Happy Friday! Here’s our curated list of everything to do this weekend. If you loved the Coney Island exhibition at the Wadsworth, you’ll want to check out tonight’s storytelling series about the famed amusement park at the Mark Twain House. On Saturday night, swing by the 17th annual Ted Hershey Dance and Music Marathon to pay homage to life and work of Ted Hershey and get your dance grooves on for the Trinity College hip hop festival. And of course, don’t miss Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty at The Bushnell going on through Sunday. Peruse the rest of the list for plays, comedy shows, and musicals. Tag your art and cultural outings on Instagram using #letsgoarts. Have a great weekend!
When you see [UA] in the heading, it means the organization is supported by the contributions made to the Arts Council’s Annual United Arts Campaign.
Friday
Hot Chocolate Soul [UA]
When: Friday, April 10, 9PM
Where: Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Hot Chocolate Soul is a delicate balance of Music, Comedy & Poetry with a live band featuring Karl Browne’s Smooth Improvisation.
Admission: $30. www.bushnell.org
The MOuTH: Thrown for a Loop [UA]
When: Friday, April 10, 7:30PM
Where: Mark Twain House & Museum
Inspired by the Wadsworth Atheneum’s current exhibition on Coney Island, hear and tell stories on the theme Thrown For A Loop: Stories With Twists and Turns at The Mark Twain House & Museum’s wildly popular storytelling series, The MOuTH, with WNPR radio personality Chion Wolf.
Admission: $5. 860-280-3130. www.marktwainhouse.org
Musical: Next to Normal [UA]
When: Friday, April 10, 8PM-11PM
Where: Little Theatre of Manchester
Follow the story of a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness, and the attempts to alleviate it, have on her family. She dreams of being next to normal.
Admission: $29. 860-6479824. www.littletheatreofmanchester.org
The Pianist of Willesden Lane [UA]
When: Friday, April 10, 8PM (through April 26)
Where: Hartford Stage
An expression of hope and the life-affirming power of music, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the true story of a young Jewish musician, who was sent from Nazi-ruled Vienna to the relative safety of London during the Blitzkrieg. Based on the book, The Children of Willesden Lane.
Admission: $20-$85. 860-527-5151. www.hartfordstage.org
Saturday
Playing the Assassin [UA]
When: Saturday, April 11, 8PM (through April 26)
Where: TheaterWorks
Decades ago, NFL star Frank Baker was dubbed “The Assassin” for his brutal tackles. Inspired by a true story, this new play tackles the NFL’s thorniest issues: race, hero worship, violence and its repercussions.
Admission: www.theaterworkshartford.org
Ted Hershey Dance & Music Marathon [UA]
When: Saturday, April 11, 7PM-11PM
Where: Charter Oak Cultural Center
Check out Hartford’s best dancers and musicians as they come together to celebrate the life and work of Ted Hershey. Featuring Judy Dworin Performance Project, Inc., Sonia Plumb Dance Company, Ballet Theatre Company and many more!
Admission: $10-$25. www.charteroakcenter.org
Improvaganza [UA]
When: Saturday, April 11, 8PM
Where: Playhouse on Park
Featuring improv from Phantom Sheep, The Damn Fools, The Great Make Believe Society,and Franklin’s Peaches & Friends.
Admission: $10; BYOB. www.playhouseonpark.org
10th Annual Trinity International Hip Hop Festival
When: Saturday, April 11, 10AM-8PM
Where: Trinity College, Mather Hall
Enjoy a live graffiti exhibition, film screenings, panel discussions, and live music from rap artists and DJs.
Admission: Free. www.trinityhiphop.com
Sunday
The Connecticut Trio, “Romanticism from Dawn to Dusk” [UA]
When: Sunday, April 12, 3PM
Where: New Britain Museum of American Art
The Connecticut Trio traces its formal beginnings to the spring of 1994 when pianist Linda Laurent, violinist Gerard Rosa, and cellist Julie Ribchinsky played the Beethoven “Archduke” Trio at a concert at Carnegie Recital Hall. The enthusiastic reception the performance received encouraged the artists to join their efforts in the creation of a permanent ensemble.
Admission: Free with museum admission. 860-229-0257. www.nbmaa.org
Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty [UA]
When: Sunday, April 12, 3PM
Where: Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Joyous themes of physical beauty and movement take center stage in this program featuring select appearances by two acclaimed Connecticut dance companies. Plus, let your imagination soar with the music of Prokofiev’s brilliant Prodigal Son, originally created for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes by George Balanchine.
Admission: $32.50-$55. www.bushnell.org
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