Former teen stars from Debbie Gibson to Ross Lynch take the stage this week in CT arts
Several erstwhile teen stars are coming to Connecticut this week.
Debbie Gibson has been a pop star who wrote her own hits since she was 16 years old. Now, she has a 40-year career to draw on when she performs at Foxwoods Resort Casino on June 7.
Skylar Astin, coming to the Shubert Theatre on June 6, was in the teen angst musical 'Spring Awakening' on Broadway before he became a movie and TV star.
Steve Boone started playing guitar in high school and, by the time he was 21, he was playing bass and co-writing songs for the Lovin' Spoonful. Now in his 80s, Boone is with the lineup of the Spoonful that is playing the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den on June 7.
Pierre Bouier was 15 when he started his first band and has been the frontman of Simple Plan since he was 20. He is now 46.
Ross Lynch was in the Disney Channel series 'Austin & Ally' as well as 'Teen Beach Movie' and its sequel, and was playing a teenager as recently as 2020 in 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch.' Lynch's band with his brother Rocky, The Driver Era, is at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 7.
Lastly, Bloc Party is yet another band who had its first hits when some of its member were in their teens.
It's a night for guitar fanatics on June 1 at 7 p.m. at The Kate with the eclectic California Guitar Trio (who originally formed as students in a workshop led by rock guitar genius Robert Fripp) plus the guitar-centered performer and composer Kaki King. $41. thekate.org.
Los Rivera Destino does parodies of pop songs with one of their most famous inspirations being Bad Bunny. The satirical trio is also a solid, beat-happy musical act, which makes its live shows more than jokes. June 1 at 7 p.m. $36.15. thewebsterct.com.
The California singer/songwriter SiR, known for his collaborations with Alicia Keys and D-Smoke, released his fourth album 'Heavy' last year and brings his 'Step Into the Light' tour to Toad's Place on June 1 at 8 p.m. $50.75. spaceballroom.com.
Abraham Verghese discusses his bestselling novel 'The Covenant of Stone' with another major novelist, Amy Bloom, on June 2 at 7 p.m. The event is hosted by RJ Julia Booksellers but will be held at Madison's First Congregational Church. $25; signed books available for purchase. rjjulia.com.
Canadian rockers Simple Plan have been around for a quarter of a century (and six albums) now. The band's latest tour brings the musicians to College Street Music Hall with Winona Fighter and Losers Club. June 3 at 8 p.m. at College Street Music Hall. $30-$75.59. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Heavily influenced in his youth by the Velvet Underground, Dean Wareham has in turn influenced countless indie bands of the last 30 years through the astounding albums he made as the force behind Galaxie 500, Luna and the duo Dean and Britta. He even did film scores for Noah Baumbach. His music goes from somber to funny, an attitude swing he also brought to his 2008 memoir 'Black Postcards.' Wareham's solo album 'That's the Price of Loving Me' came out earlier this year. June 3 at 8 p.m. $32.34, $26.69 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
The Stowe Center's 'Who is Harriet?' series presents Tess Chakkalakal, author of the new biography 'A Matter of Complexion: The Life and Fictions of Charles W. Chestnutt.' She will talk about a 1901 novel of Chestnutt's that was favorably compared to Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' but failed to have even a fraction of its impact. June 4 at 6 p.m. $20; $35 includes a copy of Chakkalakal's book. There is an option to attend the talk virtually. harrietbeecherstowecenter.org.
The double bill of Maryland grindcore act Full of Hell and Chicago hardcore punks Harm's Way has three more bands opening the show, including Kruelty, Jarhead Fertilizer and Clique. June 5 at 6 p.m. $34.54. thewebsterct.com.
The British post-punk band Bloc Party, formed in 1999, is marking the anniversary of its debut album 'Silent Alarm' and also playing its later hits. Keeping the night current is up-and-coming opening act the Arkansas duo Joan. June 5 at 8 p.m. $30-$84.86. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Alex Moffatt was on 'Saturday Night Live' for six seasons, best known for his Eric Trump and The Guy Who Just Bought a Boat. He returns to his live comedy roots with four stand-up sets at Mohegan Sun's Comix club June 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. and June 7 at 6 and 8 p.m. mohegansun.com.
In the sequel to the long-running show 'Menopause the Musical,' those rockin' menopausal women who met in a department store in the first show are now on a cruise ship.The pop standards being parodied this time around include 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend,' 'Lady Marmalade' and 'Let's Hear It for the Boys.' June 6 at 7:30 p.m. $31-$61. palacetheaterct.org.
Skylar Astin was on Broadway in 'Spring Awakening,' in the 'Pitch Perfect' movie series and on TV in 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' and the recent 'So Help Me Todd.' He is doing his concert act on June 6 at 8 p.m. at the Shubert. $46.40-$119. shubert.com.
