Performing Arts: July & August

The summer performing arts scene offers Shakespeare four ways, dance from China, comedy from the UK, musical theatre from the 70s and Broadway in Armonk.

Theatre

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival – Boscobel: With its breathtaking views of the Hudson River, Boscobel provides the perfect setting for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s summer season. For more than 25 years, the Festival has been the only resident Shakespeare Company in the Hudson Valley. This year they will present Shakespeare’s The Winter Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a family friendly version of The Tempest. Plus, The Arabian Nights adapted from The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, and their first solo show, An Iliad, starring Kurt Rodes. Tues 6/9-Tues, 9/1. (Boscobel, 1601 Rt. 9D, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

Local! Into the Woods Jr. – Westmoreland Sanctuary: Director Denise Simon presents a family version of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods that really takes you into the woods. Fri-Sat, 7/24-25: 6:30pm, Sat, 7/25: 2pm & Sun, 7/26: 2pm. (Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Mt. Kisco; www.westmorelandsanctuary.org)

Godspell – Westchester Broadway Theatre: The beloved classic from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), is based on “The Gospel According to St. Matthew”. The musical, uses “improvisation and contemporary themes to illustrate the parables, bringing these lessons to life. Songs include “Day By Day”, “Save The People”, “Learn Your Lessons Well”, “All Good Gifts”, “Turn Back, O Man” and “By My Side.” Thurs-Sun: 7/9-8/9: check dates and times.(Westchester Broadway Theatre, One Broadway Plaza, Elmsford; www.broadwaytheatre.com)

Shakespeare on the Green – The Merry Wives of Windsor: Stamford’s professional theatre company, Curtain Call’s annual free Shakespeare productions are performed on a scaled-down version of the Globe Theatre stage nestled among the pine trees of the Sterling Farms Complex in Stamford. The park opens 90 minutes before the performance for picnicking. This year’s production is The Merry Wives of Windsor. Seven performances, Thurs-Sun, 7/9-12, Thurs-Sat, 7/16-18: 7:30pm. (Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford; www.curtaincallinc.com)

The Understudy – Lyndhurst Carriage House Theatre: The lights of Broadway cast an affectionate glow on one of the most notorious roles in the theater: the understudy. The play opens with Franz Kafka’s undiscovered masterpiece making its Broadway premiere. Roxanne, the stage manager, has the daunting task of running the understudy rehearsal. Enter Harry, a journeyman actor who just happens to be Roxanne’s ex-fiancé. And then there’s Jake, a Hollywood action star craving a little legitimacy. Throw in an unreliable techie and a bunch of producers threatening to close down the show and you have the makings of a very Kafkaesque comedy. Direcgted by Larry Schneider with Michael Muldoon. Fri-Sun & Wed, 7/10-7/26: 7pm. (Lyndhurst Carriage House Theatre, 635 Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

The Rejuvenary River Circus: The Arm of the Sea Theater presents a performance for the entire family. This Circus is an allegorical tale featuring masks and puppets, a bio-morphic set and live music. The story follows Malakai, the River messenger and water carrier who encounters a host of creatures, including a lyrical sea turtle, a fast-talking crow, a pair of  industrious beavers, beds of filter-feeding oysters, and schools of migrating fish who offer insights into their role in a watershed’s ecosystem. The performance is set outdoors in the Hommond Museum’s stroll garden and dinner is available for purchase. Thurs, 7/16: 7:30pm. ((Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Rd., N. Salem: www.hammondmuseum.org)

Shakespeare in the Park – Cymbeline: Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan (King Lear, The Comedy of Errors, Proof) directs the Shakespearean fairy tale Cymbeline, featuring Tony nominee Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater. In the Shakespearean fairytale CYMBELINE, Princess Imogen’s fidelity is put to the royal test when her disapproving father banishes her soul mate. Cross-dressing girls and cross-dressing boys, poisons and swordfights and dastardly villains all take the stage in this enchanting romp about the conquering power of love. Tues-Sun, 7/23-8/23: 8pm. Check dates. Delacorte Theatre in Central Park; www.publictheatre.org)

Shakespeare In the Garden – Hammond Museum & Stroll Garden: Details to be announced. Sat, 7/25. (Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Rd., N. Salem: www.hammondmuseum.org)

