Please join The Bushnell as we host a free public forum for Hartford's iQuilt project on June 24 at 5 p.m. The iQuilt is envisaged as a loose grid from the Capitol to the River, and aims to weave together Hartford's key cultural sites and institutions around the theme of cultural innovations. Architect Douglas Suisman will present his preliminary vision for the iQuilt and be available to receive public comments and ideas. If you have questions about this exciting project, please call (860) 987-5929 or email iquilt@bushnell.org. We hope to see you there!

Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple at The Bushnell this week - this soul-stirring musical is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards. Have you seen The Color Purple here at The Bushnell? Let us know what you thought of the show!

As we see the end of The Bushnell's 2008-2009 season rapidly approaching, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year. Our country has seen a lot of change, and has endured - and is still enduring - difficult economic times. However, it is in times like these that many people are drawn to the arts - whether it be a musical, visual art show, concert, dance performance, or something else - for comfort, inspiration, hope and escape. In hard times, people embrace things of true value, and we believe that a life rich in culture and the arts is one of the most valuable things in the world.

What have the arts meant to you this past year? What have been the highlights for you? Do you make the arts a big part of your life - and how? And most importantly, why?

The Bushnell-produced tour-de-farce, Greater Tuna, opens tonight! Let us know what you thought of the show in comments!

We are SO excited that the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights is coming here to The Bushnell in January 2010 - and your chance to get a little taste of the show is coming up on Wednesday, May 27 at 8 p.m. when CPTV airs "In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams."

This is your chance to see the eight-year journey that will chronicle the beginnings of the show, when creator Lin-Manuel Miranda began writing it as a student at Wesleyan University in Middletown, to its crowning glory as BEST MUSICAL at the 2008 Tony Awards - not bad for a musical set outside a bodega in the Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights that was thought to be a risky endeavor in the world of musical theater.

Check out the special, and you'll see why we are so excited it's coming to Hartford!

Rehearsals are starting this week here at The Bushnell for Greater Tuna - our latest adventure in producing! Greater Tuna, which is a hilarious social satire that takes place in the third-smallest town in Texas, stars the talented Neal Mayer and Brian Mathis, who, between the two of them, play over 20 parts - the men, the women, the pets - EVERYONE in the little town of Tuna!

Greater Tuna is experiencing a bit of a "coming home" here in Hartford, as it started its national tour at Hartford Stage Company 20 years ago. We are so excited to be producing this side-splitting comedy, and hope you join us at the show, running May 26-31!

It's been a busy week at The Bushnell. The Phantom of the Opera has been loading in, and it's quite an enormous project. Just the fact that 20 48-foot semi trucks are needed to transport the show should give you a hint that this is a HUGE production! The iconic chandelier alone weighs 1000 pounds (and is adorned with 35,000 beads!). Other items needing transportation: 230 costumes, 479 lighting instruments, 2.5 tons of steel reinforcements used to support the weight of the set pieces, 24 large pieces of scenery, 165 wigs and much, much more.

The show, which is the longest-running on Broadway, is coming to The Bushnell April 22-May 10. Are you coming? Let us know what you think in comments.

The Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Chorus Line opens tonight at The Bushnell, running through Sunday, March 29! Did you know these cool facts about the show?

* Each cast member kicks his or her legs a total of 36 times (18 kicks each
leg) in the final kick line of the show.

* The only full costume change in the entire show is for the Finale. This
costume for the men is a single jumpsuit – pants, shirt and vest all sewn
together – with one zipper. This enables them to step in, zip up, add
socks, shoes, jacket and hat and immediately return to the stage for the
curtain call and final number.

* The men keep the battery packs for their microphones in a pouch just
below their waist.

* Robyn Hurder (Cassie) sprays Modern Organic Products G System Firm
Finish hairspray on her posterior before each performance to prevent the
infamous red leotard costume she wears from riding up during the “Music
and the Mirror” dance.

* Mop ‘n’ Glo is the product of choice applied to the stage floor before each
performance to reduce the stickiness so the dancers can move properly.

Are you coming to see A Chorus Line? Let us know what you think!

The 2009-2010 Bushnell Broadway Series has been announced! Let us know what you think - we're excited about next season, which is chock-full of Tony Award-winners and Connecticut premieres! For more info on these titles, go to www.bushnell.org.

Young Frankenstein
October 6-11, 2009

August: Osage County
November 17-22, 2009

Christmas with the Rat Pack – Live at The Sands
December 15-20, 2009

In the Heights
January 5-10, 2010

Spring Awakening
February 23-28, 2010

South Pacific
April 20-25, 2010

Porgy and Bess
June 8-13, 2010

After reviewing a record-breaking number of auditions, the judges of our "Singing with the Broadway Stars" competition have selected Melissa Paul of Wethersfield and Meric Martin of Bristol to perform alongside such Broadway greats as Norm Lewis (King Triton, Disney's The Little Mermaid) and Rita Harvey (Christine Daee, The Phantom of the Opera) in Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway tonight! Melissa and Meric will sing solos in the show's finale. In addition, 19 runners up have been selected to perform in the chorus during the finale. Don't miss it!