CONNECTION

Table of Contents

From The Founders

So What Else Is New?

Jason Peck and Jonathan Winn
Jason Peck and Jonathan Winn

New Fellowship, New Support, New Awards, New Challenges

2022 was a whirlwind, and continued at a break-neck pace all year. Literally. Jonathan broke his neck (and a few ribs) in a cycling accident in November. He was fortunate to receive extraordinary care from Ridgefield EMS and Danbury Hospital, and continues his recovery with the help of RVNAhealth and his family. Jason finished the year in quite different circumstances, rehearsing for his GableStage debut in We Will Not Be Silent, a new play by David Myers about civil disobedience in World War II, running January 6-29, 2023 in Coral Gables, FL.

Thrown Stone’s year began with the sudden news that The Lark, a developmental theatre company in New York that has been instrumental in supporting the work of hundreds of playwrights, had closed its doors forever. Thrown Stone Playwright Phanésia Pharel, had been a finalist for their New Voices Fellowship when the announcement was made. Thus began a scramble to fund a new fellowship.

Shortly after that, playwright Tammy Ryan joined our Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust commission of a new play about the 19th-century artist Ammi Phillips. Ms. Ryan spent several weeks this spring and summer traveling Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York researching the itinerant artist and writing the play. A workshop reading of the first draft was performed in October, and positioned it for the announcement below.

Our productions returned to Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance this summer after a 2020 hiatus and our 2021 outdoor season. Directed by erstwhile Fairfield resident Tracy Brigden (see her career news above), the New England premieres of Athena by Gracie Gardner and Hysterical! by Elenna Stauffer were among our most critically acclaimed productions to date. We  highlighted our theme of #GirlPower with the inaugural presentation of the Thrown Stone New Connections Award.

As the year came to a close, Thrown Stone was included among 21 other local nonprofits in an allocation of Ridgefield’s ARPA funding. This constituted our first funding from the Town of Ridgefield in our six-year history, and an important recognition of the arts’ impact on our local economy.

The future is always uncertain, but our impact was never in doubt. As you read this report, we invite you to consider our mission. New plays are so much more than entertainment. They ask urgent questions, lift up important voices, and help sustain communities. Thank you for your support.

Guthrie Theatre Names Tracy Brigden Senior Artistic Producer

Tracy Brigden
Tracy Brigden

Shortly after directing Thrown Stone’s 2022 repertory season, Tracy Brigden was named the Guthrie Theater’s Senior Artistic Producer and a member of the Senior Management Team. This role oversees all artistic team operations at the acclaimed Minneapolis, MN regional theatre, one of the most influential in the United States.

Tracy led City Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA as their Artistic Director for 16 years, produced almost 200 plays, and launched an extensive play development program — including a new play festival. She has also directed new plays around the country, including at City Theatre, Hartford Stage, Atlantic Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, TheaterWorks Hartford, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and many more. Thrown Stone congratulates Tracy on this well-earned position and we wish her all the best in Minneapolis!

2022 Season Recap

Thrown Stone’s fifth season featured two new plays about friendship, competition, and coming of age in today’s world: Athena by Gracie Gardner, and Hysterical! by Elenna Stauffer. Performed in repertory at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, both plays were directed by Tracy Brigden. The stellar cast included Shannon Helene Barnes, Olivia Billings, Julia Crowley, Kendyl Grace Davis, and Isa Muiño. In true repertory fashion, the cast of Athena performed parts in Hysterical! and two intrepid swings understudied multiple roles. Together with a visionary creative team and production staff, the “Summer of Thrown Stone,” as proclaimed by CT Critics Circle member James Ruocco, captivated audiences and critics alike:

“Important, Humorous, Timely, Bold, Powerful… Unleashed with natural conviction, honesty and charm” — James Ruocco, CT Critics Circle*

“Priceless” — Tom Holehan, CT Critics Circle

“Engrossing, highly satisfying” — Stuart Brown, CT Critics Circle

“Perfect… Wonderful… Unforgettable… Flawless… Definitely Worth Experiencing” — Zander Opper, CT Critics Circle

“A unique coming of age story you will not soon forget” — Bonnie Goldberg, CT Critics Circle

“Mind-blowing… A significant achievement in modern theatre” — James Ruocco, CT Critics Circle*

We selected our season at the end of 2021, but these plays and their focus on young women in athletics only became more relevant as we moved into production. Over the past two years, women’s sports have been at the center of cultural conversations around access and equity under Title IX, pay inequity, institutionally-abetted abuse, and mental health. Athena and Hysterical! with their wildly different perspectives on women’s athletics and their tour de force performances, made a significant statement for #GirlPower. Over just eighteen performances in a tiny, 60-seat house in Ridgefield, our 2022 season also demonstrated what new plays can achieve at their very best: theatre that moves, connects, and challenges all who join the conversation.