Broadway comes out for Armonk’s Hudson Stage Company Gala: Broadway stars Liz Callaway and Michael McCorry Rose join three-time Academy Award winning composer Stephen Schwartz to perform music from his hit shows Wicked, Pippin and Godspell. Callaway made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along and received a Tony nomination for her role as Lizzie in Baby and a Drama Desk Award nomination for The Spitfire Grill. Michael McCorry Rose played the role of Fiyero (the Straw Man) in Wicked on Broadway. A reception follows the performance at Amore Italian Kitchen, next to the theater. Sun, 7/26: 4pm. (Whippoorwill Hall, North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Rd. E., Armonk; www.hudsonstage.com)

Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical – Westchester Broadway Theatre: This true-life story, follows Ginger Rogers from the vaudeville stage at the age of 15 through her ascension to Hollywood goddess. Backwards in High Heels is the story of a small-town girl from Texas who dazzled the world, playing everything from the girl next door to the modern woman with a mind of her own. It’s a candy box of show-stopping dance numbers, great songs and surprising revelations about the movie legend. Thurs-Sun, 8/13-9/20: check dates and times. (Westchester Broadway Theatre, One Broadway Plaza, Elmsford; www.broadwaytheatre.com)

Dance

Local! Arts Flamenco – NCPL: Jorge Navarro brings his NYC based musicians and dancers to NCPL for an evening of Andalucían music and dance. Sat, 7/18: 6:30pm. (Whippoorwill Hall, North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Rd. East, Armonk: www.northcastlelibrary.org)

The National Ballet of China – PAC: Direct from the 2015 Lincoln Center Festival, China’s national ballet fuses classic western ballet with traditional Chinese dance, creating a style of ballet that is uniquely their own. Their program will juxtapose the familiar with works that encapsulate the Chinese spirit and experience. Sat, 7/18: 8pm. (Performing Arts Center, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Comedy

Nick Di Paolo: A two-time Emmy nominee for his comedy writing, Nick Di Paolo is a veteran of the NYC comedy scene, where he performs at Caroline’s and Catch a Rising Star, and has made guest appearances on The Sopranos and The Chris Rock Show. AT, 7/18: 8PM. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

A Night of Comedy Headliners: Husband and wife, Rich Vos and Bonnie McFarlane, best known from Opie and Anthony and NBC’s hit reality show Last Comic Standing, offer up their no-holds-barred perspective on relationships, divorce and parenthood. Jim Florentine, co-host of VH1 Classic’s hit heavy metal talk show series, That Metal Show, is best known for his work on Comedy Central’s show Crank Yankers. Sat, 8/8: 8pm. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Frank Caliendo: The Hollywood Reporter described him as “a combination of Robin Williams and Jim Carrey.” He is best know for his impressions of Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Robert DeNiro, (“You talking to me?”), Bill Clinton (“I feel your pain”), George W. Bush, (whatever), John Madden, David Letterman, Jay Leno and Jim Rome. He has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman and the FOX NFL pregame show.Fri, 8/21: 8pm.  (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Eddie Izzard – The Force Majeure World Tour: Izzard’s surreal comedic musings have earned him some top awards from Time Out and the Perrier Panel. His four-week stand up run, Live at the Ambassadors received an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement. He won the British Comedy Award for Top Stand-Up Comedian in 1993 and 1996, and his show Dress to Kill earned him a New York Drama Desk Award and two Emmys®. Mon, 8/31: 8pm. (Capitol Theatre, 149 Westchester Ave., Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

Colin Quinn: Former SNL Weekend Update host, Colin Quinn solves America’s race relations in a new show culled from his new bookThe Coloring Book. Traveling through 1970s Brooklyn, the 1980s dive bar scene, the 1990s comedy culture and post 9/11 America, Quinn lays out his definitive theories on stereotypes – which are funny, which are true, and which are actually offensive.Thurs, 9/10: 8pm. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Sinbad: One of Comedy Central’s Top 100 standup comedians of all time, Sinbad takes the stage on the heels of his most recent Comedy Central special Make We Wanna Holla. Fri, 9/11: 8pm. (Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill: www.paramounthudsonvalley.com)

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