MADISON, CT — Madison Lyric Stage will open its 2026 Summer Festival with two concerts at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society in Madison before presenting a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream later in July.
The professional theater company, entering its 14th year, will serve as theater-in-residence at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Road, during the monthlong festival.
The festival begins with Barry & Bette! The Music of Bette Midler and Barry Manilow on June 27 at 7 p.m. and June 28 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $40.
The concert will feature songs associated with Barry Manilow and Bette Midler, including “Mandy,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Could It Be Magic,” “Copacabana,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Wind Beneath My Wings,” “From a Distance,” “Do You Want to Dance,” “The Glory of Love” and “The Rose.”
Tenor Marc Deaton will perform with six singers and a band led by pianist Jill Brunelle.
The second concert, Outcasts and Innocents: The Musical World of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, is scheduled for July 10 at 7 p.m. and July 12 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $40.
The semi-staged production will feature Deaton performing excerpts from works by composer Benjamin Britten, including Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, War Requiem, The Turn of the Screw, Billy Budd, The Rape of Lucretiaand Peter Grimes.
Deaton will be joined by eight guest vocal artists and French horn player Daniel Shapiro. Brunelle will serve as music director.
The Summer Festival continues July 17-26 with a fully staged production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
"This summer, we are delighted to bring audiences three unforgettable events celebrating popular music, theatre and opera," said Deaton, artistic director of Madison Lyric Stage, in a statement. "Created for lovers of beautiful music and exceptional live performance, our Summer Festival is a vibrant celebration of the arts—and we’re proud to share it with our shoreline community."
Festival passes covering all three productions are available at a 15 percent discount from the cost of individual tickets, according to the organization. Individual tickets also are available.
Additional information is available at madisonlyricstage.org or by calling 203-215-6329.
About Madison Lyric Stage
Madison Lyric Stage is an award-winning, professional non-Equity theater company serving the Connecticut shoreline. Its mission is to expand participation in the arts by presenting accessible, inclusive and affordable opera, musical theater and drama.
Madison Lyric Stage is supported in part by generous gifts from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, The Madison Foundation, and the Madison Rotary Foundation, along with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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