HISTORY OF THE SUFFIELD PLAYERS The Suffield Players, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit community theatre company founded in 1952, now housed in historic Mapleton Hall in Suffield, CT.  Having organized over 150 productions, we are committed to bringing quality theatre to our audience.  With a troupe of over 125 members, each season the company produces three main-stage productions, a holiday benefit, the New Faces program which gives aspiring actors and techies a chance to shine, and three free staged readings with Kent Memorial Library.  In addition, The Suffield Players host a summer youth theatre camp and production through CT Imagination Station.  They also award annual scholarships, participate in community events, and provide educational opportunities in all aspects of theatre.  The Suffield Players work to a standard that is amateur in name only.

In 1952, a group of Suffieldians gathered to begin a new theatrical group.  The officers were Phillip H. Graham as president, Mrs. Louis E. Spencer as vice President, Mrs. Marshall Seeley as secretary, and Mrs. E. W. Broder as treasurer.  Their first production was Dear Ruth followed by You Can't Take it With You.  Prior to moving to their current home, the Players mounted productions at Spaulding Elementary School, Suffield High School, Suffield Academy, Suffield VFW Hall, and staged readings in multiple locations.  The group has been in constant production.

The Players originally did two shows a year, one in the fall and one in the spring until 1977 when a winter show was added with Picnic and it became an annual tradition in 1983 with Tartuffe.  There are now three main-stage shows annually.  The holiday benefit began in 2005 with A Dickens Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts, focused on raising funds to help with the ongoing building renovations and maintenance.

New Faces began in 2012 as a way to encourage new actors and actresses to join our troupe.  Featuring talent who have never been on the Mapleton stage or who have had only a minor role, the program is educational in nature.  The program expanded in 2015 to involve new directors, playwrights, and techies to provide even more opportunity for the community to dip their toes in the magic of theatre!

The Players have earned multiple awards over the years, through ACT/CONN, Connecticut Drama Festival, and the Massachusetts Critics Circle.  See the Full list of awards.

The 1950s
The 1960s *
The 1970s
The 1980s
The 1990s

*For the period of 1962-1968 very few details are available.  We ask anyone who has specifics about Player History that is not mentioned here to please Contact us.