Short Takes

Short Takes

The Cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare: Hamlet. Photo by Defining Studios.Breakdancing Shakespeare: Hamlet

The cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare performed Hamlet to sell-out crowds in August at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. Hamlet was the ninth production for the popular summer internship program, which is in conjunction with the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s Neighborhood Studios.  Fifteen teens from the Greater Hartford area – including Canton, West Hartford, Bloomfield, New Britain, Simsbury, and Hartford – were cast.  Photo:  The Defining Photo

L-R: Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, Joshua Bergasse, Darko Tresnjak, Terrence McNally.Anastasia Read-through

The creative team takes a break after a thrilling workshop performance of our new musical, Anastasia, in June. The world premiere will play Hartford Stage May 12 to June 12, 2016. (l-r) Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Tony Award winners for Ragtime), Joshua Bergasse (Tony Award nominee for On the Town), Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak (Tony Award winner for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), and Terrence McNally (Tony Award winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman).

Lew Michaels Wins LEAD® Award

Congratulations to our own Lew Michaels, Associate Director of Theatre Operations. Lew was one of four individuals to receive a LEAD® Award for Emerging Leaders. This honor acknowledges arts administrators who are motivated by the LEAD® conference to become an advocate for accessibility within their own organizations and communities. Lew received this recognition during the 15th Annual Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Conference August 2-7, at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.  Lew was instrumental in helping to create the first Sensory-Friendly performance of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas last winter.

Hartford Stage Board President, Sue Ann CollinsSue Ann Collins Elected Board President

Hartford Stage announced the election of Sue Ann Collins as Board President during its Annual Meeting in June. Ms. Collins is the Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary at TIAA-CREF. Collins oversees all actuarial activities for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, a life insurance organization with $250 billion of assets. She has been with TIAA since 2013. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Mathematics and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Central Connecticut State University.  For more information about Collins and a full list of board updates, click here.