About Us
Who We Are
Now entering its 16th year, CFT is increasingly recognized as a leading teaching theatre in the state. From the beginner to the more advanced performer, there is something for everyone at CFT. Not only is CFT a place where children can learn about theatre — it is a place where children and their families experience an environment where they are welcomed, accepted for who they are and, most of all, they are family. At CFT we take pride in the fact that so many of our students remain with us throughout their elementary, middle, and high school years. Our older, experienced students, who just a few years ago walked on stage for the very first time, are now wonderful role models and mentors to our newer students, now taking their first steps.
Many students have taken what they have learned at CFT and gone on to perform in commercials, in film, and even on Broadway. Many have also gone or are going on to study their craft at prestigious universities throughout the country and abroad. Many student alumni have returned to CFT to give back and share their knowledge as instructors themselves.
We are proud and we are humbled, knowing that we inspire our students to challenge themselves, to take risks, to become teachers and, most of all, to follow their passion. We strongly believe that, whether our students choose to pursue careers in the performing arts or not, the skills they gain — teamwork, leadership, commitment, public speaking, self-expression, creative thinking, to name just a few — are valuable in any endeavor and will last a lifetime.
Our Mission
Connecticut Family Theatre is dedicated to providing a nurturing, inclusive, and professionally guided performing arts education to young people throughout Connecticut. Our mission is to inspire every student to discover and celebrate their unique creative voice — regardless of their experience level, background, or natural ability.
We believe that theatre education does far more than train performers. It builds whole human beings. The courage required to step onto a stage and share a character with an audience is the same courage needed to stand up for one's values, lead a team through adversity, or present a big idea to a skeptical room. At CFT, we help students develop that courage — and the skills to back it up.
Our approach is always student-centered. Every program, every rehearsal, and every performance is designed with the student's growth and joy at the forefront. We create a safe space where taking risks is celebrated, mistakes are treated as learning opportunities, and every milestone — no matter how small — is recognized and applauded.
Our History
Connecticut Family Theatre was founded in 2006 with a simple but powerful dream: to create a true performing arts home for Connecticut families — a space where children could explore the world of theatre in an environment that felt genuinely welcoming and family-focused. From those early beginnings, CFT has grown steadily into one of the state's most respected youth theatre organizations.
Through the years, we have produced dozens of full-scale theatrical productions, launched specialized programs for different age groups and skill levels, and welcomed hundreds of young performers through our doors. Each season brings new stories, new faces, and new breakthroughs — students discovering something about themselves through a character, a song, or a scene that changes how they see the world.
Our alumni network spans Connecticut and extends across the country, with former CFT students now working as professional performers, directors, educators, and arts administrators. Their success is the most powerful testimony to what we do — and the fuel that drives us to keep doing it better every year.
Our Team
CFT is powered by a passionate team of professional instructors, directors, choreographers, and vocal coaches with extensive experience in both professional theatre and youth education. Our faculty brings real-world performing arts experience into every classroom, rehearsal, and production — giving students an authentic, professional-quality education at every level.
Beyond our paid faculty, CFT is sustained by an extraordinary network of parent volunteers, community partners, and alumni who give generously of their time and talents. It truly takes a village to put on a show — and at CFT, we're proud of the village we've built.
Get in Touch