2023/2024 Season Brochure

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DEAR FRIENDS OF HARTFORD STAGE,

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of this community’s world-class theater, I am filled with wonder at the many stories and careers Hartford Stage has launched. I am grateful to have started my career here in 1986, assisting on A Doll’s House when Mark Lamos roamed these halls as our Artistic Director, and then returning in 2003 with Michael Wilson on a production of Edwin Sanchez’s Diosa. What a gift now to welcome you to the 2023/2024 season.

For our 60th anniversary season, we honor the magnificent artists and plays of the past while ushering in a new era for Hartford Stage. The 2023/2024 season blends the past, present, and future of Hartford Stage, and I know you will find the same joy and entertainment in these stories that I do.

There is no substitute for live theater. Come join us at Hartford Stage. Come with friends. Come with family. Our extraordinary theater brings the actors and the audience together for a shared experience of laughter, drama, and great storytelling.

Subscribe

Melia Bensussen, Artistic Director

today and be a part of this 60th anniversary season! I can’t wait to see you at the theater.

PHOTO BY THE DEFINING STUDIOS.

So Many Ways to Experience Hartford Stage!

Learn more on pages 16–19.

BECOME A SUBSCRIBER

Choose from one of our flexible subscription packages that best matches your lifestyle this year. The more you see, the more you save!

BRING A GROUP

Make your trip to the theater a celebration! Groups of 10+ save on tickets. School groups can dive deeper into the theater by joining us at one of our student matinees.

ATTEND A CLASS

Our award-winning education programs build confidence and inspire creativity and connection in all ages.

SPONSOR, DONATE, OR VOLUNTEER

Play a vital role in making art come to life in our community.

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2023/2024 Season Sponsor

By Kate Hamill

Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen

Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo

OCTOBER 12 – NOVEMBER 5

The classic love story — with a contemporary twist.

It’s about time for the Bennet sisters to get married, only the independent and outspoken Elizabeth isn’t keen on the idea. Meanwhile, the proud and mysterious Mr. Darcy keeps appearing in the Bennet social sphere, sparking conflict and marital questions. Might a change of heart be in the cards for Elizabeth?

“Kate Hamill’s Pride and Prejudice has fun and charm to spare... full of high spirits and genuine mirth.” —TheaterMania

The Cheryl Chase & Stuart Bear Family Foundation

By Charles Dickens

Adapted & Directed by Michael Wilson

NOVEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 24

Hartford’s beloved Christmas tradition is back!

The magic of Charles Dickens’s heartwarming classic returns with former Hartford Stage Artistic Director Michael Wilson at the helm. Come see Connecticut’s favorite family holiday tradition and spend some time with Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future as they bring A Christmas Carol to life on stage.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

By Martín Zimmerman

Directed by Melia Bensussen

JANET S. SUISMAN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

WORLD PREMIERE

Simona’s father is an enigma. Curious about his life in Latin America before moving to the United States, Simona obsesses over his secrets as her thoughts and dreams become haunted by the mystery that is his past. Simona’s Search is a riveting exploration of the bond between fathers and daughters, love and sacrifice, nature and nurture.

From the writer and producer of Netflix’s Ozark comes this gripping world premiere.

The past is always present.

Rick & Beth Costello

By Katori Hall

Directed by Christopher D. Betts

JOYCE C. WILLIS FELLOW

IN ASSOCIATION WITH BALTIMORE CENTER STAGE

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 24

Secret recipe? Check. Cooking crew?

Check. Emergency situation? Uh oh.

With only days to go until Memphis’s annual “Hot Wang Festival,” things are heating up in Cordell’s kitchen. He and his crew are prepping to take home the crown when his boyfriend’s nephew shows up at the front door. Over the course of one weekend, the fate of the competition — and their relationships — is called into question. Will the crew make it to the festival? Will they make it at all?

Christopher D. Betts (Trouble in Mind) is back to direct this 2021 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy that celebrates the families we make and the risks we take.

