SHU Community Theatre Launches New Initiative Exploring Culture Through Performance

New humanities initiative pairs live performances with artist discussions and cultural interpretation to deepen audience engagement

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University Community Theatre (SHU Community Theatre) is launching Music in Context: Exploring Culture Through Performance, a new humanities-focused performance series during its 2026–2027 season
• The initiative is supported by a Connecticut Humanities Quick Grant awarded to SHU Community Theatre
• Music in Context combines live musical performances, post-performance artist discussions, and humanities-focused program guides to help audiences understand the history, culture, identity, and traditions behind the music

The Sacred Heart University Community Theatre is launching Music in Context: Exploring Culture Through Performance, an innovative new series that pairs exceptional live performances with humanities-based programming designed to deepen audiences’ understanding of the history, culture, and traditions behind the music. The initiative is supported by a Connecticut Humanities Quick Grant awarded to the theatre to launch the series during its 2026–2027 season.

The series uses live performance as a gateway to exploring culture, identity, and history through three distinctive musical traditions. Each event will feature a nationally or internationally acclaimed artist, a post-performance discussion with the artist and a moderator, and a printed program guide providing historical and cultural context to enrich the audience experience.

The inaugural Music in Context series includes:

• Sonia De Los Santos (World Music) on September 19, 2026: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos brings audiences on a joyful musical journey through the rich traditions of Latin America, celebrating bilingualism, community, and cultural connection through music for all ages.
• Danilo Pérez Trio: (Panamonk, Jazz) on October 25, 2026: Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, educator, and UNESCO Artist for Peace Danilo Pérez is internationally recognized for redefining contemporary jazz by blending the rich musical traditions of Panama with jazz improvisation and global influences.
• New Haven Symphony Orchestra Strings Candlelight Concert (Classical) on January 31, 2027: One of the nation's oldest orchestras, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra will present an intimate candlelight performance celebrating the enduring power of orchestral music and its role as a cornerstone of cultural life.

From left are Sonia De Los Santos, the Danilo Pérez Trio, and New Haven Symphony Orchestra

Building on the theatre’s established world music, jazz, and classical series, each performance will invite audiences to explore how music reflects history, cultural identity, storytelling, migration, innovation, and social change. Post-performance discussions will feature the artists alongside moderators drawn from Sacred Heart University's faculty and theatre leadership, bringing scholarly and artistic perspectives together in conversation.

“We're honored to receive this support from Connecticut Humanities," said Matthew Oestreicher, executive director of SHU Community Theatre. “Great art doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it comes from particular people, places, histories, and traditions. With Music in Context, we want to give audiences an opportunity to experience extraordinary artists while also discovering the stories and cultural influences behind the music. Our hope is that people leave not only moved by what they heard, but with a deeper understanding of where it came from and why it matters."

“This grant allows us to build on what the theatre already does so well by creating richer experiences around extraordinary performances,” said Sara DeRose, director of development for the theatre. “Whether someone attends a jazz concert, a classical performance, or a world music event, we want them to leave with not only a memorable artistic experience, but also a deeper understanding of the cultures, histories, and human stories behind the music. Music in Context reflects our commitment to making the performing arts a catalyst for lifelong learning, curiosity, and community connection.”

Each performance will be accompanied by a humanities-focused program guide developed specifically for the series, providing audiences with historical and cultural context before the discussion begins.

The series also reflects the theatre’s ongoing commitment to arts education and community engagement. Through partnerships with Bridgeport Public Schools, SHU, Horizons Bridgeport and the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra, the theatre will offer discounted community access tickets for students and families, helping ensure these programs remain accessible to a broad audience.