February 26, 2019 | Ginger Jenne

Connecticut Repertory Theatre Announces 2019 Nutmeg Summer Series

The third season under the artistic leadership of three-time Tony Award nominee Mann will include, “Mamma Mia” and “Cabaret.” The Nutmeg Summer Series will run June 6 through July 21.

Sweeney Todd

SWEENEY TODD directed by Peter Flynn, starring Terrence Mann and Liz Larsen during the 2018 Nutmeg Summer Series. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) Artistic Director Terrence Mann and Executive Producer Matthew J. Pugliese are pleased to announce the lineup for the 2019 Nutmeg Summer Series. The third season under the artistic leadership of three-time Tony Award nominee Mann will include, “Mamma Mia” and “Cabaret.” The Nutmeg Summer Series will run June 6 through July 21.

Artistic Director Terrence Mann said, “We’re trying to find that perfect mix of shows – providing a balance that is fun, entertaining – but also smart and relevant.  We’re making a few changes this summer.  Our audiences repeatedly tell us, ‘it’s just too hard to have time to see everything you offer in the summer’ or ‘we wish that the shows would run longer.’”

“We’re trying to find that perfect mix of shows – providing a balance that is fun, entertaining – but also smart and relevant.”

In order to allow for the longer performance runs, CRT is offering two shows this summer, each running for an additional week longer than they have in the past.  An additional change is the 7pm curtain on weeknight performances.

The summer series begins with the smash-hit musical Mamma Mia!  Terrence Mann will direct and Mary Ann Lamb (CRT’s Disaster!, FX Fosse/Verdon, Broadway’s Chicago) returns to choreograph.

“We’re really trying to make our audience feel heard.  The last two years, when I spoke with patrons at the theatre, and when we polled audiences, Mamma Mia! was overwhelmingly the most requested show,” added Mann.

Conceived by Judy Craymer and written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship into an energetic and fun night of theatre. On the eve of her wedding, Sophie reads her mom’s diary, only to discover that the father she has never met could be one of three men! The wedding invitation brings Sophie’s three possible dads to the Greek Isles in search of the life that could have been with Sophie’s mother, Donna.

The summer concludes with the iconic musical extravaganza, Cabaret, directed by Peter Flynn (CRT’s Sweeney Todd) and choreographed by Christopher d’Amboise (CRT’s Newsies, Jesus Christ Superstar), with music direction by Ken Clifton (CRT’s Sweeney Todd).

Willkommen to Cabaret! In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. A young American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, tentatively begins a torrid romance with the English lounge singer, Sally Bowles.  With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, CABARET explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. As powerful today as when it opened on Broadway and garnered 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Join CRT in the legendary Kit Kat Klub for this smart, sexy musical featuring the enduring songs “Cabaret”, “Maybe This Time,” and “Don’t Tell Mamma.”

Subscription packages are on sale beginning March 1 for the season. Single tickets will go on sale April 1, 2019, and are available at crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.