HARTFORD, Conn. — Set against the backdrop of rural Troy, Idaho, Little Bear Ridge Road offers an intimate portrait of human connection during a period of profound isolation. In the Tony-nominated drama by acclaimed playwright Samuel D. Hunter, a sharp-witted aunt and her estranged nephew are forced to reconnect, navigating years of grief, loneliness and unresolved family tensions in a story that blends humor, heartbreak and unexpected compassion.
Little Bear Ridge Road will launch the 2026-27 season at TheaterWorks Hartford, with performances scheduled tfrom Oct. 8 through Nov. 8, 2026.
The cast includes Denise Cormier, whose Broadway credits include Oedipus, The Minutes and Linda Vista; Mishka Yarovoy, who previously appeared in TheaterWorks Hartford’s Sanctuary City; Janelle Anne Robinson, who appeared in the company’s Circus Fire; and Travis Anderson, known for work on HBO’s The Gilded Age.
Confined to the shrinking world of an aging house, Sarah (played by Cormier) and her nephew Ethan (played by Yarovoy) fill their days with familiar routines: watching television, bickering over small annoyances and carefully sidestepping the painful history that has long divided them. But the emotional stakes deepen after the family home is sold and Ethan decides to remain by Sarah’s side. When he discovers a stack of unpaid medical bills, he learns that his fiercely independent aunt has been quietly battling advanced colon cancer. Even as Sarah lashes out at the prospect of being reduced to a “medical statistic,” Ethan finds an unexpected sense of purpose, choosing compassion and responsibility as he becomes her reluctant caregiver.
Director Rob Ruggiero said he was immediately captivated by Little Bear Ridge Road when he saw it on Broadway and knew it belonged on the TheaterWorks Hartford stage.
“When I saw Little Bear Ridge Road on Broadway this past year, I knew instantly it was a play I wanted to bring to TheaterWorks,” Ruggiero said. Calling it “one of the most beautiful and compelling pieces of writing I’ve encountered in recent years,” he said the play’s blend of humor and humanity, along with its “exploration of connection, family, and LGBTQ+ identity,” made it a natural choice to open the company’s 2026-27 season.
The creative team features Michael Schweikardt as set designer, Risa Ando as costume designer, Matthew Richards as lighting designer, Minjae Kim as sound designer, Billy Bivona as composer of original music, and Tenley Pitonzo as stage manager.
Performances are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. TheaterWorks Hartford said the production runs approximately 100 minutes without an intermission.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $70, excluding fees, and are available through the theater’s website or box office.
As part of Theater Week, organized by the Greater Hartford Arts Council, TheaterWorks Hartford will offer buy-one-get-one tickets for performances between Oct. 8 and Oct. 18.
CT Latino News is proud to partner with TheaterWorks Hartford in supporting the state’s Arts and Culture.