Playhouse on Park

Sunday, May 17th, 2026 @ 7pmDessert reception beginning at 6 pm



$10 General Admission
*Plus a $3.50 service charge

It's a combination of a TED Talk, a play reading and American Idol ... and it needs your vote! Join our Artistic Democracy and vote for Hartford's best new Jewish play of 2026.&nbsp; Come see a fantastic cast in these plays.


Directed and Hosted by Illana Stein
Generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts

FLATBUSH LYSISTRATA - Lila Rachel Becker, Washington, DC

Three Hasidic women gather at an axe-throwing parlor to plan a sex strike.&nbsp; A play about how women carve spaces for themselves within fundamentalism.

HAVURAH - Margot Connolly, Brooklyn, NY

After a shooting at a synagogue, a club of Jewish college students is left reeling, while their Christian counterparts try to help without knowing how.

SHURA: The mission of identifying life -Roee Joseph, Tel Aviv, Israel

A playwright-soldier documents the impossible task of identifying the dead after October 7th, uncovering the fragile line between witnessing horror and choosing life.

Local Event: The 10th Annual Hartford Jewish Playwriting Contest

Hartford County

West Hartford

Connecticut

The 10th Annual Hartford Jewish Playwriting...

Sunday, May 17th, 2026 @ 7pmDessert reception beginning at 6 pm



$10 General Admission
*Plus a $3.50 service charge

It's a...

The 10th Annual Hartford Jewish Playwriting Contest

Drawing from Petersen family archives and new research, Chuck Coursey, host and producer of West Hartford’s history podcast Troutbrook Tales, and Mary Donohue, West Hartford Town Historian, share the history of Danish immigrant Andrew C. Petersen’s dairy empire. The lecture will be held in the former milk delivery truck garage, now the Playhouse on Park Theater. And ice cream is included courtesy of the A.C. Petersen Restaurant next door!


100% of proceeds benefit Playhouse on Park!

HOSTS:

CHUCK COURSEY, Host, Trout Brook Tales - Chuck serves as Chair of the WH Arts Commission, Vice Chair of the WH Chamber of Commerce, and Trustee of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. He is also an emeritus board member of Playhouse on Park, a former West Hartford Town Councilor and Deputy Mayor.


MARY DONOHUE, West Hartford Historian - Donohue is an award-winning author, architectural historian, and preservationist. She is the executive producer and host of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history.

Local Event: Building an Empire: A.C. Petersen

Building an Empire: A.C. Petersen

Drawing from Petersen family archives and new research, Chuck Coursey, host and producer of West Hartford’s history podcast...

<h3>Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters hop from the page to the stage as best friends Frog and Toad navigate four fun-filled seasons.</h3>
3-time Tony Award Nominee, including Best Musical
From swimming to raking leaves to baking cookies, best friends Frog and Toad do everything together – no matter what the weather. Waking up from hibernation in the spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, go sledding, and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make-believe... all charm! Based on the classic picture books, join Frog and Toad in a series of hilarious, sweet, and whimsical adventures through the seasons – a heartfelt musical ode to friendship.

Local Event: A Year With Frog and Toad

A Year With Frog and Toad

Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters hop from the page to the stage as best friends Frog and Toad navigate four fun-filled...

New Park Brewing

We invite you to join us for the hottest fundraiser of the year- named one of the top three Best of Hartford Charity Events - Encore!
All proceeds benefit Playhouse on Park and Playhouse Theatre Academy.
Raise a pint! We’re beyond excited to bring Encore! home to West Hartford and to reestablish partnerships with two amazing businesses. This year we’re headed to the award-winning New Park Brewing with food by DORO Catering &amp; Events and added support by Taylor Rental. This year will truly be “ON TAP”!
What’s on tap? Join us in the (beer) garden as we celebrate all things Playhouse, including what’s up next and what’s in store for our future, all while raising money to support our mission of bringing professional theatre to the stage and transformative arts education to children, youth, and schools through Playhouse Theatre Academy. The evening will be overflowing with FUN and FUNdraising and includes: two hours of open bar &amp; hors d’oeuvres, dinner, silent &amp; live auctions, dancing, late night snacks, and world-class performances that define Playhouse on Park!
Encore! On Tap is more than a fundraiser — it’s a toast to imagination, creativity, community, and everything that continues to bloom on our stage and in our classrooms.

Local Event: Encore! On Tap

Encore! On Tap

We invite you to join us for the hottest fundraiser of the year- named one of the top three Best of Hartford Charity Events -...

Liv Fassanella

Michael Lemanski

Hartford Metropolitan Area

Greater Hartford

Farmington

Avon

Newington

Wethersfield

Simsbury

Jay Kenney

Windsor

Rocky Hill

Canton

South Windsor

<h2>Join us for our Annual Epilepsy Walk in Farmington</h2>
This year, we’re bringing the community together not just to walk, but to gather for a&nbsp;Purple Picnic&nbsp;celebration afterward (Food&nbsp;provided by EFCT).
This family-friendly event is all about connection, support, and showing our strength as a community. Walk alongside individuals and families impacted by epilepsy.
Vendors will be on site sharing resources, services, and information designed to support those living with epilepsy and their caregivers. Whether you’re coming to honor a loved one, meet others who understand your journey, or learn more about epilepsy, we can't wait to see you!
Any teams who fundraise $100 or more, will receive a free sign with their team's name on it!
Wear your purple, and join us for a meaningful day of awareness, advocacy, and community.

