Arts News

Journey under the sea with us as The Barn proudly presents Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.! This enchanting 60-minute musical adaptation brings the beloved classic to life on our stage, capturing all the magic, heart, and vibrant energy of the original Disney film. It is the perfect theatrical treat for audiences of all ages. The Story In a magical kingdom beneath the waves, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home—and her fins—behind to live in the wor

Join The Barn for its Fall Production of The Little Mermaid. Actors from 1st to 5th grade will be performing in this classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy-tale play with TWO casts and FOUR shows! Come see them shine! Dive under the sea for a magical adventure filled with colorful characters, laughter, and a little bit of trouble! The Little Mermaid is a curious young mer-girl who dreams of exploring the world above the waves. When she falls in love with a handsome prince, sh

Submission Deadline November 8, 2026 Exhibit Dates: December 4 – 13, 2026 Great art doesn’t have to be grand in scale! Some of the most powerful art you will ever encounter fits in your hands. A miniature portrait that holds an entire personality. A small landscape that opens into a world. A still life no bigger than a paperback that stops you cold. Scale is not ambition — and Small Wonders is here to prove it. Working small demands a particular kind of discipline. Every m

New Haven, Conn. (Nov. 2, 2026) – A pioneering aviation squadron formed by Yale University students in 1916, the First Yale Unit, was known as The Millionaires’ Unit. The aviators came from the zenith of privilege but were driven by the belief that their membership in the American elite required personal sacrifice. Historian Marc Wortman will share this rarely heard history and its relevance today during “The Millionaires’ Unit: Yale and New Haven’s Aviation Pioneers” at the

After the January cancellation of our first Essex Winter Series 2026 season concert, the rescheduled event is due to conclude the season on November 8, 2026. Crafting a performance that weaves together the celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Artistic Director and flutist Tara Helen O’Connor gathers friends for a program called Timeless Bonds & Renewed Horizons. Joining Tara for the inaugural Mihae Lee Legacy Concert are Ani Kavafian, violin; Peter

Shimmering Passage Connecticut fine artist Joyce Therieault will present her vibrant, nature-inspired Costa Rica collection in a special two-artist exhibition at The Local Gallery, located at 114 Bank Street in New London, Connecticut. The exhibition, shared with artist Sarah Bishop, opens Friday, October 30. Inspired by Costa Rica's extraordinary biodiversity and its Pura Vida philosophy, Therieault's collection transports viewers into an imaginative world where tropical wil

The New Haven Museum will usher in the Christmas season with the return of two wildly popular programs focusing on Dickens—the author’s riotous historic visit to New Haven and a reading of his renowned work, “A Christmas Carol,” on Saturday, December 5, 2026. Entry for both events is free with regular museum admission. Photo courtesy of High Wattage Media The festivities will begin with a special “What’s in the Whitney Library?” program, “New Haven Holiday." Librarian Emma

New Haven, Conn. (October 21, 2026) – The celebrated a cappella group known as the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers will don their Victorian garb and bring their special holiday cheer to the elegant rotunda of the New Haven Museum on Saturday, Dec 12, 2026, at 2 p.m. The program is included in museum admission. This festive quartet will fill the museum with holiday favorites for visitors of all ages. The Connecticut Yuletide Carolers have been featured in several Hallmark Channe

GUILFORD, CT - Get a head start on holiday shopping at Guilford Art Center’s annual Holiday Expo, opening November 13, 2026 and running through January 10, 2027. This popular indoor holiday market transforms the Art Center’s gallery into a festive shopping destination filled with unique, handmade gifts created by more than 175 local and regional artists and makers. Shoppers are invited to celebrate the opening at a special reception on Friday, November 13, from 5-7 p.m., fe

The Wallingford Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to an exciting afternoon of unforgettable music from Broadway, Hollywood, and the world of jazzon Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM, at Ann & George Colony Hall on the campus of Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut. The concert, “Broadway, Hollywood & All That Jazz!”, launches the orchestra's 2026–2027 season with a colorful musical journey celebrating beloved songs and orchestral favorites from stage and scr

