July, 2006: The Shakespeare Festival celebrated the company's 15th Anniversary with Macbeth. The Scottish Play
was forcefully brought to life with an outdoor, theatre-in-the-round production on the grounds of Saint Joseph
College. The production featured professional and student performers, live music, spectacular costume and scenic
elements and intense and remarkable stage combat.
July, 2005: The Shakespeare Festival featuring Romeo & Juliet: The star-crossed lovers under the stars! Shakespeare’
s greatest love story was performed outdoors on the grounds of Saint Joseph College. The production featured
professional performers, students from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford, live music, dance and exciting
stage combat.
July, 2004: The Shakespeare Festival featuring The Merry Wives of Windsor: One of Shakespeare’s greatest farces
played on the pastoral grounds of Saint Joseph College. The fast paced production featured professional performers
and live music – artful entertainment for the whole family!
May, 2003: The Learned Ladies; A 17th century farce by French playwright Moliere. Performed at The Carol Autorino
Center at Saint Joseph College, the production included live music, physical humor and colorful costumes.
December, 2002-2004: It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play; An old-time radio version of America’s holiday
classic performed in the style of radio’s Golden Age. The theatre assimilated a live radio broadcast as actors perform
before microphones accompanied by live music and sound effects. The script was adapted by Connecticut playwright
Joe Landry. Performed in The Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College.
May, 2000: Homecircles: Chapters in the Life of Noah Webster; This revival of the previously titled An Agreeable Day
was commissioned by the Noah Webster House and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The
one-act original play, written by Laura Sheehan, utilized writings of Webster and his family in innovative theatrical
form and was performed by Capital Classics within the rooms of Webster’s childhood home.
July & August, 1998: The Shakespeare Festival and Theatrical Fair; Capital Classics expanded its free Shakespeare
program to include a two production summer season, consisting of Measure for Measure and The Comedy of Errors.
The Festival played both afternoon and evenings on the Bushnell Park Pavilion Stage. Sunday matinees were
preceded by the Theatrical Fair, a family event consisting of commedia dell'arte, music, dance, puppetry and stage
combat. Approximately 40 local professional theatrical artists were hired including Equity and non-Equity
performers, directors, musicians, technicians, stage managers, designers, and student interns.
May & August, 1997: The Capital Classics Radio Revue Series; a series of original radio productions done in the
style of the Golden Age of Radio. Both shows, designed to coordinate with a season and with popular local events,
toured a variety of locations throughout the Greater Hartford region, as part of our Community Outreach Program.
Productions included Spring Fever in New England (featuring themes of St. Patrick), The Lazy Days of Summer (part
of Mark Twain Days Festival).
July, 1997: A Midsummer's Eve at the Bellamy-Ferriday; a special adaptation of Shakespeare's magical comedy A
Midsummer Night's Dream commissioned exclusively for the Bellamy-Ferriday historical home and played in its
renowned garden setting.
New Year's Eve, 1996: Hartford First Night: '97; Il Capitano Revealed, an original Commedia dell'Arte performance
featuring slapstick comedy, madcap characters, and classic frolicking family fun. Developed by Capital Classics'
company of performers specifically for First Night. Performed at the Wadsworth Atheneum's Aetna Theater.
November, 1996: An Agreeable Day; Capital Classics joined forces with the Noah Webster House to develop this
original one-act play, written and performed by core company members. The house itself served as the setting for
this living history production based on the life and letters of Noah Webster.
September, 1996: The Capital Classics Radio Revue: High on the Hill-Stead!; Capital Classics returned to the Golden
Age of Radio with this original revue written especially for Farmington's Hill-Stead Museum. Comedy, drama, music,
sound effects, and game show fun comprise this evening of nostalgic entertainment.
July & August, 1996: The 6th Annual Shakespeare Festival in Bushnell Park, featuring: Much Ado About Nothing by
William Shakespeare, The Imaginary Cuckold by Moliere, Elizabethan folk dancing choreographed by Sonia Plumb,
an Elizabethan quartet, juggling, magic and puppetry.
October, 1995: The Pavilion in Bushnell Park; In celebration of the opening of the Bushnell Park Pavilion, Capital
Classics presented a half-hour adaptation of As You Like It, thematically centered on the "foibles of love."
