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There are some expansive entertainments in Connecticut venues this week. The Hartford Improv Festival concludes with six performances comprising of dozens of improv troupes plus several workshops in a single day. Brick Fest Live! is a weekend-long building party for LEGO enthusiasts, and Peter Wolf tells tales of dozens of celebrity encounters in his new book.
The world-class puppetry program at UConn holds its wild Spring Puppet Slam. Mary J. Blige’s arena tour brings along Ne-Yo and Mario, and a Burt Bacharach tribute features musical genius Todd Rundgren among its performers.
If you want intense journeys, there are “Wizard of Oz” and “Alice in Wonderland” live shows. Everything has a little bonus action this week.Hartford Improv FestivalSea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St.
, HartfordApril 6 is the final day of this year’s Hartford Improv Festival, with a dozen separate improv competitions/showcases and workshops scheduled. Some are already sold out. The performances, which happen at 1, 2:15, 3:30, 4:45, 6 and 7 p.
m., cost $10. seateaimprov.
com.‘The Wizard of Oz’Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, StorrsThis touring show from Vital Children’s Theatre, suitable for ages 4 and up, is a one-hour version of the 1939 MGM movie version of L.Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz.
” April 6 at 2 p.m. $26-$29.
jorgensen.uconn.edu.
The Peking AcrobatsRidgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, RidgefieldThe tumbling troupe of The Peking Acrobats is at Ridgefield Playhouse for an afternoon family show on April 6 at 4 p.m. $19.
ridgefieldplayhouse.org.Michael FeinsteinFairfield University Quick Center for the Performing Arts, 1073 North Benson Road, FairfieldThe annual Spring Soirée at Fairfield University’s Quick Center, a benefit for the center’s Arts for All arts education program, features crooner, pianist and American songbook scholar Michael Feinstein with his tribute to Tony Bennett backed by the Carnegie Hall Ensemble.
April 6 at 7 p.m. $100; $500 includes a preshow cocktail reception and an afterparty which Feinstein will attend.
quickcenter.fairfield.edu.
Fiel a la VegaThe Webster, 31 Webster St., HartfordThe Puerto Rican rock band Fiel a la Vega is at The Webster on April 6 at 7 p.m.
$55. thewebsterct.com.
An Evening with Bill BerloniFairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford St., FairfieldThe renowned Connecticut-based animal trainer Bill Beloni, who specializes in working with animals in theater and TV shows, gives a masterclass at the Fairfield Theatre Company. Berloni has overseen the dogs playing Sandy in every major production of “Annie,” trained animal cast members on “Sesame Street” and produced the first musical to star a dog, “Because of Winn-Dixie.
” April 7 at 6:30 p.m. $14-$30.
fairfieldtheatre.org.Peter WolfRJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, MadisonPeter Wolf has performed in Connecticut many times, but this appearance is different.
He’s reading from his new memoir “Waiting on the Moon,” which chronicles the many famous people he met (and in the case of Faye Dunaway, married) during his career as the frontman of the J. Geils Band. A continuing theme of the book is that Wolf often doesn’t know he’s hanging out with a living legend until he’s already chatted with them a while.
Chapters are devoted to encounters with Tennessee Williams, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker, Bob Dylan, Alfred Hitchcock and more. April 8 at 6:30 p.m.
$33 includes a copy of the book. rjjulia.com.
Courtesy of Jorgensen Center for the Performing ArtsVital Children’s Theatre’s hour-long adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” is at UConn’s Jorgensen Center on April 6. (Courtesy of Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts)Mary J. BligeXL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, HartfordR&B legend Mary J.
Blige is on her “For My Fans” tour with special guests Ne-Yo and Mario. April 8 at 7 p.m.
$73.60-$172.50.
xlcenter.com.Thnk You, Next — A Gentle Reader’s PlaylistThomas Hooker Live, 1 Sequassen St.
, HartfordYes, that’s a snipped “Thnk You” without an “a” in it. Hartford Symphony Orchestra presents a chamber concert highlighting the style of Regency era of British history (basically the first 20 or 30 years of the 19th century) and the “Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte” TV series. April 8 at 7:30 p.
m. $35. hartfordsymphony.
org.Marc ScibiliaInfinity Music Hall, 32 Front St., HartfordFolk/country/pop singer-songwriter Marc Scibilia is at Infinity Music Hall Hartford on April 8 at 8 p.
m. $37.11-$82.
47. infinityhall.com.
Michigan RattlersSpace Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., HamdenFolk-rock band Michigan Rattlers, who are really from Michigan, play on April 8 at 8 p.m.
at the Space Ballroom in Hamden. There are two opening acts: Split Coils and Connecticut-raised singer/songwriter Anna May. $26.
69. spaceballroom.com.
Robert Cray BandRidgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, RidgefieldContemporary blues titan Robert Cray plays Ridgefield Playhouse on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. $51-$86.
ridgefieldplayhouse.org.ChanticleerJorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 1232 Hillside Road, StorrsThe vocal ensemble Chanticleer appears at UConn’s Jorgensen Center, and one of its newer members is a UConn School of Fine Arts alumnus, bass-baritone Jared Graveley.
April 9 at 7:30 p.m. $42-$45; discounts for seniors; free for students and youth.
jorgensen.uconn.edu.
Courtesy of Space BallroomThe Michigan Rattlers play the Space Ballroom in Hamden on April 8. (Courtesy of Space Ballroom)Lydia LunchCafe Nine, 250 State St., New HavenPunk poet Lydia Lunch, whose 1970s band was the legendary Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, performs her new work “Murderous.
..Again” assisted by experimental saxophonist Matt Nelson and her Retrovirus bandmate Matt Nelson.