View the program

* Named to James Ruocco’s Best Plays of 2022 (Equity)

2022 New Connections Award Honorees

In 2022 we were pleased to recognize RVNAhealth President and CEO Theresa Santoro and Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance Executive Director Amy Piantaggini as the inaugural honorees of the Thrown Stone New Connections Award.

The New Connections Awards were envisioned to recognize individuals who exemplify Thrown Stone’s values and our mission to move, connect, and challenge all who join our theatrical conversation. Each year, the award will focus on a distinct theme that harmonizes with our season. In 2022, that theme was Mentoring Young Women.

The inaugural honorees have distinguished themselves over a number of years as mentors, and have each selected a mentee, who presented their awards in a short ceremony following our opening night performances. Thrown Stone is grateful to these mentors who make a profound difference in our region, and we are delighted to celebrate their work with this award.

Seven
Cousins
For A
Horse

Ammi Phillips (Detail), c. 1820

#Ammi

Art, Family, and Great Change in America | 2023 Season Preview

Thrown Stone’s 2023 season will feature the world premiere of Seven Cousins for a Horse by Tammy Ryan. Originally commissioned in 2020 with underwriting by the Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable Trust, this work features a new playwright and a new title. Seven Cousins for a Horse tells the story of Ammi Phillips, the most prolific folk artist in American History, returning to his home town of Colebrook, Connecticut in the wake of a personal tragedy. It is 1848, a time of great change. The Seneca Falls Convention is about to call for women’s suffrage, chattel slavery has finally ended in Connecticut, and there is already talk of a war between the states. But Ammi has work to do. He must capture the likenesses of his cousins, the Kinney family. All they can offer in payment is a strong horse, but that may be just the thing he needs to reset his itinerant career — and find his way back home.

In the late spring of 2021, playwright Tammy Ryan joined the project, replacing Jacqueline Goldfinger, who withdrew for personal reasons. Tammy dove headlong into Ammi’s world with a research trip in late April and a Ridgefield residency in August. By October, she completed a first draft, which was workshopped and read for an invited audience on October 22. Directed by Artistic Director Jonathan Winn, the cast included Thrown Stone collaborators Shannon Helene Barnes, Will Jeffries, Aidan Meachem, and Mark Silence; and introduced our audience to actors Amanda Curtin, Emmanuelle Nadeau, and Marissa Ruben. The performances were received with overwhelming enthusiasm by our invited audience, and a second draft was completed at the end of 2022, which will be workshopped in New York City at New Dramatists in April, 2023.

Seven Cousins for a Horse will open at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance in July of 2023.

The Surviving Kinney Portraits

Ammi Phillips (Detail), 1848

Meet Playwright Tammy Ryan

Tammy Ryan’s wide-ranging work has been commissioned, developed, and performed at regional theaters across the United States, including Alliance Theatre, City Theatre, Florida Stage, Marin Theatre Company, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Portland Stage, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Playhouse, and many others. Internationally, her work has been seen in Australia, Canada, India, Japan, and Turkey.

Tammy has been supported by the National New Play Network, The New Harmony Project, Virginia… Read more

Company News

Thrown Stone Receives ARPA Support from the Town of Ridgefield

In December, Thrown Stone was among the 21 local arts and culture nonprofits to receive a portion of Ridgefield’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. We are deeply grateful to the town for this unprecedented support. Thrown Stone’s allocation represents about 3.5% of our 2022 budget, and while that is significant, support from patrons like you remains crucial to our mission to develop and present new professional theatre in our region.

Read more at The Ridgefield Press.

