Here's what's coming up at Cheney Hall. Mark the events on your calendar now and get tickets so you won't miss these great events. Special offers to various local restaurants will be offered to our theater-goers – watch for details!
 Blithe Spirit
by Noel Coward
May 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 (A perfect Mother’s Day gift)
Directed by Joseph Keach Longo
This sophisticated and cleverly funny Noel Coward play is considered one of his best and most unusual farces. When novelist Charles Condomine invites a medium into his house in order to learn about the occult for his new book, the last thing he, or his second wife, dreams is that the séance will bring back his first wife, Elvira, who wants Charles all to herself! Things are further complicated by the fact that only Charles can see her, which results in some hilarious exchanges and misunderstandings.
 Folk on Fridays
June 6, July 11, August 1, and September 5
See complete flyer (PDF).
Little Theatre of Manchester and Cheney Hall will produce a series of open-mic folk nights, called “Folk’on Fridays” during the summer months as a prelude to the 2008-2009 folk concerts. Four Friday evenings will find singers and guitarists of all levels of experience and expertise sharing their music with folk music lovers, on the outdoor patio in front of Cheney Hall, weather permitting.
June 6, July 11, August 1, and September 5 are the scheduled dates with a 6:30 p.m. sign in time and performances beginning at 7 p.m.
Kicking off the summer series on June 6th will be former Connecticut State Troubadour, Hugh Blumenfeld, one of the Northeast’s best known folk singers who has graced the Cheney Hall stage many times. The first concert is also sponsored by local business, Ecopedia Consulting, LLC. of South Windsor.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, as patio benches are limited. The event is free, but a free-will offering will be taken. In the event of rain, the events will be held inside Cheney Hall.
Information on this and all concerts and events can be obtained by calling the box office at 860-647-9824.
 Sing, Virgie, Sing
by Anne Pie
August 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 (A local theme with shocking results!)
Directed by Sara Logan
Come enjoy the Connecticut premiere of our favorite local playwright’s original romantic comedy. You’ll laugh and then you’ll laugh harder as we follow the Bellacastelvetti family’s consternation and bafflement after their son, Virgilio has been electrocuted, thus confining him to a life of song! The long-suffering mother, her Americanized daughter Ella, and the superstitious father Frank, are all part of this wonderful Italian family. The play is set in 1945 and the family is directly impacted by World War II. Everyone associated with the colorful Bellcastelvetti family faces endings and new beginnings.
 Will Kimbrough with Amy Loftus
Saturday, September 20, 8 p.m. Two for the prices of one! Nashville Scene recently wrote, Amy Loftus "is that rare find who sounds fully developed on first blush, offering tender songs that barely hide her anger and angry songs that cut with tender empathy." Amy’s gift for melody really gets under your skin. Following that opening, Will Kimbrough will enlighten, enthrall and activate your soul with his folk tunes. His guitar playing has also made him a sought-after sideman, playing for Jimmy Buffett, Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider, and many, many others both in the studio and onstage. Will’s solo singing and prowess on the six-string has led to a fan-produced T-shirt that says “Will Kimbrough is an alien.” It seems to be the only way to explain his mastery. Tickets: $25/VIP, $20/gen.
 Vance Gilbert
Friday, October 10, 8 p.m. Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 90's when the buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-multicultural arts teacher and jazz singer who was knocking 'em dead at open mikes. The word spread of this Philadelphia-area born and raised performer to New York "With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god, it was enough to earn him that rarity: an encore for an opener" wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Tickets: $25/VIP, $20/gen.
 Camelot
by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederic Loewe
October 31, November 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16 (No tricks, just a memorable treat!)
Directed by Michael Forgetta
The beloved musical Camelot explores the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, focusing on Arthur's later years and the love triangle between King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, and Sir Lancelot. Lerner and Loewe's beautiful musical score includes "If Ever I Would Leave You," "How to Handle a Woman." the title tune, “Camelot!” and many more memorable hits. You’ll be humming them for weeks!
 Janis Ian
Friday, November 21, 8 p.m.
Ask any student of great songwriters about their favorites, and Janis Ian will be counted among them. The writer of Jesse, a song recorded by so many others that few remember Ian wrote it; Stars, possibly the best song ever written about the life of a performer, recorded by artists as diverse as Mel Torme and Cher; and the seminal At Seventeen, a song that brought her five Grammy nominations (the most any solo female artist had ever garnered) in 1975, which is now reaching its third generation of listeners. Ian is a formidable talent, a force of nature. Ella Fitzgerald called her “The best young singer in America”. Chet Atkins said “Singer? You ought to hear that girl play guitar; she gives me a run for my money!” Don’t miss this event.
Tickets are $30/VIP and $25/gen.
 The Chestnut Brass Company
Sunday, December 7th, 3 p.m.– The Chestnut Brass Company brings a classic holiday celebration in brass to Cheney Hall. 2001 Grammy winner for their recording, “Hornsmoke, the music of Peter Schickel”, this exuberant and energetic group hails from Philadelphia and is the only ensemble in the world that tours with a museum quality collection of modern and historical brass instruments. Tickets are $25/VIP and $20/gen.
 Hot Peas 'N Butter
Saturday, December 20th, 1 and 3 p.m. – Get to the table for Hot Peas ‘N Butter – a wildly entertaining and exciting children’s show, just in time for the holidays! Seen on Nick Jr., and founded on the premise that you can reach kids through music without lowering musical standards, they have a sizzling percussive beat topped with bilingual lyrics – opening the doors of great fun for kids big and small! Two shows – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Tickets are $10 each.
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