Rent is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson. It is inspired by the 1896 opera La Boheme by Puccini. Rent tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in the East Village of New York city , in the days of before gentrification and when HIV/Aids was still raging.
The young artists live in a rundown loft in Alphabet City and are months behind on their rent. They band together to feed each other, stay warm and keep a roof over their head even when the electricity it turned off. A former friend who now owns the building with his wealthy wife wants to evict them. It is this pending eviction, the knowledge some of their friends are HIV positive, strengthen their bonds and their friendship to stay in the only home they have. The story and music is both emotional and moving and you cannot leave the production without being touched by this story.
Rent stars Jacob Heimer (B’way- Beautiful) as Roger, Joe Tolentino (Regional- Rent w/ director Adam Pascal) as Mark, Cedric Leiba JR. (Tour- Rent, Miss Saigon) as Angel, Darrick Penny (Regional- Rent w/ director Adam Pascal) as Tom, LaDonna Burns (Nat’l Tour- Rent, MTC- Ghost (CT Critics Circle Award Winner)) as Joanne, Olivia Fenton (Ivoryton- Hank Williams: Lost Highway, MTC- Moon Over Buffalo) as Maureen, Gabriela Gomez (Disney Cruise- Aladdin) as Mimi, Matt Mancuso (Valley Shakespeare- As You Like It, MTC- Ghost) as Benny, and Ensemble cast includes Sadie Seelert (B’way- Mary Poppins), Leeanna Rubin (Nat’l Tour- Annie), Carlos Pérez (SToNC- The Little Mermaid), Charles Romano (Legacy- Sweeney Todd). Rent is directed & choreographed by Chris McNiff with music direction by David Wolfson. The production team also includes stage management by Theresa Stark, fight & intimacy direction by Dan O’Driscoll, scenic design by Marty Marchitto, lighting design by Scott Borowka, prop design by Claudia Ruck, costume design by Diane Vanderkroef, and sound design by Jon Damast. Ticket prices range from $45-$60 plus fees and can be purchased online.
One of the most iconic local music venues in our area is hosting a great line up of shows in the coming weeks.
The Teskey Brothers – USA Tour 2025 with Zinadelphia Sunday September 14th
Sam and Josh Teskey, known as The Teskey Brothers, have captured the hearts of many, reaching the kind of global success a blues band out of Melbourne could only have imagined They have released three studio albums featuring a soul-soaked spin on rock, folk and blues.
The Revivalists: Monday September 22 Eight-piece rock ‘n’ roll collective The Revivalists. Renowned for their live prowess, soulful alt-rock anthems, and a distinct mix of many of the classic styles of American music. The Revivalists broke through with 2015’s Men Amongst Mountains, which featured the double-platinum smash single and Billboard Hot 100 hit “Wish I Knew You.”
Johnny Marr with Trace Mountains Friday September 26th
Johnny Marr started his career with The Smiths, beginning an amazing history as one of the most influential songwriters and guitarists in British independent music. His subsequent creative journey has seen him at the heart of The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs, as well as working with such names as The Pretenders, Talking Heads, The Avalanches, and the musician and composer Hans Zimmer – with whom he recorded the score and soundtrack for the most recent James Bond film, No Time To Die, including the Oscar-nominated title track created with Billie Eilish. Should be a great show!!
Oteil and Friends Friday October 3
Oteil and Friends brings their Greatful Dead inspired sound to the Capitol. Oteil & Friends features a rotating cast of all-star musicians (including Melvin Seals, John Kadlecik, Tom Guarana, Jeff Chimenti, John Morgan Kimock, Jennifer Hartswick, Jason Crosby, Natalie Cressman, Lamar Williams Jr., and more) began touring in 2017, and continue to play shows and festivals today.
Yes – Performing “Fragile” in its entirety Sunday October 5th
The iconic progressive rock band Yes will be at the Capitol on October 5th with an epic show. They will be performing their famous album “Fragile” in its entirety! Do not miss this show.
We all need a night of laughter and great entertainment. Now on stage at The Ridgefield Theater Barn is the hilarious comedy “Moon Over Buffalo”. The comedy will be presented starting May 30th through June 21, 2025. The play by Ken Ludwig was staged on Broadway in 1995 starring Carol Burnett and ran for over 300 performances.
The play takes place in Buffalo New York in the early 1950s where we meet George and his wife Charlotte who are both actors and are presenting two plays in their small repartory theatre, Cyrano De Bergerac and Private Lives. We meet the characters as they have a sword fight to and fro across the Theatre Barn stage. The sword fight is only a hint of the highly physical comedy that is to come during the two act, two hour performance.
