Our Great Tchaikovsky

August 19-27

Written and performed by Hershey Felder
Directed by Trevor Hay

Short Takes

Keep Kids Learning!

The cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare promoting 'Stuff the Bus.' — The cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare promoting “Stuff the Bus.”

Help Hartford Stage and the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut “Stuff the Bus” with NEW school supplies during the month of August! Please consider purchasing one of these much-needed items for Greater Hartford Area students grades K-5: spiral notebooks, #2 pencils, ballpoint pens, crayons, highlighters, glue sticks, markers, erasers, and/or pocket folders. You may drop off “Stuff the Bus” donations at Hartford Stage when you come to see Breakdancing Shakespeare: As You Like It (August 3-5), Pippin (August 11-12), or Our Great Tchaikovsky (August 19-27)! The United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut will distribute the supplies to local classrooms throughout the academic year to help students stay on track and perform better in school.

Meet Our New Ebenezer Scrooge!

Michael Preston as Mr. Marvel in A Christmas Carol. Photo by T. Charles Erickson. — Michael Preston as Mr. Marvel in *A Christmas Carol*. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Michael Preston will be taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge for the 20^th anniversary of Michael Wilson’s beloved production of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas. Well known to Hartford audiences from his six seasons with the company playing the larger-than-life Mr. Marvel, Michael Preston has performed on Broadway and internationally with the Flying Karamazov Brothers and is on the faculty at Hartford’s Trinity College. Preston follows in the footsteps of Bill Raymond, who retired last Christmas after 17 seasons in the role. Tickets are on sale now! https://www.hartfordstage.org/christmas-carol/

Connecticut Critics Circle Awards

Artistic Associate Rachel Alderman with Vanessa and Rachelle Butler. — Artistic Associate Rachel Alderman with Vanessa R Butler and her sister, Rachelle.

Hartford Stage was honored with six awards during the 27th annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards on Monday, June 26. Receiving recognition: Vanessa R Butler – Outstanding Actress in a Play (Queens for a Year); Mia Dillon – Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Cloud 9); Cleavant Derricks – Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson); Fabio Toblini – Costume Design (The Comedy of Errors); Jane Shaw – Sound Design (The Comedy of Errors); and Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak – Set Design (The Comedy of Errors). James Lecesne (The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey) received a special award from The Connecticut Critics Circle in honor of his work with LGBTQ youth.