Ian Galligan News

A state-wide meeting of community theater groups began the process of forming an alliance which would address ways to overcome challenges and to share resources.

Two weeks before Christmas my wife and I’d go To Meriden to see a phenomenal show The Castle Craig Players have done it again At the Memorial Playhouse of Almira F. Stephan A first rate performance we highly enjoyed With Dr. Seuss characters this show has toyed

Written by Matthew Lombardo, 'WHO'S HOLIDAY!' reconnects us with the infamous Cindy Lou Who, now middle-aged and bitter by the reality of adulthood, living in her shoddy trailer home on Mount Crumpit, former hideout of the infamous Grinch. While she awaits her Christmas party guests, she regales listeners with the bizarre journey her life has taken since that fateful night in Whoville when a certain Grinch tried to steal Christmas. This hysterical and wild parody is a must-see for mischievous ADULT theatre-goers this holiday season!

On Friday, July 23rd, I had the pleasure of seeing live theatre from the Castle Craig Players, again, their first live show since March of 2020!  Performing outdoors at the Hubbard Park Bandshell, in Meriden, CT, the Castle Craig Players return to live performances, right where they left off, with yet another phenomenal first-rate production, the family friendly 1967 classic musical, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN. After seeing this show as presented live by the Castle Craig Players, it has now become one of my absolute favorite musicals!

Reprising their roles from Castle Craig's 2014 production of the show are Ian Galligan (as Charlie Brown), Jennifer Del Sole (as Sally) and Arthur Canova (as Linus). They are joined by Nick Ciasullo (as Schroeder), Cessa Fontanez (as Lucy) and Stephen Koehler (as Snoopy).

During the pandemic, I have greatly missed the consistent high quality live performances from the Castle Craig Players.  I am looking forward to when they will be able to perform live, again, which I hope will be very soon.  In the meantime, I am happy to say that now, online, the Castle Craig Players have performed, recorded, and edited a production for viewing on YouTube.  IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde is a British comedy, excellently performed by a talented cast of actors and actresses who are very consistent with their believable British accents.

Meriden's Castle Craig Players have produced a 'Wilde-ly' innovative digital production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest”, which will stream FREE to your home on Friday, April 23 at 8pm! Oscar Wilde’s wildly entertaining comedy sparkles with dazzling wordplay and hilariously unlikely situations.

Think 'Bridgerton' meets 'Downton Abbey' and you get Oscar Wilde's hilarious farce 'The Importance of Being Earnest', which the Castle Craig Players will stream FREE to your home on Friday, April 23 at 8pm!

In the style of the lavish celebrity-hosted holiday TV specials of yesteryear, THE CASTLE CRAIG CHRISTMAS SPECIAL will stream FREE on YouTube this Saturday, December 12th at 8pm - and BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look from the safe & socially distanced filming!

In the style of the lavish celebrity-hosted holiday TV specials of yesteryear, THE CASTLE CRAIG CHRISTMAS SPECIAL will stream FREE on YouTube on Saturday, December 12th at 8pm. Gather the family for an evening of festive music, yuletide cheer and some surprises along the way, featuring some of your favorite CCP alumni.

Enjoy a first look at 'A LIGHT IN THE DARK: A Virtual Concert of Hope & Inspiration', presented by Meriden's Castle Craig Players, and streaming free on Wednesday, August 12th at 8:00pm on YouTube!

Meriden's Castle Craig Players are sending a message of hope and inspiration to their wonderful patrons and friends with a special online event - 'A LIGHT IN THE DARK: A Virtual Concert of Hope & Inspiration', streaming free on Wednesday, August 12th at 8:00pm on YouTube.

Meriden's Castle Craig Players have brought back everyone's favorite 'marvelous' quartet to create a brand new new take on the classic song 'Mister Sandman', in response to the current quarantine and COVID-19 crisis.

How far would you go to help a suicidal loved one, especially if that person has already attempted suicide, but survived?  If you had the legal right to make treatment choices on behalf of your suicidal loved one, would you consent to your suicidal loved one receiving an extreme form of treatment that your suicidal loved one is apprehensive to receive? Would you overlook the attempted suicide and treat the situation as a mere poor decision during a rough time?  Could you emotionally handle the responsibility if your decision, either way, adversely impacts your suicidal loved one?  I hope you never find yourself in that situation, but if you do, the show NEXT TO NORMAL, which is running at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse, in Meriden, CT, as put on by the Castle Craig Players, challenges us to think of how we would react if confronted with this reality.  I had the pleasure of seeing this show on Sunday, March 8, 2020.  It is directed by Oliver Kochol and Ian Galligan.

One family is about to face the music... Castle Craig Players continue their 27th Anniversary Season with the groundbreaking and award-winning musical, NEXT TO NORMAL, running March 7-21, at their newly renovated intimate Meriden cabaret venue.

Looking for a little more snark in your stocking this year? The Castle Craig Players' production of THE SANTALAND DIARIES by David Sedaris returns this holiday season, after extended sold-out runs in 2015, 2016 and 2017, for four performances only - December 12-15!

'GYPSY: A Musical Fable' closes out the Castle Craig Players 26th Anniversary Season, running through August 10 at their intimate cabaret venue in Meriden.

On Saturday, July 27, I had the pleasure of seeing the Castle Craig Players production of the musical GYPSY at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT.  This tale, based on a true story, has book written by Arthur Laurents, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  Ian Galligan provides spectacular direction to this phenomenal cast, with the help of Chris Coffey as musical director and conductor of the talented live six piece band, and Erin Coffey as choreographer.

It's the story of the quintessential stage mother, her dreams for herself and her daughters, and the daughter who dared live her own dream. a?oeGYPSY: A Musical Fablea?? will close out the Castle Craig Players 26th Anniversary Season, running July 26a?"August 10 at their intimate cabaret venue in Meriden.

It's the story of the quintessential stage mother, her dreams for herself and her daughters, and the daughter who dared live her own dream. 'GYPSY: A Musical Fable' will close out the Castle Craig Players 26th Anniversary Season, running July 26-August 10 at their intimate cabaret venue in Meriden.