“According to the Governor’s ordinance, we are suspending our production of Whodunnit and including it into our next season’s roster. Thank you for your continued support and please keep safe.”
Thank You Robin
The Sherman Players Board would like to say an enormous thank you to Robin Frome, who has stepped down from the position of President.
Robin has been our President since 2012 and during his tenure has overseen a vast array of productions, formed lasting community relationships and managed significant changes at the Playhouse.
As well as his official role, Robin has produced, directed and acted in many of our shows. A fan of the classics he has been responsible for bringing Shakespeare back to our stage - directing popular productions of The Taming of the Shrew and The Tempest. On stage he’s been seen most recently as the titular Tartuffe, Benjamin’s long suffering father in The Graduate, a blond Indian in Three By Tenn and having more fun than anyone should be allowed as the wicked Fleshcreep in 2019’s Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.
A great champion of theatre arts in general and the Sherman Playhouse in particular, Robin has worked tirelessly to maintain its reputation for quality and variety. Anyone who has directed or acted here always comments on what a welcoming community it is. That is a testament to Robin and his leadership over the past eight years.
Thank you Robin and the very best wishes for your next chapter!
The Sherman Players Board
Latest News
Theater Review: Rare One-Acts By Williams Given Their Due Respect With Season Opener - By Elizabeth Young, The Newtown Bee
Theater Review: 'Three By Tenn' a very big hit - By Joanne Greco Rochman, Republican-American
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The Playhouse Ghost has a message for you from the other side.... (sound on)
Jessica Granger, a KTGLO guest and friend to the Sherman Playhouse, has written a wonderful and moving piece for the upcoming edition of Vogue. Here’s the online edition. Fascinating and touching.
My Body, Myself: An Unexpected Journey Out of Grief
My Body, Myself: An Unexpected Journey Out of Grief
Cast adrift by grief, Jessica Granger found an unexpected source of solace in a famous artist’s model—and decided to try something she’d never imagined.KTGLO goes international!
We bring you guests from distant lands tonight. Waterbury CT! (exotic) Newtown CT! (quaint) and..... Toronto Canada! (Polite).
Jeffrey Lapham, Chief Executive of 'Shakesperience' joins us from somewhere down the I84 to talk about the challenges of delivering classic theatre education in a socially distanced world.
Brian DeToma - President of the Town Players of Newtown tells us what COVID has meant for this small local theatre and how they're answering the call to get performance out to their loyal audience.
Barry Hughson Director of the Canadian National Ballet brings us perspective from up North - Not only on how a major professional dance company has had to adapt but how the arts in Canada are supported and the view of the situation south of the border - eh. (Though Barry is from CT and never actually said Eh once)
What's clear is that despite the differences in scale, each of our guests, as leaders of their arts organizations faced exactly the same problem when the pandemic hit - no more business-as-usual, so what do we do now? You'll hear how each took stock and geared themselves up for an uncertain year.
We also gaze into the crystal ball for our guests' predictions - As we always find on KTGLO these are filled with hope!
Please leave us comments on the show and let us know if there are any areas of the performing arts you'd like to see represented in future episodes.
10/19/20 Northern Exposure
10/19/20 Northern Exposure
Apologies to our Keep The Ghost Light On viewers who weren't able to tune in on Facebook Live last night. A technical hitch prevented us from going live (it was either that or my fat fingers....).
The show has been recorded and will be available here for viewing later today.
Thanks for your patience!
We are very excited (and a little spooked) to announce our first on-line streamed live-action performance!
Halloween Night at 8pm we will be presenting 'Little Death Song', a Rock & Roll Ghost Story, written and directed by Robin Frome.
"LouLu was headed for the big time, at least she was until the release of her smash hit, 'Little Death Song', and it's tragic consequences. Now years later, a wrung out Punk performing for shrinking audiences and haunted by her past, LouLu finally faces the music, and her biggest fan."
Starring Kimberly Marcus and Gloria Antonios
Produced by Steve Stott
Streaming information and more details to follow.
** PLEASE NOTE: This performance features strong language and themes of self harm. It is intended for a mature audience. **
Photo credit Trish HaldinWe are very excited (and a little spooked) to announce our first on-line streamed live-action performance!
Halloween Night at 8pm we will be presenting 'Little Death Song', a Rock & Roll Ghost Story, written and directed by Robin Frome.
"LouLu was headed for the big time, at least she was until the release of her smash hit, 'Little Death Song', and it's tragic consequences. Now years later, a wrung out Punk performing for shrinking audiences and haunted by her past, LouLu finally faces the music, and her biggest fan."
Starring Kimberly Marcus and Gloria Antonios
Produced by Steve Stott
Streaming information and more details to follow.
** PLEASE NOTE: This performance features strong language and themes of self harm. It is intended for a mature audience. **
Photo credit Trish Haldin
A lively KTGLO featuring actors, musicians and producers who, when faced with the restrictions of the pandemic have seen opportunities and grasped them.
