Upcoming Plays

Upcoming plays for New England professional theater include:

Merrimack Repertory Theater presents “Bad Dates” by Theresa Rebeck, a comedy that runs until April 12th.

Maine’s The Portland Stage Company gives us “The Passion of the Hausfrau” by Bess Welden, Annette Jolles, and Nicole Chaison running now until April 11th. A one woman show, that tells of the comic adventures of a Portland mother and would-be writer. Adapted from Portland's Hausfrau a self-published quarterly that chronicles “the passion that is parenting”, written and cartooned by Nicole Chaison.

The Shubert Theater of New Haven, Connecticut presents “Jesus Christ Superstar” from April 3rd to the 5th. This well-known musical is of course the first collaboration of the team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The rock opera vision of “the greatest story ever told” tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The musical dramatizes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, and his ultimate crucifixion.

The American Repertory Theatre in Boston presents the world premiere of “Trojan Barbie” by Christine Evans, directed by Carmel O’Reilly. The show runs from March 28th through April 22nd at the Zero Arrow Theatre. According to the website description: “Lotte Jones, a doll repair expert, needs a vacation. She books herself on a cultural tour for singles and travels with them to modern-day Troy, where she finds more of a change of scene than she’d bargained for – she's in the midst of an attack by the Greek army threatening to destroy the last fragments of a mighty civilization. Part contemporary drama, part homage to Euripides’ Trojan Women, “Trojan Barbie” recasts the legendary fall of the city of Troy against the vivid reality of modern warfare.”

Hartford’s The Bushnell gives us “A Chorus Line”. The well familiar story of this modern classic: “In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance. This is A Chorus Line, the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line.” The show runs from March 24th through March 29th.

The Huntington presents “The Miracle at Naples” by David Grimm, directed by Peter DuBois at the Wimberly Theatre. The show runs from April 3rd to May 9th. A band of traveling commedia players in Renaissance Italy ignites the passions of the locals in this bawdy comedy.

Connecticut’s Westport Playhouse gives us the favorite “Around the World in 80 Days”, the adventures of Phileas Fogg in a tale for adults and children alike. Written by Mark Brown, adapted from the book by Jules Verne, the play is directed by Michael Evan Haney and runs from April 21st through May 9th.

Goodspeed Opera House of East Haddam, Connecticut presents the musical "42nd Street" from April 17th through June 28th.