24 Chestnut Street, Norwich, CT 06360 • boxoffice@chestnutstreetplayhouse.org • 860-886-2378
Our Upcoming Mainstage Production
🌸🌸🌸We are thrilled to announce the magical cast of The Secret Garden!🌸🌸🌸 Lily - Mia Katz Mary Lennox - Coralie Frumkin Fakir/Dreamer - Dmitriy Frumkin Ayah/Dreamer - Kaylee Woods Rose Lennox/Dreamer - Rachel Hanauer Captain Albert Lennox/Dreamer - Carl Canella II Lieutenant Peter Wright/Dreamer - Tony Enright Lieutenant Ian Shaw/Dreamer - David Connors Major Holmes/Dreamer - Jon Peterson Major Shelley/Dreamer - Khye Borg Liew Mrs. Shelley/Dreamer - Denise Kegler Claire/Dreamer - Leah Sanborn Alice/Dreamer - Stella Merfeld Archibald Craven - Justin Carroll Dr. Neville Craven - Nicholas Hargrave Mrs. Medlock - Geralyn Kozel Frishman Martha - Rachel Phillips Dickon - Orrie Hagerty Ben Weatherstaff - Michael Souney Colin Craven - Samuel Smith Jane/Dreamer - Melody Harvison Mrs. Winthrop/Dreamer - Jenny Dowker Director/Choreographer - Lisa Bono Vocal Director - Rachel Hanauer Stage Manager - Derek Corriveau Performance dates: July 9 through July 26 🌷 Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm. 🌷 Sunday performances are at 2:00 pm. 🌷 Get your tickets at CSP.ludus.com
Our Upcoming Events
Carrie the Musical Auditions
Chestnut Street Playhouse
June 17th, June 19th, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
🩸🔥🩸OPEN CALL AUDITIONS FOR CARRIE THE MUSICAL🔥🩸🔥 🔥WHO: Director/Derek Corriveau, Choreographer/Piper Meyers, Vocal Director/Nicole Palonen Loser, Production Manager/Lisa Bono 🩸WHAT: CARRIE THE MUSICAL with Music by Michael Gore, Lyrics by Dean Pritchford and Book by Lawrence D. Cohen / Based on the Novel by Stephen King. Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she's bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home she is dominated by her loving but cruelly controlling mother, Margaret. What none of them know is that Carrie has just discovered she's got a special power, and if pushed too far......she's not afraid to use it. 🔥WHERE: Chestnut Street Playhouse 🩸WHEN: Wednesday June 17th 6-8pm, Friday June 19th 6-8pm *Possible call back ONLY IF NEEDED Sat June 20th 10a-12p 🔥WHY: We need a cast of 14 to 20 people ages 18+ for Carrie and classmates, Two Adult Females 30-50, One Adult Male 30-50. IF you are under the age of 18 and want to audition, prior approval is needed from the Director so that you and a parent/guardian is aware of the show content and challenges wherein. See below for email. 🩸WHAT TO PREPARE/BRING: Please bring a current headshot and performance resume (if you have one, but is not required,) along with any conflicts, vacations etc. between the dates of July 1st-Oct 31st, 2026 . Upon arrival, sign in and complete our CSP audition form. Auditioners will wait in the lobby until called to the stage on a first-come, first-served basis Be prepared to sing 32 bars of a musical theater song of your choice, that highlights your vocal range and in the style of the character you're auditioning for. Please plan to sing with a backing track. NOTE: We will NOT have an accompanist at the auditions. We will have a speaker provided. For those auditioning for the following roles please be prepared to also sing the following: Carrie - CARRIE, Margaret - AND EVE WAS WEAK, Chris - THE WORLD ACCORDING TO CHRIS You may be asked to read an excerpt from the script (provided) or sing a short selection from the score (provided.) If you cannot attend an in-person audition, please send a video of your vocal audition no later than Thursday June 18th to derek@chestnutstreetplayhouse.org. Please use this email for any questions. 🔥REHEARSALS: Rehearsals will probably begin sometime in July. Rehearsal days will depend on the availability of the cast and are generally held on 2-3 weekdays between 6:00pm-9:00pm. There will be weekend rehearsals, either on Saturday or Sunday depending on cast availability. We will try to work out that not all cast members will be needed at all rehearsals. NO REHEARSAL DAYS/EVES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN YET. A detailed schedule will be created once cast. When a show is running at CSP, we will not have Thursday rehearsals. A complete calendar will be created once the cast is assembled and all conflicts, vacations have been noted. TECH SUNDAY is planned for Oct 11th 12pm – 8pm and will be mandatory for all cast and crew members. TECH WEEK CONTINUES Oct 12,13,14 with 6pm arrival, 630 check-in/mic check and there till we finish. 