Dramatic Arts seeks to bring back campus summer theater series

UConn’s Nutmeg Summer Playhouse, founded in 1949, played to sellout crowds from Storrs and neighboring towns for many years.

In 2003, it had to close because of budget reductions.

But now there is growing interest in bringing summer theater back to Storrs, as the University expands its academic offerings during the summer, hosts an increasing number of conferences, and the Storrs commercial district comes closer to reality.

Cultural offerings are expected to help support a local retail sector during the summer months, and also provide enriching experiences for UConn dramatic arts students and the community.

“Summer theater was a beloved institution in Storrs for decades,” says David Woods, dean of the School of Fine Arts.

“One of our priorities is to launch a comeback of the summer festival known as the Nutmeg Summer Series, to meet the community’s demand for theatrical enrichment and acting students’ need for performance opportunities during the summer.”

The Summer Series will enhance the efforts and mission of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), the primary training ground and performance outlet for the Department of Dramatic Arts.

It is hoped the Summer Series will provide high-quality theater offerings, in repertory, using the combined talents of professional actors and advanced UConn drama students.

Emeritus professor Nafe Katter, who was involved with the summer theater program for most of its 40-plus year run, sees summer repertory at UConn as a valuable tool in training students for a career in theater.

“Students profit enormously from working with professional actors,” says Katter.

“Not only do they establish contacts in the professional world, but their individual techniques are lifted to the standards of working actors.”