July & August, 1995: The 5th Annual Shakespeare Festival in Bushnell Park, featuring As You Like It by William
Shakespeare, an authentic commedia dell 'arte piece, The Fake Madwoman, Elizabethan folk dancing choreographed
by Sonia Plumb, an Elizabethan quartet, juggling, magic and puppetry.
June, 1995: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Family Letters; A dramatic reading of Stowe family circular letters (commissioned
by the Stowe Museum) adapted for the stage in celebration of the Stowe family reunion.
New Year's Eve, 1994: The Capital Classics Radio Revue, Hartford First Night '95; A "Golden Age of Radio" Theater
performance featuring an authentic radio thriller, In The Fog, an original comedy, The Time Travelers, live music,
sound effects and spoof commercials.
October & November, 1994: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Family Letters; A dramatic reading of Harriet's letters to family,
friends and famous contemporaries, along with selections from Uncle Tom's Cabin adapted for the stage in celebration
of the dedication of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center's new name.
August, 1994: The 4th Annual Shakespeare Festival in Bushnell Park featuring A Midsummer Night's Dream by
William Shakespeare in collaboration with The Sonia Plumb Dance Company.
New Year's Eve, 1993: The Capital Classics Vaudeville Revue, Hartford First Night '94; Classic old-time variety
entertainment featuring comic skits, singing, dancing, opera and zany characters from the history of American
Vaudeville Theater.
August, 1993: The 3rd Annual Shakespeare Festival; in Bushnell Park featuring the popular comedy, Twelfth Night.
August, 1992: The 2nd Annual Shakespeare Festival; in Bushnell Park featuring Shakespeare's The Tempest.
September, 1991: The Inaugural Capital Classics Shakespeare Festival: Capital Classics initial
Bushnell Park production, The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare. The start of a trend!
Capital Classics Education Programs
2008: The company was in residency at Hartford Magnet Middle School in Hartford, working with eight grade
students on Romeo & Juliet. An example of our Living, Breathing Shakespeare Educational Programing.
2007: Working with the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Education Department, residency at Lewis Fox
Middle School in Hartford, centering around The Comedy of Errors.
2002-2004: Partnership with local public schools including Quirk Middle School, Hartford; Pulaski Middle School,
New Britain; Weaver High School, Hartford; and Bloomfield High School; school groups invited to attend matinee
performances and participate in post-show master class; teachers provided with study guides detailing history and
activities of performance styles and era relevant to production.
Summer, 2003: Dance CT Summer Program; Capital Classics’ managed the theatre education component of summer
program, including hiring all theatre educators and developing curriculum.
1997-2003: The Bushnell Partners Program; Capital Classics is hired each academic year to stage professional play
readings of scripts developed as part of the sixth grade curriculum in Hartford and Bloomfield schools.
1997-2001: Trinity College, Hartford; Capital Classics staged professional play readings of scripts developed in
Trinity’s graduate and undergraduate playwriting courses, utilizing local professional actors.
was forcefully brought to life with an outdoor, theatre-in-the-round production on the grounds of Saint Joseph
College. The production featured professional and student performers, live music, spectacular costume and scenic
elements and intense and remarkable stage combat.
July, 2005: The Shakespeare Festival featuring Romeo & Juliet: The star-crossed lovers under the stars! Shakespeare’
s greatest love story was performed outdoors on the grounds of Saint Joseph College. The production featured
professional performers, students from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford, live music, dance and exciting
stage combat.
July, 2004: The Shakespeare Festival featuring The Merry Wives of Windsor: One of Shakespeare’s greatest farces
played on the pastoral grounds of Saint Joseph College. The fast paced production featured professional performers
and live music – artful entertainment for the whole family!
May, 2003: The Learned Ladies; A 17th century farce by French playwright Moliere. Performed at The Carol Autorino
Center at Saint Joseph College, the production included live music, physical humor and colorful costumes.
December, 2002-2004: It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play; An old-time radio version of America’s holiday
classic performed in the style of radio’s Golden Age. The theatre assimilated a live radio broadcast as actors perform
before microphones accompanied by live music and sound effects. The script was adapted by Connecticut playwright
Joe Landry. Performed in The Carol Autorino Center at Saint Joseph College.
