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07/10/2024 08:30 AMThirteen years ago, Terri Corigliano started Saybrook Stage Productions. Now, a play that Terri has written and is directing will soon be opening at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.
“I’ve been interested in theater all my life, from when I was a little kid,” Terri says.
Whether it was starring as Cinderella in a school play when she was in kindergarten or forming a musical group with fellow students at law school, Terri has always been drawn to the performing arts. Her play, Lost Lodge, is set to debut at The Kate on Thursday, July 18.
According to the play’s description on saybrookstage.org, “Set in a fictional town in rural New England, Lost Lodge tells the connected stories of love, laughter, heartbreak, and happiness of the vacationers that have found their way to this unique place.”
“It’s 15 different vignettes covering different characters who come to a vacation home,” Terri says. “I loved the idea of a handful of actors playing several different characters. I think people will really like it.”
The production will have five showtimes between July 18 and Sunday, July 21. Tickets can be purchased at www.saybrookstage.org or www.thekate.org.
Terri says the play was inspired by the style of famous playwright A.R. Gurney and, a few years ago, she began dabbling in writing her first vignette.
“I sort of put it aside for a while, then about a year ago, got serious about writing again, and I finished it. What I love most about it is that it’s a play any level of theater can do,” says Terri.
When asked about the best part of the writing process, Terri points to the ability to be creative and keep the energy high, especially while bringing new actors into the fold.
“The chance to see new characters. It’s fun to see the actors bring them to life,” Terri says.
Of course, Terri admits that it hasn’t always been an easy process.
“When writing a play, you know where you need strong scenes, and writing the ending of the play took me a while,” Terri says.
Terri’s involvement with theater in Old Saybrook dates back nearly two decades.
“We were here for a while, then we heard that The Kate was coming. I got involved in fundraising early on before they were open. I thought it was amazing that this theater was coming that was going to be a great opportunity for shoreline theater shows,” Terri says.
Beyond her involvement with The Kate, Terri and her husband founded Saybrook Stage in 2011. Per its website, “The Saybrook Stage Company was founded as a nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing quality live theater on the Connecticut shoreline at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.”
The company typically does two shows a year at The Kate, which serves as the home theater for the company.
“Our whole connection along the shoreline has been terrific, between lighting directors, stage managers, actors. We’re so grateful these people are committed to quality theater along the shoreline,” says Terri.
For Terri, the best part of the company has been working with the talented and creative people who participate in its productions.
“The talent is what inspires me and my husband every day,” she says.
Terri grew up in Fairfield and then moved to Old Saybrook with her family in 1999.
“We always wanted to get to this area. Our kids were young, and we wanted a neat place for them to grow up,” Terri says.
Terri says that the experience of living in Old Saybrook has been a positive one.
“The small-town feel of Old Saybrook and the slower pace is something I really enjoy. I’m very grateful we moved here,” Terri says.
In her spare time, Terri can be found biking, boating, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.