Letting les Bons Temps Roll at Sharon Playhouse

Good times have been rolling at Sharon Playhouse in recent weeks, first with the ABBA tribute band performance on July 10, which attracted an estimated crowd of 300 people (and yes, everyone got up and danced and sang along to “Dancing Queen,” and no, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski, who starred in the ABBA film “Mama Mia,” did not attend). 

A mere four days later the theater hosted an epic Bastille Day dinner party with Robert Arbor from the new French restaurant in Sharon, Conn., called Le Gamin. 

For those who attended and had a wild time, and for those who missed out but would like to catch the next ride, the theater has numerous performances scheduled for the outdoor stage in the coming weeks (and there is some talk of moving performances indoors soon).

This seems to be the summer of tribute bands at many area performance venues, probably because uncertainty has lingered about whether COVID-19 and its variants will force a return of a quarantine. 

But if you love tribute bands, or if you’ve always secretly wanted to see one but were embarrassed to do so, then this is your year.

Coming up on Saturday, July 24, is Motown Under the Stars. The following weekend (Aug. 7), it’s Swinging with the Rat Pack. For youngsters among our readers, that term refers to a number of Las Vegas entertainers, notably Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.

Aug. 21 is The Sounds of Swing and Soul, which is followed by not one but two evenings of the ELO Laser Encounter (Aug. 27 and 28). 

To buy tickets and to find out about other performances this summer (including the youth theater shows, which have proven to be very popular), go to www.sharonplayhouse.org.

The tribute shows are mostly on the outdoor stage. Some cars are allowed in the parking area but it’s better if you park across the street in the parking lot for the medical offices. Bring a folding chair. You can pre-order boxed meals prepared by Sharon’s own J.P. Gifford; they will be waiting for you when you arrive.

There are also shows on the patio, where there cabaret-style chairs and tables, and cabaret-style singers (including Sharon Playhouse favorite Amanda Lea LaVergne on Sept. 25) and comedy.