When is Shakespeare not Shakespeare? The Bard of Avon is evoked twice this week in Connecticut, with his immortal texts referred to and quoted from yet not actually done in a way he’d recognize.
Irish experimental theater artist Dan Colley’s exploration of dementia, “Lost Lear,” has faded memories of “King Lear” at its core. The comic sensation “Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again)” was originally performed by its creators, The Reduced Shakespeare Company, but it’s been acted by others for decades now, plus the script has been revised and revised again. “Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare (Abridged)” not only demonstrates the range and scope of Shakespeare’s writings, it needs an equal range of comedy techniques from sketch comedy to monologues to funny songs and funny costumes.
The history mixes that are onstage this week in Connecticut don’t stop at the Elizabethan era. The podcast “History That Doesn’t Suck” brings its live version to Norwalk, covering the wars that bookended the first century of the United States of America.
Another live adaptation of a series, a TV one this time, delves back millennia as an “Ancient Aliens” panel discusses if, how and when extraterrestrial walked the Earth.
‘Lost Lear’
Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield
Irish theatremaker/filmmaker Dan Colley’s modern drama of a woman with dementia channeling an experimental production of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” she once appeared in is coming to Fairfield University’s Quick Center on tour. Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. $35, $25. quickcenter.fairfield.edu.
Pierce the Veil
Xfinity Theatre, 61 Savitt Way, Hartford
This is the fourth tour the California rock act Pierce the Veil has done since releasing its most recent album “The Jaws of Life” in 2023. Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. $25-$58.50. livenation.com.
Pierce the Veil plays a late-season, semi-outdoor show at Xfinity Theatre on Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. (Live Nation)
Compagnie Hervé Koubi: Sol Invictus
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs
The 17-strong French/Algerian dance/movement/capoeira/ballet/hip-hop/etc. company demonstrates the need for dance in today’s akilter world. Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. $10-$40. jorgensen.uconn.edu.
Simone Dinnerstein
University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford
Pianist Simone Dinnerstein and her chamber ensemble Baroklyn are joined by the chorale CONCORA for an evening of Bach cantatas from Dinnerstein’s recent “Complicité” album at the University of Hartford’s Millard Auditorium. Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. $25 app.arts-people.com.
The Zambonis
Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport
Connecticut’s own hockey-mad rock combo The Zamboinis, who sing only of ice and pucks and skating and sport, have a free show at Bridgeport’s Klein Auditorium on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Free. theklein.org.
Doug Stanhope
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Dr., Suite 1054, Manchester
Doug Stanhope is not as grizzled and jaded as the road comics he played in the movie “Road Dog” and the sitcom “Louie,” but he’s been touring for decades and has seen a lot of different audiences. Stanhope’s show at the Space Ballroom on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. is sold out (spaceballroom.com), but there are still tickets for his noon matinee performance on Oct. 25 at the Funny Bone in Manchester ($54; hartford.funnybone.com).
Ski Mask the Slump God
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
Rapper Ski Mask the Slump God, the Members Only hip-hop collective co-founder whose hits include “Catch Me Outside” and “Babywipe” fame, is out on his “Lost Files” tour. Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. $48.65. thewebsterct.com.
Multi-instrumentalist jazz/pop artist Zoë Lewis, a popular summer performer in Provincetown, is playing at First Presbyterian Church on Oct. 25 thanks to the Charter Oak Cultural Center. (Courtesy of Charter Oak Cultural Center)
El Alfa
Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford
Dominican rapper El Alf, undisputed leader of the dembow movement, brings his “El Último Baile” tour to the Oakdale on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. $41.25-$183.50. livenation.com.
‘Ancient Aliens’
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
A live event connected to the History Channel series “Ancient Aliens” offers the expert on “ancient astronaut” theories Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, mythologist William Henry, British UFO investigator Nick Pope and historian Jason Martell discussing extraterrestrial life at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. $74.50-$95.05. foxwoods.com.
‘History That Doesn’t Suck’
District Music Hall, 71 Wall St., Norwalk
The podcast “History That Doesn’t Suck” gets the live treatment with a discussion by Prof. Greg Jackson of the first 100 years of American history from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, enhanced by live music, projections and more. Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. $42.64-$63.74. districtmusichall.com.
GA-20 plays Space Ballroom in Hamden on Oct. 25 with Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. (Courtesy of Space Ballroom)
‘Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare Abridged (Revised) (Again)’
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford
The Reduced Shakespeare Company first did their “Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare (Abridged)” nearly 40 years ago. Like the Shakespeare plays it parodies and comically analyzes and makes outrageous puns about, this absurd abridgment has been revised and reinterpreted countless times. A new tour, not featuring the original Reduced Shakespeare trio, plays The Bushnell’s Autorino Great Hall Oct. 24-26. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. $48.50. bushnell.org.
Locals Only
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
It’s a night of Hartford bands, yet to be disclosed, at the local scene-friendly Webster. Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. $21.15. thewebsterct.com.
Zoë Lewis
First Presbyterian Church, 136 Capitol Avenue, Hartford
Zoë Lewis, the eclectic swing-jazz pianist, ukulele player, guitarist and harmonica player who adds a world-music vibe and plate-spinning tricks to her sets is originally from the UK but now is known for her residencies in Provincetown, Massachusetts and Mexico. This concert is presented by the Charter Oak Cultural Center but will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Hartford. Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. $25. charteroakcenter.org.
Bryan Adams
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
The Canadian rock/pop icon who, beyond hits like “Everything I Do (I Do It for You),” composed the songs for the Broadway musical of “Pretty Woman” is at Mohegan Sun. And guess who’s opening the show? Pat Benatar and her longtime bandmate Neil Giraldo. Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. The show is sold out; “verified resale tickets” range from $200 to thousands of dollars. mohegansun.com.
GA-20 and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
Two bands at the forefront of the latest American blues revival movement, the trio GA-20 and the feisty Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, raise the roof on Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Space Ballroom. $32.34. spaceballroom.com.
https://www.courant.com/2025/10/18/to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question-this-week-in-ct-arts/