George and Charlotte love the theater, but they crave one last fading hope at starring in a Hollywood feature film. Such a chance happens when the leading actor in a Frank Capra film is injured and the legendary director is coming to see George and Charlotte perform in person with the possibility of casting them in the film.
Chaos breaks out in the preparation for the performance. Joining the cast is Eileen one of the company actors who announces she is pregnant with George’s child. Also arriving is Roz (the daughter of George and Charlotte) and her fiancé, a television weatherman. When Charlotte discovers that George has fathered a child she plans to run off with her own lover, Richard. George starts drinking and runs off. As Capra will be arriving soon for their performance, the players make a crazy physical chase through the elaborate stage in search of George and aided by Charlotte’s half deaf mother, Ethel.
The pace of comedy becomes frantic, fast and physical. The Theatre Barn set has numerous doors and a staircase which becomes the backdrop for a desperate search to find George and somehow stage the play in time before Capra’s arrival. The laughs are nonstop with wonderful performances from the cast.
The cast is George Hay – Fred Rueck, Charlotte Hay – Gillian Holt, Ethel – Elayne Gordon. Rosalind – Julia Preis, Howard – Seth von Schmidt, Eileen – Clara Sussmann, Paul – Matthew Donovan, and Richard – Timothy Huber.
Directed by Diana Canova who expertly guides this hilarious and over the top comedy by using every square foot of the stage and directing the actors to deliver their lines with hysterical result. An evening of laughs not to be missed. The set design was very impressive and really was an important part of the play.
The Ridgefield Theater Barn is a great experience. The audience in the small intimate space can bring in their own food and drink to enjoy prior to the performance. It is a very special venue and the productions are always of high quality.
The Capitol Theater in Port Chester is the premier musical venue in our area. It offers a fresh variety of live music and comedy for all tastes. Here is a sample of upcoming events at this iconic theater.
Railroad Earth with Tom Hamilton Saturday March 22, Doors 6pm, Show 730pm Railroad Earth’s music combines elements of bluegrass, folk, country and Celtic themes as and other influences. Recognized as “carrying on the tradition of improvisational, genre-spanning music much like the Greatful Dead. Railroad Earth is known for lyrical songwriting and extensive live improvisation.[
Melvin Seals & JGB with One-Eyed Jack Saturday, March 29th Doors: 6:30PM // Show: 8:00PM Melvin Seals and JGB is an American rockband led by Melvin Seals. The mission of the band is to continue the musical legacy of the Jerry Garcia Band of which Seals was a longtime member.[2]
Upcoming Shows at Garcia’s: Garcia’s is the bar inside the Capitol and a music venue of its own. In addition to showcasing local and regional artists, Garcia’s hosts nationally touring acts from all genres. Live music lives at Westchester County’s true rock club,
Inside Garcia’s at the Capitol
Steely Dead Wednesday, March 19: A Seamless Blend of Steely Dan & Grateful Dead
Color TV & Wheelhouse Thursday, March 20
The Ledbetters A Pearl Jam Tribute Friday, March 21
SoulShine An Allman Brothers Experience Wednesday, March 26
Alex Cano & Emily Angell Band Thursday, April 3 Alex Cano is a nationally touring Rock/ Americana artist based in the NY Hudson Valley Region. Known for his combination of smooth baritone and powerful rock vocals, Cano’s sound ranges from high energy alternative and blues based rock ‘n’ roll, to intimate Americana/folk/roots rock.
Now on stage at the historic Westport Country Playhouse is “Native Gardens”. A comedy about new neighbors who quickly turn on each other. The show is playing February 18 through March 8. The iconic Playhouse is presenting this play as part of it’s 2024-25 “Season of Laughter”
Upon entering the theater on opening night we were struck by the amazing and complex stage décor. The play is set in a historic Washington D.C, neighborhood and the set presents two houses side by side. One house is brick and stone, with a beautiful rear deck of stone and a garden worthy of a layout in Home and Gardens magazine. The other house is clad in wood with steps to the yard made of construction lumber. The yard is devoid of landscaping with the exception of a large old oak tree which drops its leaves, acorns and branches onto the two yards. The contrasts will continue to the owners themselves.
The fine brick home is occupied by long time residents Frank and Virginia Butley. Frank works for the federal government, and Virginia reminds us more than once she is an aerospace engineer working in a predominately male field. They keep their home and yard immaculate and abide by the traditions of this historic neighborhood. The new neighbors, Pablo and Tania Del Valle are millenials and their idea for their new yard is to bring in native plants in sharp contrast to the well manicured plantings of the Butley’s.
