Brian Slattery Photos
Singing. Dancing. Trivia. Beer floats. All this and more was part of the Shubert Theater’s second Covid-era installment of “Next Stop: New Haven,” a fundraiser and night of entertainment on Monday evening that featured Broadway stars, the Shubert staff, and a host of downtown restaurants who contributed snacks and libations to make an evening at home feel like an evening out.
As in May, when the Shubert hosted its previous “Next Stop: New Haven,” the idea was that, before tuning in at home, patrons would swing by the Shubert on Monday afternoon to pick up their boxes of snacks and libations.
The boxes — filled with goods, postcards, menus, and recipes from Ben & Jerry’s, Claire’s Corner Copia, Continuum Distilling, Geronimo, Haven Hot Chicken, and Shell and Bones — were prepared near the entrance to the lounge on Shubert’s ground floor, where participants could pick them up either by walking or driving up.
Inside the lounge, employees prepared the boxes by setting up an assembly line.
Shubert staff gave those who drove up a choice of putting the box either in the back seat or in the trunk.
The theater also alerted Next Stop participants that the pick-up spot was doubling as a drop-off for non-perishables for a food drive. Two staff members with one shopping cart each shuttled the donated items from the sidewalk to the Shubert’s lobby as the carts filled up. Anthony Lupinacci, the theater’s director of marketing and community relations, reported that both carts had made a few trips to and from the lobby by mid-afternoon. The food drive is opening up to the general public today to collect even more items from the same drop-off point, at the sidewalk in front of the theater on College Street.
As 7:15 — the time to log in to the event — approached, we spread out the goods in the box, ranging from cornbread with butter to blondies, cupcakes, banana custard and ice cream (which we left in the freezer). Also included was beer from Black Hog Brewing Company and a small container of cider. The accompanying information informed us that the cider contained alcohol and that we would want to have a shaker with ice on hand, as well as an extra glass.
“After such a successful event we had in May, we said, ‘we have to bring it back,” said host Justin Zenchuk, running the event with Carla Sullivan, Shubert’s vice president of external relations, and Connor Deane, executive director of Broadway Method Academy. “What is our favorite thing to say? We are going to have fun.”
Zenchuk told the audience how much he appreciated those who had already taken the opportunity to open their boxes and post about it on social media. He announced that John Fisher, the Shubert’s executive director, would be retiring at the end of the year, and that he and his wife Liz Fisher (who formerly co-directed the International Festival of Arts and Ideas) would be recognized with a lifetime achievement award by the Arts Council of Greater New Haven in December.
Fisher himself then welcomed patrons to the event. “We look forward to when we can once again gather in the Shubert Theatre and watch the arts come alive,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of talk about these amazing party boxes. So let’s talk about them,” Zenchuk said. The boxes included an apple cinnamon drop cocktail from Continuum Distilling (“everything you need is inside. This is not a children’s beverage,” Sullivan said), cornbread and honey butter from the Stack, panna cotta with berries from Shell and Bones, an apple blondie from Ordinary, fairy cakes with chocolate orange frosting from Claire’s, a banana pudding from Haven Hot Chicken (“Haven Hot Chicken just opened their doors and are already sponsoring the Shubert, so go check them out,” Sullivan said), a granola brown ale from Black Hog and ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s — the purpose of which would become clear.
Restauranteur Jason Sobocinski appeared to guide the audience through the first libation. “A bunch of the stuff in the box is stuff that I’m involved in, but right now we’re going to talk about the Continuum cocktail,” he said. Continnum, he explained, distills “beer trimmings,” taking “the waste they’re not using and turning it into amazing spirits.” The apple cinnamon concoction involved apple cider from Lyman Orchards, cinnamon, and spirits flavored with botanicals. Sobocinski put it in a shaker with ice and poured it into a glass.
“This should be enough for two cocktails, or if you’ve had a day, one cocktail,” he said. “It is quite alcoholic, unless you’re a professional.”
Ryan P. Cyr, who grew up in Connecticut and attended Broadway Method Academy, danced a scene from West Side Story. “My first experience was here,” Ryan said of attending the Shubert as a child. In 2019 he joined the first national tour of Bandstand. it was slated to visit the Shubert, but “Covid had other plans,” Cyr said.
“All I can say is, I can’t dance like that,” said Zenchuk after Cyr’s performance. He explained that the Shubert had kept up activities since the pandemic began, from hosting streamed documentaries to virtual summer camp to musical performances. Addressing the audience, he said, “you are all part of our future at the Shubert, so thank you for being with us tonight.”
