The Student Matinee Series introduces over 6,000 young people each season to the art form of theatre by inviting them to learn about and attend a daytime performance of a Hartford Stage production. To complement their experience seeing the play, the program may include a pre-show in-school workshop, and a post-show talkback session. In-school workshops lead students through an exploration of a play’s story, characters, history, and themes.

The Connections youth literacy program, currently operating in more than 150 metro area classrooms, uses theatre techniques to build excitement about reading and strengthen reading comprehension. A Hartford Stage teaching artist visits a classroom for one week to lead theater-based activities based on a work of literature chosen by the school. Through improvisation, role playing, dialogue, and other techniques, students explore the book’s context, plot, and characters. At the end of the program, every student receives a copy of the book to add to their personal library.

Summer Youth Program participants take classes in performance and theatre skills, go on field trips, and end the program with final performances for families, friends, and community members. The five-week camp is broken down into five programs serving youth ages 3-19, all operating as a state licensed camp. To ensure that Summer Youth Programs are accessible, convenient, and socially beneficial, Hartford Stage offers scholarship-funded admission to eligible students, hires an on-site social worker to support participants’ emotional and mental health needs, and offers early drop-off and late pick-up options. Summer 2023 programs sold out in record time and offered more scholarships than ever before.

Breakdancing Shakespeare -offers unique opportunities for teens to develop both their workforce readiness and their artistic expression. Teen ensemble members spend six weeks collaborating with professional Hartford Stage teaching artists to infuse the text of a classic Shakespearean play with the language of hip hop, rap, and breakdancing. Participants are paid a weekly stipend, offering many their first experience with a paid job in the performing arts industry. Youth also engage in career-building a curriculum that includes resume writing and interview skills.  What culminates is an exciting, high-energy public performance at Hartford Stage that makes Shakespeare accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Breakdancing Shakespeare is one of our community’s most beloved summer traditions.

Post-show conversation events are among the most beloved activities for avid Hartford Stage theatregoers. Following three select performances of each mainstage production, patrons are invited to join actors, technicians, and members of the Hartford Stage artistic team for an interactive discussion about their experience. Many season ticket holders attend performances specifically for the chance to connect directly with theatre makers. We love seeing new relationships blossom through this longstanding program.

In 2017, Hartford Stage began a new partnership with Hartford Public Library to engage community members through the Library Pass Program. Each of the seven HPL branches receives two tickets to every Hartford Stage performance for Library cardholders to “check out.” Over the course of seven years, more than 6,000 free tickets have been claimed by Library patrons.

The Stage Pass program was developed to cultivate a new generation of theatergoers poised to protect the future of Hartford Stage and the thriving arts community we support. This flexible subscription package is available exclusively for patrons ages 21-35, providing access to unlimited tickets for only $99 per season.

Hartford Stage’s Managing Director works alongside the Artistic Director to pursue their shared vision for sustaining Hartford Stage in its home city and activating our facilities as civic spaces for the state’s capital region. Cynthia Rider, only the second female Managing Director for Hartford Stage, joined the staff in summer 2019.  In a 2023 State of the Arts address, Rider had this to say about Hartford Stage’s role in the community: “We are a dynamic force that compels civic compassion that transcends party politics in a divided and polarized time.”

The Director of Education oversees a team of professional educators and teaching artists to create opportunities for thousands of Hartford area youth to see and participate in the performing arts in their classrooms, at our theatre, and in the community. For 15 years, Jennifer Roberts has held the position, and is currently leading the post-pandemic regrowth of education programming at Hartford Stage, our state’s leading provider of year-round youth theatre education.

Hartford Stage’s Education Center is the hub for youth and adult studio classes and private coaching located in the administrative suite on Main Street. Students of all ages are able to learn creative techniques such as musical theatre performance, acting for camera, scene study, playwriting, creative writing, improv, directing, and so much more. The education center is a crucial part of Hartford Stage’s mission of lifelong learning. Our diverse staff of teaching artists are able to call Hartford Stage their artistic home thanks to the Education Center.

The Prop Shop at Hartford Stage is responsible for creating the fantastical worlds you see on stage. The shop houses a vast inventory of hand props and set dressing pieces that Hartford Stage has accumulated and created over the last 60 years. We are lucky enough to have our very own 3D printer in the Prop Shop, which allows us to create custom pieces like those seen in our production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in 2022. The current props team of Joe Dotts and Alex Ferdman are not only talented artisans who realize the visions of directors and designers, but are crucial collaborators in the stories we tell. A large part of Hartford Stage’s world-class production value is created in our Prop Shop located backstage at our theater.

The lighting & stage management booth in the theater is the command center for each and every production at Hartford Stage. In addition to hiring and collaborating with creative artistic powerhouses, Hartford Stage is lucky to have a vast network of professional Stage Managers who are tasked with overseeing and maintaining every production during its run at Hartford Stage. Our lighting team of Jackie Costabile and Ethan Sepa, perfectly execute the vision of our guest lighting designers and enhance the experience for every Hartford Stage audience member. Every magical moment on stage is perfectly carried out by the stage management team from the lighting and stage management booth, where the cues are called and ‘Go Button’ is hit!