About
The Whitney Players Theater Company is a group of artists dedicated to bringing affordable, quality entertainment to the Hamden community while educating young actors through music, dance and drama.
The program is designed to integrate area professional actors with the youth from our community. Our goal is to provide professional acting, dance and musical instruction while forming a company and producing a full length entertaining musical. The goal for the young people is to learn from this experience and grow as performers.
With the price of theater tickets escalating our mission is to provide senior citizens and families with young children affordable entertainment within their own community. The Whitney Players is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization co-sponsored by the Hamden Arts Commission. If you would like to contribute to our organization you can mail a check to The Whitney Players, P.O. Box 185644, Hamden CT, 06518 or visit us on givegreater.org. All donations go directly into production costs.
Show history
2023 Trial of the Wicked Witch (winter), Seussical, Jr. (summer youth), Damn Yankees (summer)
2022 - Help! I'm Trapped in a Musical (winter), Into The Woods, Jr. (summer youth), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (summer)
2021 - The Addams Family (summer), High School Musical (summer youth), The Big One-Oh! (winter virtual)
2020 - The Wiz, Jr. (winter-rehearsed but not presented)
2019 - The Outsiders (winter), Hairspray, Jr. (summer youth), Matilda (summer)
2018 - Thirteen (winter), Little Mermaid, Jr. (summer youth), The Wizard of Oz (summer)
2017 - Disney's Cinderella Kids & Prince Street Players' Cinderella (winter), Shrek, Jr. (summer youth), Seussical (summer)
2016 - Into the Woods, Jr. (winter), Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (summer youth), Anything Goes (summer)
2015 - Honk, Jr. (winter), Annie, Jr. (summer youth), Hairspray (summer)
2014 - Back to the 80s (winter), Magical Land of Oz (summer youth), Young Frankenstein (summer)
2013 - Thirteen (winter), Godspell, Jr. (winter), Willy Wonka, Jr. (summer youth), Shrek (summer)
2012 - Footloose (winter), Seussical, Jr. (summer youth), Hairspray (summer)
2011 - Pippin (winter), The Jungle Book (winter), Disney's Cinderella Kids (summer youth), West Side Story (summer)
2010 - Godspell (winter), Annie (summer)
2009 - Seussical, Jr. (winter), Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka (summer)
2008 - Back to the 80s: The Totally Awesome Musical (summer), Magical Land of Oz (winter)
2007 - High School Musical (winter), Beauty and the Beast (summer)
2006 - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (summer); Odd Couple: Female Version (fall)
2005 - The Wiz (summer)
2004 - Anything Goes (summer)
2003 - Damn Yankees (summer)
Production Team
Our highly trained staff is dedicated to supporting the development of performers of all ages in theater, dance and music. In particular, our instructors and staff use proven methodologies and highly effective techniques to help children grow theatrically and socially. Through this program children gain confidence and experience and have often moved on to illustrious programs at the high school and collegiate level.
Choreographers
- Jackie Ianniello
- Amber Richetelli
Musical Directors
- David Christensen
- Kris Waldron
- Maureen Lyden Ruhe
- Christopher Rich
- David Harris
- Jaminda Blackmon
Production Manager
- Dave Maruca
Assistant Directors
- John Parisella
- Jennifer Buonfiglio
- Amy Nicefaro
Technical Director
- Gregory J. Downing
Stage Manager
- Jackie Downing
Production Assistants
- Jennifer Buonfiglio
- Tracy Barletta Stratton
- Haley Maruca