Courtnee Carter, who performed in Once On This Island on Broadway and for its national tour — which was also expected to appear at the Shubert — sang “Waiting for Life” from that show. “It is so important, what you’re doing,” she said before her performance. “It’s so important to save the arts and it starts here.”
“What is my favorite word? Butter. That was butter,” Zenchuk said of Carter’s performance. “Courtnee, I can’t!”
Actor Tyler Hardwick sang “I Didn’t Plan It” from Waitress — which had been scheduled for the Shubert in the spring and is now tentatively scheduled for next year.
“I just can’t!” Zenchuk said. “The talent was so incredible. I think it’s time for another cocktail.” Sobocinski returned, this time with a can of Black Hog’s granola ale in his hand. “I’m going to pop this can. Best sound in the world,” he said. He poured half of the can into a tall glass, leaving room to add Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for a beer float. “We don’t have spoons in my house,” he joked, squeezing the vanilla ice cream out of the small container.
He understood that some might be skeptical. But “if you’ve never had one,” he said, “my goodness, it’s one of the best things around.” This reporter agrees with Sobocinski.
Zenchuk then posted a link to allow viewers to join an online trivia game. “They’re coming in! Everyone’s coming in,” he said, as the roster filled with dozens of names.
“I know there are some competitive people on today,” Sullivan said, noting that some of the patrons were returnees from the May event and, for some, it was their first time.
The trivia contest featured people singing Broadway tunes. When the singer stopped, mid-tune, it was up to viewers to select the next line from a series of choices. Patrons would be awarded points based both on getting the correct answer and being able to answer quickly. My family — wife Steph and son Leo — are Broadway fans and lifelong theatergoers. They were ready.
The first clip featured actor Julie Kavanaugh singing “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” from “Hello Dolly.” Steph sang with her. “Put on your Sunday clothes / when you feel down and out / strut down the street and have your picture took.” Kavanaugh stopped. Steph said, “Just like a dream, your spirits seem to turn about,” selecting the answer. She was right. But she hadn’t answered fast enough to place in the top five.
Kelly Wuuzardo, the Shubert’s director of education and entertainment, next sang “Tomorrow” from Annie. Steph noted that three of the four choices were actual lyrics from the song, which was clever. “You can’t guess early,” she said. “Otherwise it’s right song, wrong lyrics.” But Steph was right. John Fisher appeared on screen to sing “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from Annie Get Your Gun. “Let’s go on with the show,” Steph sang, as she once again selected the right answer.
Alyssa Taglia — traffic and weather reporter for WTNH — next appeared, in front of a red velvet curtain and fully dressed for the part, to sing “All That Jazz” from Chicago. Leo and Steph both finished the song on the couch, getting the right answer again. We were now in sixth place.
“The production values!” Zenchuk said, applauding Taglia’s performance.
Lew Michaels, the Shubert’s general manager, sang from “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard. Steph sang along again and answered swiftly. Her correct answer — one of only a handful this time — propelled us to second, just after a household calling itself Tiny Tim. Steph and Leo cheered.
Anthony Lupinacci appeared on the screen, seated at the counter in the theater’s dressing room, to sing “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” from Oklahoma.
“He staged the shot,” Zenchuk said after Steph guessed correctly again. “I said, ‘Anthony, anything for you.’”
Deane sang The Four Seasons’ “December, 1963” — now a Broadway song as well thanks to Jersey Boys. This time I knew the lyrics. “But I was never gonna be the same,” I said, when Deane stopped singing.
Carla Sullivan sang “Mamma Mia” from the show of the same name. We got it right again, but we were still in second, unable to catch Tiny Tim.
“We have one more left!” Zenchuk announced.
“Woo hoo!” Steph cheered.
The last question featured Zenchuk himself, singing from “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. We got that one right, too. “10 out of 10. Give it up, people,” Steph said, offering a high-five. “I don’t even care if we win.”’
The results were tallied. We still came in second — just behind Tiny TIm.
“I want to be friends with Tiny Tim,” Steph said.
Cyr, Carter, and Hardwick returned for repeat performances. “These three are so incredible,” Zenchuk said. “I’m so grateful they lent their time and talent to the Shubert.”
“How fitting that Tyler sang from Waitress,” Sullivan said. “As soon as it gets on the road again, we’re going to have Waitress for sure.”
“This event was about you and having fun,” Zenchuk said. “We have more exciting things in store for you. Stick with us, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride.”
“Stay safe, be well, and we’ll see you soon,” Sullivan said.
Visit the Shubert’s website for listings of virtual events the theater is hosting through the end of the year.