🩸PERFORMANCES: (12 performances total, over 3 weekends) Shows run: Oct 15-Nov 1st, 2026, with shows Thurs, Fri, Sat at 7:30pm and Sun at 2:00pm 🔥LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: You can listen to the show on YouTube under Carrie the Musical. 🩸CHARACTER BREAKDOWN OVERALL NOTE- With the exception of the 3 adult actors, our cast consists of high school seniors living through the intense final weeks leading up to Prom and graduation. Notwithstanding that these kids are highly iconic figures in the adolescent landscape, they should also be very much individuals. THE SCRIPT CALLS FOR 10 STUDENTS, BUT MAY ADD MORE TO GIVE THE ENSEMBLE A ROUNDER FEEL. CARRIE WHITE: ANY RACE 18+(Mezzo-Soprano E5-A3) A painfully shy outsider who, in spite of her best efforts to belong, has been the victim of her classmates' cruel jokes since childhood, as well as her mother's strict, biblically-ordained control at home. She transforms from ugly duckling into graceful - then vengeful - swan. Vocally capable of lyrical sweetness to fierce power. MARGARET WHITE: ANY RACE 30-50 (Soprano E5-C4) A woman of visceral extremes, she balances her fervent religious convictions with equally sincere true-believer spirituality and tender, maternal love for Carrie. Like Carrie, with whom she shares several duets, her voice must range from expressive and melodic to ferocious and frightening. SUE SNELL: ANY RACE 18+ (Mezzo-Soprano E5-A3) A straight-A student who's been popular her whole life, she's level headed for her age. Her unthinking participation in a cruel act of bullying causes a crisis of conscience that leads her on a journey to right things. Vocally - pop ballad. TOMMY ROSS: ANY RACE 18+(Tenor C5-B2 ) Popular star athlete, valedictorian, and all round stand-out, he's the boy that all the girls want to be with, and all the boys want to be. Yet he also has an unexpected, quirky sensitivity and is just starting to mine his personal life and feelings- a budding poet. Vocally - effortless pop quality. CHRIS HARGENSEN: ANY RACE 18+ (Mezzo-Soprano E5-A3) Rich, spoiled-rotten and wickedly funny, Chris is a popular beauty whose arrogant self-assurance makes her believe that the rules don't apply to her. Loaded with sexual dynamite, she has serious daddy and anger-management issues. Vocally Pop Rock BILLY NOLAN: ANY RACE 18+ (Baritone C5-B2) Now in his sixth year of high school, Billy is a sexy, stupid-like-a-fox bad boy whose wise mouth troublemaking has led him to spend more time in detention than in class. All these qualities make it easy for his girlfriend Chris to manipulate him to do her bidding. Vocally- wailing rocker. MISS GARDNER: ANY RACE 30-50 (Alto B4-A3) Girls' PE teacher who can be a strict disciplinarian if necessary, but when Carrie rouses her maternal instinct, she surprises herself by revealing a protective "fairy-godmother" side. Vocally - belt rock warm and strong. MR. STEPHENS: ANY RACE 30-50 (Baritone E4-G2) This well intentioned English teacher and guidance counselor struggles to help his students realize their potential. A dedicated educator, he's stretched thin in his duties, woefully underpaid and a bit overwhelmed as to how to handle the Billy Nolan's of the classroom combat zone. Vocally - rock legit NORMA: ANY RACE 18+ (Mezzo-Soprano E5-A3) BItchy gossipy and a shameless suck-up to authority, Norma is second in command to Chris' queen bee. FREIDA: ANY RACE 18+ (Mezzo-Soprano E5-A3) Sue's brainy pal, she's an easy going, get along follower and a tireless extracurricular committee volunteer. HELEN: ANY RACE 18+ (Mezzo-Soprano E5-A3) Giggly and easily shocked, her immaturity and need to belong make her the perfect example of the herd mentality. GEORGE: ANY RACE 18+ (Tenor C5-B2) Tommy's jock wingman since childhood, George idolizes him. Perhaps a little too much........? STOKES: ANY RACE 18+ (Tenor C5-B2) A bit of a nerd, he's happy to be included as one of Tommy's posse. FREDDY: ANY RACE 18+ (Tenor C5-B2) Wise-cracking class clown and official yearbook photographer, he can't believe any girl would ever give him the time of day.
The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce '26 Duck Race
RESULTS
ATTENTION: OUR DUCK WON!
Thank you to the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce - Norwich, CT, President of our Board JoAnn LaChance Beguhl for sponsoring our duck, Kristin Allegrezza for costuming, and all of YOU for quacking on our behalf!
This was a great surprise for our Secret Garden team. Don’t miss this truly beautiful production!
