Little Theatre Of Manchester Reopening in May

Manchester, CT – The Little Theatre of Manchester is hosting a free open house on Saturday. May 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. to share its plan for reopening Cheney Hall, the theatre’s office and performance space, from its nearly 15-month closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-registration at www.cheneyhall.org is required for this event.

After closing its doors last spring, Cheney Hall’s stage has been mostly dark for over a year. “On March 12, 2020, our then-upcoming production of OTHER DESERT CITIES by Jon Robin Baitz was well into rehearsal and the set was just about up,” recalled Debi Freund, LTM’s Artistic Director. “We were just one week from going into dress rehearsals when Connecticut began ‘sheltering in place’ and everything came to a halt.”

Over the last year, Little Theatre of Manchester’s Governing and Artistic Boards, as well as an ad-hoc Reopening Committee, have worked diligently to develop a reopening plan that prioritized the health and safety of guests. New procedures include scheduled arrival times, assigned seating, reduced capacity to allow for ample social distance, and much more. The planning culminated with a visit from Dr. Sten Vermund, Dean of the Yale School of Public Health. “I think that they are going to be doing a fantastic job of keeping us safe and restoring some of the vibrancy of Connecticut arts,” Dr. Vermund shared in a post-visit video. A full list of health and safety measures, as well as the full video, can be found at www.cheneyhall.org/safety.

The Open House on May 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. will showcase all of the safety and health measures LTM has put in place to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Guests will be guided through new entry procedures and get to preview the new seating arrangements. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to discuss the first play of 2021, WALTER CRONKITE IS DEAD, and plans for future events, plays, and musicals. “We have been so thankful for the support of our communities over the last year,” says Dwayne Harris, Executive Director of LTM. “We are excited to share this reawakening of LTM, and we hope that our fans and supporters will come out and enjoy making new memories at Cheney Hall in 2021 and beyond.”

The list of currently scheduled activity at Cheney Hall includes:

1. OPEN HOUSE on Saturday, May 8 from 10 to 11 a.m., Pre-Registration Required
2. BREWS AND BLUES Outside on Cheney Hall’s patio, featuring members of LTM’s Pit Band & beer from Labyrinth Brewing Company, on Friday, May 14 at 6 p.m.
3. BEACH BOYS TRIBUTE PERFORMANCE by The Driftwoods on Saturday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
4. THE GORDON LIGHTFOOT & JIM CROCE TRIBUTE by Rainy Day People on Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
5. SIMON AND GARFUNKEL TRIBUTE PERFORMANCE by The Guthrie Brothers on Friday, May 28 at 7 p.m. INSIDE
6. WALTER CRONKITE IS DEAD, a play by Joe Calarco. Two opinionated women (one from a “Red State,” one from a “Blue”) are stuck in an airport. Check out this insightful comedy to find out who is left standing. Playing June 11 through June 20, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m. inside Cheney Hall and Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m. outside on Cheney Hall’s patio.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cheneyhall.org or call 860-647-9824