Sharon Playhouse Opens Its Season with Spotlight Gala
The Northwest Corner's beloved summer theater launches 2026 with an outdoor gala honoring a motorsport legend and community pillar.
May 30 | Sharon, CT
The Sharon Playhouse kicks off its 2026 season on Saturday night with its annual Spotlight Gala, an evening of live performance, dinner, cocktails, and celebration outdoors that this year doubles as a tribute to Skip Barber, the longtime Sharon Playhouse board member, community leader, and motorsport pioneer.
Barber founded the Skip Barber Racing School in 1975 and was the owner of Lime Rock Park, the road racing circuit just down the road in Lakeville, from 1984 to 2021. A Philadelphia native who began racing in 1958 while a student at Harvard, Barber won three consecutive SCCA national titles before transitioning from driver to educator.
The evening is directed and choreographed by Krystyna Resavy with music direction by Eric Thomas Johnson, and features performances by both YouthStage students and professional artists. It's a fundraiser and season-opener that feels like the beginning of summer.
Sharon Playhouse, 49 Amenia Rd., Sharon, CT. Tickets at sharonplayhouse.org.
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After a decade of writing for RI (along with many other publications and organizations) Jamie took over as editor in 2025. He has a masters in journalism from NYU, a wonderful wife, two kids and a Carolina dog named Zelda.
