Monday, September 15, 2014

Theaters Join for Play! in CT Fall Festival of Theater


Six of Connecticut's producing theaters will host a weekend festival of plays, musicals and theater events across the state Oct. 23-26. From classics to new works, to conferences and talks, theatregoers can attend one show or six while enjoying special overnight packages and dining discounts.

The participating theaters are the Westport Country Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Hartford Stage, the O'Neill Theater Center, Long Wharf Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre 
Prior to the 1950s, most people experienced theater through touring companies or vaudeville performances. Access to professional theatre outside of New York was limited. Artists began to chafe at the centralization of their work in New York City, and felt they needed to move away from what they believed was the commercialization of Broadway. The not-for-profit residential theatres could afford to take risks that commercial theatres could not. This idea caught fire in Connecticut. 

As a reaction to the lack of innovation coming out of commercial theatres, five of the six producing theaters were founded by Yale alumni and funded by organizations like the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Many individuals, corporations and foundations in the state also backed them.

Connecticut theatres like Hartford Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, and Goodspeed Opera House (all Tony Award-winners) were part of the regional theatre boom. Westport Country Playhouse took a slightly different route, starting as a summer stock theatre and evolving into a major player in the regional theatre scene. The O'Neill Theater Center holds a special place in the Connecticut theatrical landscape for its unwavering commitment to new works, launching the careers of some of our nation's most important playwrights, composers, actors, and directors (it also has received a Regional Tony Award).

The "Play! in Connecticut Fall Theatre Festival" offers a chance to enjoy the state and all it has to offer during one of its most beautiful seasons. Check out the website at www.playinct.org

PLAY! IN CONNECTICUT FALL THEATRE FESTIVAL
Schedule of performances at each of the participating theatres:


Goodspeed Opera House
Featured Performance: Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn
Run Dates: September 19 - December 7


Festival Show Times:
Thu, 10/23: 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Fri, 10/24: 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 10/25: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 10/26: 2:00 p.m.


Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre
Featured Performance: The Circus in Winter
Run Dates: October 23 - November 16

Festival Show Times:
Thu, 10/23: 8:00 p.m.
Fri, 10/24: 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 10/25: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 10/26: 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 


Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
Run Dates: October 24-25

Event on Saturday, 10/25:
Welcome Reception: 10:00 a.m.
Readings & Discussion Panels: 10:30 a.m.
Lunch and Q&A: 12:00 p.m.
Tour Monte Cristo Cottage: 3:00-4:00 p.m.


Yale Repertory Theatre
Featured Performance: Arcadia
Run Dates: October 3-25

Festival Show Times:
Thu, 10/23: 8:00 p.m.
Fri, 10/24: 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 10/25: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.


Long Wharf Theatre
Featured Performance: Our Town
Run Dates: October 8 – November 2

Festival Show Times:
Fri, 10/24: 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 10/25: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 10/26: 2:00 p.m.


Westport Country Playhouse
Featured Performance: Intimate Apparel
Run Dates: October 7- November 1

Festival Show Times:
Thu, 10/23: 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 10/25: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 10/26: 3:00 p.m.


Hartford Stage
Featured Performance: Hamlet
Run Dates: October 16 - November 16

Festival Show Times:
Thu, 10/23: 7:30 p.m.
Fri, 10/24: 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 10/25: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 10/26: 2:00 p.m.


Weekly itineraries will also be available on the site for travelers to make the most of their weekend. Individual tickets are on sale with an Early Bird 20-percent discount available until Sept. 21. Special events related to each production will be promoted throughout the weekend.

Schedule of special events for each of the participating theatres:

Thursday, October 23
Talkback with the cast of Holiday Inn
Talkback with the cast of Intimate Apparel


7:30pm
8:00pm


Goodspeed Opera House
Westport Country Playhouse

Friday, October 24
Friday Dinner Theatre Package     
  
The Complete & Condensed Stage Directions
Of Eugene O'Neill Vol.2
O'Neill Post Show Reception



6:00pm


7:00pm
10:00pm


Goodspeed Opera House/
Gelston House

Connecticut College
Dutch Tavern, New London


Saturday, October 25
Free Tours of Monte Cristo Cottage


3:00pm


Eugene O'Neill Theater

Sunday, October 26
Talkback with the cast of Hamlet
Sunday Symposium
Wine Tasting at The Circus in Winter


2:00pm
2:00pm
5:00pm


Hartford Stage
Long Wharf Theatre
Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre



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