Building a Community Through Theater in Worcester, MA

The love for theater in Worcester, MA, can be clearly seen through its residents.

For Livy Scanlon, a love for theater began with the influence of a high school drama teacher.

Scanlon, who went on to further her performing arts education through a bachelor of fine arts and master of fine arts programs across New England, is now artistic director of The Hanover Theatre Repertory (THT Rep) and managing director of Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC). 

THT Rep emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, when touring shows were unable to visit the area.

With a focus on classic plays and modern classics from pre-1900 to the present day, the Rep highlights the arts community in the area by putting local talent on stage and behind the scenes. 

“We’re busy cultivating a theater community here in Worcester,” Scanlon says. 

Interacting with the Community

Through the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory, the Worc at Play program allows Worcester locals with or without theater experience to work alongside professional actors by offering tuition-free training and assigning minor roles in some of THT Rep’s productions. 

“In my opinion, a theater is successful when it is in dialogue with its community,” Scanlon says. 

While acting remains a source of personal joy for Scanlon, her current role as a leader in the theater community brings a fulfillment that transcends the personal. 

“A live performance not involving a screen is perhaps more important than ever in terms of fostering human connection and helping us practice our humanity,” Scanlon says. 

Jeff Adkins

An Encore for Hanover Theatre in Worcester

As a venue for the performing arts, the Hanover Theatre in Worcester has its origins as a vaudeville theater built in 1926. After the theater fell into disrepair, Worcester businessmen Ed Madaus and Paul Demoga began the passion project of bringing the theater back to life. 

For Troy Siebels, who was involved in the project early on, this was just the beginning of a decades-long journey with the Hanover Theatre, where he served as CEO for 20 years.

With a background in theater production, Siebels ran the Greater Boston Stage Company and has always had a love for the performing arts. The absence of the Hanover Theatre struck him as a loss for the community. 

“There was no place in Worcester where you could go see a touring Broadway show the way you can in Boston or Hartford or Providence,” Siebels says. “It felt like a gap in the artistic community.” 

Today, the Hanover Theatre in Worcester annually hosts up to seven Broadway productions, with concerts, comedy shows and more in between. The Broadway shows draw up to 150,000 people each year, serving as an engine for arts and economy across Worcester. 

“I believe that theater is still as relevant as it’s ever been,” Siebels says. 

On Broadway in Worcester 

Eric Butler’s love for performing arts sparked the idea for Broadway in Worcester back in 2015, culminating in its opening in 2022. As the board chair of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and president of WCLOC Theater Company, Butler sees Worcester as a prime location for maintaining a thriving theater company. 

“I think Worcester audiences are the best; they are warm, receptive, perceptive, smart and enthusiastic,” Butler says.

“And the stars really immerse themselves in the Worcester community while they are here.” 

Broadway in Worcester is an opportunity for the community to welcome world-class performances at home.

Visiting performers have even offered free master classes for Worcester students and educators, helping ignite a love for the arts in the community. 

“As theater-makers and artists, we need to give audiences a reason to experience live performances,” Butler says. 

From walking the red carpet, mingling with performers and having dinner or drinks with friends, the experience is an excuse to get out on the town while enjoying the arts. 

“It’s fun, spontaneous and social,” Butler says. “It can’t be replicated on your couch with the remote.”