Alan Neal Levy
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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.


Maurice Sendak with Alan Neal Levy and the cast of Really Rosie - March 1993

Artist/Author Maurice Sendak and Artistic Director Alan Neal Levy with the cast of Really Rosie on the stage of The Roberts Theatre.


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.

City Arts, 30 Pearl St, Hartford, Connecticut

City Arts, 30 Pearl St, Hartford, Connecticut



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.


1920-Arrow_Electric

Arrow-Hart Building (c. 1910) 103 Hawthorn St., Hartford, Connecticut.



In 1993, HCT hired it’s first full-time 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 property included a Carriage House, which was renovated into a 77-seat theatre which was used for small shows like How I Became a Pirate. The company rented larger venues for most of their main stage productions. In 2012, the company ceased operations, citing production deficits.

360-farmington-ave-CarriageHouse

Carriage House Theatre - Interior, 360 Farmington Ave., Hartford, Connecticut


Performance History


Hartford Children's Theatre produced over 75 main stage productions, several touring productions, and more in its 23-year history. The first subscription was offered in 1990-91 and featured the full-length version of Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, and James Lapine.


Main Stage Productions
Date Production Name Writer Director Producer Theatre Location
           
June 1988 Charlotte's Web E. B. White Alan Neal Levy Alan Neal Levy Wolcott School, W. Hartford, Conn.
December 1988 Godspell Steven Schwartz Alan Neal Levy Alan Neal Levy City Arts on Pearl. Hartford, Conn.
 June 1989  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe  Joseph Robinette  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  City Arts on Pearl. Hartford, Conn.
 November 1990  Into the Woods  Stephen Sondheim  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Centennial Theatre, Simsbury, Conn.
 December 1990  Mother Hicks  Suzan Zeder  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 March 1991  Really Rosie  Maurice Sendak and Carol King  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy   Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 June 1991   The Secret Garden   Alan Neal Levy   Alan Neal Levy   Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 November 1991  Beauty and the Beast  Suzan Zeder  Peter Loffredo  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 December 1991 Big River: The Adventures of Huck Finn  Roger Miller and William Hauptman  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 March 1992  The Arkansaw Bear  Aurand Harris  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 June 1992  The Crystal  Max Bush  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 November 1992  Troubled Waters  Brian Kral  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 December 1992 Anne of Green Gables   R.N. Sandberg  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 March 1993  Becca  Wendy Kesselman  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 June 1993 Alice in Wonderland Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 October 1993  The Reluctant Dragon  Mary Hall Surface  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.

 December 1993 - January 1994

 Cinderella  Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein 2nd  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 April 1994 Bridge to Terabithia  Katherine Paterson and Stephanie Tolan  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  HCT Studio Theatre, Hawthorn Center, Hartford, Conn.
 June 1994 A Wrinkle in Time Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 October 1994  The Boy Who Left Home To Find Out About The Shivers (Premiere)  Max Bush  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.

 December 1994 - January 1995

 Beauty and the Beast Adaptation    Peter Loffredo  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 April 1995 Afternoon of the Elves  Y York  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 June 1995 Little Women Sarah Spencer  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 October 1995  Ghost of the River House  Max Bush  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.

 December 1995 - January 1996

 Peter Pan (1954 musical) J. M. Barrie and Moose Charlap Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 April 1996 Selkie  Laurie Brooks Gollobin  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 June 1996 Tuck Everlasting Mark Frattarolli Bill Fennelly  Alan Neal Levy  Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 October 1996  Bambi: A Life in the Woods  James Devita  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  Bulkeley High School, Hartford, Conn.

 December 1996 - January 1997

 The Wizard of Oz ( musical) L. Frank Baum  Bill Fennelly    Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
 March 1996      Frances Sharp    Roberts Theatre W. Hartford, Conn.
           
             

In addition to main-stage productions, Hartford Children's Theatre produced a few touring productions and productions from their educational programs and summer camp.


Other Productions
Date Production Name Writer Director Producer Theatre Location
           
March 1988 Babies Having Babies  Kathryn Montgomery,
Jeffrey Auerbach		 Alan Neal Levy Alan Neal Levy Tour: Bloomfield, E. Hampton, Hartford, Newington, W. Hartford, Conn.
 August 1991  The Wiz  William F.  Brown Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy   Roberts Theatre, W. Hartford, Conn.
April 1992 A Fine Line Jeffrey Kagan McCann Jeffrey Kagan McCann Alan Neal Levy Smith School, West Hartford
 August 1992  How To Eat Like a Child  Delia Ephron  Dan Fine  Alan Neal Levy   Roberts Theatre, W. Hartford, Conn.
 August 1992  Working  Studs Terkel Bill Fennelly  Alan Neal Levy   Roberts Theatre, W. Hartford, Conn.
 August 1994  Grease   Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy   HCT Studio Theatre, Hawthorn Center, Hartford, Conn.
 August 1994  Fame  Michael Gore  Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy   HCT Studio Theatre, Hawthorn Center, Hartford, Conn.
 August 1995  Pippin  Roger O. Hirson Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy   HCT Studio Theatre, Hawthorn Center, Hartford, Conn.
 August 1995 Smile    Howard Ashman David Watson  Alan Neal Levy   HCT Studio Theatre, Hawthorn Center, Hartford, Conn.
 August 1996  Gypsy    Alan Neal Levy  Alan Neal Levy  
 August 1996  Cats  Andrew Lloyd Webber