RIDGEFIELD, CONN.: The Thrown Stone Theatre Company, the Ridgefield Library, and Theatre Communications Group will sponsor a panel discussion on repertory in American theatre on June 5 at the Ridgefield Library at 6:30 p.m. American Theatre’s editor-in-chief, Rob Weinert-Kendt, will lead this discussion.

“The word ‘repertory’ appears in many theatre names, but the actual practice of rotating rep is relatively rare,” Weinert-Kendt said. “As an article in American Theatre a few years back demonstrated, those who do rep are committing to a ceaseless, Sisyphean athletic challenge, a theatrical triathlon—but those who’ve had the privilege to witness excellent rep in action are converts to its unique iterative splendors. I both understand why it’s such a daunting, heavy lift, and why it can be more than worth the effort.”

The panel will be free to the public. It will feature several Connecticut-based repertory theatre artists, including Melody Libonati, artistic director of the Summer Theatre of New Canaan; Michael Bradford, artistic director and Dale Rose, associate artistic director of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Jason Peck and Jonathan Winn, co-artistic directors of Thrown Stone; and scenic designer Fufan Zhang, an alum of the Yale School of Drama.

“Repertory theatre is an enormous undertaking, but seeing the audience experience the magic of multiple productions in the same space—often on the same day—makes all of that intense, collaborative work worthwhile,” Peck said. “It demands precision, stamina, and iron will, but for a theatre artist, it doesn’t get any better.”

There will be wine, cheese, and an informal discussion after the panel. For more information on the program and to make a reservation for this event, click here.