Norm Lewis, Sammy Hagar, Debbie Gibson and more shows to see this week in Connecticut

This month many theaters are thrilled to be marking the successful ends of their first full seasons since COVID, but some things still do not go as planned. The national tour of the musical “Emojiland” shut down before it was due to play The Bushnell on June 10. Chazz Palminteri’s performance “A Bronx Tale” at the Warner Theatre this week was canceled. Chita Rivera tested positive for COVID-19 so Norm Lewis will be performing at the Shubert gala June 8 instead. Look at it this way: all these change just show that more shows are happening in general. There’s plenty more to choose from.

Norm Lewis in concert

Broadway great Norm Lewis, who was the first African American “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway and also did stints in “Les Miserables,” Miss Saigon” and “Chicago,” is subbing for another Broadway legend, Chita Rivera June 8 at 8 p.m. at the Shubert, 247 College St., New Haven. The 89-year-old Rivera tested positive for COVID and is unable to perform at the Shubert’s fundraising gala, so Lewis, like a phantom, has swooped in. $44-$104. shubert.com.

Phunk

The New Orleans jam/funk ensemble Dumphstaphunk jams into two Connecticut clubs this week: Fairfield Theatre Co., 70 Sanford St., Fairfield June 8 at 8 p.m. ($28, $25 FTC members; fairfieldtheatre.org) and Infinity Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford, June 9 at 8 p.m. ($28-$35; infinityhall.com). One Time Weekend opens both shows.

Jewish Plays Project

The Jewish Plays Project, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford offers readings of three short works: “Lily Ineffable” by Audrey Lang, “Madeleines” by Bess Welden and “To Reach Across a River” by Marshall Botvinick.” The audience gets to vote on the play they like best. $15. charteroakcenter.org.

Hard rock revivalists

Sammy Hagar’s “Crazy Times!” tour features his all-star band The Circle (with Hagar’s old Van Halen bandmate Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and BusBoys guitarist Vic Johnson) with George Thorogood June 10 at 8 p.m. at Hartford Healthcare Ampitheater, Bridgeport. The opening act is another ‘80s-’90s rock legend, George Thorogood. $29-$350. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

‘Lost in Your Eyes’

Debbie Gibson of “Electric Youth” fame has now reached electric middle age. She’s never slowed down in her nearly four-decade career, starring in several Broadway shows, Hallmark movies, appearing on TV dance shows and more. She released a new album, “The Body Remembers,” just last year. She’s at the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, on June 10 at 8 p.m. mohegansun.com.

Dwonztet live, and recorded

The Dwonztet is a jazz ensemble led by bassist Matt Dwonszyk, with vocalist Shenel Johns, saxophonist Kris Allen, guitarist Andrew Renfroe, pianist Taber Gable and drummer Jonathan Barber. All of them studied at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. The Dwonztet has a new recording, so the June 10 gig at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown, is a release party. $20. buttonwood.org.

Blues from Mali

The Malian blues/folk/world guitarist/singer Vieux Farka Toure is at Infinity Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk on June 10 at 8 p.m., then at Stage One, 70 Sanford Ave., Fairfield, on June 11 at 8 p.m. $35, $25 for Fairfield Theatre Co. members. fairfieldtheatre.org.

Beethoven’s Ninth and Glass’ quartet

The final concert of Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s 2022 “Masterworks” series is “Beethoven’s Ninth” — need they say anything more? Well, yes, since the companion piece to the mighty Ninth is Philip Glass’ revered “Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra.” Three performances, June 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and June 12 at 3 p.m. in the Belding Theater of The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. The guest artists range from conductor Adam Boyles to the Resurgam Quartet to Hartford Chorale. $38-$72. hartfordsymphony.org.

The divine Varla Jean

Drag diva Varla Jean Merman brings her latest show “Little Prick” for two performances at 6:30 and 9 p.m. on June 11 at TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl St., Hartford. The title’s a pun: Merman’s dolled up in a nurse outfit with a hypodermic, promising to “vaccinate audiences with a double-dose of infectious new songs and viral videos.” $30-$55. twhartford.org.

Bayside meets Hartford

The punk band Bayside, from Bayside, Queens, New York, has been around for over 20 years and eight albums now. Bayside will lay waste to the Webster Theatre on June 11 at 6:30 p.m., alongside Can’t Swim, Action/Adventure and Catalyst. $25 & $30. webstertheater.com.

Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com.