HartBeat Ensemble named resident theatre company at Trinity College

James Alton in the Syracuse Stage production of Citizen James, or The Young Man Without a Country by Kyle Bass. Photo by Brenna Merritt

HartBeat Ensemble has been named the Resident Theatre Company at Trinity College’s Austin Arts Center, formalizing a partnership that will expand professional theatre productions, student opportunities, and community programming in Hartford.

The residency, announced by HartBeat Ensemble Artistic Director Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. and Managing Director Rhoda Cerritelli, follows successful engagements of Jimmy & Lorraine: A Musing in 2024 and Where We Stand in 2025. The program will operate under the leadership of Austin Arts Center Executive Director Deborah Goffe.

As resident company, HartBeat Ensemble will present mainstage productions, workshops, and community outreach programs, while also offering internships for Trinity College students. The partnership will support HartBeat’s Youth Play Institute and a new play development program, aligning with the company’s long-standing commitment to social justice–centered theatre.

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The residency will launch with an encore production of Citizen James, or The Young Man Without a Country by playwright Kyle Bass, running Feb. 12–21, 2026, at the Austin Arts Center’s Garmany Theatre, 300 Summit St. The solo performance stars James Alton and is directed by HartBeat Ensemble member Joann Maria Yarrow.

The play centers on a young James Baldwin in 1948 as he prepares to leave the United States for Paris, confronting racism and uncertainty at a pivotal moment that would shape his future as a leading voice of the civil rights era. The production premiered at Syracuse Stage in August 2024.

“After joining the Trinity faculty, I had a greater appreciation for the college’s commitment to the community and to the arts,” Simmons said in a statement. “We look forward to more and deeper connections that will bring artists, the Hartford community, and the Trinity population into conversation.”

Goffe said the partnership builds on shared values. “I’ve witnessed HartBeat Ensemble’s work over many years and have been inspired by their commitment to locality, artistic excellence, and community-building,” she said, adding that the residency will help bridge campus and Greater Hartford communities through the arts.

Tickets for Citizen James are $30 for general admission and $25 for senior citizens and non-Trinity students. Trinity students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with valid identification or a Trinity email address. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Tickets are available through the Austin Arts Center and HartBeat Ensemble websites, or at the door, subject to availability.

The production is supported in part by the J. Walton Bissell Foundation, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, and Travelers.

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HartBeat Ensemble named resident theatre company at Trinity College