TheaterWorks Hartford, under the direction of Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, has been awarded a grant from CT Humanities to support their TWtalks Series during the World Premiere Production of CIRCUS FIRE.
The Hartford Circus Fire: A Tragedy that Reshaped the Law is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at 11am at Hartford Public Library in the Center for Contemporary Culture. Judge Henry S. Cohn, author of the definitive work on tort law: “The Great Hartford Circus Fire: Creative Resolution of Mass Disasters,” will lead a discussion on the legal aftermath of the Hartford Circus Fire and how it influenced the concept of “mass torts.” The conversation will be moderated by Debora Schandler, Connecticut State Librarian. The state library houses the largest collection of Hartford Circus Fire memorabilia.
This event is free with the support from CT Humanities – RSVP required. If you require special accommodations to take part in this program, please call (860)695-6320 at least two weeks in advance. The Hartford Public Library is located at 500 Main St. Hartford, CT 06103.
About CIRCUS FIRE:
In July of 1944, with the nation at war and a heat wave settling over the city, the residents of Hartford, Connecticut eagerly await the arrival of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The unthinkable occurs when a fire turns the big top into an inferno. In the minutes, hours and days following the blaze, two communities – Hartford and the Circus – find themselves irretrievably intertwined by tragedy, blame, heroism, and healing. This multimedia World Premiere honors the power of community in TheaterWorks Hartford’s 40th Season.
CIRCUS FIRE is written by Connecticut-based 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 production will take place at the First Company’s Governor’s Foot Guard in Downtown Hartford from April 16 – May 23, 2026. For more information and tickets, please visit twhartford.org or call the box office at 860.527.7838.
About CT Humanities:
Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.
About TheaterWorks Hartford:
TheaterWorks Hartford, led by Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, has produced relevant, engaging, contemporary theater for 40 years at their historic Pearl St. address. Founded in 1985, TWH is committed to the power of storytelling in creating community and has produced over 200 plays and musicals, including the world premiere of High (with Kathleen Turner), Relativity (with Richard Dreyfuss), and Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn, among others. Visit us at twhartford.org.