Support Ivoryton Playhouse with an annual donation! Lots of great benefits for becoming a member – check out all the information here!
Recognition in our Playbill is one of the ways we thank our Members. Because our Season Playbill is printed in advance, 2027 Season Membership gifts received August 1, 2026 through March 1, 2027 will be included in the 2027 Season Playbill.
If writing a check is easier for you, please download this form and send in with your payment. Thank you for supporting Ivoryton Playhouse!
Just hours after the terror attacks of 9/11, 38 planes, unable to fly in American air space, landed in Gander, Newfoundland – a tiny island on the eastern coast of Canada. The people of Gander opened their homes and their hearts to the “plane people” – 6,700 scared souls who needed shelter, food and comfort. This story of kindness and human connection is extraordinary. Come From Away is extraordinary, too. Discover this heartwarming story that you’ll never forget at Ivoryton Playhouse in August.
Humor and Heart Are Up Next at Ivoryton Playhouse: Presenting the Acclaimed Musical Come From Away
The Remarkable True Story Begins Performances August 6 and Runs Through September 6
Ivoryton Playhouse continues its 2026 season with the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away. The production runs through Sunday, September 6 at Ivoryton Playhouse, located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton, Connecticut.
With book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of the nearly 7,000 airline passengers diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, and the surrounding communities following the September 11, 2001, attacks. As the world changed in an instant, local residents opened their homes, schools, and hearts to thousands of strangers, offering food, shelter, compassion, and an extraordinary welcome.
Told with infectious music, generous humor, and tremendous heart, Come From Away introduces audiences to an unforgettable collection of travelers and Newfoundlanders whose lives intersected during five astonishing days. The musical is both a moving reflection on a defining moment in recent history and a joyful celebration of the human capacity for kindness.
“Come From Away looks back at a moment that forever changed America and the world, but it chooses to focus on what people did for one another in the immediate wake of tragedy,” said Ben Hope, Executive Producer at Ivoryton Playhouse. “It reminds us that even when circumstances feel overwhelming, ordinary people can answer fear with generosity and generate hope and healing through simple acts of care.”
As Ivoryton Playhouse’s 2026 season explores the broad spectrum of American stories and experiences, Come From Away offers a particularly resonant perspective on the post-9/11 world. Uplifting, perceptive, and deeply moving, the musical finds the best of humanity in one of history’s darkest moments and transforms it into an exhilarating theatrical experience.
The ensemble features Mimi Bessette*, Patrick Steven Bovo*, Billy Clark Taylor*, Dana Costello*, Dee Dee Darby Duffin*, Joe Delgar*, Stacia Fernandez*, Miles Hanna, Logan Marks*, Jason Ivan Rodriguez*, Autumn Eliza Sheffy, and Vicki Wepler.
The understudy company includes John Baker*, Samantha Bass, Victoria Bundonis*, Bridget Carrow*, Ben Clouse, Martinez Napoleon*, Elio Perez, and Rebecca Tobin.
The production is directed by Todd L. Underwood, with Music Direction by Angelyn Benson. The creative team includes Scenic Designer Starlet Jacobs; Lighting and Projections Designer Jessica Drayton; Assistant Lighting Designer Dean Coburn; Sound Designer Rhian Franchebois; Props Designer Kat Schorn; Costume Designer Sean Spina; Stage Manager Rahxas Colite; Assistant Stage Manager Alison Savino; and Audio Engineer Brian Salvia.
CALENDAR LISTING:
Come From Away Where: Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT 06442 When: Previews begin August 6; opens August 7; runs through September 6 What: The acclaimed musical based on the remarkable true story of nearly 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Newfoundland after September 11, 2001, and the communities that welcomed them. Filled with exhilarating music, humor, and heart, Come From Away is a powerful celebration of compassion, connection, and the best of humanity. Tickets: ivorytonplayhouse.org | 860-767-7318
About Ivoryton Playhouse: Ivoryton Playhouse is a renowned small professional theater on the Shoreline. It is known for its exceptional productions and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for audiences of all ages.
*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Steele
For more information, interviews, and press inquiries, please contact: Ben Hope, Executive Producer – ben@ivorytonplayhouse.org
August is Membership Month! Visit our membership tent outside the theatre during the run of Come From Away or follow this link for more information on how you can support the Playhouse!
More about the real life story that inspired Come From Away…
Ticket prices for Come From Away are $65 adult and $60 senior (plus fees). Please do not buy tickets from third party sites such as gotickets.com, ticketsales.com or buytickets.com. These third party sellers are changing double the price of tickets sold by Ivoryton Playhouse and we cannot refund tickets purchased from these sites.
Tickets can be purchased online by following this link, at the box office located at 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, or by calling 860.767.7318.
Choose your color – red or blue! Choose your style – vneck or crew! Available now at the concession stand at Ivoryton Playhouse. Reduced priced just $10 while supplies last. What a bargain!! There’s still alot of summer left to show your support for Ivoryton Playhouse.
Ivoryton Playhouse Presents 1776, Starring Mark Aldrich The Tony Award-winning Musical is on stage now until July 26
Ivoryton Playhouse continues its summer season with the Tony Award-winning musical 1776, starring Broadway’s Mark Aldrich* (My Fair Lady, Disney’s Newsies: The Musical, Ragtime). The production runs through Sunday, July 26 at Ivoryton Playhouse, located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton, Connecticut.
