One of the perks of living in Fairfield County, Connecticut is its proximity to New York City, home of world-famous broadway shows. But what if I told you that you could see a Broadway show right here in Fairfield County?
Well, you can, and you will not be disappointed.
This October, I was given the opportunity to see Evita, the current-running show at Ridgefield’s newest theater, ACT of Connecticut. Evita is ACT’s second show, after a sold-out run of its inaugural show, Mama Mia!
A Contemporary Theater (ACT) of Connecticut is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater, which opened this Summer in Ridgefield, a town known for it’s appreciation of the arts, in the famous Schlumberger Theater. ACT’s founders, Katie Diamond, Daniel C. Levine, and Bryan Perri, are a powerhouse trio with Broadway pedigrees. The founders name their mission as:
“Bringing Broadway caliber theater, executed by Broadway professionals, to the Ridgefield area including top rate contemporary productions, new works, and re-imagined revivals.”
ACT has executed this mission (and then some) with Evita, which tells the story of Eva Peron, who rose from poverty to become the First Lady of Argentina at the age of 27. With music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, ACT takes on a show with big shoes to fill and knocks it out of the park. Every show has a live backstage nine-piece orchestra to accompany its cast. The cast, predominately composed of Latinx talent, truly makes the show shine. Julia Estrada (as Eva) and Angel Lozada (as Che) will knock your socks off with their vocal chops.
The theater itself is small, so no matter where you sit, you have a great view of the amazing show. Concessions are offered at the front (including wine in fancy sippy cups!), which you can enjoy inside while you watch the show. We will be making ACT part of our date nights from here on out!
Evita has been extended through November 11, 2018! Performances are on Thursdays through Sundays, with matinees on Saturdays an Sundays. Tickets range from $58 to $84. Visit actofct.org for tickets!
ACT will have three more shows this year.
- Working – February 22 through March 10, 2019
- Austen’s Pride – March 28 through April 14, 2019
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – May 31 through June 16
ACT offers individual tickets or season packages (which include a 10% discount and the opportunity to exchange tickets without a penalty).
But wait – there’s more!
ACT isn’t just a place to see shows. ACT brings Broadway to Ridgefield through not only its incredible productions but also its educational programs. ACT’s Conservatory Program for both middle and high school students offers workshops of all kinds (production, vocal performance, college audition, and more!). The Youth Choir, for children in first through sixth grades, meets weekly and performs twice throughout the school year.
Ridgefield is fortunate to have a theater of this caliber open its doors in our own backyard. Bravo, ACT of Connecticut!
 of Connecticut is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater, which opened this Summer in Ridgefield, Connecticut.){kind=link}