Stratford Theatre Will Continue Library Series, WCT Co-Productions
Tom Holehan, Artistic Director
Richard P. Pheneger, General Manager
The Square One Theatre Company, Stratford’s resident full-time producing theatre since 1990, will close its doors in 2025. Making the announcement, Artistic Director Tom Holehan cited the recent passing of his husband and Square One General Manager Richard Pheneger as the primary reason for closing at this time.
The Square One Theatre Company was founded in 1990 by Holehan, a longtime Stratford resident, and Executive Producer Barbara Cairney of Milford. Employed by the Stratford Library, Holehan had begun a theatre program of staged theatre readings there in 1985. With Cairney and Pheneger, they recognized an opportunity to create a new professional theatre in Stratford Center when the town’s former movie house was bought and renovated as a legitimate theatre.
The theatre company remained in the Center for 25 seasons before moving to their current venue at Stratford Academy, where they transformed the school’s auditorium stage into an intimate black box theatre.
“We have been very fortunate all these years to have the support of the Stratford community”, Holehan said. “The Town, the Stratford Recreation Department, Stratford Academy and, of course, our loyal subscribers and donors, have been the reasons we’ve been successful for 35 years. I also must credit our invaluable Friends of Square One Theatre volunteers and current President Carole Fanslow, who have been with us since the very first season and contribute four scholarships annually in the theatre’s name to area high school students.”
Although the mainstage theatre will be closing, Square One will continue to sponsor its annual Readers Theatre Summer Showcase at the Stratford Library where live staged readings of plays have taken place since 1985.
Donations to the Library in honor of Richard Pheneger will help to fund these and other arts-related events at the Library. The theatre will also continue its relationship with its sister theatre, the Westport Community Theatre, where Square One restaged their critically acclaimed production of “Chapatti” last spring and will produce their hit revival of “Agnes of God” there in March. Tickets can be ordered by visiting www.westportcommunitytheatre.com.
“I am very proud of our track record in Stratford”, concluded Holehan who directed all 100+ productions at Square One, “It is bittersweet, of course, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded the theatre in this wonderful community.”
