‘If/Then’ At The Bushnell; ‘Sign Of The Times’ At Goodspeed; ‘Luminary’ At Ballard

“If/Then” is Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s follow-up to their Pulitzer-winning hit “Next to Normal” (about bi-polar depression) and it doesn’t find the maverick musical-makers playing it any safer in terms of subject matter.

“If/Then” is about a newly divorced 40-year-old, Elizabeth, who’s moved to New York seeking a new direction.

The national tour of “If/Then” comes to The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford Aug. 3 through 7 — an early start for the venue’s 2016-17 Broadway season. The tour stars Jackie Burns, a Connecticut native who got her degree in Acting from UConn. Anthony Rapp (from the original cast of “Rent,” and fondly recalled for his starring role in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Hartford Stage in 2003) plays Liz’s community-organizer friend Lucas, a role he originated in “If/Then” on Broadway.

Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.50 to $88.50. 860-987-5900, bushnell.org.

‘A Sign Of The Times’

“A Sign of the Times” has some real star power associated with its world premiere production Friday, July 29, through Sept. 4 at Goodspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre, 33 N. Main St., Chester.

The show, subtitled “A New ’60s Musical,” is written by Bruce Vilanch, the comedy writer known for punching up Academy Awards monologues, appearing on “Hollywood Squares,” and starring in the first national tour of “Hairspray.”

“A Sign of the Times” is directed by Gabriel Barre, who helmed the Goodspeed and Broadway productions of “Amazing Grace.” It’s choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter, currently represented on Broadway with “School of Rock” and “Disaster.” The cast features Ephie Aardema, Nick Bailey, Bryan Fenkart, Robert Lenzi and Crystal Lucas-Perry, all of whom have cool New York and regional theater credits. Most of the members of the supporting ensemble have been in national tours of Broadway hits; Lauren Nicole Chapman, to name one, played Lauren in “Kinky Boots” at The Bushnell last year.

But the real motivating force for “A Sign of the Times” appears to be the creative team’s access to a cache of pop hits by Petula Clark, including “Call Me,” “I Know a Place,” “Downtown,” “The In Crowd,” “Color My World” (not the Chicago one), “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” and, naturally, “A Sign of the Times.” The show also features hits associated with Dusty Springfield, Elvis Presley, Janis Ian, Lesley Gore and others.

Performances are Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $59, with special $25 deals for patrons aged “40 and Under” and $15 student rush seats. 860-873-8668, goodspeed.org.

Puppet Shadows

The fantasy tale “Luminary” is about the stealing of the sun and a small girl’s odyssey to restore light to the world. Puppeteer Ana Craciun-Lambru uses shadows, found objects and other tools to bring this story to light. “Luminary” is the fifth of six events in the “Summertime Saturday Puppet Show Series” at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, 1 Royce Circle, Storrs. Craciun-Lambru got her MFA in puppetry from UConn’s Puppet Arts Program, and presented her show “Dust,” about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, at the university earlier this year. There are two performances of “Luminary,” 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 30. Tickets are $8, $6 for children. 860-486-8580, bimp.uconn.edu.