Comedy and musical merriment ring in the new year this week in CT arts
The Courant’s first arts picks of 2024 are happily filled with comedy from Pete Davidson at Foxwoods to the lovely ladies of Lipstick Lashes at Mohegan Sun.
The stand-up comic named Corey Rodrigues at City Steam should not be confused with the double bill of Corey Alexander and Peaches Rodriguez at Playhouse on Park.
This is also a good week for tribute acts, with the well-established Get the Led Out playing at the Warner Theatre in Torrington and Belinda Davis singing Whitney Houston songs at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven.
BubbleMania is bursting out in Stamford, there is a livestream book talk with the Mark Twain House & Museum and livestock co-starring in a nativity play at Asylum Hill Congregational Church.
All in all, a fine and varied start to 2024. Here are some of the top things to do and see this week in Connecticut.
First Night Hartford rings in 2024 with fireworks, food and festivities
Lipstick Lashes Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
The long-running drag variety show shifts to a Sunday slot for a special New Year’s Eve edition at 10 p.m. in Mohegan Sun’s Comix Roadhouse. Way to drag out 2023! The hostesses are Mia E Z’Lay, Ambrosia and Kenya Mone Heart. $15-$35. mohegansun.com.
Corey Rodrigues City Steam Brewery, 942 Main St., Hartford
Corey Rodrigues, who grew up in Milton, Massachusetts, and gained his comedy chops in the competitive Boston comedy scene, wraps up a three-night stand at City Steam with two shows on New Year’s Eve at 7 and 10 p.m. $40. citysteambrewery.com.
‘Goldenseal’ with Maria Hummel and Barbara Bourland Virtual with Mark Twain House & Museum
The first Mark Twain House & Museum book event of the new year has Vermont poet and novelist Maria Hummel discussing her new novel “Goldenseal” with another novelist, Barbara Bourland. The event is virtual, streaming on Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. “Choose your own price” for non-members. Registration and payment are at ci.ovationtix.com.
The Greatest Love of All Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven
South African vocalist Belinda Davis presents her tribute to Whitney Houston. The theater notes in several places that this “beautifully crafted tribute to one of the world’s most revered singers” is not associated with the estate of Whitney Houston. Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. $41.70-$77.40. shubert.com.
Get the Led Out Warner Theatre, 68 Main St., Torrington
Didn’t take long for the Led Zeppelin tribute bands to come out of hibernation for the new year. Get the Led Out is one of the longer-lasting and more respected of this genre and will rock out mightily in a proper theater space like the Warner Theater’s Oneglia Auditorium in Torrington. Jan. 5 at 8 p.m. $35-$55. tickets.warnertheatre.org.
Story City Troupe Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center, 605 Main St., Middletown
The Story City Troupe holds court at the Buttonwood Tree in Middletown on the first Friday of every month. This month that means Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Each night has a general theme, and the stories are rooted in the personal experiences of the tellers. Donations accepted. buttonwood.org.
BubbleMania Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford
It takes a lot of soapy water to create a bubble-based show that fills the stage of a large theater. Start the year with good clean family fun, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Stamford Palace. $19. palacestamford.org.
Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Ave., Hartford
The community yuletide celebration at Asylum Hill Congregational Church, which has been happening (with the exception of some pandemic years) for 50 years, has returned for more wintry festivities. The event is traditionally attended by thousands, so there are four performances: Jan. 6 at 3 and 6:30 p.m. and Jan. 7 at 1:30 and 5 p.m. The 6:30 Saturday show is both live and livestreamed and the 1:30 Sunday show is American Sign Language interpreted. The performance tells the story of the Three Kings journeying to see the baby Jesus, using a Medieval text and the framing device of a royal ceremony in 15th-century London. $20-$50, $22 per household for the livestream. ahcc.org.
Comedy Night Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford
Peaches Rodriguez and Corey Alexander co-headline the latest Comedy Night at Playhouse on Park, where the audience is seated onstage within chuckling distance of the performers. Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. $20. BYOB. playhouseonpark.org.
Pete Davidson Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
He was the resident 20-something “Saturday Night Live” cast member for nearly a decade. He now has a hit Peacock sitcom, “Bupkis” and a long list of film and TV credits. Pete Davidson began doing stand-up just a year before he got the “SNL” gig, and he’s returned to it now big time. He’s at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. $69-$203. foxwoods.com.
