Connecticut Ballet is up to some pretty cool and interesting things...

In case you missed it, last week eight company dancers performed a piece entitled ‘Babble’ in the lobby of 99 Pratt Street, each in a window space meant for... mannequins? window dressings? Who knows.. but one thing is for sure, the space was PERFECT for this dance piece.

Audience members roamed freely around the lobby to gaze at the entrapped dancers, four on each side. The piece was innovative and artsy and, most of all, super intimate. When has any 'normal' person been a foot away from a ballerina? Seeing dance, particularly ballet from such a close proximity was astounding.. to see the leg muscles in action.. facial expressions that would have gone missed from afar.. and from the right angle, the dancers communicating.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a mid-week lunch break!

This Saturday, April 21, the Connecticut Ballet is hosting their 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration. The great part about this event are the different ticket options, so anyone can choose how they want to celebrate with the ballet, whether it be just the performance, add getting down with the Glamour Girls and company dancers at the after party, or the whole she-bang and adding dinner.

Regardless of the type of ticket, anyone going to this event is guaranteed to have a spectacular time!

Tickets for the performance only ($63.00 Orchestra, $43.00 Mezzanine) are available exclusively through The Bushnell Box Office over the phone at 860-987-5900 or in person.

Ticket packages for the performance plus onstage after party ($78.00 per person) are available at The Bushnell Box Office online, over the phone at 860-987-5900 or in person, and through Connecticut Ballet at 860-293-1039 or 203-964-1211.

Ticket packages to the patron’s dinner, performance and onstage after party ($175.00 per person, $1400.00 for a table of eight) are available exclusively through Connecticut Ballet at 860-293-1039 or 203-964-1211.

The Bushnell's annual Ovations gala, benefiting our award-winning arts-in-education programs, is just days away! The ticketed event will be held this Saturday, March 3 at The Bushnell.

Themed 'Through the Looking Glass,' the event is based on the beloved Alice in Wonderland stories by Lewis Carroll. Guests are invited to come dressed as Alice, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, or wear their most elegant tea party ensemble. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes!

All proceeds support The Bushnell’s award-winning arts-in-education programs, specifically, PARTNERS® (Partners in Arts Revitalizing Schools) which infuses art into education to improve literacy skills and increase intercultural competencies of students who have had difficulty learning through traditional teaching methods.

The evening will consist of Cocktails and Silent Auction, Dinner, Program and Live Auction, Dessert and Dancing.

Ticket prices begin at $200 per person. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities please contact Stephanie McMullon at (860) 987-6087 or Stephanie.mcmullon@bushnell.org.

The Bushnell is Grateful for the Support of Our Sponsors:
Stanley Black & Decker, Lead Sponsor
Travelers, After-Party Sponsor
First Niagara, Dinner Sponsor
Hoffman Audi, Auction Sponsor
Flower Boutique, Floral Sponsor
Onyx Spirits, Spirits Sponsor

On Tuesday, February 7, The Bushnell hosted a free event in Mortensen Hall at which we officially unveiled the 2012-2013 BROADWAY SEASON!

The presentation included a video clips from this year’s remaining Broadway shows (The Addams Family, Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof and Come Fly Away), video clips from next year’s shows, and some updates and a few words from our own Scott Galbraith, Vice-President, Programs.

Our Ensign Darling Vocal Fellows performed in the Promenade Gallery as guests arrived and, as a special surprise, we brought in the New York cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET to perform. And, in order to include EVERYONE in the event, we tweeted the highlights in real time. If you missed the event, check out The Bushnell Twitter for the play-by-play.

The diverse 2012-13 Broadway Season includes touring productions of hits MARY POPPINS (Sept. 14-23, 2012), MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (Jan. 8-13, 2013), Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT (Feb. 26 – March 3, 2013), SISTER ACT (April 16-21, 2013), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (May 28 – June 3, 2013) and BILLY ELLIOT (June 18-23, 2013), and one additional production still to be chosen. Also announced was the off-subscription offering of the live stage version of the beloved holiday classic DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (Nov. 20-25, 2012).

