Equip our Stage at the Niantic Bay Playhouse!

Who We Are

Want to join The East Lyme Regional Theater Guild Inc. in making a difference in the shoreline arts community? Our goal is to finish building and equip our stage with lighting, sound and dressing rooms at our new home, the Niantic Bay Playhouse! For the past twelve years, East Lyme Regional Theater has strived to provide the highest quality productions possible in local venues like the high school auditorium, the bandshell in the park and the town green. NOW, we have the opportunity to PERFORM on a stage of our very own! We are inviting YOU to be a part of our efforts to bring live theater and entertainment to downtown!

How to Succeed in Business, ELHS Auditorium, Summer 2019

Godspell, McCook Park, Summer 2020

Once on This Island, ELHS Auditorium, Summer 2013

Our History

East Lyme Regional Theater was founded by Erin Sousa-Stanley in May 2010, with the full support of East Lyme Parks & Recreation Department. With the goal of building community and enriching lives through the arts, we set out to create a vibrant musical theater experience that would engage people of ALL ages. Mission accomplished! Over the years, we have produced dozens of musicals*, cabarets, summer camps and theater classes. Sold-out audiences have enthusiastically endorsed our productions, and we are proud of the number of performers that have returned each year to participate. In 2016, we formed our own nonprofit, the East Lyme Regional Theater Guild, Inc. to help raise funds for ELRT's future home. Mission accomplished once again!

*Shows to Date:

Challenges We Face Today

Since taking occupancy of the original Niantic Cinemas in March 2023, our energetic volunteers have been very busy cleaning, organizing and painting to give our future patrons the best possible live theater experience. Currently, we can't afford to finish building and equip a new stage with lighting/sound, while paying our monthly expenses such as rent and utilities. Through sales of tickets, merchandise and concessions, we have a budget to pay our rent and utilities, BUT... we need to purchase additional lumber, sheetrock, lighting and sound equipment AND MORE to build a second story on our stage and be ready for our 2023 Season beginning with our most popular, sell-out summer musical that is right around the corner!

We Need Donors Like YOU!

Friends, family, neighbors, business owners, corporations, sponsors, theater-lovers, shoreline property owners, arts supporters, live music fans, etc... we hope you will consider making a contribution to our building and equipment fund. With a proper stage, Niantic Bay Playhouse will be YOUR local venue. Now is the time when we need support the most. When you give, and you see the marquis blazing, you will know that you helped LIGHT IT UP! Any size donation will help us make our dreams come true!

Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts! We can't wait to welcome you to see a show at ELRT's new HOME, the Niantic Bay Playhouse!