A little bit of country and a little bit of rock and roll in this week’s things to do and see in CT
Children get to go club-hopping this week, with the Disney tribute band “The Little Mermen” playing in Norwalk and a “Music of Prince for Kids” show at the Space in Hamden.
The older generation can rave on with a celebration of Buddy Holly (and his tourmates Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper) in Bridgeport and a music-infused theater show about a 1960s relationship, “Album.”
The contemporary country contingent gets Carrie Underwood and Jimmie Allen at Mohegan Sun. Comedy fans can see both D.L. Hughley and Jeff Dunham on the same weekend, and the Hartford Symphony is pleasing generations of classical fans with works from 1901, 1932 and 2020.
Here are some of the top things to do and see this week in Connecticut arts.
The Little Mermen
Wall Street Theater, 71 Wall St., Norwalk
Billed as “the ultimate Disney cover band,” The Little Mermen draw from eight decades’ worth of Disney songs, from “Snow White” to “Encanto.” They like to dress up as characters from cartoons, but they also act like a fun-loving club band. Their Feb. 5 show at the Wall Street Theater in Norwalk gets off to an early start, 4:30 p.m., so it’s as family-friendly as possible. $29, $20 youth, free for children under 2 (but they must sit on a parent’s lap). wallstreettheater.com.
The Day the Music Died
Park City Music Hall, 2926 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport
There’s been a Broadway musical and a Hollywood movie about rock & roll pioneer Buddy Holly, and a bunch of terrific tribute acts, and they all usually boil down to a recreation of the historic concert in Clear Lake, Iowa on Feb. 2, 1959. It was after that concert that hitmakers Buddy Holly (who sang ”Rave On,” “Peggy Sue” and dozens of other classics), The Big Bopper (”Chantilly Lace”) and teen sensation Ritchie Valens (”La Bamba,” “Come On, Let’s Go”) all died in a plane crash. Days after the 64th anniversary of that tragic event, on Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Park City Music Hall is presenting a tribute to what’s become known as “The Day the Music Died,” playing the music of all three legends. $15, $13 in advance. The band is led by Connecticut singer/songwriter Nathaniel Hintz, who’s getting adept at this whole tribute thing, having done one to Elvis not long ago. parkcitymusichall.com.
Music of Prince for Kids and More
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St, Hamden,
For Black History Month, the Space Ballroom in Hamden is bringing in the Rock and Roll Playhouse band, specialists at introducing the works of great rock artists to the (much) younger generation. In this case, the main artist being honored is the late Prince. The family-friendly show starts at noon. The volume is kept lower than at most rock shows, though the band still suggests that some kids might want to avail themselves of earplugs or other hearing protection. Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. $15. spaceballroom.com.
‘These Shining Lives’
Mapleton Hall, 1305 Mapleton Ave., Suffield
The Suffield Players perform a drama about women in the 1920s, getting poisoned in their workplace and painting radium on wristwatches so they’ll glow in the dark. “These Shining Lives” is by award-winning TV writer Melanie Marnich (“Big Love” and “The Affair”). The Suffield Players production has a cast of 11 and is directed by Lisa Parker. Feb. 9-25. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., with a Thursday preview on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. $20, $17 students and seniors; $15 preview. suffieldplayers.org.
D.L. Hughley
FunnyBone, 194 Buckland Hills Dr., Manchester
Fresh from his week guest-hosting the post-Trevor Noah “Daily Show,” where he riffed on everything from the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in Memphis to downsizing at big tech companies, D.L. Hughley returns to the FunnyBone comedy club in Manchester for a two-night, four-set stand Feb. 10 at 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 7 and 10 p.m. Hughley remains an astute and uncompromising comedian and social critic. His resume includes being the original host of ComicView on BET as well as one of the “Original Kings of Comedy,”, starring in his own sitcom (“The Hughleys”), hosting a New York City radio show, co-starring in the shortlived Aaron Sorkin series “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and doing incisive current-events comedy for “The Tonight Show,” CNN and his own 2005 Comedy Central talk show “Weekends at the D.L.” He’s as sharp as ever. hartford.funnybone.com.
Romantic Rachmaninoff & Price
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford
For its first Masterworks series concert since December, and the one happening a few days before Valentine’s Day, Hartford Symphony Orchestra has invited pianist Terrence Wilson to perform Rachmaninoff’s lush, romantic Piano Concerto No. 2. Also on the program are works by two Black female composers: Florence Price’s 1932 Symphony No. 1 in E Minor and Jesse Montgomery’s “Starburst,” described by its composer as a “brief one-movement work [that] is a play on imagery of rapidly changing musical colors.” “Starburst” was written for a string orchestra in 2012, then given an expanded full orchestra arrangement in 2020. There are three performances of the “Romantic Rachmaninoff & Price” concert: Feb. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. in The Bushnell’s Belding Theater. Carolyn Kuan is the conductor. $38-$73. hartfordsymphony.org.
‘Album’
Milford Arts Council, 40 Railroad Ave., Milford
The community-based Eastbound Theatre is spinning David Zimmer’s relationship drama “Album,” charting the coming-of-age adventures of two teen couples in the 1960s, with pop hits of that time. The play has six performances Feb. 10-19, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. $30; $50 with charcuterie box from Strega Restaurant (evening shows only). milfordarts.org.
Shen Yun
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford
The Chinese cultural music/dance/art spectacle, presented and performed by followers of the Falun Gong religious group, returns to The Bushnell for two performances on Feb. 11, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. “Shen Yun” purports to bring China’s “ancient and mythical culture to life on stage, reviving five thousand years of profound wisdom and divine beauty.” $92-$197. bushnell.org.
Carrie Underwood
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville
Country star and 2005 “American Idol” champion Carrie Underwood is bringing her “Denims and Rhinestones” tour (named for her most recent album) to Mohegan Sun Arena on Feb. 11. She’ll spend the second half of 2023 in residency at Las Vegas. Jimmie Allen opens the 7:30 p.m. show. $100.50-$150.50. mohegansun.com.
Jeff Dunham
XL Center, 1 Civic Center Blvd., Hartford
The phenomenally successful ventriloquist Jeff Dunham brings his gaggle of dummies (including one new one, crafted during COVID) to the XL Center on Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. It’s Dunham’s “Still Not Canceled” tour, a reminder that his comedy can get edgy. $54.50-$154.50.
Reach reporter Christopher Arnott at [email protected].