Music Theatre of Connecticut
Harmony Opens Season
By: Karen Isaacs - Sep 18, 2026
Get thee to MTC (Music Theatre of Connecticut) in Norwalk for its excellent production of the musical Harmony through Sunday, Sept. 27. Director Kevin Connors kick off the theater’s 40th season by assembling a terrific cast to tell the story of this real musical group that no one knows.
MTC is giving the show its Northeast premiere; the show had a much-too-short run on Broadway in 2023.
The show tells the story of the Comedian Harmonists, a singing group of six men formed in Germany in the 1920s. Their close harmony and jazzy routines, as well as their humor made them an international success. Tours of Europe led to an appearance at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1932. Best selling recordings led to movie contracts.
BUT there was a problem. Hitler was coming to power, and his anti-Jewish laws were promulgated. Three of the harmonists were Jewish and a fourth was married to a Jewish woman.
The group was banned from traveling; they were forced to split into two groups – one Jewish and one not. Recordings and films were destroyed. It was as if they disappeared.
Their history and music resurface thanks to 1977 German documentary which led to a 1997 film which was critically acclaimed. It was that film that led Barry Manilow to make a stage musical of their story. Named Harmony, the show had a tangled history before making it to Broadway in 2023. Manilow and longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman (book and lyrics) have created some touching and period appropriate songs.
Connors sets the mood for the show right from the opening number when the six men, in tails, are wowing the Carnegie Hall audience. We are then introduced to “Rabbi” – who tells the story. He is now a senior citizen but was a member of the group. From there we go back to the auditions, their rise to fame, their loves and the conflicts within the group, particularly when in 1932 they are offered a contract by RCA which would mean staying the US. Two love stories add to the plot – Mary, a Christian, and the young rabbi fall in love, and one of the Harmonists (nicknamed Chopin and a Christian) falls in love with Ruth – a communist and Jewish. Act One ends with their decision to return to Germany – Bobby who seems like the dominant member of the group argues they are well known in Germany and that is where they can make money.
Act Two shows the fallout of that decision as Hitler imposes more and more restrictions and eventually forces the group to break up. The Rabbi ends the show with recounting the fates of the group.
Besides Connors’ fine direction which makes use of the stage and side aisles as well as effective use of the ensemble, he is blessed with an extraordinary cast.
I’ve seen Frank Mastronione in multiple productions at MTC and elsewhere, but his performance as the elder Rabbi was equal to or surpassed Chip Zien’s performance in the Broadway production. He captured beautifully his regrets and his anger at his younger self. His closing number, “Threnody” was moving in its vocal performance. I know tears fell among the audience.
As the younger rabbi, Constantine Pappas is terrific. He was in the Broadway production and understudied the role. That experience was shown in his performance. Yet each member of the group – Michael Alonzo as Chopin, Cameron Edris as Erich, Christian Libonati as Lesh, Dominic Pagliaro as Bobby, and Jeff Rabb as Harry are all excellent.
Given the short rehearsal period, it was amazing the smoothness of the close harmonies and the intricate movements. The five piece ensemble led by music director Zachary Anderson obviously contributed greatly as did choreographer Chris McNiff.
Jazmin Gorsline is fine as Mary, who seems the most realistic of the group. The duet “Where You Go” with Ruth is wonderful. Michelle Pauker as Ruth is convincing as the radical who takes the most risks protesting what is going on. Her idealism shines through.
I could nitpick that Harry’s secret love for Ruth was underplayed. But there were some elements more effective than the Broadway production – the dream sequence of the group staying in NYC and performing with Josephine Baker has been removed; it did not add anything to the story. Also the older rabbi occasionally pops on in different wigs as composer Rickard Strauss and Albert Einstein. Mastrone does not over play these, but allows some natural humor to come through.
This is a fine production of a musical which while not perfect has many delightful moments. Tickets are available at MusicTheaterofCT.com.