit

February 4th : 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tickets are $100

The Hartford Club CT
860-525-8629

http://www.LetsGoArts.org/BigRed

Try signature dishes from local chefs and sample fine wines, brews, and spirits from around the world. Enjoy a live auction and the chance to win spectacular prizes, with proceeds benefitting the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign, which supports more than 150 local arts and heritage organizations.

The Vagina Monologues

February 5th : 7:30 p.m February 6th : 7:30 p.m. $15 general, $10 seniors, Charter Oak & Let's Go! Members, $5 students.
Charter Oak Cultural Center
21 Charter Oak Ave., Hartfo, CT 06106
860-249-1207

This Valentine's Day tradition is directed by Margaux Hayes. Features a special screening of Every Five Minutes, a short film adapted from a sexual assault awareness play written and directed by Melanie Rosenberg. In the film she showcases three scenarios to examine three very distinct angles of rape and victimization.

Ticket sales to benefit Interval House, My Sister's Place, DWA FANM and TransAdvocacy. These organizations, three local and one based in Haiti, work to prevent violence against women and need our support.

Forbidden Broadway

Fridays and Saturdays : 8 p.m. (ends February 27th) $30.
Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
31-33 Webster Square Road, Berlin, CT 06037
860-829-1248

Kris McMurray directs this hilarious and endlessly entertaining tribute to some of the theatre's greatest stars and songwriters.

CT Cabaret Theatre is a non-equity professional cabaret theatre that produces Broadway-style musicals and comedies year-round. Guests sit at cozy round tables where you are invited to bring in whatever you like to eat or drink. A small dessert bar provides a variety of treats and beverages to purchase.

Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour

8 p.m. (February 5th through February 6th) $34-$45. Cash bar is $3-$10.
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
2132 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT 06269
860-486-4226

Billed as “The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour,” an all-star MJF band kicks off its nationwide tour with three concert dates in Connecticut, including the University of Connecticut’s Jorgensen Auditorium at Storrs on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6, and Fairfield University’s Kelley Theater at the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield on Feb. 12. MJF’s dream team features: violinist Regina Carter, pianist Kenny Barron, vocalist Kurt Elling, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake.

Forever Plaid

ends February 7th $18-$23.

Thomaston Opera House
158 Main St., Thomaston, CT 06787
860-283-6250

Comedic musical about a '50s boy band killed in a car crash before their first gig who get a second chance to perform from beyond the grave.

Love Letters

February 5th through February 20th $20, $19 seniors/students.
Square One Theatre
2422 Main St., Stratford, CT 06615
203-375-8778

A.R. Gurney's romantic comedy about the passion of youth, the cynicism of age and all that comes between. Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. Sat., Feb. 20, 4 p.m.

Disney's "The Lion King"

January 27th through February 14th $20.50-$128
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Mortensen Hall
166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106
860-987-5900

Stunning stage adaptation of the beloved children's movie.

Compulsion

January 29th through February 28th $20-$35.
Yale Repertory Theatre
1120 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511
203-432-1234

Star power will come with Tony and Emmy Award-winner Mandy Patinkin headlining the premiere of Rinne Groff’s “Compulsion” at Yale Repertory Theatre Jan. 29 to Feb. 28. The play, about a man’s commitment to bring the Anne Frank diary to the stage, is directed by The Public Theater’s Oskar Eustis in a co-production that will eventually land the show in New York. Connecticut audiences can see it first.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

ends February 13th $25
Center Stage Shelton
405 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, CT 06484
203-225-6079

Stephen Sondheim's hilarious tale of a slave scheming to gain his freedom by helping his master's son get the girl he wants.

A Night of One-Acts

February 6th $20
Ridgefield Theater Barn
37 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-431-9850

An introduction to modern playwright David Ives. Cabaret seating, bring food and beverage. For mature audiences.

The Secret Garden

through February 7th
NCTC Performing Arts Theatre
743 North Mountain Road, Newington, CT 06111
(860) 666-6282

A Sting in the Tale

ends February 20th $17
Clockwork Repertory Theatre
133 Main St., Oakville, CT 06779-1748
860-274-7247

Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner's comedy about two playwrights trying to write the next big hit blockbuster thriller, an unexpected murder, a stage-struck detective and an investigation gone awry.

The Story of My Life

through February 7th $40
Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage
246 Post Rd. E., Westport, CT
203-454-3883

A new musical by Neil Bartram, book by Brian Hill, about the power of friendship. Reservations suggested. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 4 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.

Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln ... Four Funny Pieces

through February 20th Friday/Sat nights, 8pm, 2pm Jan 31, Feb 14 $20 Suggested donation
Hole In The Wall Theater
116 Main St., New Britain, CT 06051
860-229-3049

Four one-act comedies exploring relationships, chance and human nature: "Islands of Repair" by Leslie Bramm; "To the Sticking Point" by Kit Webb; "Babel's In Arms" by David Ives; and "Random Significance" by Scott Auden.

