Around Town

Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Opens July 15 [Q&A]

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The Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s 2023 season—marking the nonprofit organization’s 20th anniversary—is set to kick off next month with “Beauty and the Beast.” Shows will run July 15 to 30, at 7 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. On Monday, we talked to Ed Libonati, Summer Theatre’s executive producer, about the upcoming season and other offerings from the organization. 

Here’s a transcription of our interview:

New Canaanite: Ed, you guys have been here for so long that this may sound a little silly, but we do have new readers who are new to town. So briefly, before we get into what’s coming this season, could you give us some background on Summer Theatre? 

Ed Libonati: Sure. Well, Summer Theatre is now celebrating our 20th anniversary. We started in 2004.

Around Town

Podcast: Summer Theatre of New Canaan 2022 Season Opens Friday

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This week, on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Melody Libonati, artistic director of Summer Theatre of New Canaan. The nonprofit organization opens its 19th season this week, featuring productions of Broadway Tony-winning revival “Once On This Island” and, for Theatre for a Young Audience, “The Wizard of Oz,” both at the bandshell in Waveny Park. Sponsors of Summer Theatre of New Canaan include Walter Stewart’s, Karl Chevrolet, Bankwell, New Canaan Community Foundation, Performing Arts Conservatory of New Canaan, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and The Professional Associates, P.C. Media sponsors include Hearst, WSHU Public Radio and NewCanaanite.com. 

Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Bill Kapp

Parks & Rec Approves ‘Summer Theatre of New Canaan’ for 2022 Season in Waveny

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For the second straight year, parks officials have approved use of Waveny Park for the long-established Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s shows and programs.

Following discussions at its Feb. 9 meeting, the Parks & Recreation approved an approximately monthlong use of the southwest corner of the soccer fields at Waveny. Summer Theatre of New Canaan, known locally as “STONC,” offered up a pandemic-shortened season last summer in the same area. STONC will launch its Thursday-through-Sunday shows around July 7, following a unanimous vote by the Commission at its regular meeting. The traditional Family Fourth picnic and fireworks are scheduled to be held in Waveny on Saturday, July 2, with a first rain date of July 3 and backup rain date of July 9.

Around Town

Podcast: Melody Libonati of Summer Theatre of New Canaan

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This week on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Melody Libonati, artistic director of the Summer Theatre of New Canaan, about the 2021 season which kicks off July 16 with a benefit barbecue and features a new venue in Waveny Park that many of our listeners likely have already spotted, with the big tent on the soccer fields. Summer Theatre’s big show this year is The Honky Tonk Angels, and we hear from Melody about that, as well as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and StoopKids Stories Live. 

Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Ed Libonati

New Location in Waveny Approved for Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s 2021 Season

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Parks officials on Wednesday approved a new location in Waveny for the Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s 2021 season. The organization’s 18th outdoor season, featuring a production of “Honky Tonk Angels,” will run near the southwest corner of Waveny’s main athletic fields, north of the main road through the park, following a unanimous vote by the Parks & Recreation at its regular meeting. 

Summer Theatre Executive Producer Ed Libonati said the area near a landmark pine tree opposite the parking lot for the paddle tennis courts and dog run turned out to be “an exceptionally great location for us.”

“We have an abridged season this year, a shorter one than normal,” Libonati told the Commission during its meeting, held via videoconference. “I was not sure how everything was going to turn out but it has turned out beautiful. We anticipate with the majority of the people being vaccinated that the protocol and the comfort level the health protocols and comfort level should go very well with the audiences. Obviously we have taken extreme care with protocols with our staff and everyone in our organization will be vaccinated who works with the Summer Theatre.