Short Takes
News from Hartford Stage
A Look at Our Lobby
Visit our upper lobby to view original art that reflects the themes of Quixote Nuevo. Showcased art works were created by Latinx artists living and working in the Greater Hartford area. The exhibition was curated by Jasmin Agosto of SageSeeker Productions, which produces exhibitions and live experiences that center area artists of color and the communities they serve, bringing them into critical conversations with broader audiences. The exhibition will feature the work of Joel Agosto, Lindaluz Carrillo, Andres Chaparro, Carlos Hernandez Chavez, Zulynette and Constanza Segovia, all of whom work in a variety of media and styles.
Season Kick-Off Celebration
Over 330 members of the community helped Hartford Stage celebrate the 2019/2020 season last month. The festive open-house event featured live music from the Golden Scroll Soloists, backstage tours, a performance from Breakdancing Shakespeare, a casual meet-and-greet with the cast of Quixote Nuevo, and welcoming remarks from Artistic Director Melia Bensussen, Managing Director Cynthia Rider, and Board President David Jimenez. After hearing from Quixote Nuevo playwright Octavio Solis and Director KJ Sanchez, audience members were treated to a scene reading by cast members Emilio Delgado and Juan Manuel Amador.
A Little Harmless Fun: Quixote Nuevo Playwright Octavio Solis at the Mark Twain House on Monday, September 23
Theatre and Arts Writer Frank Rizzo will talk with award-winning playwright Octavio Solis about Quixote Nuevo, his funny, inspiring, Tejano-music filled reimagining of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Solis will also read excerpts from his book, Retablos: Stories of a Life Lived Along the Border, a memoir of his life growing up in El Paso, Texas, one mile from the Rio Grande. The book will be available for sale and signing following the talk at the Mark Twain House & Museum. Tickets are $10 General Admission.
Scott Bartelson selected to participate in Community Arts Education Leadership Institute (CAELI) Program
Scott Bartelson, Management Associate at Hartford Stage, was selected to participate in the Community Arts Education Leadership Institute (CAELI). Bartelson was one of 26 individuals from community arts education organizations nationwide who will benefit from the leadership program, which is designed specifically for individuals in the nonprofit arts education sector. The program is run by the National Guild for Community Arts Education in collaboration with Partners in Performance, Inc.
Hartford Stage Receives TCG Audience (R)evolution Grant
Hartford Stage is one of six Theatre Communications Group (TCG) member theatres nationwide to receive an Audience (R)Evolution Exploration Grant, which focuses on theatre programming for youth and multigenerational audiences. Representatives from Hartford Stage’s Artistic and Education teams will travel to Alliance Theatre in Atlanta and South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA to explore new models of programming that will deepen our engagement with these populations whom we serve in a variety of ways throughout the season.
Education @ Hartford Stage Summer Studio Recap
Congratulations to all our talented Summer Studio youth artists who gave wonderful performances in Once Upon a Mattress, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Kudos also goes to the cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare, which performed a high energy, hip-hop infused adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Our Fall Youth Studio classes begin September 28. Private acting lessons and special workshops are also available. Offerings will also be held at our new satellite location in Simsbury.
Coming Next – Cry It Out (October 24 – November 17)
An ode to modern-day motherhood, Cry it Out peers into the lives of four new parents with nothing in common except sleep deprivation, unreliable childcare and the notion of “having it all.” The darkly funny comedy takes a smart and honest look at the power of female friendship, the dilemma of going back to work after being home with a newborn, and the effect social class has on parenthood in America.