Complimentary tickets available for the Friday, October 23, 7:30 pm performance of A Piece of My Heart Ivoryton Playhouse announced today that the Gary Sinise Foundation will sponsor 50 tickets for veterans and military personnel to attend Ivoryton Playhouse’s production of A Piece of My Heart on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Steele Veterans and current service members can reserve complimentary tickets by calling the Playhouse box office

Shoreline Theater Academy Kidz Konnection is bringing back its popular Haunted Spirits of Clinton Lantern Tours, inviting visitors and locals alike to experience the darker side of Clinton’s history through an evening of stories, legends, and ghostly tales. The lantern tours take guests on a journey along Clinton’s historic downtown Main Street and into the Indian River Cemetery, where many famous, enigmatic, early American figures are now buried, sharing stories of the peopl

New Haven, Conn. (October 14, 2026)— The Zuppardi sisters, Cheryl and Lori, are the heart and soul of one of Connecticut’s most treasured pizza institutions, Zuppardi’s of West Haven. The celebrated siblings will join Colin Caplan—author and co-curator of the “Pronounced Ah-Beetz” exhibition at the New Haven Museum (NHM)—for a behind-the-scenes conversation on family history, business, their accomplishments, during “A Slice of Zuppardi’s: Family, History & Apizza,” on Thursda

The New Haven Museum will host their second annual Mid-Autumn Festival/Diwali Mash-Up—highlighting two joyous celebrations brought to the Elm City from across Asia—on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. Offered in partnership with the Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut, the event is included with museum admission. Register here. Sweet treats and music will be available to enjoy throughout the afternoon. At 1 p.m., in celebration of the traditional Mid-A

Connecticut author and two-time honoree of the Tassy Walden Awards, J. D. Davis, has a new character series hitting shelves this October. Meet Baby Truck—an adorable new board book character who is learning how to be a Big Boy Truck! Baby Truck Bedtime is Davis’s debut release and the first title in a pitch-perfect, character-led board book series about a little yellow pickup truck whose days are filled with exhilarating activities that are familiar to babies and toddlers. Da

Essex Winter Series is pleased to announce the receipt of funding in support of our 2027 Golden Jubilee Season from The Essex Foundation (theessexfoundation.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference in the Essex communities. With this generous grant from The Foundation to assist with our Library Free Tickets Program, the funds will enable greater community access to the arts and allow our organization’s partnership to continue with Essex Library (youress

Now playing through October 25, the production brings the often-untold experiences of American women in the Vietnam War into the spotlight. Some stories stay with you long after the curtain falls. Now playing at Ivoryton Playhouse, A Piece of My Heart is moving audiences with its powerful portrayal of six women whose lives were forever changed by the Vietnam War. Drawn from firsthand accounts, the play follows American women who served in military and civilian roles through

Powerful play gives voice to an often-overlooked chapter of the Vietnam War; Veteran discounts available at every performance Ivoryton Playhouse continues its 2026 season with Shirley Lauro’s moving play A Piece of My Heart, previewing October 1, opening October 2, and running through October 25. Told through the experiences of six women who travel to Vietnam as nurses, military personnel, volunteers, and entertainers, A Piece of My Heart explores the courage, camaraderie

Guilford Porchfest is Saturday, October 3, and with 65 Guilford performers (including Max Creek) 70+ performances and 50+ porches throughout downtown, it can't happen without volunteers. Volunteers are needed to set up before the events start at 11, help at the info table, roam downtown answering questions and checking in, help hosts and performers when needed, keep folks off the sidewalks and out of the streets, and hand out maps and favors, while getting to spend the day in

The second annual signature event is scheduled for September 19th. Ivoryton, CT — Ivoryton Playhouse will raise a glass to the people who make the magic possible at its annual Summer Season AfterParty, taking place Saturday, September 19 at 5:00 p.m. at the historic Ivoryton Playhouse. The highly anticipated signature event celebrates the extraordinary community of donors, volunteers, artists, and supporters whose generosity and dedication keep professional theatre thriving