April 9 at 8 p.m. $20.
cafenine.com.VoctaveShubert Theatre, 247 College St.
, New HavenThe a cappella vocal ensemble Voctave brings its “The Corner of Broadway and Main Street” tour to the Shubert in New Haven on April 10 at 7 p.m. $35-70-$77.
40. shubert.com.
Lenny ClarkeMohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., UncasvilleLenny Clarke was a legendary comic in the golden age of the Boston comedy club scene of 1980s, hosting shows at all the big comedy venues throughout the city. He later found his way into acting, including on his friend Denis Leary’s series “Rescue Me” and many sitcoms.
Clarke does four sets at Mohegan Sun’s Comix Comedy Club April 10-12. Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.
, Saturday at 6 and 8 p.m. $20.
mohegansun.com.‘Don Juan’Pa’lante Theatre Company, 158 Grand St.
, WaterburyA young woman uses a college film project to investigate the dating history of the man who has just proposed to her in this modern romance by Juan Ramirez Jr. and directed by Rafael Feliciano Roman. April 10-20.
$20.50. palantetheater.
org.‘Nickel Boys’ Discussion and ScreeningGoldsmith Family Cinema, 301 Washington Terrace, MiddletownFilmmaker RaMell Ross and actor/playwright Anna Deavere Smith discuss Ross’ film of Colson Whitehead’s novel “Nickel Boys.” Smith is the current artist in residence at the Wesleyan Center for the Arts.
The film will be screened following the discussion. April 11 at 7 p.m.
Free. wesleyan.edu.
Omar CourtzThe Webster, 31 Webster St., HartfordFast-rising Puerto Rican singer/songwriter/rapper Omar Courtz is at The Webster on April 11 at 7 p.m.
$84.15. thewebsterct.
com.UConn Spring Puppet SlamJorgensen Theater, 2132 Hillside Road, StorrsUConn’s puppet slams, presented by students in the school’s world-class graduate puppetry program as well as guest artists from New York City and elsewhere, tend to unpredictable and uproariously entertaining. April 11 at 8 p.
m. Free. events.
uconn.edu.Duane Betts and Palmetto MotelInfinity Music Hall, 32 Front St.
, HartfordSouthern rock guitarist Duane Betts, who used to be in a band with his father, the late Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, is at Infinity Music Hall Hartford with his current band Palmetto Hotel April 11 at 8 p.m. $40.
21-$50.51. infinityhall.
com.Hot Chocolate SoulThe Bushnell. 166 Capitol Ave.
, HartfordLocal promoter June Archer’s latest evening of music, comedy and spoken word is in The Bushnell’s Autorino Great Hall on April 11 at 8 p.m. $39.
50. bushnell.org.
Smokus PokusBijou Theatre, 275 Fairfield Ave., BridgeportBilled as “the world’s dopest magic show,” Smokus Pokus does conjuring tricks with pot paraphernalia like bongs and lighters. April 11 at 8 p.
m. $38.90-$68.
63. bijoutheatrect.spacecrafted.
com.Explosions in the SkyDistrict Music Hall, 71 Wall St., NorwalkThe instrumental rock band Explosions in the Sky, who do grand live shows and also are known for their film scores, are at District Music Hall on their “The End” tour.
April 11 at 8 p.m. districtmusichall.
com.XY Eli Mural FundraiserBlack-Eyed Sally’s, 350 Asylum St., HartfordBlack-Eyed Sally’s holds a special show in honor of local artist, musician and community leader XY Eli, to support the mural being created by painter Corey Pane in his honor.
Eli will perform with the Sally’s House Band. April 11 at 8 p.m.
$5. blackeyedsallys.com.
MOMIX: ‘Alice’Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New HavenThe Connecticut-based movement/theater troupe MOMIX goes down the rabbit hole with its own wild and beautiful adaptation of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” April 12 at 7 p.
m. $46.40-$105.
90. shubert.com.
SwitchfootMohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. UncasvilleThe alt-rock band that seems pretty mainstream, having sold over 10 million albums and won a Grammy, plays Mohegan Sun Arena on April 12 at 8 p.m.
$37.10-$164. mohegansun.
com.Rachel Bennett PhotographyThe duo Black Violin is New London’s Garde Arts Center on April 12. (Rachel Bennett Photography)HeartFoxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Bvd.
, MashantucketThe Wilson sisters have gotten back together for a triumphant “Royal Flush” tour at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on April 12 at 8 p.m. $509.
75; “verified resale” tickets also available. foxwoods.com.
The Slambovian Circus of DreamsKatharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old SaybrookThe delirious jammy/jazzy/folkie/rocky band The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been visiting venues throughout Connecticut for decades. This is a sweet theater venue gig for the band.
April 12 at 8 p.m. $40.
thekate.org.What the World Needs Now: The Burt Bacharach Songbook Live in ConcertRidgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, RidgefieldPop genius Todd Rundgren leads this tribute to the great 1960s composer Burt Bacharach, with Bacharach’s longtime music director Rob Shirakbari and vocalist Wendy Moten.
April 12 at 8 p.m. $106-$121.
ridgefieldplayhouse.org.Black ViolinGarde Arts Center, 325 State St.
, New LondonKev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, the duo known as Black Violin, are on their “Full Circle” tour on April 12 at 8 p.m. at the Garde Arts Center.
$35-$65; VIP packages available. gardearts.org.
Brick Fest LiveConnecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd., HartfordContestants from the “LEGO Masters” TV show, a gigantic floor mosaic, live size sculptures, “community collab builds” and other plastic brick opportunities are found at Connecticut Convention Center on April 12 from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. and April 13 from 10 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
$22.56-$41.46.
ctconventions.com..
