GUILFORD — Guilford Center Stage returns, after a three-year absence, with spring and fall productions of plays in its home at Broad Brook Community Center. Covid concerns cancelled the 2020 season, after which the former grange hall was closed for major renovation, now completed. The theater group will remain on Covid awareness as this season progresses.
In a departure from its usual mission of presenting little-known plays, Guilford Center Stage will move in the opposite direction for its return production, with performances of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town the first weekend in May. The group decided this popular, ground-breaking play about typical life in a small New England town would be in keeping with this occasion.
The play will be directed by Ian Hefele, a veteran of several Guilford productions. Auditions will be announced shortly. Our Town is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Stage and Stream, a summer theater camp program, free for Guilford kids, was originated by Guilford Center Stage. It is now part of the nearby Guilford Free Library lineup of camp programs, and will again use the stage at the community center.
Rounding out the 2023 season, Guilford Center Stage will present a new, seasonally appropriate program of short plays by Guilford playwright, Michael Nethercott, in late October.
The group has previously premiered several one-act and full-length plays by Nethercott. A new play, which was canceled by Covid three years ago, is still on hold for a future season, but this autumn production will continue a tradition of spooky fare in the old grange hall.
Broad Brook Community Center is at 3940 Guilford Center Rd. The building is now fully ADA-accessible, with an elevator to the theater space. More information can be found at facebook.com/GuilfordCenterStage, and at broadbrookcommunitycenter.org, or call 802-257-7024.