Short Takes

A Look at Our Lobby

Travel back in time to the 1980s – the decade that gave us Casio keyboards, Atari, the Rubik’s Cube, and much more. Take a look at some of the era’s iconic advertisements, memorabilia and toys – and learn how Erin Keller, Hartford Stage Props Manager, captures the Kodachrome color-saturated spirit of this time period in her careful selection of props and set dressings. You also won’t want to miss the display featuring Hartford Stage Life Director Arnold Greenberg’s special connection to the “it” doll of the decade – the Cabbage Patch Kid!

Toulmin Foundation Support for Make Believe

Our season opener, Bess Wohl’s Make Believe, was made possible by a generous grant from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation through their Women Playwrights Commissioning Program. Virginia Toulmin was a passionate believer in fairness and equality of opportunity for women and was a generous supporter of the arts. The Foundation makes grants to commission new works by emerging female composers, choreographers, and playwrights to level the playing field so that female artists have an equal opportunity to see their works succeed on stage.

Backstage Renovation Celebration

Hartford Stage board members and donors received an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the newly-renovated backstage areas of the theatre, which include a state-of the-art costume shop, fully remodeled green room and refurbishments of the guest artist dressing rooms. A champagne toast capped off the tour to celebrate the final phase of a multi-year plan to transform the theatre’s functionality, comfort and accessibility.

Anastasia the Musical takes the world by storm!

As the Broadway production, starring Christy Altomare as the beloved heroine Anya, continues to pack houses, the North American tour for Anastasia will kick off in Schenectady, New York on October 9 with Lila Coogan in the leading role. Jana Gómez will play Anya in the Spanish-language production debuting in Madrid, Spain on October 3, while Judith Caspari will play the lead in the Stuttgart, Germany tour starting on November 15. Meet all four women in this multilingual musical montage video https://youtu.be/vnfP6yGa7NY.

Darko at The Met

Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak makes his Metropolitan Opera directorial debut on September 24 with Camille Saint-Saëns’ biblical epic Samson et Dalila, starring mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča and tenor Roberto Alagna. Tresnjak has teamed up with Set Designer Alexander Dodge, Costume Designer Linda Cho, Choreographer Austin McCormick, and Lighting Designer Donald Holder to stage the sumptuous three-act, four scene French opera. The production runs through March 28.

Mona Golabek returns to Hartford Stage

Piano virtuoso Mona Golabek returned to Hartford Stage last July for a limited engagement run of The Pianist of Willesden Lane. The show was brought back by popular demand. During her stay, Golabek visited the Hartford Public Library for a community event where she spoke about how her hit one-woman show developed through the years and how the story of her mother, Lisa Jura, has made an impression with young people nationwide and abroad.

Education @ Hartford Stage launches new youth acting program in Avon

Education @ Hartford Stage has launched a new series of acting classes for youth at The Complete Actor Studio located at the Riverdale Farms Shoppes in Avon. Three classes for youth ages 7 to 14 will be offered at the new location, which will provide convenience and increased access for families residing in northern Hartford County towns – including Avon, Canton, Granby and Simsbury – to Education @ Hartford Stage programming. Learn more »

Hartford Public Library Pass and HPL @ Hartford Stage

Through our community partnership with the Hartford Public Library, city residents can reserve a pair of tickets to all Hartford Stage shows this season simply by using their library card. All available performances can be found on the Hartford Public Library website. When you arrive at the theatre, be sure to bring your Connecticut library card with you and check out a book from HPL @ Hartford Stage – the micro-branch kiosk located at Guest Services. There are many great titles to choose from that will help you dig deeper into the themes of the production.

Coming Next: Henry V

In Shakespeare’s Henry V, shortly after gaining the throne, Henry must decide whether or not to embark on a war that could solidify his reign—or bring his country to its knees. In France, he grows up fast under the pressure to use all means necessary to win a war against tremendous odds. But even if he finds victory, how easy will it be to settle the peace? One of Shakespeare’s most iconic history plays, directed by Elizabeth Williamson, will perform October 11 – November 11.