Dear President Bergeron,
The Into the Woods team stands in solidarity with Student Voices for Equity.
I am writing to you as a fellow musician and artist. Since January, the cast of Into the Woods has been working diligently day-in and day-out to create a beautiful story about community and found family. On its own, this production spreads an emotional and powerful message of coming together to face challenges and obstacles. It is important to consider the context in which we are performing this show — as artists, we strive to tell stories that provide a truthful and safe space
= that still challenges the audience and the ensemble involved.
However, there comes a point where art can no longer be prioritized, regardless of how much energy has been poured into it. The Into the Woods company, with the support of the Connecticut College Theater Department, recognizes that this means our performances, planned for March 3-5, will not take place as planned until your conscious and active support of our demands as a study body are made clear.
As a senior at Conn, I have been here pre- and post-Palmer renovation, and I am beyond appreciative that I have a gorgeous space to perform my last show, at not only Conn, but potentially my last show in my performance career. There are many individuals involved in this production who do not plan to pursue theater after graduation, making this their last show as well. For all of us involved, this is a show that we have spent countless hours working to bring to the Connecticut College community, a community that you do not support.
As the President of the College, you have voiced your appreciation for and put money into the arts repeatedly. We have seen your support in this very production with your kind donation to allow students to attend Friday’s performance for free. If we cannot go ahead with the performance on Friday night, that accessibility to the theater that you graciously offered will be lost. If your support for Connecticut College’s performing arts community is still a value you uphold, we urge you to resign by Wednesday night so that this beautiful story can be told. This weekend is likely our only chance to share this production, but there is no world in which we bring something so close to our hearts to a stage owned by an Administration that does not care about our wellbeing.
The cancellation of this show will also impact us academically. The over 40 students receiving practicum credit risk losing this credit, for many, delaying their progress in their degrees and impacting their ability to graduate.
It would reflect poorly on Conn if this production does not go on, as this is a direct reflection of how the environment you have created as President is impacting students’ experiences even beyond the classroom — our extracurriculars AND academics are being negatively impacted by this prolonged inaction.
Beyond students, there are many guest artists involved in this production, who we cannot imagine would want to work with our institution again knowing how it is treating its students, faculty, and staff.
We send this email to say: this movement is important and we believe in it wholeheartedly. Due to the timing, this impacts a project that so many of us have spent countless hours working on with our utmost respect, care, and energy. We want this show to go on, but, more importantly, we stand with Student Voices for Equity.
Mia (MJ) Lowy ‘23
Brielle Blood ‘24
Mia Jurkunas ‘24
Emma Lombardo ‘23
Gabriel Josephs ‘23
James Nalle ‘23
Jillian Hughes ‘23
Wylie McCann ‘23
Addie Slade ‘24
Alexa Booker ‘24
Beth Marsh ‘24
Connor Ryan ‘24
Erin Flanagan ‘24
Gray Ruffer ‘24
Griffin McAlinden ‘24
Ian Albanese ‘24
Josh Moylan ‘24
Madalena Rathgeber ‘24
Miranda Van Mooy ‘24
Sydney Marenburg ‘24
Amanda Brady ‘25
Ashley Perez Diaz ‘25
Christian Choumenkovitch ‘25
Emma Dinkelspiel ‘25
Ethan Chin ‘25
Ian Rawlings ‘25
Jade Mamenta ‘25
Jo Duckett ‘25
Kay Hansbrough ‘25
Leila Merhi ’25
Mia Rubino ‘25
Nadia Hopkins ‘25
Ava Mary Aloia ‘26
Claudia Hart ‘26
Gaby Henao ‘26
Harrison Dietzius ‘26
Jem War ‘26
Kian Miranda-Rodriguez ‘26
Lily Weisbart ‘26
Nell Hamilton ‘26
Sophia Wulsin ‘26
Not like we’re missing much by the show not going on
So, the students compliment the college president for supporting the arts and providing them with his wonderful opportunity. They even call her kind, but then give her an ultimatum and ask her to resign? These kids are going to find out quickly how their actions have consequences! Are they going to hold their breath and stomp their feet until they turn blue because mom won’t let them have dessert?
I am deeply disappointed with this cancellation. I am a parent with two daughters graduated from Conn College. The first time I saw the show at the Conn was when my older daughter was at her senior year. I was so impressed and inspired by the student performers. Needless to say, I was waiting to see this show to be brought back this weekend and I also invited some friends to come.
I am saddened that Conn has become so political over the years. Just because you are the loudest, it doesn’t mean you represent what the majorities are thinking. You put so much pressure on your President K.B., as if she is not accommodating enough of your liberal views. I grew up in a communist country, and I saw how the liberals destroyed the societies time and time again.
I agree with you. Can things improve on any college campus? Yes. Should DIEI be funded? Yes. But, to blackmail a college president by not performing because you know and acknowledge it’s important to her is disgraceful and a perfect example of entitlement. Perform your show, do what you love!!
As a CC student in your child’s class, I can assure you this cancellation is in line with the majority of students’ views. Conn hasn’t gotten “political.” Students have found their voices. And those voices have been fostered through the knowledge, help, and encouragement of professors on campus – including the very mentors that taught your kid when Into The Woods was last at Conn. I applaud the cast and crew for supporting their community and standing up for what they believe in.
I had tickets to this show. I love Into The Woods and was excited to go with my elementary school kids, to show my young art-lovers how they can continue to develop their own craft. There will be other chances for that!
I applaud these Conn students and their commitment to their ideals, their solidarity with their occupying peers, and their understanding that politics and art are not separate pursuits. They are sacrificing something (school credit, their moment in the spotlight) for what they believe.
They’ll reap the rewards of that lesson– that standing for something comes at a cost but that it is often worth it– for years to come (a lot longer than the course credit or the warmth of the spotlight). Good for you! Thanks for your courage!
Thank you!
I am very proud of my son and the other members of the Into The Woods team for standing behind their convictions. They put an incredible amount of time and energy into this production, and their willingness to sacrifice that for their community is impressive. Our whole family was excited to see the production this weekend, but seeing the cast and crew demonstrate leadership in this moment was even more inspiring. Thank you for seeing the bigger picture and acting on it.