The Lady with All The Answers

through March 7th $39-$49
TheaterWorks
233 Pearl St., Hartford, CT 06103
 860-527-7838

By David Rambo. Insight into advice columnist Ann Landers, the wise, funny no-nonsense woman whose dialogue with American helped shape the social and sexual landscapes of the last half-century.

Gee's Bend

through February 14th $23-$66
Hartford Stage
50 Church St., Hartford, CT 06103
860-527-5151

Meet the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, who sing hauntingly beautiful gospel melodies as they create magnificent handmade quilts. By Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder; directed by Hana Sharif, the 2009–2010 Aetna New Voices Fellow at Hartford Stage.

Hansel & Gretel

through February 21st $15.50.
Downtown Cabaret Theatre
263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-576-1636

A take on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, with the bread crumb trail leading to a house full of '80s music.

Lil's 90th

through February 7th $30-$65.
Long Wharf Theatre, Stage II
222 Sargent Dr., New Haven, CT 06511
203-787-4282

Lillian and her family try to finish planning her birthday party to celebrate the big 9-0, when the surprise her husband has been planning for her threatens to tear their lives apart.

Performances are Tuesday through Wednesday & Sunday, 7 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees: Saturday, 3 p.m.; Wednesday & Sunday, 2 p.m.

Phoenix Art After Hours: First Thursday

Every 1st Thursday of the month : 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. General admission $5;
Phoenix employees and museum members free Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
600 Main St., Hartford, CT 06103
860-278-2670

Head down to the Wadsworth Atheneum August 6 for the museum's monthly Phoenix Art After Hours: First Thursdays at the Atheneum. Phoenix Art After Hours provides a stimulating setting for mingling with friends after work. Sip a cocktail, enjoy music and other live performances, attend a gallery talk and see a classic movie or art film.

David Sanborn Quartet featuring Joey DeFrancesco

February 4th : 8 p.m
Ridgefield Playhouse
80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-438-5795

An evening of wine and jazz with saxophonist David Sanborn and The David Sanborn Quartet featuring Joey DeFrancesco will be at The Ridgefield Playhouse Feb. 4, starting at 7 p.m with a wine tasting.

Marc Cohn

February 4th : 8 p.m. $30-$40.
Quick Center for the Arts
1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
203-254-4010

Pianist, pop rock/soul singer/songwriter performs.

An acclaimed singer/songwriter, Cohn won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. In the years following he endured the pain of divorce, the joy of a new marriage in 2002 to anchor Elizabeth Vargas, the struggle of writer’s block and more.

Hartt Symphony Orchestra presents The Tender Land

February 4th : 7:30 p.m.February 5th : 7:30 p.m.February 6th : 7:30 p.m.February 7th : 3 $20.
University of Hartford, Millard Auditorium
200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117
 860-768-4228

Concerning a girl transformed into a young woman by her first experience of love, The Tender Land is set in the American Midwest during the 1930s.

Ensemble includes sopranos Maayan Harel, Katie Tewksbury, and Jordan Traficante; altos Jessica Berube, Laura Fasulo, and Dan Kephart; tenors Nelson Ebo and Anthony Edley; and basses Matthew Cramer and Michael Spaziani.

Ends of the Earth

Daily (January 16th through March 13th)
Connecticut Science Center
250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 724-3623

Massive landscapes, depicting the austere beauty of these frozen and extremely fragile expanses, provide striking backdrops for the more than thirty exhibits - each combining interactive artifacts and hands-on learning activities for all ages. Visitors will explore the unique nature of the Earth’s Polar Regions, the current science being undertaken there, and how these regions are indicators of change on our planet.

Inspired Innovations: A Celebration of Shaker Ingenuity

ends April 11th
New Britain Museum of American Art
56 Lexington St., New Britain, CT 06052
860-223-6867

Curated by Stephen Miller of West Hartford, a Connecticut Shaker scholar and collector, Inspired Innovations: A Celebration of Shaker Ingenuity seeks to raise awareness about the Shakers, who have successfully faced more than 220 years of challenges. Emphasis will be placed on the community that existed in Enfield, Connecticut from 1790 to 1917.

The Shaker collection will include 350 to 400 pieces spanning from approximately 1800 to 2009, in addition to examples of their flower seeds, foods, herbs and woodenwares industry.

The exhibit's opening reception is Jan. 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Talks with experts on Shaker living will be held in “The Shakers and the World: The Past Meets the Present” symposium on Jan. 25, as well as during the March 11 and April 8 Art Happy Hour from 6 to 7 p.m.

NEXT EVENT

SPARE TIME

Bristol

VERNON

LOSE WEIGHT
THE HEALTHY WAY

TRY RISK-FREE!