For more than a decade, we've delivered live theater experiences to West Hartford and the greater Hartford community. Here are some of our past passion-fueled productions.
Seussical
October/November 2024
Our production of Seussical was a hit, and the Jungle of Nool took a village to create!
Producer: the WHCT Board; Director Rachel Ballasy, Music Director Susan Carroll, and Choreographer Jen Bunger; Stage Manager Kathryn Lewis and Technical Director Nathan Holbrook; Lighting Designer Matthew Gilbert, Sound Designer Dan Nivison, and Set Designer/Builder David Nichols.
Starring Nathan Holbrook as Cat in the Hat, James Giacchi as JoJo, and Jacob Rogotzke as Horton; Izzy Steinberg as Gertrude McFuzz, Sarah Hayes as Mayzie la Bird, and
Avery King-Moore, Julie Borsotti, Sarah Luther, and Lena Whiteside as Bird Girls; Jenna Nikirk as Sour Kangaroo, Oliver Robb as Young Kangaroo, and Blaise DiModugno, Farren Kelly, and Forrest Williams as Wickersham Brothers; Michael and Vanessa Robb as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, and David Nichols as General Genghis Kahn Schmitz; with Lisa Camargo, Noreen Cavanaugh, Christy Dzubay, Ginamarie Garabedian, Sal Giannola, Kuhlken Gorman, Anna Kelly, Mairead Kelly, Stephen Maher, Matt Nelson, Waas Porter, Jonah Robb, Naomi Scheinerman, and Karen Shakun in the ensemble.
We sang, tapped and roller skated our way to standing ovations for our November 2023 “musical within a comedy,” The Drowsy Chaperone.
Cast: Rick Fountain as Man in Chair, Tracy Funke as The Chaperone, Steve O’Brien as Underling, Ariana Straznicky as Janet Van de Graaff, Michael Robb as Robert Martin, Bob Janas as Feldzieg, Mona Tiglio as Kitty, Nathan Holbrook as George, Jenna Nikirk as Mrs. Tottendale, Michael Cartwright as Aldolpho, Cwen Williams as Trix the Aviatrix, Anna Kelly as Gangster #1, Tim Grant as Gangster #2, Randie Fierberg/George Lutheras Superintendent
Ensemble: Avery Allen, Lisa Camargo, Noreen Cavanaugh, Randie Fierberg, Naomi Scheinerman, Karen Shakun, and Izzy Steinberg
Creative Team: Producers: Marybeth Lavelle, Terry Szymanski, Director: Jane Cerosky, Music Director: Ben Mabrey, Choreographer: Jen Bunger, Costumes: Vivianna Lamb, Technical Director: Marybeth Lavelle
We brought back our well-loved Short Play Festival, to great success. There were six wonderful one-act plays by Connecticut Playwrights; Always a Line by Charlene A. Donaghy, The Little Man in the Boat by Bill Arnold, Floating Bubbles by Jack B. Levine, Camel and the Snowman by Kimberly J. Kobjack, Reject Reindeer by Claudia I. Emanuele and Andy's Nuts by Ken Schröeder. The show had a wonderful variety of comedies and dramas; some even made their stage debut!
The Theater at Elmwood Community Center, April 14 and 15, 2023 at 8pm.
Everyone drank a toast to Nutmeg High School's Class of 1997. It was a night of mystery, mayhem and malt beverages as past rivalries intertwined and spilled over to the present! Audiences played along and laughed their heads off at this special, interactive show. Our sincere thanks for everyone at WeHa Brewing & Roasting Co for helping us create this crazy night!
tick, tick...BOOM!
A departure for us, this smaller cast musical brought our audiences to their feet each night. This autobiographical musical written by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, tells the story of a young compose questioning his life choices on the eve of his 30th birthday.
Starring Brandon Allen as Jonathan, Reilly Lincavicks as Susan and Henley A.L. Solomon Jr. as Michael. Directed by Corinne Kravetz with Music Direction by David Jarkey
April 23, 2022
Broadway, Our Way
Our annual fundraiser and silent auction was back and better than ever! Guests enjoyed food, fun and a great performance featuring group numbers and soloists who all shone.
Thank you to all those who donated goods and services to our auction.
Made possible by:
A Murder Mystery Evening
November 2021
Those who attended the engagement party of Sophia Raven and Bradford Wentworth were in for a treat, as our interactive Murder Mystery show was enjoyed by all!
Besides a prize for whoever correctly guessed the murderer and motive, audience members enjoyed tasty treats and an evening they won't forget.
WHCT Trivia Night
October 2021
Teams of friends joined together to compete in a trivia night hosted by West Hartford Community Theater at Waypoint Spirits in Bloomfield, CT
We've had so much fun at these trivia nights, we hope to host even more in the future, so stay tuned!
An Evening of One-Act Plays
September 2021
After postponing our one-act show in Spring of 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, our actors are thrilled to present a fun and engaging evening of one-act plays!
This was a fun evening of one acts written by Connecticut playwrights and audiences enjoyed a cash bar as well.
Sea Tea Improv Off-Off-Off Broadway
Summer 2021
West Hartford Community Theater was thrilled to host Sea Tea Improv whose two-act show had everyone laughing!
