Hartford got to see Broadway veteran Anthony Rapp earlier when the national tour of “If/Then” visited the Bushnell. Rapp reprised the role of Lucas, which he originated in the show’s Broadway production.
Rapp, who also starred in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Hartford Stage in 2003, is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in “Rent” back in 1996; he also played Mark in the 2005 film version.
Rapp and another original cast member from “Rent,” Adam Pascal (who played Roger, and has built a pop music career separate from his theater exploits), bring their two-man concert act to the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. Tickets are $50. 203-438-5795 and ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
A Slew Of One-Acts
The married actors Kimberly Squires and Al Zeller invited six playwrights from Connecticut and New York to contribute scripts for their show “Delightful Differences: An Evening of One-Act Plays.”
Susan Cinoman, Drew Denbaum, Rosemary Foley, Jim Gordon, Elizabeth Keyser and Frederick Stoppel (who has three separate pieces in the show) all obliged. The playlets’ settings are as varied as a shopping mall, an enchanted kingdom and a proctologist’s office. The show is at 8 p.m. Oct. 14 and 15 at Lyric Hall, 827 Whalley Ave., New Haven. (The show returns next month for four more performances, Nov. 4, 5, 11 and12.) There is a 7:15 pre-show concert with vocalist Cathy Szabo, accompanied by pianist P.J. Letersky. Tickets are $25. 203-389-8885, lyrichallnewhaven.com.
The World Of William Shatner
Welcome to William Shatner’s world. The 85-year-old actor’s travel series “Better Late Than Never” (in which he gallivants globally with Henry Winkler, George Foreman and Terry Bradshaw) has been picked up for a second season.
He has a new science fiction novel out this month. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his first voyages as Captain James T. Kirk on “Star Trek.” His book about his friend and “Star Trek” co-star Leonard Nimoy was released in February. Shatner made a rare comic-con appearance last month in Salt Lake City. He was even a guest judge on “Cutthroat Kitchen.”
Somehow, he still finds time to tour his uplifting, one-man show “Shatner’s World: We Just Live in It.” He brings the intimate autobiographical piece, which uses anecdotes from his long life and career to illustrate a cosmic philosophy of life and death, to the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. 860-987-5900 and bushnell.org.
Skeleton Dance
The third annual Ballet Spooktacular, eerily danced by Eastern Connecticut Ballet, rises to life Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 16, at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. There are two performances each day, at 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 to $18. Audience members are invited to wear Halloween costumes. 877-503-1286, katharinehepburntheater.org.
