Raissa Recommends

Fresh Baked Musicals

A Concert Sampling

A festive concert will be held Saturday, August 4th from 7 pm to 9:15 at Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, 184 Whisconier Rd, Brookfield, CT. The evening will feature songs from a range of new musicals, highlighting talented emerging artists and new works from veteran Broadway writers, including Stephen Schwartz (known for Wicked, Pippin) and Michael John LaChiusa (See What I Wanna See and Wild Party).

Be among the first to hear these songs! We are showcasing selections from a wide range of musicals with themes of comedy, drama, romance, and of course food!

Fresh baked refreshments and beverages will be available at a reception with some of the writers and singers following the show. For tickets visit www.brookfieldtheatre.org

PERFORMERS

The concert features singers from Connecticut and New York. Several of the concerts writers are also performing in the concert: Matthew Gurren, Bill Nabel, William Squier, and Jeff Loden.

Special guest performer RAISSA KATONA BENNETT will be the featured artist. On Broadway, she appeared as Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera, Chess in concert, and the First National Tours of Cats and Parade. A multiple award-winning concert & cabaret artist, shes headlined with Symphony Orchestras throughout the north east, at Feinsteins, the Beechman Theatre, Metropolitan Room & Iridium, and at Lincoln Center and Town Hall in the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention. Recently, she appeared Off-Broadway in 2 new shows Devil and the Deep and Water from the Moon, and in the first regional Equity production of FUN HOME at the Music Theatre of Connecticut. She has 2 critically acclaimed CDs on iTunes and Amazon and has been celebrating the release of her newest CD on the LML Music Label, “Can’t Help Singing – The Music of Jerome Kern”, with cabaret shows at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in NYC. www.raissakatonabennett.com

Also appearing as a special guest is GREG RODERICK who was most recently seen as the father in Fun Home at Music Theater of Connecticut. On Broadway he was seen in Lincoln Center’s South Pacific, and has appeared off-Broadway, in concerts, and on the national tours of The Sound of Music, South Pacific and Parade (directed by Harold Prince). Greg worked with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell in their world premiere of Bright Star at the Old Globe, as well as in numerous other regional theaters around the country, including Goodspeed, Paper Mill, and the Berkshire Theater Festival. www.gregroderick.com

Other singers include: Don Boevingloh, Tyler Carey, Joseph Cebollero, Caitlin Mandracchia, Scarlett Mazur, Kelsey Morris, Kennedy Morris, Megan O’Callaghan, Rebecca Pokorski, Dan Satter, Melanie Votaw, and Morgana Kate Watson

The musical director is JEROLD GOLDSTEIN. Goldstein has been directing, musical directing, and teaching in schools and privately throughout Connecticut for the past 30 years. As an actor, he has performed in numerous musical productions in New York City including on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Aint Broadway Grand. He was in the national tour of Little Shop of Horrors and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He won the Barrymore Award for Gun Metal Blues, was in the Kennedy Center’s Shear Madness, and toured Europe in 42nd Street. As a composer, several of Goldstein’s shows (written with William Squier) have been performed around the country, including Babalu, Music is my Fist (their send up of the Rat Pack), and The Three Scrooges. As co-bookwriter, his musical ROUTE 66 has received a number of regional productions. www.JeroldGoldstein.com

The concert was initiated and produced by Brookfield Theatres curator of new musicals, Carol de Giere. She is author of “The Godspell Experience” and “Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz” as well as the on-line magazine for new musicals “Musical Writerzine”.

Tickets are $35 general admission or $30 for students and seniors which includes admission to the concert and a reception with the writers and performers after the show.

MARK NADLER

Sat, August 4, 2018, 8:15 PM – 11:00 PM EDT

$20 – $40

Dinner Starts at 8:15 PM

Show Time is at 9:30 PM

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ANY TICKETS!

WHEN YOU ARE PURCHASING A TABLE SEAT YOU ARE ONLY PAYING FOR A PORTION OF THE FULL TABLE SEAT PRICE AT THIS TIME. THE BALANCE DUE WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU ON A CHECK ON THE NIGHT OF THE PERFORMANCE.

ALL TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

There are several different levels and types of tickets available for purchase to this performance. Please read below to be sure that you select the correct ticket category.

Upon purchasing an advance sale ticket ahead of time you will only be charged a portion of the full amount of the Dinner/ Show. The partial amount which you will be charged for at this time for purchasing an advance sale ticket will fluctuate depending on which type of ticket you select. The different ticket categories are listed below.

VIP SEATING ($89) – These seats are closest to the performer. Advance sale amount is $40 with a $49 balance presented on the night of the performance.

VIP EARLY SEATING ($79) – Same as VIP seating. Only available for purchase prior to 10 days or earlier to the performance date. Advance sale amount is $30 with a $49 balance presented on the night of the performance.

BEACH TABLE SEATS ($20) – These seats are just beyond the VIP Table Seating Section. In some cases this is SHARED SEATING as these tables can be configured for large groups. Advance sale amount is $20 with a $25 minimum of food or drink on the night of the performance. Doors open for these Table Seats at 9 PM.

VIP BAR SEATS ($30) – These are the first two bar stools which are closet to the performer.

GENERAL BAR SEATS ($20) – These are the remaining bar seats.

Additional details to be aware of related to purchasing tickets and attending the show.

Once you have purchased your advance sale ticket you do not have to call the Beach Cafe to make a verbal reservation. The purchase of the ticket automatically secures your table seat or bar seat reservation.

All VIP Table Seats will enjoy a four course prix fixe meal which is served prior to show time. All Table Seats will be presented a check for $49 for this prix fixe meal. Beverages, NYS sales tax and gratuity are not included. Those charges, if any, will be added to your table check on the night of the show.

VIP Ticket holders tables will be available for seating at 7:45 pm. Please do not come before 7:45 pm as there will be no seats available due to prior events and usage. General Table Seat Ticket holders should arrive at 8:15 pm to take their seats. Again we respectfully ask all General Table Seat Ticket holders not to arrive before 8:15 pm as the prior parties will just be leaving.

Please note that the Dining Room seating is shared seating. Parties are put together with others to fill up the tables. Advanced purchased tickets do carry a $3.50 ticketing fee which goes directly to the ticket agency website www.Eventbrite.com.

BAR ADMISSION TICKET SALES .

There is a $25 food or beverage minimum for each person at the bar on the night of the performance. All Bar Seat checks are charged an automatic 20% gratuity and NYS Sales Tax.

Bar Seat Advanced purchased tickets do carry a $3.50 ticketing fee which goes directly to the ticket agency website www.Eventbrite.com.