The first act featured "typical" improv style comedy while the second act featured an improvised musical.
WHCT Trivia Nights
Summer 2021
Teams of friends joined together to compete in two fun trivia nights hosted by West Hartford Community Theater at Hopmeadow Brewery (July 2021) and Hog River Brewing Co. (August 2021)!
Mamma Mia!
Fall 2019
A compelling script by Catherine Johnson, coupled with the hypnotic and timeless songs of ABBA propels this smash hit along. Johnson’s story of a young woman dreaming of finding her birth father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years earlier.
Director – Michael Lamb
Executive Producer – Terry Szymanski
Assistant Director – Lindsay Pytel
Music Director – David Jarkey
Choreographer – Jen Checovetes
Stage Manager – Barbara Doczy
A Night of One Act Plays
Spring 2019
A night of fun one-act plays meant for mature audiences. Audiences enjoyed the compelling performances along with a cash bar and light refreshments.
Plays directed by:
Laura Boates
Michael Cartwright
Patrice Fitzgerald
Kim Forde
Kayla Rodriguez
Piers Stonehart
Young Frankenstein
Fall 2018
"It’s alive!” The famous words spoken by Dr. Frankenstein (… that’s Fronk-en-steen!”) are the culmination of a dizzying number of double entendre, silly mishaps, and memorable dance numbers. When Frederic, grandson of the famous Dr. Frankenstein, inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania, he also inherits the hunchbacked sidekick Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), Frau Blucher (NEEEIGHHH) and the lovely, leggy, yodeling lab assistant, Inga. Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually the creature escapes and hilarious mayhem ensues.
Director – Dana Sachs
Executive Producer – Terry Szymanski
Music Director – David Jarkey
Choreographer – Jen Checovetes
Anniversary Cabaret
May 2018
Happy Anniversary, West Hartford Community Theater!
This cabaret was held to celebrate the theater's 10th anniversary. We look forward to another 10 years (and more) of high-quality theater offerings... and more anniversary celebrations to come!
Once Upon a Mattress
Fall 2017
The production that opened on Broadway 58 years ago and made Carol Burnett a star continues to bring people together, foster joy and friendship, and nurture our collective souls through a relatively unknown score that is beautiful, rousing, and delightful.
Executive Producer – Terry Szymanski
Assistant Producer/Conductor – Patrick Buckley
Director – Dana Sachs
Music Director – David Jarkey
Choreographer – Jennifer Checovetes
Stage Manager – Jim Ryan
Beauty and the Beast
Fall 2016
In this classic fairytale, a cold blooded, selfish prince who is magically transformed into a beast must learn to love to break the spell. Enter Belle, a spirited, intelligent, and kind young woman who refuses to be intimidated by the beast. She melts his cold heart, breaking the spell and transforming the beast, and servants of the castle, back to their original forms.
Director - Dana Sachs
Executive Producer - Terry Szymanski
Music Director/Conductor - Ed de Groat
Choreographer - Meghan McDermott
Stage Managers - Amanda Gallagher, Jim Ryan
Carousel
Fall 2015
A personal favorite of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Carousel is a highly-regarded timeless classic filled with beautiful music and rich, complex characters.
Executive Producers – Jeffrey Goetz & Katie Meagher
Director – Lesley Gallagher
Music Director – Ed de Groat
Choreographer – Meghan McDermott
Stage Manager – Amanda Gallagher
Technical Director – Greg Sommer
The Producers
Fall 2014
This outrageous musical comedy by Mel Brooks pokes fun at just about everything with a humor that spares no one.
Director & Tap Choreography – Lesley Gallagher
Producer – Katie Meagher
Assistant Producer – Jeff Goetz
Music Director – Nathaniel Baker
Choreographer – Meghan McDermott
Technical Director – Greg Sommer
Stage Manager – Margo Lynn Hablutzel
Les Misérables
Fall 2013
Adapted by one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, this original French musical premiered in Paris in 1980 and remains the second longest-running musical in the world.
Director – Lesley Gallagher
Assistant Director – Jeffrey Goetz
Executive Producer – Bruce LaRoche
Musical Director/Conductor – Michael Ersevim
Stage Manager – Margo Lynn Hablutzel
My Fair Lady
Fall 2012
Called "the perfect musical", this notable critical and popular success debuted on Broadway in 1956 and set a record for the longest run of any show up to that time.
Director - Lesley Gallagher
Assistant Director – Jeffrey Goetz
Musical Director – Ed deGroat
Choreographer - Jen Bunger
Stage Manager – Paul Leone
The Secret Garden
Spring 2012
This enchanting, Tony Award-winning musical based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 novel is a compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.
Director - Lesley Gallagher
Musical Director/Conductor - Ed deGroat
Assistant Music Director - Katie Cox
Stage Manager - Paul Leone
Oklahoma!
Fall 2009
The first collaboration of famed partners Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Oklahoma! set the American musical theatre standard.
Producer - Maria Librio Judge
Director - Jared Towler
Artistic Director - Bruce LaRoche
Music Director - Emmett Drake
Choreographer - Jana Rumbaugh
Stage Manager - Mary Corwin
Assistant Stage Manager - Greg Sommer