Joining Steve and Robin tonight are:
Matt Austin - very active in the local Connecticut theatre community among many things, he acts, directs, writes and advocates for the social benefits of theatre.
Jamie Weisberg Damaso - What did she do with her in-person dinner theatre company when the world shut down? She made a highly successful switch to virtual events!
Lucinda and Michael - Talented musicians and recording artists whose ambitious plans were coming to fruition just when COVID hit. How did they respond? By embracing necessary change and building a thriving enterprise.
The arts will always find a way. That's a message that comes through loud an clear in tonight's show. Hear our guests' stories of the impact of COVID, the shock of the shutdown, the opportunities taken and how these successes can help others in the performing arts.
Keep The Ghost Light On presented by the Sherman Playhouse returns Live next week 10/17/20, 7.00pm Eastern.
This and our previous shows are available from the Sherman Playhouse Facebook page and Facebook/watch.
10/12/20 Opportunity from Adversity
10/12/20 Opportunity from Adversity
This week saw two significant developments for live performance theatre.
Broadway has announced that its closure is extended through May 2021 and Connecticut moves to Phase 3 of the COVID reopening plan, which includes provisions for indoor performance.
The Broadway announcement is ‘big news’ and understandably upsetting for performers and fans. While it is true that general theatre in the US is not limited to or defined by Broadway, it is maybe the most public indicator of the health of the country’s performing arts. More significantly though, if simply viewed as an employer, a workplace, prolonging closure is another blow to the vast numbers relying on Broadway for their livelihood.
The picture is somewhat different in neighboring Connecticut from this week, however. The Governor’s announcement of the move to Phase 3 of the State’s reopening plan is very welcome news for our theatres. This phase sees capacities for indoor performance events increase to 50% of house size, up to a maximum of 100 people – with social distancing and appropriate mandated safety procedures being followed.
However – This doesn’t signal back to business as usual. Significantly, while audience capacities are increased, restrictions remain in place regarding performances. Performers are required to be masked and vocal performances are not allowed at indoor events. These requirements clearly determine the types of production that can be presented.
It should be noted, also, that in reality the size and layout of an auditorium will be the true limiting factor for many local theatres, not the allowed audience size. For example, the Sherman Playhouse can seat up to 100 audience members. So allowable 50% capacity would be 50 attendees. However, applying safe distancing means the practical maximum in our space is about 35.
We are not alone in facing this problem. There are few local and community theatres with the physical space to accommodate sufficiently distanced audiences of adequate numbers to support traditional productions.
So, while Phase 3 is a welcome step, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your local theatre is suddenly able to re-open. What it does mean is that we now have more options available. Our task, as the theatre community in Connecticut, is to be creative, to work out what can be presented within these necessary constraints.
The Sherman Playhouse will remain closed for the time being. The Board is considering alternatives to live staged performances that could be presented to our audience and announcements will be made in due course.
In the meantime, please tune in to our weekly Facebook Live broadcast ‘Keep The Ghost Light On’ where we discuss the current challenges with guests from all aspects of the performing arts. We’ll certainly be talking about the topics covered above in our next show which airs Monday 10/12 at 7.00pm on our Facebook page. You can watch prior episodes there too!This week saw two significant developments for live performance theatre.
Broadway has announced that its closure is extended through May 2021 and Connecticut moves to Phase 3 of the COVID reopening plan, which includes provisions for indoor performance.
The Broadway announcement is ‘big news’ and understandably upsetting for performers and fans. While it is true that general theatre in the US is not limited to or defined by Broadway, it is maybe the most public indicator of the health of the country’s performing arts. More significantly though, if simply viewed as an employer, a workplace, prolonging closure is another blow to the vast numbers relying on Broadway for their livelihood.
The picture is somewhat different in neighboring Connecticut from this week, however. The Governor’s announcement of the move to Phase 3 of the State’s reopening plan is very welcome news for our theatres. This phase sees capacities for indoor performance events increase to 50% of house size, up to a maximum of 100 people – with social distancing and appropriate mandated safety procedures being followed.
However – This doesn’t signal back to business as usual. Significantly, while audience capacities are increased, restrictions remain in place regarding performances. Performers are required to be masked and vocal performances are not allowed at indoor events. These requirements clearly determine the types of production that can be presented.
It should be noted, also, that in reality the size and layout of an auditorium will be the true limiting factor for many local theatres, not the allowed audience size. For example, the Sherman Playhouse can seat up to 100 audience members. So allowable 50% capacity would be 50 attendees. However, applying safe distancing means the practical maximum in our space is about 35.
We are not alone in facing this problem. There are few local and community theatres with the physical space to accommodate sufficiently distanced audiences of adequate numbers to support traditional productions.
So, while Phase 3 is a welcome step, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your local theatre is suddenly able to re-open. What it does mean is that we now have more options available. Our task, as the theatre community in Connecticut, is to be creative, to work out what can be presented within these necessary constraints.