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET's JOHNNY CASH shows us his best Man in Black

A great turn out for the Season Announcement & reception

The wonderfully talented Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellows

We're just a few short weeks away from Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway Song and Dance on February 19, which will feature a 7p.m. evening performance with Broadway stars (!!!) David Elder, Ted Louis Levy, Meredith Patterson, Natalie Toro and Rob Evan. Earlier in the day there will be a STUDENT SHOWCASE featuring four of Hartford's premier dance schools all competing to be featured in the grand finale of the evening show!

Videos of the competing dance studios are up on our YouTube, check them out here and tell us who is your favorite!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE621DCEBB4C63E61&feature=edit_ok
STAGE LEFT DANCE
APRILLE'S DANCEPRINTS
THE DANCER'S IMAGE DANCE ACADEMY
DANCE 10 STUDIOS

About the evening show:
Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway Song and Dance features the best-loved song-and-dance numbers from shows like Chicago, A Chorus Line and 42nd Street. Prepare to be dazzled by Broadway veterans David Elder (Curtains, 42nd Street, Kiss Me Kate), Ted Louis Levy (Black & Blue, Bring In ‘Da Noise! Bring In ‘Da Funk!), Meredith Patterson (White Christmas, 42nd Street, The Green Bird), Natalie Toro (A Tale of Two Cities, Les Misérables) and Rob Evan (Jekyll & Hyde, Les Misérables, Little Shop of Horrors). For more information visit Neil Berg's website: www.neilberg.com.

About the student showcase:
Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway Song and Dance Student Showcase will feature some of Greater Hartford’s most talented student dancers, all vying to be voted to appear in the evening performance’s grand finale! Dancers will appear from four local studios, including Stage Left Dance, Aprille’s Danceprints, The Dancer’s Image Dance Academy and Dance 10 Studios.

Ticket Info:
Tickets for Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway Song and Dance are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting The Bushnell Box Office at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford or by calling (860) 987-5900.

Tickets may also be purchased online at www.bushnell.org.

Tickets to the 7:00 p.m. performance are $35.00 - $45.00.

Tickets to the 2:00 p.m. Student Showcase are $15.00 or only $10.00 with the purchase of a ticket to the 7:00 performance.

Ticket prices do not include all applicable fees.

The Bushnell® is very proud of the one-woman play Warriors Don't Cry, showing tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Not to be missed, this is a play depicting the Little Rock Nine memoirs by Melba Pattillo Beals, who integrated Central High School in 1957. The inspiring performance chronicles the arduous and violent year in which nine black students risked their lives for a good education.

In the post-show Q&A, audience members explore themes of bullying, hate speech, and other issues of contemporary relevance.

How amazing is Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan?? We're dying to know what you thought of Pan, Hook, Wendy and all of your favorites. Let us know what moment made you believe in the magic!

Traces... WOW!! How exciting to have such a spectacular show here for two weeks, running now through October 9. We want to know what you think of the show! Post your review in comments-- let us know your favorite parts and what absolutely blew you away!!

We are thrilled that WICKED is here for the third time, running now through September 11 - and we want to know what you think of the show! Post your review in comments!

DVR ALERT! Get an exclusive sneak-peak behind the curtain of WICKED this Sunday, August 21, at noon when NBC Connecticut airs a 30-minute special on Broadway’s biggest blockbuster! The special presentation reveals never before seen back stage footage including actor interviews and a detailed look on how the Broadway spectacular came to be. WICKED’s creative team, including Academy and Grammy Award-winning Composer/Lyricist Stephen Schwartz, explains how the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire was brought to the Broadway stage.

WICKED opens at The Bushnell next Wednesday, August 24, and runs through September 11! Good seats still available!