By Arthur Miller

Directed by Melia

Bensussen

JANET S. SUISMAN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

APRIL 11 – MAY 5

APRIL 11 – MAY 5

A timely revival that weighs the cost of the American dream.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright behind Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, and A View from the Bridge comes another masterpiece of American theater. All My Sons brings us into the Keller’s backyard, where a neighborhood is forced to reckon with buried truths. The fallout exposes the fault lines beneath their lives, leading to the unravelling of a family.

75 years later, this Arthur Miller classic still packs a strong emotional punch and reveals as much about today’s America as it did when it first premiered.

The John & Kelly Hartman Foundation

By Lisa Kron

Illuminating at every turn.

Lisa is making a video about her dad. She’s capturing the big and small moments: from the annual amusement park family vacations to the father-daughter journey to Auschwitz, where his parents were killed — and everything in between. Step on this rollercoaster ride of high hilarity and deep disquiet as one woman tries to make sense of it all.

From Tony Award-winning playwright Lisa Kron (Fun Home) comes a surprising tragicomedy about coming to terms with where — and who — you come from.

Become a subscriber and save!

No matter how you enjoy coming to the theater, we have a subscription offer for you. Choose one of the three options below to find the package that best suits you!

FULL SEASON

Guaranteed Seating

• One-time payment per season

• Sit in the same seat at every show

• Renew your same seats for future seasons

• Full-season packages start at $112.50

• Take 20% off additional tickets

• Free exchanges

FLEX PASS

NEW! Save as you go

• Small up-front cost, and discounted tickets later (up to $25 off!)

• Book your tickets anytime you want

• Choose your seats for each show

• Join anytime

• Take 10% off additional tickets

• Free exchanges

STAGE PASS

For Ages 21–35

• One-time payment per season

• $99 for unlimited access — come as often as you like at no additional cost

• Invitations to pre-show Stage

Pass parties

• Bring a guest for just $20

• Free exchanges

To learn more, scan or visit HartfordStage.org/Subscribe

ONLINE: HartfordStage.org

BY PHONE: (860) 527-5151

IN PERSON: 50 Church Street, Hartford

BRING A GROUP AND SAVE!

If you have 10 or more people, you qualify for ticket savings! We host groups of all different types including colleges, adult communities and senior centers, religious organizations, professional groups and businesses, social clubs, family reunions, or just friends getting together for a night out.

Learn more and plan your outing at HartfordStage.org/Group-Sales

BRING A CLASS TO A STUDENT MATINEE

Middle and high school students are invited to join us for special performances throughout the year. They’ll get to see the show, plus participate in a talkback with the cast. Add-on workshop with a teaching artist available!

Tickets start at $20, with discounts available for Title 1 schools.

For dates and details, visit HartfordStage.org/Student-Matinees • Zero-Step Entry • Wheelchair Seating • Accessible Parking

• Large Restroom Stalls

ACCESSIBILITY

Hartford Stage is committed to providing a welcoming and accessible environment, working to ensure all of our patrons are treated with respect and dignity, and assisting patrons with reasonable accommodation. Services include:

• Sensory-Friendly Kits

• Assistive Listening Devices

• Open Captioned Performances

• Audio Described Performances

For more information, visit HartfordStage.org/Accessibility

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Did you know that every ticket is subsidized to ensure affordable access to our theater?

The actual cost of each show is supported by generous donations. Make a gift today to ensure we continue to create and present exceptional productions at Hartford Stage.

To join us as a donor or business partner, visit HartfordStage.org/Support

EDUCATION @ HARTFORD STAGE

Our award-winning education programs provide students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds with innovative opportunities that challenge and inspire. Using theater techniques, we build community and citizenship, promote a passion for literacy and creative expression, and encourage life-long learning.

Learn more at HartfordStage.org/Education

VOLUNTEER WITH US

If you’re looking for a fantastic volunteer opportunity, consider joining us as an usher! In addition to being able to see each show for free, ushers play a crucial role at Hartford Stage — greeting audiences as they walk through the doors and making sure they’re having the best experience possible. The time commitment is flexible and we’re always looking for more assistance.

Sign up at HartfordStage.org/Volunteer

JOEL PEREZ AND THE CAST OF KISS MY AZTEC! PHOTO BY T. CHARLES ERICKSON.

PHOTOS BY THE DEFINING STUDIOS.