The 068 Magazine Playwriting Fellowship

This year, with support from 068 Magazine, The Borman Family Foundation, and the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, we launched the 068 Magazine Playwriting Fellowship and named its first fellow, Phanésia Pharel. The fellowship began February 1, and included a six-month stipend, dramaturgical support, and a workshop of the playwright’s new material. During the fellowship, Ms. Pharel wrote R&B, a play honoring the survivors of gendered violence in the music industry; joined The Wish Collective, a group of pro-choice artists who wrote and performed their play, The Wish, across the United States; completed new drafts of Black Girl Joy, her play set at a home for vulnerable youth in Miami; and began work on a third play, Just the Two of Us, a play about a mother, a daughter, and the American dream. Ms. Pharel also spent the summer with Thrown Stone, assistant-directing our #GirlPower season. With dramaturgical and production support from Thrown Stone, a workshop of Just the Two of Us is planned for this spring. Without the support of Dee Dee Colabella, Kate Borman, and Lisa Scails, this incredible output from a significant new voice in the theatre would not have been possible. Ms. Pharel, now enrolled in the graduate playwriting program at UCSD, put it this way: “I cannot imagine the last six months of my life without this fellowship.”

Facts 

MISSION

To engage our region with new and reimagined theatre in intimate settings, creating a body of work that moves, connects, and challenges all who join the conversation.

PERSONNEL

Jason Peck & Jonathan Winn,
Co-Artistic Directors

Corrine Woods, Business Manager

Richard Harrison, Artistic Associate

Maria McConville, Artistic Associate

GOVERNANCE

Thrown Stone is a 501(c)(3) organization.
EIN: 81-1683094.
D-U-N-S Number: 080603526.

2017-2021 IRS Form 990, Bylaws, Conflict Of Interest Policy, and Sexual Harassment Policy available upon request.

Financial Highlights

We thank our generous donors, grantors, and sponsors for their financial support, along with generous in-kind donations from individuals and businesses for media, services, artist housing/travel, and catering.

We returned to two productions in repertory for our 2022 season, launched a playwriting fellowship, and completed a commission that will premiere in 2023. Production costs increased in 2022 as we returned to indoor theatre. Set and lighting equipment, fuel, and labor costs all surged due to inflation and supply chain disruption. Of our 2022 expenses, 98% represented the direct costs of programming — artist and other salaries, fellowship, commissions and licensing, production, space rental, and marketing costs.

In 2023, we anticipate a steep decline in the government funding that sustained us through the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to rely on support from individuals and foundations to continue our mission.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

 ExpensesNet Assets
2016$8,600$2,800
2017$64,800$14,700
2018$100,400$25,500
2019$122,300$41,500
2020$20,800$160,900
2021$148,800$175,800
2022$224,000$115,600
2023 EST.$190,042$60,300

ADonations & Grants$183,900
BIn-Kind Donations$30,700
CTicket Sales, Concessions, Other$28,000
 Total$242,600

AProduction, Space Rental, Marketing$65,700
BArtist and Other Salaries$118,600
CCommissions & Licensing$18,700
DFellowship$17,500
EGeneral Operating$3,500
 Total$224,000

98% of our expenses go directly into our programs

History

2016

Debut Summer Reading Series: The Fields of Blue and Glow by August Schulenberg and Blink by Kate Moira Ryan at the Ridgefield Library

Chekhov International Theatre Festival staged reading of Milk by Ross Dunsmore

2017

The U.S. Premiere of Milk by Ross Dunsmore at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance

Chekhov International Theatre Festival staged reading of The Butcher by Gwydion Suilebhan

2018

The New England Premiere of The Arsonists by Jacqueline Goldfinger and The East Coast Premiere of Where All Good Rabbits Go by Karina Cochran, in repertory at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance

2019

The Connecticut Premiere of Cry it Out by Molly Smith Metzler and The New England Premiere of Birds of North America by Anna Moench, in repertory at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance

Staged reading of Willing by Claire Glubiak at the Ridgefield Library

2020

Productions canceled due to COVID-19.

2021

The World Premiere of The Suburbs: The Caterers by Tony Meneses, Should We Dance Instead? by Phanésia Pharel, and An Education: How To Confront the Classics by Catherine Yu

2022

The New England Premieres of Athena by Gracie Gardner and Hysterical! by Elenna Stauffer, in repertory; Full-length commission of Seven Cousins for a Horse by Tammy Ryan

068 Magazine Playwriting Fellowship.

Future Plans

2023

The World Premiere of Seven Cousins for a Horse by Tammy Ryan

2022 Partners

Media Partners

068 Magazine*
HamletHub*
WSHU Public Radio*

Underwriters ($10,000+)

068 Magazine
Burry Fredrik Foundation
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts
CT Humanities
Town of Ridgefield – ARPA Funds

Producing ($5,000+)

Elizabeth Raymond Ambler Trust
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Fund for Women and Girls
Way of the Sword

Sustaining ($2,500+)

