LeBow Back In Hartford For 'Mistakes'

Frank Rizzo TICKER

October 1, 2009

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Will LeBow, a veteran actor at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., and Boston's Huntington Theatre Company, will star in Craig Wright's "Mistakes Were Made" at Hartford Stage, where rehearsals begin Friday.

The East Coast premiere of the play will run Oct. 29 to Nov. 22. Jeremy B. Cohen, associate artistic director at the theater, will stage the play.

Joe Pantoliano (TV's "The Sopranos") was originally announced for the show, but he withdrew several months ago, citing film commitments.

"Mistakes Were Made" centers on a legendary theatrical producer "who gets in way over his fast-talking head when he takes on his first world premiere of his long and checkered career — an epic of the French Revolution."

The cast has doubled. What was formerly an off-stage voice is now an on-stage character. Susan Greenhill is playing the supporting character of Esther.

LeBow was featured in "No Exit" at Hartford Stage several years ago. He also was in this summer's production of "Caroline in Jersey" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

'Orphans' Cast Change

Matt Mulhern is no longer in Hartford Stage's "The Orphans' Home Cycle," playing through Oct. 24. Mulhern played a number of roles in the three-part "Cycle," including Mr. Ritter and Billy Vaughn in Part 1, George Tyler in Part 2 and Monty Reeves in Part 3.

Mulhern's roles will now be performed by Lucas Caleb Rooney. The theater declined to say why the actor left Michael Wilson is directing.

The "Cycle" is now n Part 2, "The Story of a Marriage." Part 3, "The Story of a Family," starts Oct. 9.

'Hairspray' At MGM

This could have some long-term implication for state theaters: "Hairspray" will play the 4,000-seat MGM Grand at Foxwoods Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.

The one-week engagement might not seem like a big deal at first. After all, the Broadway production has long left New York, and a film version came out in 2007.

But the Foxwoods gig marks the first time a Connecticut casino has presented a Broadway musical, potentially competing directly with such musical theater venues as the Garde Theatre in New London, the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, the Shubert Theater in New Haven and Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam. (The former Oakdale Music Theatre in Wallingford — now the Chevrolet Theatre — also presented touring shows but dropped such entertainment a few years ago, although it is re-entering that market this season with "101 Dalmatians." Foxwoods several years ago presented "Jesus Christ Superstar," but that is a concert-like show rather than a traditional Broadway musical.)

A spokesman for Mohegan Sun says there are no plans for Broadway musical-style entertainment there. It has a 350-seat Cabaret and a flexible-seating arena.

Tickets from $30 to $50 are on sale for Foxwood's "Hairspray" at www.mgmatfoxwoods.com or 1-866-646-0609, by calling Ticketmaster or in person at the MGM Grand box office.

'Wormwood'

Poland's Theatre of the Eighth Day (Teatr Ósmego Dnia) will perform "Wormwood," the opening presentation of the "No Boundaries" international theater series at Yale, a partnership with Yale Repertory Theatre and the World Performance Project at Yale.

"Wormwood" plays Nov. 5 to 7 at the Iseman Theatre (formerly the New Theater) at 1156 Chapel St. The show by the original Polish cast portrays life in Poland under martial law. It's a rare remounting of the landmark 1985 show that prompted the theater company's exile from the country.

Also featured in the series is (from the U.S.) "The Be(a)st of Taylor Mac," written and performed by solo performance artist Mac, on Jan. 28 to 30 at the University Theatre, directed by David Drake. The series ends with "Mess" by the Japanese multi-media performance group Baby-Q, created by Yoko Higashino and Toshio Kajiwara, on March 25 to 27.

Tickets are $35, $10 for students, $25 for seniors. Information: 203-432-1234, www.yale.edu/wpp or www.yalerep.org/noboundaries.

Also At Yale

The School of Drama's graduate productions kick off the 2009-10 season with Jean Racine's "Phèdre," translated by Ted Hughes and directed by Christopher Mirto. It runs Oct. 27 to 31 at the University Theatre.

Arthur Schnitzler's "La Ronde," translated by Carl R. Mueller, follows Dec. 12 to 17. Jesse Jou directs, also at the University Theatre. Virginia Woolf's "Orlando," adapted by Sarah Ruhl, plays Jan. 26 to 30 at the Iseman Theater. Jen Wineman directs. Tickets and information: 203-432-1234 or www.drama.yale.edu.

Yale Cabaret

Yale Cabaret continues its new season tonight through Saturday with "Alter Egos: A One Wo/Man Festival" featuring Ryan Lockwood's "The Fallout of Pearl Harbor" (Friday and Saturday) and Rachel Spencer's "Portraits Untitled." "A Day in Dig Nation" by Michael McQuilken and Tommy Smith follows Oct. 8 to 10. Tickets: 203-432-1566 or www.yalecabaret.org.

Tupperware Theater?

And you thought it was just a handy-dandy plastic storage container.

But to many, Tupperware is a passionate, albeit bizarre, belief system. Tupperfans can check out the off-Broadway show "Dixie's Tupperware Party," featuring Dixie Longate, at the Bushnell's Autorino Hall Nov. 13 to 15. The Hartford gig is part of a 20-city tour. Tupperware purchases are indeed available, so bring your credit cards, and burp away. Tickets are $32. Information: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org.

'A Little Night Music'

Erin Davie, who left the Goodspeed Opera House production of "Camelot" last month for personal reasons, will play the Countess in the upcoming Broadway revival of "A Little Night Music," which will star Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Also in the production is Bradley Dean, who played King Arthur in the East Haddam production. (He stayed until the end of the run, which concluded last week.)

Marissa McGowan, who replaced Davie, will be in "Night Music," too. Trevor Nunn directs the Broadway productionPreviews begin Nov. 24; opening night is Dec. 13.

•Read Frank Rizzo's blog of theater, the arts and entertainment at www.courant.com/curtain — including a breezy blog review on "The Master Builder" at Yale Rep.