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 Featured Performance: 15th Annual Eugene O'Neill Celebration 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