Travel back to the 17th century and hear what five women accused of witchcraft have to say. In this riveting one-woman play, actress Virginia Wolf brings them to life, fully costumed, fully incensed, fully frightened. Painstakingly researched, Panic in Connecticut: Accused Witches Have Their Say sheds light on a Puritan society that condemned so-called witches to their death 30 years before the hysterics of Salem, Massachusetts.

Between 1642 and 1693, at least 40 people in the colony of Connecticut were tried as witches, and at least 10 of them were hanged. Most of them were women.

Who were these women? How did they come to be accused of witchcraft? What was life like for them? Did they truly practice witchcraft? Who were their accusers, and why. How and why did the accusing of witches finally end…or has it? Many records are lost or non-existent, but we can learn enough to begin to understand what life was like back then, and why witchcraft was such an all-encompassing subject.

Reception: 6:00 pm. Performance in Webb Barn: 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Followed by a brief talkback. Tickets available HERE.

About Virginia Wolf

Virginia is founder of Herstory Theater, generally dedicated to bringing to life the unsung heroines of history, as well as producing a host of additional projects that both celebrate women and history, and a simple love of theater and performing (learn more at www.herstorytheater.com).

She has written and currently offers two original plays for performances, Panic in Connecticut: Accused Witches Have Their Say, about the Connecticut witchcraft panics of the 17th century, and Katy Leary and Mark Twain, bringing to life a dedicated maid to the Clemens family.  In addition, she can be found onstage anywhere in Connecticut that will cast her!  Most recently, she took on the role of Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment with the Diamond Theater Company, and Winnie in for Playland Productions.  Other favorite roles are Barbara in August Osage County, Anna in Night Sky, and Joan in The Guys.  She works as a voiceover artist and audio book narrator, and hosts “SpotLight, Radio Reveling in the Arts and Entertainment” on WLIS/WMRD.