The Ridgefield Playhouse This Fall

The Ridgefield Playhouse This Fall: We like to call The Ridgefield Playhouse the hardest working venue around. With a seating capacity of 536 seats, compared to 1,8oo for The Capitol Theatre or 1,500 for Paramount Hudson Valley, they can’t rely on a couple of “good gates” a week to pay the rent. Instead, they’re booking every day of the year, except Christmas.

In fact they book 200-225 live shows a year. And they fill in with on-screen events (art house movies and documentaries, Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet or National Theatre on screen HD presentations) on the days when they don’t have a live show. But their size may be a blessing in disguise. For them and their patrons. Because it enables them to tap into a wide range of musical talent. And serve up the best lineup of comedy, cabaret, magic and illusion, mentalists and family entertainment in our area.

Entertaining Surprises for Fall

Their Fall 2019 schedule offers some surprises and some gems, and a number of events worthy of an early shout-out for our readers. On September 28, the Tony-Award-winning singer Kristin Chenoweth will headline their annual Fall gala. Chenoweth won the Tony for her role in You’re A Good Man, Charley Brown. She was also the original Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, for which she received another Tony-nomination. This is one of the hottest tickets around this fall.

Andy Grammer is another boxing above their weight “get” for The Ridgefield. He’ll bring his pop hits “Keep Your Head Up”, “Fine By Me” and “Honey Good” to the playhouse on October 2. And if you’re a fan of the Southern-soul, rock and blues sounds of, JJ Grey, a frequent performer at The Capitol Theatre, you can see him in a solo performance at the more intimate Ridgefield Playhouse on October 19. There’s more Broadway in October when Sutton Foster (who did a great show at Caramoor in 2018) performs on October 18. Foster is a two-time Tony Award-winner for Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Here’s another one that jumped off the page for us. Christopher Cross, Todd Rundgren and Mickey Dolenz will pay a 50th Anniversary tribute to The Beatles White Album on October 8? Very “Helter-Skelter”, don’t you think? And the Cowboy Junkies will perform at The Ridgefield Playhouse on November 9.

Entertaining Conversations

The Ridgefield Playhouse has been building their “Entertaining Conversations” series in recent years and this fall they hit a new high with three events that stand-out amongst any from our area’s venues. Start with the once-in-a-lifetime event on November 16, when the legendary Academy Award-winning film actress Sophia Loren (Two Women, Marriage Italian Style) will take the stage for an intimate conversation. The evening, which will also feature clips from her acting career, is just one of five she will do nation-wide. Four days later this series continues with the inimitable actor, comedian and star of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, John Cleese. WOW! Finally, America’s pre-eminent humorist and New York Times best-selling author, the very neurotic David Sedaris will be at The Playhouse on October 9.

Comedy and Family Entertainment

Two of the greatest comedians of all-time will also take the stage this fall at The Ridgefield Playhouse. Starting with Paula Poundstone, No. 88 on Comedy Central’s Best Standups of All Time, on October 3. And a personal favorite for his deadpan one-liners, (“If God dropped acid would he see people?”) Steven Wright takes the mic on October 27. There’s more great comedy on November 1, when star for a new generation, Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Crazy Rich Asians) brings his standup routine to Ridgefield.

If you have kids, mark your calendar for October 6, when the Acrobats of Cirque-Tacular brings its cast of elite aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, specialty acts and world-record holders from Broadway and Las Vegas stages to The Ridgefield Playhouse.

There’s more at The Ridgefield Playhouse this fall including 2X Grammy-winner and Rock and Roll and Blues Hall of Famer, Mavis Staples (“I’ll Take You There”) in September. Plus Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Jane Monheit; 80’s power-pop hearth-throb, Rick Springfield; Daughtry Acoustic; Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman performing songs from Yes, David Bowie and The Beatles, and did we mention The Bacon Brothers? They’re Ridgefield Playhouse regulars.

You can check out the twenty-six Ridgefield Playhouse events that we list on our new, searchable calendar. Or see the Ridgefield Playhouse’s entire line-up here.