The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Warner to rock with music, roll with comedy
TORRINGTON — Warner Theatre officials have announced a lineup of new shows, and tickets are or will soon be available — first to members, and then to the general public. Fees and prices vary. Call the box office at 860489-7188 or visit warnertheatre.org to reserve.
The Capitol Steps
The Capitol Steps return to the Warner Theatre with a new show at 8 p.m. April 21. The Capitol Steps works overtime to capture the new administrations’ antics in satire and song. Since The Capitol Steps find their laughs in materials ripped from today’s and tomorrow’s headlines you never know whether Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions, or Kim Jong-un might appear from Mar-A-Lago or The White House. Each show consists of tasteful lampooning guaranteed to leave both sides of the political spectrum laughing.
“The Full Monty”
The Warner Stage Company will present “The Full Monty” on May 5-13 on the Warner Theatre Main Stage, sponsored by DNR Laboratories.
Based on the cult hit film of the same name a 10-time Tony Award nominee, is filled with honest affection, engaging melodies and the most highly anticipated closing number of any show.
While spying on their wives at a “Girls Night Out,” a group of unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo see how much they enjoy watching male strippers. Jealous, out of work and feeling emasculated, the men come up with a bold and unclothed way to make some quick cash. In preparing, they find themselves extremely exposed; not merely physically but emotionally. As they conquer their fears, self-consciousness and prejudices, the men come to discover that they’re stronger as a group, and the strength that they find in each other gives them the individual courage to “let it go.”
The show contains adult language and situations. The Warner Stage Company production is directed and choreographed by Roxie Quinn and music directed by Michael Berkeley. Performances are May 5, 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. and May 6 and 13 at 2 p.m.
Book by Terrence McNally. Music and lyrics by David Yazbek, the show is based on the motion picture released by Fox Searchlight Pictures, written by Simon Beaufoy, produced by Uberto Pasolini and directed by Peter Cattaneoe, and presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International, Inc. “Million Dollar Quartet”
The Warner Theatre will welcome the national touring company “Million Dollar Quartet,” the Tony award-winning smash hit musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time, on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale.
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon performs on the Main Stage on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.
At the center of REO’s desire to keep it rocking for the fans is Kevin Cronin. He is joined by bandmates Bruce Hall on bass, keyboardist Neal Doughty, Dave Amato on lead guitar and drummer Bryan Hitt.
Formed in 1967 at college in Champaign, Ill., REO (named after the precursor to the light truck) rode to gigs in station wag- ons, hopping from small gigs to even tinier gigs, just to get their name out. It worked, as fans quickly realized there was much more going on here than your average college party band.
By the early ‘70s, the band’s unrelenting drive, as well as nonstop touring and recording, jumpstarted the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Platinum albums and freeform FM radio staples such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out” followed, setting the stage for 1980’s explosive Hi Infidelity. Its success was fueled by massive hit singles such as “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run.”
REO rode the top of the charts with a RIAA-certified 22 million albums sold in the U.S. and 40 million around the globe, with a string of gold and platinum re- cords and international hit singles.
“The Midtown Men”
“The Midtown Men” are bringing their magic to Torrington’s Warner Theatre on Oct. 12 at 8 p.m., singing their favorite “Sixties Hits” from The Beatles, The Rascals, The Turtles, Motown, The Four Seasons and more. Tickets are on sale.
The show reunites four stars from the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys. Tony award-winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer star in this one-of-a-kind concert experience celebrating the music that defined the ‘60s.
NOTE: This show is not a performance of, and not affiliated with the show “Jersey Boys.”
Brian Regan
The Warner Theatre welcomes Brian Regan to the Main Stage on Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale.
Regan premiered his seventh hour of comedy, the Netflix special, “Brian Regan: Nunchucks And Flamethrowers,” in November 2017. This is the first special in a two-special deal with Netflix, joining Brian with Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and others in multi-special deals with the leader in worldwide streaming. Brian’s second Netflix special is planned for release in 2019. A regular on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Regan is the rare guest who the show invites on for two segments: a performance segment and a segment on the couch to chat with Jimmy. Previously, he was a regular guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, making 28 appearances on the CBS show. He made a scene-stealing cameo in Chris Rock’s film, Top Five, and he is a guest on Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which is now streaming on Netflix.