Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

MANCHESTER, CT — Our latest installment of a periodic series on Patch sites in north-central Connecticut highlighting "hidden gems" throughout the region takes us to the Cheney Mills historic district in Manchester and a 300-seat auditorium in a stately landmark built in 1866.

Welcome to the Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall, which for 2019 is featuring productions like "Pete the Cat" and "Mama Mia" and various concerts. It's a regional theater know for its productions having a big-time feel.

It is located at 177 Hartford Road in Manchester.

The stated mission of the Little Theatre is:

"To foster interest in and appreciation of the performing arts; to present a wide variety of performing arts programs; to provide training for the development and perfection of skills of every phase of the dramatic arts; to present a variety of live theatre productions, concerts and other performing arts programs; and to operate Cheney Hall, the oldest operating theater in Connecticut, as a core cultural treasure in the state."

For a schedule and ticket information, go to www.cheneyhall.org or call the LTM box office at 860-647-9824.

Chck out a preview of "Pete the Cat" here.

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This series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other recent columns in this series:

• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant