Hartford Children's Theatre
1989 - 2012
Hartford Children's Theatre was an award-winning, non-profit theatre that operated from 1989 to 2012 in Hartford, Connecticut. The theatre sought to enrich the lives of the children of Greater Hartford by providing access and exposure to high quality theatre for young audiences and related educational opportunities. The theatre operated a main-stage subscription series of theatre for young audiences, theatre and performing arts classes and workshops, and a summer theatre camp. In 1993, Hartford Children's Theatre was awarded the Zeta Phi Eta - Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children's Theatre Company Award by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.
Artist/Author Maurice Sendak and Artistic Director Alan Neal Levy with the cast of Really Rosie in the HCT rehearsal studio.
Hartford Children's Theatre was founded by Artistic Director Alan Neal Levy. The corporation operated as a 501(c)3 from several locations in Hartford, Connecticut ending at 360 Farmington Ave. The first year, the theatre performed twice at City Arts (formerly, the Bronson and Hutensky Theater) in Downtown Hartford, once at the Walcott School in West Hartford, Connecticut and in a touring production to area high schools.
In 1990, the theatre began the first of five, four-play seasons at the Roberts Theatre in the Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford. The company's first rehearsal space was shared with the Mark Twain Masquers, a community theatre also located on the Kingswood-Oxford campus. In July of 1991, Hartford Children's Theatre operated it's first summer theatre program in conjunction with the Hartford Conservatory.
The company’s second home was a one-year stay at the vacant Smith School at 64 St. James St., West Hartford, Connecticut 06119. It rented four classrooms and had access to two common areas which were used as performances for it’s Hartford Summer Youtheatre. The next year, the non-profit also leased a 1700 square foot office above a supermarket in Bishop’s Corner. At first this space was used for set construction, but also held classes.
The third home for Hartford Children's Theatre (HCT) was at 103 Hawthorn Rd., Hartford, Connecticut 06105 in the former Arrow-Hart and Hegeman Electric Co. The 15,000 square foot rental was remodeled into a 250-seat Black Box theatre, a 5,000 square foot dance studio, and a large reception/office space. The Hartford Summer Youtheatre thrived here for two years as did the performing arts classes.
In 1993, HCT hired it’s first Managing Director, Sharla Cowden (now the Managing Director of the University of Evansville, Indiana Theatre Dept. Managing Director Cowden and Artistic Director Levy met with municipal leaders about including the Hartford Children's Theatre in the plans to build the tallest building in Hartford. As a temporary move, the City of Hartford offered two floors of free rental in the 11-story 101 Pearl St, Hartford, Connecticut, which also housed a Hartford Police substation and was located next door to the proposed building site.
The final home of Hartford Children's Theatre was at 360 Farmington Ave., Hartford, Connecticut 06105. The purchased property included a Carriage House, which was renovated into a 79-seat theatre. The company rented larger theatres for most of their main stage productions. In 2012, the company ceased operations, citing large debts.