The Sherman Playhouse will remain closed for the time being. The Board is considering alternatives to live staged performances that could be presented to our audience and announcements will be made in due course.
In the meantime, please tune in to our weekly Facebook Live broadcast ‘Keep The Ghost Light On’ where we discuss the current challenges with guests from all aspects of the performing arts. We’ll certainly be talking about the topics covered above in our next show which airs Monday 10/12 at 7.00pm on our Facebook page. You can watch prior episodes there too!
KTGLO welcomed guests from across the USA, from East Coast to West!
Lindsay O'Neil is a Broadway performer, vocal instructor and college lecturer in music, Rik Walter is an actor, director and theatre company founder, Marika Becz lectures on performance and is a healing arts practicioner, and Bob Goodman is a film maker with over 45 years experience.
In tonight's show we hear about their careers, COVID and the resilience of the performing arts. They demonstrate that this community succeeds because of its members, despite its ever-present challenges
Pragmatic and optimistic our guests share their experiences and insights with a generosity that all should find positive and above all hopeful.
10/05/20 Transcontinental Insights
10/05/20 Transcontinental Insights
He's back! Must admit, he's getting better. He shaved today too which is a bonus (could do with a haircut though). Hear what he has to say about this week's Keep The Ghost Light On. (Spoilers - it's packed with a profundity of practically perfect professionals) .
Join this bloke and Robin Frome, Monday from 7.30pm Live on Facebook!
KTGLO - 10/5 Preview
KTGLO - 10/5 Preview
Coming soon... The Keep The Ghost Light On Series Page. One place to find all the KTGLO shows.
Watch This Space 📺
9/28 - KTGLO - Three writers join us on this week's show:
Jessica Granger - TV and Film writer/producer - wrote for the hit show God Friended Me and has the movie Candlewood currently in pre-production.
Martin Casella - Award winning playwright. Author of The Irish Curse among many more plays and screenplays.
Bradford Blake - Brad is very well known in the local Connecticut theatre community and beyond. In addition to writing he composes, choreographs directs and occasionally acts.
Some writers, often considered solitary creatures by nature, have embraced the time of COVID as an extra period of calm to in which to create. But what if your writing is part of a group project that suddenly has to cease, or if you're early in your career and need to work to gain experience in order to progress and have your shot at the limited opportunities available at the moment? How does isolation affect you and how will the current situation influence what you'll create next?
These are some of the issues discussed in this week's lively, informative and entertaining show - enjoy!
9/28 - Keep The Ghost Light On
9/28 - Keep The Ghost Light On
Wow! take a look at the guests we've welcomed on to Keep The Ghost Light On since we started the show. (apologies if I've missed anyone!) Tonight's guests, Bradford Blake, Martin Casella and Jessica Granger can be spotted too!
Join us live on Facebook from 7.30pmWow! take a look at the guests we've welcomed on to Keep The Ghost Light On since we started the show. (apologies if I've missed anyone!) Tonight's guests, Bradford Blake, Martin Casella and Jessica Granger can be spotted too!
Join us live on Facebook from 7.30pm
This guy’s smooth, don’tcha think? I hear they offered him DWTS but he chose to stick with KTGLO... and he WILL smarten himself up for the show.
Keep The Ghost Light On. Monday 7.30pm on Facebook Live from the Sherman Playhouse page.
This week's KTGLO gave us a look into the impact of COVID on theatre administration, movies, up-and-coming actors, the logistics of recording music and more.
Among our guests are a familiar face to many of us, having gotten her start in local theatre right here in our part of Connecticut - Gloria Antonios is an alum of New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre now making her way as a professional actor and singer.
Dan Friedman joins us. He's a man who wears so many hats he has to duck when going through doorways - Theatre director, actor, award-winning playwright, massive movie buff, administrator at the Bedford Playhouse… the list goes on.
We also welcome another alum of the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse. She’s stage and movie actor Midanah Penda.
And continuing with the Movie theme we are delighted to welcome Thomas Hardisty recordist for all things music, sound and song for one or two movies you might just have heard of… Frozen, Frozen II, Jurassic World, Rogue One, Toy Story, Green Book, Pirates of…. in fact more big name Hollywood movies than you could shake a very large microphone at.
Robin and I are having a whale of a time chatting to our guests! Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do.
Join us again next week when we'll be hearing from Bradford Blake, Jessica Grainger and Martin Casella.
9/21/2020 - Keep The Ghost Light on
9/21/2020 - Keep The Ghost Light on
The JCC in Sherman is generously sharing proceeds from this show with us. Thank you JCC!
If the last show is any guide, this will be a hoot!
Please come along to support both our groups and help the Sherman Community thrive. 🎉😁🤩🥰
Technical Gremlins have derailed our Facebook Live stream. I’ll be posting the recording of tonight’s session later this evening.