Eddie B brings his latest one-man live show about the pressures and foibles of life as a teacher, 'If These Classroom Wall Could Talk,' to the Garde on June 6 at 8 p.m. Eddie B's live act was originally adapted from a series of comedy videos he created entitled 'What Teachers Really Want to Say.' $29-$65. gardearts.org.
Puerto Rican salsa music singer/songwriter Luis Fugueroa performs on June 6 at 8 p.m. at Infinity Music Hall Hartford. $30.9.3-$57.53. infinityhall.com.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra's final MasterWorks concert of the season features pianist Clayton Stephenson (the symphony's current artist in residence) and an invigorating program of John Adams' 'Doctor Atomic' symphony, Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' and Rachmaninoff's 'Symphonic Dances.' June 6-8. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. $41.50-$88.50, $10 students and children. bushnell.org.
Fairfield Theatre Company began decades ago as an actual theater company but soon turned into a year-round concert venue. The theater occasionally returns in the form of the Black Rock Theater, which is honoring the venue's rock cred with a production of the landmark musical 'Hair.' June 6 at 7 p.m., June 7 at 2 and 7 p.m. and June 8 at 1 and 6 p.m. $63-$73, $38 students. fairfieldtheatre.org.
David Auburn's father/daughter drama about mathematics and mental health is being done by the Little Theater of Manchester June 6-22. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $16-$34; discounts for students, seniors, military and groups. cheneyhall.org.
The massive annual Middletown PrideFEST is happening on June 7 from noon to 10 p.m. in downtown Middletown and includes a march, rally, concert and tea dance. There are over a hundred vendors, food trucks, 80 groups marching in the parade and a crowd that numbers in the tens of thousands. middletownpride.org.
The ever-popular funnyman Jim Gaffigan has three shows at Foxwoods' Premier Theater due to public demand. Gaffigan is on his 'Everything is Wonderful' tour. June 6 at 7 p.m., June 7 at 5 and 8 p.m. $88.80-$825.85. foxwoods.com.
The Lovin' Spoonful had a bucketful of 1960s hits, including 'You Didn't Have to Be So Nice' and 'Summer in the City.' The original lineup, which formed in 1965, only lasted for a couple of years and the band broke up for good (or so they thought) in 1968. One founding member, bassist Steve Boone, is in this latest version of the Spoonful, alongside Jeff Alan Ross, Bill Cinque, Mike Arturi and Rob Bonfiglio. June 7 at 8 p.m. Free. mohegansun.com.
The pop duo of Ross Lynch (star of 'Teen Beach Movie' and 'My Friend Dahmer') and his brother Rocky, have been performing together for over 15 years. Their band, The Driver Era, has a new album out called 'Obsession' and a national tour called the same thing. Singer/songwriter Valé opens. June 7 at 8 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena. $25.30-$266. mohegansun.com.
Debbie Gibson spent part of her 40-plus year career as Deborah Gibson before reverting to Debbie. Her new 'Newstalgia' tour covers her early teen hits and some new stuff she's doing now. June 7 at 8 p.m. $56.95-$135.85. foxwoods.com.
The venerable world music ensemble Gipsy Kings, still led by its founder Tonino Baliardo, strums rhythmically at Ridgefield Playhouse on June 7 at 8 p.m. $110-$166. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
The six-piece Norwalk band Similar Kind grooves with synthesizer, sax and more at Space Ballroom on June 7 at 8 p.m. $32.34, $26.69 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Visit a stable of animatronic unicorns in an enchanted forest inside the Connecticut Convention Center. The interactive Unicorn World exhibit happens on June 7 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $36.23; weekend passes and group discounts available. ctconventions.com.
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I'm hoping you'll think beyond the necktie and get your dad something other than a stereotypical Father's Day gift this year. I get it, though. As a dad myself, I understand we're not the easiest people for whom to shop. Half of us, at least, want 'nothing' for Father's Day, and if we do have our eye on something, we're probably not going to make a big fuss about it. So if a spatula or whiskey cubes appear before us on June 15, we're going to smile and say we love it, glad the whole, generous ordeal is over. But I'm going to take the guesswork out of your search for a unique gift with a dozen Father's Day ideas, mostly available in North Jersey or made by local folks. And the focus is on food here as chances are your pops eats, drinks, cooks, grills or, at the very least, is interested in good food and beverages and how to consume them more frequently. I always like giving gifts someone would either not buy for themselves or that offer a chance to explore something new so there's a bent toward exploration in these items. (If all these fail, sure, get the tie.) For the caffeine junkie with a fine palate, I suggest the Coffee Passport from Montclair's Paper Plane Coffee Co. Every month, your dad will get 12 ounces of limited-edition roasted coffee. And these aren't just any old beans; they're new offerings sourced from around the globe each month that aren't available on shelves. It's $22.99 per month, or buy a full year in advance and save 10%; you can also dip in for a few months without committing to a whole year. Available for delivery or pickup in Montclair. Get it at Bergen County's own Pat LaFrieda has become synonymous with steak, thanks to his high-quality product showing up in locales from Citi Field to high-end restaurants across the country. 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