Theater Shows in CT: Winter 2026
January can feel like a drag. If we begin to compare the months of the year to the days of the week, January would no doubt feel like a Monday. The start of a new year can feel confusing, as it constantly juxtaposes itself in mood and energy. Think about it:
We’re eager to start our New Year’s resolutions but we’re not excited to leave the house in the dead of winter
We’re motivated at the thought of a fresh new start, but we’re discouraged at the thought of returning to the same work routine
We’re happy at the prospect of a new beginning, but we’re sad about the holidays that just ended
Simply put, January (like any Monday of the week) can pose a confusing thought: we want to begin but we’re too lazy to start.
Combat the ‘Post-Holiday Blues’
Post-holiday and winter blues can often times accompany the start of any new year. Let’s face it: we’re fresh off the holidays and now it’s cold and dry and the only thing we might find ourself excited to do after a jam-packed couple of weeks, is to simply cuddle up under our favorite blanket, binge watch our favorite TV shows and shut the world out completely. Mustering up the energy to make plans in 30-degree weather can also feel like an overwhelming task. At the end of the day, most of us are probably just looking to hibernate and… read our favorite Emily Henry book.
However, if we set our minds to it, we can begin to combat those funky post-holiday blues by embracing a new outlook and welcoming in activities that offer a distraction and suggest a break from this mundane and sluggish routine.
The Power of Live Theater
Live theater offers a distraction: a way to escape your own life and be transported into someone else’s (even if it’s only for a couple of hours). It’s also an indoor event (yay!) So, if you’re looking to escape those rough winter winds and do something different, then I suggest you purchase a ticket (or two) and check out some local theater - luckily, there are many to choose from! Let’s take a look at some performances, coming to Connecticut this Winter.
Regional Theater
Hartford Stage is kicking off the winter season strong, with The Cottage, a 1920’s comedic farce, written by Sandy Rustin and directed by Zoë Golub-Sass. This fast-paced play follows a collection of eccentric characters, as they navigate a wonky love triangle in the outskirts of London. If you’re looking to shake off those winter blues, then go buy yourself a ticket and grab some laughs at Hartford Stage, anytime between January 16 – February 8.
Following The Cottage, is a four-week run of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Directed by Hartford Stage’s Artistic Director (Melia Bensussen), the production will star Peter Jacobson (Fox’s House, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Law and Order) and run from February 27 to March 29, 2026. You can purchase tickets for any Hartford Stage production at https://www.hartfordstage.org/
Some other regional theater productions include a three-week run of Rhinoceros (March 6 – 28) at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, CT.
Long Wharf Theatre, in partnership with TheaterWorks and Southern Connecticut State University is producing English, an intimate comedy written by Sanaz Toosi, that follows a small ensemble of students in an Iranian classroom, as they prepare for their English proficiency exam. This unique play explores themes like cultural belonging and identity. Performances will take place January 16 – February 1 at SCSU’s Kendall Drama Lab (501 Crescents St, New Haven, CT). A run of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean will continue Long Wharf’s season, taking place February 27 – March 15 at Long Wharf Theatre’s Canal Dock Boathouse.
Local, Community and Non-Profit Theaters & Companies
In addition to regional producing houses, Connecticut offers a plethora of local, community and non-profit theaters. These companies also curate dynamic seasons, presenting an array of cutting-edge theater including plays, original works, concerts and classic musicals. Many of these theaters offer intimate spaces, allowing audience members to feel comfortable and connected. While there are many to choose from, here is a short list featuring some of these theaters and their upcoming shows:
Brookfield Theatre – Assassins (February 13 – March 7), Brookfield, CT
Goshen Players – The 39 Steps (February 28 – March 15), Goshen, CT
Goshen Players – Roses in December (March 20 – 22), Goshen, CT
TheaterWorks – The Counter (February 12 – March 15), Hartford, CT
Cabaret on Main Theater – Steel Magnolias (March 6 – 22), East Haven, CT
Curtain Call – The Lion in Winter (January 9 – 25), Stamford, CT
Curtain Call - Urinetown (February 6 – 21), Stamford, CT
Curtain Call – A View from the Bridge (March 6 – 22), Stamford, CT
Town Players of New Canaan – One Man, Two Guvnors (February 27 – March 15), New Canaan, CT
Collective Consciousness Theatre – Trouble in Mind (March 12-29), New Haven, CT
Playhouse on Park – GUTENBERG! The Musical! (January 21 – February 8), West Hartford, CT
Playhouse on Park – The Mountain Top (March 4 – 22), West Hartford, CT
Center Stage Theatre – Guys and Dolls (February 15 - March 2), Shelton, CT
Local Venues & Touring Productions
Connecticut offers a wide range of performance venues. These theaters don’t tend to be producing houses (venues that produce shows themselves). Instead, they are theaters that serve as hosts for touring productions or events that come through (and need a physical space to perform in). Here are some popular shows coming this Winter:
The Bushnell – Shucked (February 24 – March 1), Hartford, CT
The Bushnell - Kinky Boots (March 17 – 22), Hartford, CT
The Shubert – Mrs. Doubtfire (March 5-8), New Haven, CT
The Shubert – The Sound of Music (March 26-29), New Haven, CT
The Webster Theater, located in Hartford, CT is currently doing a run of The Jury Experience, an interactive courtroom drama, featuring the participation of its audience. That’s right: as audience members, you’ll get the opportunity to participate, answering questions on your phone via QR codes and contributing to the final verdict at the end! The Jury Experience is a traveling show, and while the cast varies from city to city, the script and its general concept always stays the same. A fun fact: I’m a part of the Hartford, CT cast! That’s right, I play Defense Attorney, Catherine Smith alongside a wonderful and talented group of actors and creatives. The show runs about an hour with no intermission. Tickets start at $39.50 with a selection of performances in the coming months, including the following dates: March 13, April 11 and June 13. For tickets, you can visit: https://feverup.com/m/467800
Educational Theater
Connecticut has so many educational theater programs and opportunities, for actors of all different ages. While there are far too many to list, I wanted to showcase the four State Universities, who happen to have terrific and well-rounded Undergraduate theater programs. Here are some of their upcoming shows this winter semester:
Western Connecticut State University – Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown (February 20 – March 1) at the Visual and Performing Arts Center, Danbury, CT
Central Connecticut State University – Webster’s Bitch at the CSCU Black Box Theatre (March 5 – 8), New Britain, CT
Eastern Connecticut State University – Three Sisters at the Fine Arts Instructional Center’s Delmonte Bernstein Studio Theater (March 3 – 8), Willimantic, CT
Southern Connecticut State University – TBD, New Haven, CT
I hope you find a show that excites you enough to get out of the house, even if it’s just for a little bit! Winter can feel a little grey sometimes, but the activities we choose to do can impact us for the better, and color our days a little more brightly.
Please note that the theaters and shows included in this post is a curated list featuring select venues, theaters and productions in the state of Connecticut.
For a more detailed list of all upcoming CT performances please check out: BroadwayWorld.com
