Shoestring Theatre Company is taking New Haven by storm!

This summer, SSTC is producing two brilliant plays in rep at the Whitney Theater at Yale:  The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein and The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) by The Reduced Shakespeare Company.  The plays will be performed on alternating evenings as well as some special back-to-back performances.

About The Shows

The Heidi Chronicles traces the coming of age of Heidi Holland, a successful art historian, as she tries to find her bearings in a rapidly changing world. Gradually distancing herself from her friends, she watches them move from the idealism and political radicalism of their college years through militant feminism and, eventually, back to the materialism that they had sought to reject in the first place. Heidi's own path to maturity involves an affair with the glib, arrogant Scoop Rosenbaum, a womanizing lawyer/publisher who eventually marries for money and position; a deeper but even more troubling relationship with a charming, witty young pediatrician, Peter Patrone, who turns out to be gay; and increasingly disturbing contacts with the other women, now much changed, who were a part of her childhood and college years. Eventually Heidi comes to accept the fact that liberation can be achieved only if one is true to oneself, with goals that come out of need rather than circumstance. As the play ends she is still "alone," but having adopted an orphaned baby, it is clear that she has begun to find a sense of fulfillment and continuity that may well continue to elude the others of her anxious, self-centered generation.

The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) is a view of The Bard like you have never seen before, as three gentlemen attempt the enormous feat of capturing the brilliance of all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in just 97 minutes.  Borrowing from the traditions of Monty Python and Mel Brooks, this raucous comedy will have even the most skeptical audience member speaking in iambic pentameter and swooning over sonnets.  Think Titus Andronicus is a bit too dark and gory?  Try seeing it as a cooking show!  What could make Richard III and Henry V a bit more interesting?  How about a copious amount of football references?!  And if you think you like Hamlet now, wait until you see it backwards.  The Complete Works Of William Shakepeare (abridged) will have you wishing Shakespeare hadn't stopped at 37 plays -- though the actors may disagree.

Performance Dates

Wednesday, August 8th - 7:30pm: The Heidi Chronicles

Thursday, August 9th - 7:30pm: The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)

Friday, August 10th - DOUBLE BILL!  6:30pm: The Heidi Chronicles,  9pm: Shakespeare

Saturday, August 11th - DOUBLE BILL!  6:30pm: The Heidi Chronicles,  9pm: Shakespeare

Where Will Your Donation Go?

Your generous donation will be put towards the cost of performing at the beautiful Whitney Theater, located in the heart of the New Haven arts district at 53 Wall St.  Performance space in the New Haven area is hard to come by and often incredibly expensive.  Your support will allow us to give these two plays a home.

About SSTC

Shoestring Theatre Company was founded in 2009 by a group of like-minded individuals who knew that the best way to be involved in fresh and interesting theatre is to make it yourself.  SSTC is a group of talented young actors, writers, directors, producers, and technical crew, all striving towards a common goal; to create new and interesting theatre as well as breathing new life into modern classics; to provide an avenue for creative minds to work on projects they are passionate about and to inspire a love of theatre in every audience member -- even in the most unexpected patrons.  We bring a fresh and imaginative look at the classics while also providing an outlet for emerging playwrights to have their original work produced in a professional setting.

To see some samples of our original works, please visit http://www.youtube.com/ShoestringCo.

Also, friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shoestringtheatrecompany.

From everyone at SSTC, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to learn about our group and for considering us as a valuable investment in these trying times.  We would be nothing without the support of those who believe in us.