From Lewis Capaldi to Kenny Chesney to a ’90s flashback
It’s a good week for tribute acts in big venues. Squint and you’ll think you’re seeing ABBA at the Oakdale and Led Zeppelin at the Waterbury Palace (and we could add Pink Floyd pretenders The Machine at Infinity Hall Hartford on April 8).
It is also a fine time to see some singular song stylists, among them Eden Espinosa, Lewis Capaldi and Kenny Chesney. There is even a comedy play that combines both worlds: “The Legend of Georgia McBride” at the Ivoryton Playhouse, where a hapless Elvis impersonator dons drag and becomes an utterly original country singer/songwriter.
Here are some of the top things to do and see this week in Connecticut arts.
Eden Espinosa and John McDaniel Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Road, Branford
The Broadway Concert series of cabaret-style shows continues at Branford’s Legacy Theatre on April 2 at 2 p.m. with the song stylings of Eden Espinosa, whose Broadway roles have included Elphaba in “Wicked” and Maureen in “Rent.” Accompanying her on the piano is the great John McDaniel, who was musical director for Rosie O’Donnell’s show tune-friendly ‘90s talk show and now runs the annual cabaret conference at O’Neill Center in Waterford. $25-$50, $20 to watch it as a live stream. legacytheatrect. org.
Fran Lebowitz Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 Ridge Road, Ridgefield
For some, Fran Lebowitz hearkens back to the great pithy intellectual humorists who prowled New York City a century ago. But that doesn’t explain her extraordinary staying power, still finding funny things to say about modern annoyances well into the 21st century. She’s as amusing onstage as she is on the page. Fran
Lebowitz, who’s so cool that Martin Scorsese made a documentary about her, is at Ridgefield Playhouse on April 2 at 7 p.m. in a conversation with S.E. Cupp of CNN. $55. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Kenny Chesney Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
Country music superstar Kenny Chesney, who has had dozens of No. 1 hits in his chosen genre, brings his “No shoes, no shirt, no problems” attitude to Mohegan Sun Arena on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. $129.50$179.50. mohegansun.com.
‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St., Ivoryton
“The Legend of Georgia McBride” is one of the most popular plays ever written about men in drag, which may be why playwright Matthew Lopez got the gig adapting the classic movie “Some Like It Hot” into a new Broadway musical. Lopez is well known in Connecticut for his stint at Hartford Stage in the 1990s, where his plays “Somewhere,” “Reverberation” and “Whipping Man” were all done. He’s also renowned for his Broadway epic “The Inheritance.” “Georgia McBride” has been done locally at TheaterWorks Hartford, Seven Angels and elsewhere. Now the Ivoryton Playhouse is opening its 2023 season with the play, in which a failed Elvis impersonator finds his muse as a country and western drag queen. April 6-30, with performances Wednesdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. $25-$55. ivorytonplayhouse.org.
Lewis Capaldi Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
Scottish pop sensation Lewis Capaldi had one of the biggest break-up songs of recent years with “Someone You Loved.” He’s got an angelic voice and a wry sense of humor, as can be divined from the titles of his two albums, “Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent” and “Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent.” Em Beihold opens the 8 p.m. show on April
7 at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater. foxwoods.com.
Shawn Wayans Funny Bone, 294 Buckland Hills Dr., Manchester
Shawn Wayans has a new comedy special out, “God Loves Me.” It’s his third special in as many years.
You can see him live at the Funny Bone comedy club in Manchester four different times this weekend: April 7 at 7:30 and 10 p.m. and April 8 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. $37. hartford.funnybone.com.
Jess Miller and Corey Manning Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford
Playhouse on Park has reinvigorated its stand-up comedy series. It is a great place to see a comic close-up, sitting on the stage a few feet from the performers. You’ll laugh that much louder. On April 8 at 8 p.m., two very reliable funny people with good hearts hold the stage: Boston club veteran Jess Miller, who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for foster children through her comedy, and New York-based Corey Manning, who outside of his “comedian by night” persona uses his comedy persuasion skills leading interactive workshops on heavy topics. playhouseonpark.org.
R&B Rewind Tour Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
The word “rewind” in the “R&B Rewind” tour refers to the 1990s when cassette tapes were still a thing.
The tour assembles four acts who rubbed shoulders regularly on the charts during that decade: Toni!, Toni! Tone!, El DeBarge, Silk and Kut Klose. April
8 at 8 p.m. at Foxwoods Premier Theater. $37-$125. foxwoods.com.
The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford
If you’re doing a tribute to a band that titled one of its albums “The Album,” you get to call your show “The Concert.” One of the grander ABBA tributes is playing at the large Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. Don’t go wasting your emotions. Lay all your love on them. April 8 at 7:30 p.m. $27.50-$109.50. concerts. livenation.com.
Hammer of the Gods Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury
Led Zeppelin was Led Zeppelin for only about 12 years, from 1968 to 1980. Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Experience has been Led Zeppelin for 20 years, playing “Stairway” and “Whole Lotta Love” live thousands of times. The Long Islandbased tribute act hammers the Waterbury Palace on April 8 at 8 p.m. $45. palacetheaterct.org.