With music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, 1776 brings one of the most consequential moments in American history to the stage with humor, urgency, and heart. Set in the sweltering summer of 1776, the musical follows John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and the members of the Continental Congress as they struggle to agree on the bold and dangerous act of declaring independence from Great Britain.
Far from a dusty history lesson, 1776 is a lively, human, and often surprisingly funny look at the complicated people behind the founding of the United States. The musical captures the heated debates, clashing personalities, political bargaining, and moral contradictions that shaped the birth of a nation.
“1776 reminds us that American democracy was never simple, quiet, or inevitable,” said Ben Hope, Executive Producer at Ivoryton Playhouse. “It was argued into existence by imperfect people facing enormous pressure, and that makes the story feel not only historic, but incredibly alive.”
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, 1776 has remained a favorite of audiences for generations, thanks to its rich characters, stirring score, sharp wit, and timely questions about leadership, compromise, courage, and the cost of freedom.
Director Kenn McLaughlin says, “The greatest gift 1776 gives us is to make these men deeply human [alongside] powerful debates on race, the threat of civil rebellion, the leverage of popular media, a megalomaniacal leader, economic uncertainty, unpopular war, and fear of change; this is the story of 1776”.
Ivoryton Playhouse’s production offers a grand-scale event seldom seen in its intimate, historic venue. Featuring 26 professional actors, 8 orchestra members, and 8 design team members, the founding fathers will be vividly brought to life in a production designed to enchant and entertain.
Performances through July 26. Tickets are available through the Ivoryton Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or online at ivorytonplayhouse.org.
About Ivoryton Playhouse: Ivoryton Playhouse is a renowned small professional theater on the Shoreline. It is known for its exceptional productions and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for audiences of all ages.
*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Steele
For more information, interviews, and press inquiries, please contact: Ben Hope, Executive Producer – ben@ivorytonplayhouse.org
We have some great deals for our members at the Chorus Line level and above during the run of 1776. Check these out – show your membership card to take advantage of these dynamite discounts!!
The votes are in, and Ivoryton Playhouse is the place to be this summer! Tickets for “1776” are on sale now. Call 860.767.7318 or visit ivorytonplayhouse.org
Our thanks to Option A for producing great videos for us. Don’t miss Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill on stage until May 31st. Seven performances this week:
Wednesday, May 20th at 2pm Thursday, May 21st at 2pm and 7:30pm Friday, May 22nd at 7:30pm Saturday, May 23rd at 2pm and 7:30pm Sunday, May 24the at 2pm
Ivoryton Playhouse continues its 2026 season with Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, the powerful and intimate portrait of jazz legend Billie Holiday. The production runs through May 31.
Set in a small Philadelphia nightclub in 1959, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill captures one of Billie Holiday’s final performances. Through unforgettable songs and raw, unfiltered storytelling, Holiday reflects on her life, her loves, and the struggles that shaped her artistry. Featuring many of her most iconic songs, including “God Bless the Child” and “Strange Fruit,” the play offers an evening that is as musically rich as it is emotionally compelling.
Starring Broadway-alum Christina Acosta Robinson* (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) as Billie Holiday, the production brings to life the vulnerability, wit, and brilliance of one of America’s most influential voices. She is joined by actor-musician Manny Houston* as Jimmie Powers, Holiday’s accompanist and confidant, who also serves as Music Director for this production. The live band features Houston and includes Jocelyn Pleasant on drums and Eneji Alungbe on upright bass, creating an authentic, intimate jazz club atmosphere inside the Playhouse.
Todd L. Underwood serves as the Director, with Scenic and Lighting Designer Marcus Abbott,, Props Designer Kat Schorn, Costume Designer Sean Spina, Sound Designer Rhian Franchebois, Audio Engineer Brian Salvia, Stage Manager Jim Clark*, and Assistant Stage Manager Holly Price. The creative team is joined by Tinika Sadiku as the Wig Associate, and Nikiya Mathis as Wig Designer, who made Broadway history in 2024 as the first hair and wig designer to receive a Special Tony Award for her work on Best Play Nominee Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.
Find tickets and more information at: Ivorytonplayhouse.org
This production contains mature themes and language consistent with the life and experiences of Billie Holiday.
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Where: Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton CT, 06442 When: Runs through May 31 What: Broadway’s Christina Acosta Robinson* stars as Billie Holiday in this intimate, music-filled portrait set during one of her final performances. Featuring live jazz and iconic songs, the production explores the life, legacy, and voice of one of America’s greatest artists. Tickets: ivorytonplayhouse.org | 860-767-7318 Note: There is no intermission during this show. Contains mature themes and language.
About Ivoryton Playhouse: Ivoryton Playhouse is a renowned small professional theater on the Shoreline. It is known for its exceptional productions and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for audiences of all ages.
*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Steele
For more information, interviews, and press inquiries, please contact: Ben Hope, Executive Producer – ben@ivorytonplayhouse.org
Now on Stage: Come From Away This show celebrates the power of human connection, reminds us that kindness can bring people together in the most difficult of times, and affirms that hope can arise in the unlikeliest of places. On stage until September 6th.
Please purchase tickets directly from Ivoryton Playhouse via this website or by calling the box office 860.767.7318. Do not purchase tickets from third party sellers who charge significantly higher prices. Ticket prices Come From Away are $65 adult and $60 senior.
August is Membership Month! Please support Ivoryton Playhouse with an annual donation! Information available here: 2027 Membership