'Aluminum Show' Springs Back at Jorgensen

Remember back in January and February when snow was piled on your roof and your mood? You were having trouble getting out and finding inspiration, right? Well, now there’s a thaw in your entertainment world.

“The Aluminum Show,” a Jorgensen presentation that was canceled due to extreme winter conditions in February, is back. This visual, dance theater stunner will give its last show Thursday, May 19, at 8 p.m. 

The secret behind “The Aluminum Show” animation is the Israeli dancers, who create the effects through movement from within their foil cocoons. In this fast-paced production, masterminded by Israeli choreographer Ilan Azriel and special effects guru Yuval Kedem, aluminum is inflated into pillows, shredded into streamers, shot out of cannons, floated in mid air and turned into hand and stick puppets – thrilling for the child and the child-like.

Dancers-in-ductwork perform a pas de deux that can be described only as a mating dance of Slinkys. Later, little aluminum inch worms sing and dance to a medley of “Stayin’ Alive” and “Ghostbusters.” The audience, on many occasions, ends up interacting with the aluminum tubes, which wriggle over them and, in one instance, consume an unassuming member of the crowd.

You can buy tickets to “The Aluminum Show” ($34-45), by visitingJorgensen.uconn.edu or calling 860-486-4226. Some discounts apply. Jorgensen is located at 2132 Hillside Rd. on the UConn campus in Storrs. Convenient free parking is available across the street in the North Garage.

Magnus of ‘Idol’ Fame Sings for Free at Mohegan

Siobhan Magnus, the one and only Massachusetts “American Idol” finalist, will sing at 7 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the Shops at Mohegan Sun. The event is free and there will also be a free signing event at 7:45 p.m. at The Shops at Mohegan Sun Spring Gateway.

Magnus was noted as an early contender in the 2010 “Idol” season after her renditions of “Think” by Aretha Franklin and “Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones. She is known for being able to carry a high-pitched note for very long, which she learned while singing in the shower. The week she was eliminated from “Idol” competition, many fans vowed to stop watching the show and it suffered its lowest ratings since 2002.

After her elimination, Magnus performed “House of the Rising Sun” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and “Paint It Black” on The Late Show with David Letterman.Letterman said to Magnus, "I don't know why they voted you off, frankly I don't care. As far as I'm concerned, you should be our American Idol.”

The 21-year-old performer grew up in Barnstable, MA. Her father is a singer-songwriter and her brothers and sisters perform in bands. Magnus is working on her first solo album, expected this fall, although she plans to release a few singles through iTunes as early as this month.

For information about Friday’s concert, visit Mohegan Sun entertainment.

A Modern Morality Play at Cheney Hall

Players of the Little Theatre of Manchester will perform their last weekend of “Doubt: A Parable,” by John Patrick Shanley. This 2005 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony for Best Play is a story of a nun’s suspicion about a popular priest’s behavior with a student in their parochial school. It’s the debate and dialogue about moral certainty that will keep you on edge.

The last performances are Friday through Sunday, May 20-22, at Cheney Hall. For information, call 860-647-9824 or visit the Cheney Hall events site.

Sikorsky Specialists to Speak

Flight experts working on the Sikorsky X2 technology that aims to achieve greater speed without compromising valuable helicopter attributes will speak about their work Saturday, May 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks.

Steve Weiner, chief engineer, and Kevin Bredenbeck, chief test pilot of the Sikorsky X2, will talk about their experiences developing and testing this award-winning and record-breaking helicopter. They will hold a question-and-answer session after their talk.

This event is free to museum members and $10 per for non-members. A swift RSVP is requested to Debbie Reed, 860-623-3305, ext. 314 or debbier@neam.org. The museum is at 36 Perimeter Rd., Windsor Locks.

Duct-Tape the Husband?

Sometimes a troubled marriage can be dealt with only by duct-taping the husband to the vacation house toilet and confronting him. Well, that’s the idea in “Serious Moonlight” anyway, a film that will be shown for free to seniors at Tolland Senior Center at 1 p.m. Monday, May 23. Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton star in the 2009 film.

Feel free to stop by at the center, 674 Tolland Stage Rd., even if you’re not a member. For information, call 860-870-3730.

Are You in Good Voice?

If so, drop by for a casual evening of karaoke at Tavern House Grill in Tolland. Festivities start about 9 p.m. Thursday, May 19, with the kind help of a deejay and your choice of song lyrics put up on the TV monitor for your convenience. Fifty bucks goes to the best singer, according to the staff judges. The winner is announced about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Grill does this just about every Thursday night, weather and schedule permitting. The Tavern House Grill is at 200 Merrow Rd., Tolland. For information, call 860-872-0332.