June 12, 2000

The Connecticut Repertory Theatre will present the musicals West Side Story and Sweet Charity and the Off Broadway comedy hit The Foreigner for its Nutmeg Summer Series.

All performances will take place in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre.

West Side Story opened the season on June 9 and runs through June 24. The show is directed by Gary English, CRT's artistic director and interim dean of the School of Fine Arts. Set in New York City, the play is about two idealistic young lovers who are caught between warring street gangs. The music is by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim. Memorable songs include "Maria," "Tonight," "America," and "I Feel Pretty."

Sweet Charity, running from June 30 through July 15, is a poignant and humorous look at the adventures and misadventures in the ways of the heart encountered by the gullible Charity Hope Valentine, a 'lady of the evening.' Music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields include "Hey, Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now." The show, directed by B. Peter Westerhoff, is based on a book by Neil Simon.

The Foreigner, running July 20 through 29, is a comedy revolving around Charlie, a painfully shy man who arrives at a fishing lodge in rural Georgia. His friend, to spare his having to chat with strangers, tells everyone that Charlie is from an exotic, foreign country and speaks no English. The play, by Larry Shue, will be directed by James Alexander Bond.

Performances are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on selected Saturdays and Sundays. For ticket information, call the box office at (860) 486-4226, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sherry Fisher