STEVE KARP, Founder / Producing Director of
Stamford Theatre Works
(1988 – 2008)
“STW is, by far, the most consistently genuine and thought-provoking theatre company I’ve seen in the Northeast (and that includes New York and Boston). No one captures the sincerity and raw energy that make for good theatre better than artistic director Steve Karp. For twenty years he has writhed and wrangled to keep the theatre going, a singularly focused drive to excel that comes through in every STW production.”
– Fairfield County Weekly
In 1997, Karp was honored with the Connecticut Critics Circle highest award: The Tom Killen Memorial Award for his “Outstanding Contribution to Connecticut Theatre.”
Past recipients include, Lloyd Richards (1991), Arvin Brown (1992), Lucille Lortel (1995), Mark Lamos (1996), Michael Price (1998), George C. White (2001), Michael Wilson (2005), Athol Fugard (2014), Paulette Haupt (2017).
Located on the outskirts of Stamford’s downtown, the easy-access and intimacy of its 150-seat barn-theater helped make Stamford Theatre Works an inviting destination for its diversity of theater programming.
CHILDREN
Black History Month Celebration
Rogers & HART
Purple Cow Theatre
Annual STW Programming
Full-Production Program
Black History Month Celebration
Great American Composer Series
Purple Cow Children’s Theatre
School for the Performing Arts
Summer Theater Camp for Kids
Full Production Awards and Highlights
1991
– Remembrance: transferred to Off-Broadway (NYC)
1993
– Jigsaws: transferred to Off-Broadway (NYC)
1994
– Murder In Green Meadows: “Best Sound Design” (Christopher Granger)
– Connecticut Critics Circle
1996
– Moonshadow: “Outstanding Acting Debut (Alex Woods)
– Connecticut Critics Circle
1998
– The Dining Room: “Best Ensemble Production” – Connecticut Critics Circle
– Miss Evers’ Boys: chosen for historic preservation by Lincoln Center Library
1999
– A Rosen By Any Other Name: “Best Set Design” (Warren Karp)
– Connecticut Critics Circle
2000
– From The Mississippi Delta: “Best Ensemble Production” – Connecticut Critics Circle
– The Atlantic honors Stamford Theatre Works as one of four U.S. regional theaters to annually celebrate Black History Month
2001
– Tamer of Horses: “Outstanding Acting Debut” (M. Neko Parham)
– Connecticut Critics Circle
2002
– Stamford Theatre Works grant recipient: National Endowment for the Arts (Black History Month Celebration)
2003
– Stamford Theatre Works grant recipient: National Endowment for the Arts (Black History Month Celebration)
– A Lesson Before Dying: “Best Sound Design” (Christopher Granger) – Connecticut Circle Circle
2004
– Visiting Mr. Green: “Outstanding Actor in a Play” (Cody Nickell)
– Connecticut Critics Circle
2006
– Far East: “Outstanding Acting Debut” (Vanessa Kai) – Connecticut Critics Circle.
– National Pastime: STW’s best-attended full-production, celebrating Jackie Robinson’s historic breaking of the color-line in Major League Baseball.
Stamford Theatre Works
Full-Productions
(1988-2008)
1989-1990
A CLASS “C” TRIAL IN YOKOHAMA
PRIVATE LIVES
STRANGE SNOW
1990-1991
RUMORS IN THE PALACE (World Premiere)
THE GUARDSMAN
REMEMBRANCE (transferred to Off-Broadway, NYC)
WHAT I DID LAST SUMMER
1991-1992
THE WAREHOUSE (World Premiere)
BRILLIANT TRACES
LISTEN TO THE LIONS (World Premiere)
THE DEAL
1992-1993
ELAINE’S DAUGHTER
TWO (East Coast Premiere)
COBB
JIGSAWS (American Premiere; transferred to Off-Broadway, NYC)
1993-1994
MURDER IN GREEN MEADOWS (East Coast Premiere)
BREAKFAST WITH LESS AND BESS
A PIECE OF MY HEART
SPIKE HEELS
1994-1995
BELMONT AVENUE SOCIAL CLUB
CRIMINAL HEARTS
BETTY THE YETI (East Coast Premiere)
FIGHTING OVER BEVERLEY
1995-1996
SHOTGUN (East Coast Premiere)
THE LADY AND THE CLARINET
MOONSHADOW
TALLEY’S FOLLY
1996-1997
DISTANT FIRES (Black History Month Celebration)
THE LIBRARY (Musical, World Premiere)
ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION
SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME
1997-1998
WILLIAMS AND WALKER (Black History Month Celebration)
STAGE STRUCK
THE DINING ROOM
LONELY PLANET
1998-1999
MISS EVERS’ BOYS (Black History Month Celebration)
A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING
A ROSEN BY ANY OTHER NAME
SKYLIGHT
1999-2000
THE GRANDMAMA TREE (Black History Month Celebration)
SOCIAL SECURITY
LOOT
TAKING SIDES
2000-2001
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA (Black History Month Celebration)
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN (Musical)
NIXON’S NIXON
SIDE MAN
2001-2002
TAMER OF HORSES (Black History Month Celebration)
AN EMPTY PLATE IN THE CAFÉ DU GRAND BOEUF
WITH A SONG IN MY HEART (Great American Composer Series)
THE RIDE DOWN MT. MORGAN
COLLECTED STORIES
2002-2003
FLYIN’ WEST (Black History Month Celebration)
BOY GETS GIRL
ALWAYS, IRVING BERLIN (Great American Composer Series)
FULLY COMMITTED
SPINNING INTO BUTTER
2003-2004
A LESSON BEFORE DYING (Black History Month Celebration)
SYNCOPATION
OVER THE RAINBOW: THE MUSIC OF HAROLD ARLEN (Great American Composer Series)
LOBBY HERO
K2
2004-2005
CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY (Black History Month Celebration)
RHAPSODY IN GERSHWIN (Great American Composer Series)
MEDAL OF HONOR RAG
THE MUSIC LESSON
2005-2006
BLOOD KNOT (Black History Month Celebration)
FRATERNITY (World Premiere)
THE MUSIC OF LERNER AND LOEWE (Great American Composer Series)
CHILDREN
A WALK IN THE WOODS
2006-2007
NATIONAL PASTIME (Black History Month Celebration)
A PICASSO
THE MUSIC OF TIN PAN ALLEY (Great American Composer Series)
FAR EAST
BAD DATES
2007-2008
INTIMATE APPAREL (Black History Month Celebration)
THE MUSIC OF RODGERS AND HART (Great American Composer Series)
THE SHAPE OF THINGS
ROUNDING THIRD
2008-
BEE-LUTHER-HATCHEE (Black History Month Celebration)
AN INFINITE ACHE
THE MERCY SEAT
Stamford Theatre Works closed in 2008. The uncertainty of the global recession caused many of its funders to withhold their financial contributions – the life blood of the theater’s support. At the time of its closing, STW was at the peak of its popularity – 1,500 Subscribers, 20,000 annual program attendees. Stamford Theatre Works was one of the most successful regional theaters in Southwestern Connecticut.