Local Event: Annual Epilepsy Awareness Walk & Purple Picnic

Annual Epilepsy Awareness Walk & Purple Picnic

Join us for our Annual Epilepsy Walk in Farmington
This year, we’re bringing the community together not just to walk, but to...

Solomon Welles House

Join one of America's best-known Mediums in a truly memorable afternoon of connection with Spirit. With Karen's insights and her warmth and understanding, she will connect with those who live in Spirit to convey messages of comfort, love and reassurance. You will leave changed with a new understanding that you are not alone in your grief, and that those we love never truly leave us. To reserve your seat at this event, please call 860-665-8024. Admission is $50. per seat. All seats are non-refundable. See Karen's website for further details. This is a Mediumship Demonstration.
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Local Event: Connecting With Spirit: Messages of Love & Hope

Connecting With Spirit: Messages of Love & Hope

Join one of America's best-known Mediums in a truly memorable afternoon of connection with Spirit. With Karen's insights and...

Stanley-Whitman House

Historian and author Dayne Rugh spent years recovering the story of Colonel John Durkee: a Norwich-born soldier who served under Washington in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and who has been largely forgotten since he died in 1782. He opens the program in character, in period regimental clothing, then steps back to present an illustrated talk drawn from his biography, John Durkee: The Forgotten Story of Connecticut's Bold Man from Bean Hill. Copies will be available for purchase and signing at $20.00.
The program takes place in the fully accessible Spear Classroom. The historic house will be open for self-guided visits before and after.
Part of the FarmingtonCT250 programming series at Stanley-Whitman House. Stanley-Whitman House is a proud official affiliate of the America 250 | CT Commission. Join us for these commemorative events.

Local Event: A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on Colonel John Durkee

A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on...

Historian and author Dayne Rugh spent years recovering the story of Colonel John Durkee: a Norwich-born soldier who served...

A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on Colonel John Durkee

Town of Avon Senior Center

NAMI Farmington Valley Annual Meeting &amp; Speaker Presentation 
Join us for an insightful presentation with Dr. Christine Shapter, a board-certified psychiatrist whose work with the Connecticut Probate Court offers a unique perspective on the intersection of mental health care, individual rights, and the justice system.
Drawing from her real-world experience evaluating individuals with serious mental illness across Connecticut, Dr. Shapter will explore the complex challenges of balancing psychiatric needs with legal protections. This thought-provoking talk is a continuation of last year’s important conversation on this compelling topic.
Whether you are a caregiver, advocate, mental health professional, or community member interested in these issues, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. 💚<h2>About our Speaker</h2>
Dr. Christine Shapter&nbsp;is a board-certified psychiatrist who has devoted her career to the Probate Court. She achieved her Medical Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine after working many years as a registered nurse. She subsequently completed psychiatry residency from the Institute of Living in 2018. Since that time, she has been traversing the State of Connecticut on a daily basis performing evaluations for the Probate Court, navigating the intersection between the psychiatric needs and the legal rights of our state’s most seriously mentally ill and vulnerable patients.
Dr. Shapter is board-certified in Psychiatry, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is an adjunct professor in the graduate nursing department at University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. She has co-authored articles published in Psychiatric Times, Aging and Disease, and Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity, and has given numerous presentations at national conferences. She was the winner of the Daniel F. Caruso Public Service Award in 2023, which was presented at the Connecticut Probate Assembly Annual Meeting in April. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.REGISTER&nbsp;NOW!

Local Event: Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness and the Justice System: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness...

NAMI Farmington Valley Annual Meeting & Speaker Presentation 
Join us for an insightful presentation with Dr. Christine...

Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness and the Justice System: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

<h3>PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS for KIDS in Your Pool</h3>
<h3>For those making summer plans for their children this is a great opportunity. Availability for lessons on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays! Spots will fill up quickly so reach out now! Contact Gabriella Rand at 860-751-4784 or <a href="mailto:gabriellarand06@gmail.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">gabriellarand06@gmail.com</a>.</h3>

Private Swim Lesson for Kids

PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS for KIDS in Your Pool...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Liv Fassanella, Neighbor

Posting Activity

The 10th Annual Hartford Jewish Playwriting Contest

MAY

17

7:00 PM

Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd, West Hartford, CT

Building an Empire: A.C. Petersen

MAY

31

4:00 PM

Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd, West Hartford, CT

A Year With Frog and Toad

JUN

3

3:00 PM

Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd, West Hartford, CT

Encore! On Tap

JUN

13

6:00 PM

New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Ave, West Hartford, CT

Annual Epilepsy Awareness Walk & Purple Picnic

Connecting With Spirit: Messages of Love & Hope

A Tale of Two Coats: Historian Dayne Rugh on Colonel John Durkee

Navigating the Intersection of Mental Illness and the Justice System: A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

Private Swim Lesson for Kids