Long Wharf Theatre: A Legacy in Moments
Join the New Haven Museum (NHM) for “Long Wharf Theatre: A Legacy in Moments,” a celebration of nationally renowned theatre photographer T. Charles Erickson. The event will include a tour of Erickson’s photographs and a conversation with Erickson and theatre journalist Frank Rizzo, moderated by Long Wharf Theatre Artistic Director Jacob G. Padrón and followed by a Q&A, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. The free event will be preceded by a tour with Long Wharf Theatre’s Director of Artistic Planning and Exhibition Curator Jessica Durdock Moreno at 2:15 p.m.
The program will open with a reception at 3:00 p.m. in the NHM ballroom. Visitors will meet the artist and celebrate his astonishing body of work. Erickson’s artistry constitutes the majority of the dozens of images in the current NHM exhibition, “Invitation to Engage: 60 Years of Long Wharf Theatre & Beyond,” an immersive and interactive experience celebrating the history, legacy, and future of New Haven’s own world-class theatre company, on view through February 2026.
With his keen eye for composition and lighting, Erickson’s photographs capture the energy, emotion and intricacies of stage performances. He has a talent for freezing moments that convey the essence of a production, from powerful acting moments revealing deep emotional presence to visually stunning set designs and costumes.
Commenting on Erickson’s career, Rizzo notes, “Charlie Erickson’s body of work is simply breathtaking—and he certainly makes my stories come alive. He knows just how to capture the essence of a production, bringing to life one great stage moment after another, moments that otherwise would have just become an increasingly distant memory. But Charlie was there and, through his lens and by his artistry, so are we.” He adds, “Charlie and his work are theatrical treasures.”
Since 1984, Erickson has photographed scores of Long Wharf Theatre productions, capturing singular moments on stage, including iconic performances by: Joanne Woodward in “Arsenic and Old Lace”; Frances McDormand in “All My Sons”; Al Pacino in “Hugie”; Mary Alice in “The Amen Corner”; Kathleen Turner in “Camille”; Martha Plimpton in “Hedda Gabler”; Billy Porter in “Going Native”; the world premiere of Arthur Miller’s “Broken Glass,” and many more.
Noting the relationship between Erickson’s legacy and Long Wharf Theatre’s history, Padrón says, “Through his own virtuosic artistry, Charlie Erickson has captured the extraordinary moments in Long Wharf Theatre’s storied history that have captivated artists and audiences across New Haven, the nation, and beyond. Through his powerful photos, the beauty, courage, innovation, and grit of Long Wharf Theatre’s boundary-breaking productions will continue to inspire us all for generations to come.”
In addition to his extensive contribution to the Long Wharf Theatre archive, Erickson has photographed productions for the Hartford Stage Company, Yale Rep, Princeton’s McCarter Theatre, Boston’s A.R.T. and Huntington Theatres, Classic and Westport Country Playhouse, among others, and numerous independently mounted Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.
The highlight of “Long Wharf Theatre: A Legacy in Moments,” will be a conversation between Erickson, who has called New Haven home since the late 1970s, and Frank Rizzo, a Connecticut resident of over 40 years. Rizzo is an acclaimed theatre journalist whose work can be read in Variety, The New York Times, Connecticut Magazine, The Hartford Courant, Encore magazine, and others—and whose articles have featured Erickson’s photographs throughout the years.
Moderating the conversation will be Long Wharf Theatre Artistic Director Jacob G. Padrón. The conversation will encompass Erickson’s body of work, his approach to capturing stars in their most virtuosic turns on the stage, reflections on his vast archive, and a recognition of the impact his legacy will have on the theatre industry for generations to come. The conversation will conclude with an open forum Q&A with the audience—but not before delighting in Erickson’s behind-the-scenes anecdotes featuring his run-ins with the brightest luminaries of the American theatre.
“Invitation to Engage: 60 Years of Long Wharf Theatre & Beyond” is on view through February 2026. The exhibition features a collection of costumes, posters, and rare archival treasures that bring the vibrant history of Long Wharf Theatre to life, and a “who’s who” of stage royalty, including Rita Moreno, Colman Domingo, Al Pacino, Frances McDormand, Anna Deavere Smith, Steve Martin, Jessica Tandy and many more. The exhibition will remain on view through February 2026.
The exhibition invites visitors to step inside six decades of theatrical history. Visitors may try on costumes, explore an immersive set recreation, flip through original scripts, and experience an interactive rehearsal space alongside a gallery spotlighting the next generation of Long Wharf Theatre artists.
Dozens of original production photos and archival treasures take center stage in the rotunda, offering a “deep dive” into the context, relevance, and enduring resonance of seminal productions—from 1965 to today.