The Borman Family Foundation
Ridgefield Chorale*
Ridgefield Drive “UR” Car Service*

Contributing ($1,000+)

Bailey’s Backyard*
Blue Hammer Creative*
Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut
Fairfield County Bank
The Wadsworth R. Lewis Fund

Supporting ($500+)

Chuck Jennes Photography*
Dimitri’s Diner*
Houlihan Lawrence
Ridgefield Library – Battle of the Books
Ridgefield Parks and Recreation*
Stacey’s Totally Baked*

2022 Individual Donors

Executive Producer ($5,000+)

In memory of Linda Almira
Charles & Kerry Tyler

Sapphire ($1,000+)

Richard & Karen Calo
Jennifer Dineen & Terrene Mahon*
Liz & Steven Goldstone
Jon & Kim Jodka
Andrew & Jeanine Levine
Alicia Longobardo
Mike & Kathryn Malwitz*
Dean & Theresa Miller
Kate & Matthew Schardt
Robert & Vicki Trainer
Jonathan Winn & Amanda Curtin

EMERALD ($500+)

Dan Butler & Kirsten Salley
Jeff & Linda Krulwich
Alana & Jason Peck

Aquamarine ($100+)

Michelle Saad Barnes
Christine Boris
Jennifer Dilaura
John Frey
Mark Gilliam
Diana Glubiak
Lenore Eggleston-Herbst
Hattie Herman
Barbara Manners
Thomas McIntyre
Cindy Rigby
Lili Schroppe
Paul & Judi Stoogenke
Joel Third
John Vignoli
Rachel Wimpee
Zelda Zieselman

Amethyst ($50+)

Elenna Stauffer Dunham
Sarah Fox
Anne Giroux
Richard Harrison
Mary Hoermann
Jay & Joyce Miller
Lenore Millian
Elaine Mintz

Quartz ($25+)

Phyllis Appel
Christa Carone
Maxwell Caserta
Justin Cowan
Amy Day
Katherine Fischer
Katharine Gelfman
Madelyne Gray
Hildegard Grob
Alice Hayes
Joanne Hudson
Lin Jamison
Barb Jennes
Brenda McKinley
Marge Mullin
Ben Oko
Nancy Rowe
Jeremy Sawruk
David Sigworth
Julie Stevenson
Carolyn Stockage
Kathleen Theisen
Wendy Vickery
Angela Whitford
Jessica D. Williams
Deborah Wolyniec
Michael Wright

Corporate Matches

AmazonSmile
Bank of America
BNY Mellon Community Partnership
PepsiCo Foundation

Collaborators

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Connecticut Arts Alliance
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County
Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut
Harvard Community Partners
Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center
Live Girl
National New Play Network
Ridgefield Arts Council
Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce
Ridgefield Chorale
Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance
Ridgefield Economic and Community
Development Commission
Ridgefield Historical Society
Ridgefield Library
RVNAhealth
St. Andrew’s Church
West Lane Inn

Special Thanks

Actor’s Equity Association
Jefferey Albanesi
Albany Institute of History & Art
Diane Shewchuk, Curator
Amenia Historical Society
Besty Strauss, Curator
The American Folk Art Museum
Emelie Gevalt, Curator
Art Center of the Capital Region, Troy
Elizabeth Reiss, CEO
Mary Black
Hart Cluett Museum
Kathy T. Sheehan, Curator
Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center
Hildegard Grob, Executive Director
Kent Historical Society
Marge Smith, Curator
The Cake Box
Dee Dee Colabella
Amanda Curtin
Grace D’Onofrio
Kerry Anne Ducey
Davis Dunavin
David Gogerty
Barbara Holdridge
Litchfield Historical Society
Alexander Dubois, Curator
Linda Hocking, Archivist
Samantha Mahoski
Mike & Kathryn Malwitz
Rudy Marconi
Melanie Marks
Geoffrey Morris
Glori Norwitt
The Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust
Dick Orenstein
Amy Piantaggini
Town of Ridgefield
Ridgefield Historical Society
Nancy Rowe, Executive Director
Jack Sanders
Sharon Historical Society
Brandon Lisi, Curator
Daniela Sikora & Keitha Kinne
Theresa Santoro
Tiger Sports
Vicki Trainer
John Vignoli
Corinne Woods
Walt Woodward
CT State Historian, Emeritus

*Includes in-kind donation of goods or services
We apologize for any errors or omissions — please email us with any corrections or if you wish to remain anonymous in the future.

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