May, 2000: Homecircles: Chapters in the Life of Noah Webster; This revival of the previously titled An Agreeable Day
was commissioned by the Noah Webster House and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The
one-act original play, written by Laura Sheehan, utilized writings of Webster and his family in innovative theatrical
form and was performed by Capital Classics within the rooms of Webster’s childhood home.
July & August, 1998: The Shakespeare Festival and Theatrical Fair; Capital Classics expanded its free Shakespeare
program to include a two production summer season, consisting of Measure for Measure and The Comedy of Errors.
The Festival played both afternoon and evenings on the Bushnell Park Pavilion Stage. Sunday matinees were
preceded by the Theatrical Fair, a family event consisting of commedia dell'arte, music, dance, puppetry and stage
combat. Approximately 40 local professional theatrical artists were hired including Equity and non-Equity
performers, directors, musicians, technicians, stage managers, designers, and student interns.
May & August, 1997: The Capital Classics Radio Revue Series; a series of original radio productions done in the
style of the Golden Age of Radio. Both shows, designed to coordinate with a season and with popular local events,
toured a variety of locations throughout the Greater Hartford region, as part of our Community Outreach Program.
Productions included Spring Fever in New England (featuring themes of St. Patrick), The Lazy Days of Summer (part
of Mark Twain Days Festival).
July, 1997: A Midsummer's Eve at the Bellamy-Ferriday; a special adaptation of Shakespeare's magical comedy A
Midsummer Night's Dream commissioned exclusively for the Bellamy-Ferriday historical home and played in its
renowned garden setting.
New Year's Eve, 1996: Hartford First Night: '97; Il Capitano Revealed, an original Commedia dell'Arte performance
featuring slapstick comedy, madcap characters, and classic frolicking family fun. Developed by Capital Classics'
company of performers specifically for First Night. Performed at the Wadsworth Atheneum's Aetna Theater.
November, 1996: An Agreeable Day; Capital Classics joined forces with the Noah Webster House to develop this
original one-act play, written and performed by core company members. The house itself served as the setting for
this living history production based on the life and letters of Noah Webster.
September, 1996: The Capital Classics Radio Revue: High on the Hill-Stead!; Capital Classics returned to the Golden
Age of Radio with this original revue written especially for Farmington's Hill-Stead Museum. Comedy, drama, music,
sound effects, and game show fun comprise this evening of nostalgic entertainment.
July & August, 1996: The 6th Annual Shakespeare Festival in Bushnell Park, featuring: Much Ado About Nothing by
William Shakespeare, The Imaginary Cuckold by Moliere, Elizabethan folk dancing choreographed by Sonia Plumb,
an Elizabethan quartet, juggling, magic and puppetry.
October, 1995: The Pavilion in Bushnell Park; In celebration of the opening of the Bushnell Park Pavilion, Capital
Classics presented a half-hour adaptation of As You Like It, thematically centered on the "foibles of love."
July & August, 1995: The 5th Annual Shakespeare Festival in Bushnell Park, featuring As You Like It by William
Shakespeare, an authentic commedia dell 'arte piece, The Fake Madwoman, Elizabethan folk dancing choreographed
by Sonia Plumb, an Elizabethan quartet, juggling, magic and puppetry.
June, 1995: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Family Letters; A dramatic reading of Stowe family circular letters (commissioned
by the Stowe Museum) adapted for the stage in celebration of the Stowe family reunion.
New Year's Eve, 1994: The Capital Classics Radio Revue, Hartford First Night '95; A "Golden Age of Radio" Theater
performance featuring an authentic radio thriller, In The Fog, an original comedy, The Time Travelers, live music,
sound effects and spoof commercials.
October & November, 1994: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Family Letters; A dramatic reading of Harriet's letters to family,
friends and famous contemporaries, along with selections from Uncle Tom's Cabin adapted for the stage in celebration
of the dedication of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center's new name.
August, 1994: The 4th Annual Shakespeare Festival in Bushnell Park featuring A Midsummer Night's Dream by
William Shakespeare in collaboration with The Sonia Plumb Dance Company.
New Year's Eve, 1993: The Capital Classics Vaudeville Revue, Hartford First Night '94; Classic old-time variety
entertainment featuring comic skits, singing, dancing, opera and zany characters from the history of American
Vaudeville Theater.
August, 1993: The 3rd Annual Shakespeare Festival; in Bushnell Park featuring the popular comedy, Twelfth Night.