The well intentioned friendliness of the new neighbors meeting quickly dissolves into a comedic back and forth between the neighbors about a disputed property line. The dispute over property rights the play quickly reveals the clash of taste, and issues of race, ageism, sexism, colonialism and class distinction. Despite handling all these thorny topics, the play keeps the audience engaged with a light hearted and rapid fire comedy from start to finish. The underlying tensions may be serious, but the lighthearted way in which they are approached reveals in the end these are good people with good intentions that have gone astray. It is a very clever written and meaningful play.
Native Gardens is the kind of relevant comedy we need today. From the brilliant set design and relevant soundtrack, the play delivers a delightful comedic evening with wonderful performances. The opening night attendees approved with a rousing standing ovation. A play that exposes the issues that divide us but wrapped in comedic brilliance which lifts the spirit and lightens your evening.
The play is written by Karen Zacarías, who was recently hailed by American Theatre magazine as one of the 10 most-produced playwrights in the U.S. Director is JoAnn M. Hunter. “Native Gardens” is the fourth production in the Playhouse’s 2024-25 “Season of Laughter.
The cast includes Paula Leggett Chase as Virginia Butley (Broadway: “Tootsie,” “On the 20th Century,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Curtains,” “The Pajama Game,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Kiss Me, Kate,” “Damn Yankees,” “Crazy for You,” “A Chorus Line”; 2020 Drama Desk Featured Actress nominee for “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”; Tours: “A Chorus Line,” “Cabaret”; TV/Film: “The Sound of Music, Live”;
Linedy Genao as Tania De Valle (Native of Hamden, CT; first Latina performer to originate the leading role in an Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway musical; named to Variety’s “Broadway Actors to Watch List”; Broadway: “Bad Cinderella” as Cinderella, “On Your Feet!,” “Dear Evan Hansen”; Off Broadway: “Women on Fire”; Tours: “Dear Evan Hansen”; Regional: “Passing Through,” “West Side Story,” “In the Heights”; TV/Film: “Death Saved My Life.
Adam Heller as Frank Butley (Westport Country Playhouse: Script in Hand playreading “The Outsider”; Broadway’s “Some Like it Hot,” “It Shoulda Been You,” “Elf,” “Caroline, or Change,” “Victor/Victoria,” “Les Misérables”; Off-Broadway’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” and others; Goodspeed’s “Fiddler on the Roof” – Connecticut Critics Circle Award/Best Actor), “Rags”; other regional theatre includes “Chicago”- St. Louis Theater Circle Award, “1776,” “Gypsy,” “Falsettos,” “The Chosen”; NYU/Tisch).
Anthony Michael Martinez as Pablo Del Valle (Off-Broadway: Classic Stage Co., 59E59, Vineyard Theatre, New Ohio, The Flea, Theatre Row. Regional: Great Lakes Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare, more; Film/TV: “After Forever” Amazon Prime series; MFA: Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting in DC; resident teaching artist for Red Bull Theater.
The Ridgefield Theater Barn presents another outstanding musical. The Baker’s Wife is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and the book by Joseph Stein, based on the 1938 French film of the same name by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. The musical premiered in the West End of London in 1989 for a short run but, toured the United States but unfortunately it was never produced on Broadway. Now it is on stage at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield Ct.
Stephen Schwartz has an impressive resume with his work on such hits as Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked. He has also penned the music and lyrics for movies such as The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted.
The story of The Baker’s Wife is set in a small remote village in rural France that has recently lost its only baker. The villagers are miserable without fresh bread until Aimable (Joe Harding) the baker and his much younger wife, Genevieve (Claire Simard) move to the village and open a bakery. The villagers rejoice but the audience soon learns about the tensions and issues between many of the citizens.
It is not long before Genevieve realizes that she is not happy with her life and wonders why she is in this village married to man many years older. When a new man comes into her life, her world, the village, and the bakery is turned upside town. She runs away with her new love and the bakery ceases operation. The villagers now have a common cause and they rally to the baker and work together to reunite the baker and his wife.
The two act, two hour production moves along quickly and the audience is drawn into the story immediately. The songs are catchy and memorable, and the vocal performances by the large 17 member cast are captivating. The set design is beautiful and the band (now located to the side of the stage) was wonderful. Direction by Rena Gavigan was first rate and the entire production was high quality that one would see in a much larger venue. Music direction is by Sarah Fox.
The show runs through June 22, 2024 . Check out their website for the 2024/25 season as well as donate to the Barn as it has recently undergone many improvements.
I On The Valley 