With this issue, the Ledger introduces a new monthly column highlighting what’s new and exciting on stage in Connecticut.

By Mara Dresner

Cooler days mean that things are heating up on stages throughout the state!

Let’s start with a little something country. From the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash comes a musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, home and family at Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury. Ring of Fire, which runs through October 20, is packed with more than two dozen classic hits — including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, the title tune. Artistic director Semina De Laurentis told me she’s thrilled that Seven Angels is premiering a smaller cast version of the show. “I heard about Ring of Fire a few years ago. I knew our audiences would love the show, but it was too large a cast for us to produce. When I heard that Richard Maltby Jr. had reconceived his Johnny Cash tribute for a five-member ensemble, I jumped at the chance to have its Connecticut premiere at Seven Angels.”

Up next is Arthur Miller’s The Price,

Nov. 7 to Dec. 1.

For tickets call (203)757-4676 or visit

sevenangelstheatre.org.

What isn’t happening at the Warner Theatre in Torrington?!

You still have a couple of days to catch Evil Dead – The Musical, running through Oct. 6 in The Nancy Marine Studio Theatre. It’s musical mayhem and just plain fun, kind of like “guilty pleasure viewing” for the stage. (We won’t tell anyone you laughed!)

The winners of the Warner Theatre International Playwright Festival will be presented Oct. 17 through 19, also at the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre. The mission of the one-act play fest is to recognize the work of emerging and established playwrights from across the country and to build a link between playwrights, the theatre community and audiences. Each evening is themed with four to six plays performed each night; go for one night or attend the whole festival.

The award-winning “Fiddler” at the Warner Theater in November.

And mark your calendar now for a trip to everyone’s favorite shtetl, Anatevka, as the Warner Theatre presents the musical classic Fiddler on the Roof, Nov. 2 through 10. Fiddler originally premiered on Broadway almost 50 years ago! Details about all performances and tix are at (860) 489-7180 or warnertheatre.org.

If you’re looking for a feel-good evening of theater, check out the Waterbury premiere engagement of the award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing at the Palace Theater, Oct. 9 through 13.  “Jersey Boys continues to thrill audiences not only because of the music but for the dramatic true story about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ meteoric rise to fame – the ‘rags to riches’ aka ‘what price fame?’ story that never ceases to disappoint,” Marketing & Public Relations Officer Sheree Marcucci told me. “I love the show and had goose bumps when I first saw it on Broadway. … The story is what is compelling to me and the production numbers are fantastic!” Sheree said that she once met Frankie Valli and shared how she’d grown up with his music. “I also let him know that I am the original ‘Sherry Baby’! He chuckled at that!” Tix at (203) 346-2000 or online at palacetheaterct.org.

The cast of Goodspeed’s The Most Happy Fella.
Credit: Diane Sobolewski

If you’re in need of a feel-good evening, check out The Most Happy Fella at Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, through Dec. 1. It’s the story of a May-December romance when a city bride is wooed by an aging Italian grape farmer who nearly botches everything until his true goodness shines through. Aw!

At The Norma Terris Theatre, Goodspeed’s home for developing fresh, innovative, and original new musicals, Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook is on tap Oct. 24 through November 17. This romantic comedy blends some of the best-loved music from composer Stephen Schwartz’s Broadway shows (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, The Baker’s Wife) with some of his lesser-known gems. A musical based around the works of Stephen Schwartz? What’s not to love?

More info and tix at (860) 873-8668 or goodspeed.org.

Farmington Valley Stage Company kicked off their “Season of Comedies” with Bermuda Avenue Triangle by Joseph Bologna & Renee Taylor. The show closes Oct. 5, so you might just sneak in.

Relatively Speaking by Woody Allen, Elaine May and Ethan Coen is up next. Tickets and info about the laughs to come at fvstage.org.

TheaterWorks in downtown Hartford kicks off their 2013-2014 season with Mrs. Mannerly, an irreverent and clever comedy by Jeffrey Hatcher, running Oct. 11 through Nov. 17. The Houston Chronicle called “it the most ingenious and hilarious new play of the new year.” Sounds like fun!  Info and tix at theaterworkshartford.org. Lots of special events with the show including Talk Back Tuesdays on Oct. 22 and 29 and Nov. 5 and 12.

A couple of interesting events are coming up at the Bushnell. First is Flashdance – The Musical. Fans of the movie should enjoy this tale of a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night who dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. Flashdance – The Musical runs Oct. 15 through Oct. 20.

Don’t miss the Piano Guys on Oct. 24 and their imaginative mash-up arrangements that they’re famous for, with inspiration from Michael Jackson, Mozart, One Direction, Adele and more. Info and tickets at (860) 987-5900 or bushnell.org.

West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park is tackling the Bard’s Othello, through Oct. 20. Love, jealousy, passion and pride – they’ll cover it all in two hours. Tickets at playhouseonpark.org or (860) 523-5900 x10.

Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven kicks off their new season with The Underpants by Carl Sternheim and adapted by Steve Martin (Yes, that Steve Martin). Directed by Gordon Edelstein, it runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 10. Info at (203 787-4282 or longwharf.org.

It’s good (naughty) fun at the Garde Arts Center in New London as 50 Shades! The Musical, stops for one performance on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. A sexy, hilarious romp, 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL is the laugh-out-loud critically-acclaimed musical parody of the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon, first unleashed as a resounding hit at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It’s full of dance numbers, 11 original songs delivered by a cast of 10, and a live, on-stage band. Info at gardearts.org.

Hartford Stage continues its run of La Dispute in repertory with Macbeth (or “that Scottish play”) through Nov. 10. The cast performs the two shows on a rotating schedule. Check hartfordstage.org to see what’s playing when or call the box office at (860) 527-5151.

Artistic director Mark Lamos directs the classic American comedy Room Service, Oct. 8 through 26 at Westport Country Playhouse. Get ready for lots of laughs in this madcap farce! Tix by calling (888) 927-7529 or (203) 227-4177 or more info at westportplayhouse.org.