The World Premiere Production will be Performed at The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard in Downtown Hartford
Written by Jacques Lamarre
Conceived by Jacques Lamarre, Jared Mezzocchi, & Rob Ruggiero
Directed by Jared Mezzocchi
Performances Run April 16 – May 17, 2026
TheaterWorks Hartford, under the direction of Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, announces its upcoming World Premiere production of Circus Fire will be performed off-site at the historic First Company Governor’s Foot Guard in downtown Hartford.
The production will run from April 16 – May 17, 2026. Circus Fire is written by local playwright Jacques Lamarre (TWH’s Christmas on the Rocks, I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti), directed by Jared Mezzocchi (TWH’s Sandra), and is conceived by Lamarre, Mezzocchi, and Rob Ruggiero. The off-site move aligns with the play’s themes around remembrance and Hartford-centric history. It also offers an exciting canvas of space for the multimedia contents as well as the opportunity to perform the piece in the round.
The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard was created in 1771 and is the oldest continuously serving military organization in the United States with an unbroken lineage. The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard was created to serve and protect the governor in his travels between New Haven and Hartford. Today, the GFG provides escort to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and various dignitaries throughout the state of Connecticut. The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard is located at 159 High St. in Hartford, CT. For more information, please visit their website.
The decision to produce Circus Fire at this venue reflects TheaterWorks Hartford’s ongoing commitment to engage with the City of Hartford. By collaborating with the First Company’s Governor’s Foot Guard, TheaterWorks aims to create a theatrical, multimedia experience that honors the history and remembrance of the tragedy for the City of Hartford. The 12-person cast – including 2 Hartt Students – will be made up of all Connecticut / Hartford – based artists, to be announced at a later date.