Director/Choreographer: Lisa Bono
Vocal Director: Rachel Hanauer
Performance dates: July 9 through July 26
Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm. (Doors open at 7:00 pm.)
Sunday performances are at 2:00 pm. (Doors open at 1:30 pm.)
Mashantucket Pequot Museum Cultural Intelligence Workshop
Chestnut Street Playhouse
June 12th, 4:30 PM Reception | 5:00 PM Event
Chestnut Street Playhouse Hosts Mashantucket Pequot Museum Cultural Intelligence Workshop as Part of Norwich’s America 250 Celebration Community Event Focuses on Cultural Understanding, Indigenous History, and Inclusive Leadership NORWICH, CT — Chestnut Street Playhouse is proud to partner with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center to host a Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Workshop as part of the America 250 Norwich CT Celebration. The interactive workshop will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Chestnut Street Playhouse and welcomes artists, educators, nonprofit leaders, volunteers, cultural organizations, and community members to gather for an evening of meaningful conversation, learning, and connection centered on cultural understanding, Indigenous history, and inclusive leadership. “As President of the Board of Directors of Chestnut Street Playhouse, I am honored to welcome the Mashantucket Pequot Museum’s Cultural Intelligence Workshop to our stage as part of Norwich’s America 250 Celebration,” said JoAnn Beguhl. “At Chestnut Street Playhouse, our mission is to use the power of storytelling to deepen understanding, strengthen community, and create space for voices that shape our shared history.” “Hosting this workshop is a meaningful extension of that mission,” Beguhl continued. “It allows us to stand alongside one of the region’s most important cultural institutions in recognizing the Indigenous history that predates Norwich itself, while fostering dialogue that moves our community forward with respect, awareness, and connection.” Representatives from the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center emphasized the workshop’s focus on both education and relationship-building within the community. “Our MPMRC Cultural Intelligence (CQ) workshops help people to strengthen personal cultural competence and then build their own cultural intelligence upon that solid foundation,” shared representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center CQ Team. “We hope that sharing our traditional Pequot knowledge along with modern CQ science will inspire future learning about many cultures.” “Since the 1980s, the people of Norwich have been very strong supporters of our Mashantucket Pequot Tribal community,” the CQ Team added. “Bringing our MPMRC workshop to such a historic building in Norwich is just another reflection of our long-term and special community-to-community relationship.” The Mashantucket Pequot Museum’s Cultural Intelligence Workshop explores four key learning areas: Culture-Focused Knowledge Trauma-Based Knowledge Historic Knowledge Emotional Intelligence Participants will gain practical strategies for navigating culturally diverse environments while strengthening communication, empathy, collaboration, and inclusive leadership practices. The workshop also offers an opportunity to deepen understanding of Native American culture, Tribal communities, and the historical context that continues to shape southeastern Connecticut today. “This workshop is about creating space for people to listen, learn, and better understand one another,” Beguhl added. “We hope attendees leave not only with new knowledge, but with a stronger sense of connection to our community and to the stories that have shaped this region for generations.” On behalf of the America’s 250th Norwich CT Committee, Kari Wall shared the importance of including the workshop in the citywide commemoration. “This program reflects the heart of our commemoration: honoring the full and complex history of our community while creating opportunities for learning, dialogue, and connection,” Wall said. “Indigenous history is essential to understanding Norwich's story, and we are grateful to help support a program that encourages respect, awareness, and a deeper appreciation of the people and cultures that shaped this region long before the founding of the United States.” “We are honored to include this workshop as part of the America’s 250th Norwich CT celebrations and thankful to our partners for creating a space where history, culture, and community can come together in such a meaningful way.” The event is especially valuable for: Community theater organizations Actors, directors, and educators Nonprofit leaders and volunteers Cultural organizations and event planners Community advocates and civic leaders For Chestnut Street Playhouse, the workshop reflects an ongoing commitment to inclusive storytelling, arts education, community engagement, and building stronger cultural connections throughout southeastern Connecticut. “As a community theater, we want to be a ‘theater for the community’ — and that means embracing the often storied history of all of our community members,” said Lisa Bono, the Managing Artistic Director of Chestnut Street Playhouse. “Theater is the ideal place to learn about a lived experience in real time, with an open heart and mind, and with compassion for our storytellers. It is immediate and relevant. It’s important for any community, and it’s what we want to nurture in ours.” Event Details Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Workshop Presented by the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center Location: Chestnut Street Playhouse Date: Friday, June 12, 2026 Reception: 4:30 PM Workshop Begins: 5:00 PM The event is Pay What You Can with general seating available. To reserve a spot, visit: CSP.ludus.com
One Day Play 2026 Theatre Festival
Chestnut Street Playhouse
June 27th, 7:00 PM