August, 1992: The 2nd Annual Shakespeare Festival; in Bushnell Park featuring Shakespeare's The Tempest.
September, 1991: The Inaugural Capital Classics Shakespeare Festival: Capital Classics initial
Bushnell Park production, The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare. The start of a trend!
Capital Classics Education Programs
2008: The company was in residency at Hartford Magnet Middle School in Hartford, working with eight grade
students on Romeo & Juliet. An example of our Living, Breathing Shakespeare Educational Programing.
2007: Working with the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Education Department, residency at Lewis Fox
Middle School in Hartford, centering around The Comedy of Errors.
2002-2004: Partnership with local public schools including Quirk Middle School, Hartford; Pulaski Middle School,
New Britain; Weaver High School, Hartford; and Bloomfield High School; school groups invited to attend matinee
performances and participate in post-show master class; teachers provided with study guides detailing history and
activities of performance styles and era relevant to production.
Summer, 2003: Dance CT Summer Program; Capital Classics’ managed the theatre education component of summer
program, including hiring all theatre educators and developing curriculum.
1997-2003: The Bushnell Partners Program; Capital Classics is hired each academic year to stage professional play
readings of scripts developed as part of the sixth grade curriculum in Hartford and Bloomfield schools.
1997-2001: Trinity College, Hartford; Capital Classics staged professional play readings of scripts developed in
Trinity’s graduate and undergraduate playwriting courses, utilizing local professional actors.
July, 2007: The Shakespeare Festival once again came to life on the grounds of Saint Joseph College with The
Comedy of Errors, preceded by a theatrical fair that included dance, music and an original commedia dell'arte
scenario. The production featured professional and student performers, live music, spectacular costumes and
creative make up effects. It was an uproarious and hilarious event!
Comedy of Errors, preceded by a theatrical fair that included dance, music and an original commedia dell'arte
scenario. The production featured professional and student performers, live music, spectacular costumes and
creative make up effects. It was an uproarious and hilarious event!
| A Complete, Unabridged History |
July, 2008: The Shakespeare Festival returned to Saint Joseph College with a production of Hamlet, preceded by
curtain teaser performance of Moliere's The Seductive Countess. The festival featured professional and student
performers delivering another installment of our trademark style of accessible and engaging classical theater!
curtain teaser performance of Moliere's The Seductive Countess. The festival featured professional and student
performers delivering another installment of our trademark style of accessible and engaging classical theater!
July, 2009: The Shakespeare Festival transformed the grounds of Saint Joseph College into the shipwrecked island
of Prospero for a memorable production of The Tempest. Preceded by music from The Elizabethan Consort, the
production featured live music and singing, elaborate choreography and, of course, powerful classical theater with
our unmistakable attention to performance detail and quality!
of Prospero for a memorable production of The Tempest. Preceded by music from The Elizabethan Consort, the
production featured live music and singing, elaborate choreography and, of course, powerful classical theater with
our unmistakable attention to performance detail and quality!
July, 2010: The Shakespeare Festival celebrated our 20th Anniversary Season with A Midsummer Nights Dream. A
cast of 24 made Athens and the enchanted surrounding forest appear before record-breaking crowds during our
three week run at Saint Joseph College. A gorgeous and memorable production.
cast of 24 made Athens and the enchanted surrounding forest appear before record-breaking crowds during our
three week run at Saint Joseph College. A gorgeous and memorable production.
March, 2010: The Women Writers Series makes its debut with staged reading of two new works for the theater:
The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Podium Making the Apology by Laura Sheehan and Code Red or The Last
Day at Dick High by Jeanne Zaino. The readings offered the playwrights a chance the hear their words take to the
air for the first time and offered the audience members a chance to interact with the actors, directors and
playwrights by giving their insightful opinions and suggestions for future revisions to these new works. An
excellent, provocative and exciting evening that showcased new theatrical voices from promising female playwrights.
The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Podium Making the Apology by Laura Sheehan and Code Red or The Last
Day at Dick High by Jeanne Zaino. The readings offered the playwrights a chance the hear their words take to the
air for the first time and offered the audience members a chance to interact with the actors, directors and
playwrights by giving their insightful opinions and suggestions for future revisions to these new works. An
excellent, provocative and exciting evening that showcased new theatrical voices from promising female playwrights.
