By Daniel C. Levine
ACT (A Contemporary Theater) of Connecticut continues to achieve (and even surpass) their mission of “bringing Broadway to Ridgefield” and elevating the level of entertainment in Fairfield County. Now in their sixth spectacular year, this season’s shows have included SUNSET BOULEVARD and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, both critical successes for the theater, garnering stellar reviews and sold-out audiences. Additionally, this season’s “Broadway Unplugged Series” performance wowed patrons with special guest star Ana Gasteyer, best known for her work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
The theater’s upcoming production of KINKY BOOTS is currently in rehearsal and performances are set to open on May 23rd. With a cast of 25 actors (many with multiple Broadway credits) and 11 musicians, KINKY BOOTS promises to be another hit for ACT of CT – with many performances already sold-out. ACT of CT’s highly anticipated annual “Season Announcement Gala” takes place on June 7th. The gala will feature performances from past and upcoming ACT of CT productions, followed by the big reveal: the announcement of next season’s line-up of shows! This year’s Gala Visionary Award honorees will be Barbara Manners and Raffaele Gallo. Both honorees are long-time champions for Ridgefield’s many not-for-profits and arts organizations and have been ACT of CT cheerleaders since the theaters opening in 2018.
Summers at ACT of CT are reserved for the theater’s educational programs. The “Summer Teen Conservatory” offers 7th through 12th graders a multi-week musical theater intensive culminating in a fully staged production on ACT of CT’s professional stage, incorporating full lighting, sound and technical elements. The Teen Conservatory is an exciting opportunity for teen actors to develop, rehearse and perform an original musical theater piece, unique to this specific cast. Similarly, the ACT of CT “Summer Stars Showcase” brings a cast of students from 2nd to 6th grades together for two weeks to also rehearse and perform a musical on the ACT of CT stage.
While many not-for-profit regional theaters across the country have still not been able to recover post-pandemic (with several prominent theaters closing their doors permanently), ACT of CT continues to thrive.Artistic Director, Daniel C. Levine says, “We consider ourselves lucky to live and work in a community where the arts are considered vital to a thriving society. Because of the support and generosity of our remarkable patrons and donors, we are lucky enough to be able continue to produce Broadway caliber theater on our stage, as well as to continue to inspire the next generation of artists with our educational programs.”**ACT of CT’s Annual Season Announcement is June 7th. To buy tickets to the Gala or to make a donation, please visit actofct.org/gala. •
