Letter to the Editor

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter to the editor. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here. ***

To the Editor:

On behalf of The Summer Theatre of New Canaan, I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) for their generous and long-standing support of our work. For 22 years, the Foundation has helped us grow—not only as a professional theatre company presenting Broadway-caliber productions—but also as a vital community and educational resource. Their support has enabled us to launch and sustain programs like the Albert L. Perry III College Internship Program, our Junior Company for middle school students, the inclusive DramaRamas program for children with special needs, and the Frank Bennack – Mary Lake Polan Elementary School Touring Program, which brings affordable live theatre directly to Connecticut schools.

Summer Theatre of New Canaan Presents ‘Mary Poppins’ for 2024 Season [Q&A]

The Summer Theatre of New Canaan returns for the 2024 season with “Mary Poppins” (tickets here). The show will run July 12 to 28. 

We caught up with the nonprofit organization’s artistic director, Melody Meitrott Libonati, and its executive director, Ed Libonati (they’re married) about the headline show and full upcoming season, including STONC’s popular educational programs such as the Junior Company and DramaRamas Performance Program for kids with special needs. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: For our readers who are not yet familiar, could you just—before we get into the specifics of this summer’s activities—give a very brief background on Summer Theatre, please? 

Ed Libonati: This is our 21st professional season based here in New Canaan. We started in 2004 and have been presenting musicals and plays in the summer for New Canaan and surrounding communities. And it has grown each year.

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

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.