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Elliott Cunningham

@escunningham

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@nlbarn Managing Director.
@copperfieldmusical Company Manager.
🏡Wilmot Flat, NH
🏢Hudson Heights, Manhattan NYC

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A 300 word commentary...

A summer bucket list might include the obligatory visit to a favorite swimming hole, the reading of a salacious beach read and the devouring of a barbecue feast.

But for me, the season requires one other thing: seeing a summer stock production.

So, I visited New Hampshire this past week and caught the New London Barn Playhouse’s staging of “Escape to Margaritaville” (my review just ran). Granted, I was eager to attend because I hadn’t seen the show since its original Broadway production, which I thought was unfairly maligned. And, well, I’m a Jimmy Buffett fan.

At the same time, I just wanted to experience summer stock. It’s a great American tradition with a simple playbook: Audiences far from the big city – often in some of the country’s most bucolic settings -- get the opportunity to enjoy theater, while actors – especially young, aspiring actors -- get the opportunity to perfect their craft.

All this comes together in robust fashion at New London, which has a handpicked ensemble of college-age talents who appear in shows throughout the summer season. And the audience clearly relishes the chance to see them: Many performances are all but sold out, including the one I attended.

Like other summer theaters, New London also has its own cherished traditions – I love the fact that you can rent a seat cushion for the princely sum of 5 cents. The price has been in place for ages.

Summer stock isn’t what it used to be, however: The golden age of this theatrical ritual was decades ago when various economic and societal factors worked in its favor. Many once bustling summer theaters have closed up shop since then.

But some survive and prosper. New London is proof of that. And summer just wouldn’t be the same without places like it.

#newlondonbarnplayhouse #summerstock #the100wordreview @nlbarn @escunningham

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Thank you, @nlbarn, for a marvelous company party on @sunapeecruises! #ziggyspizza #vivalabarn

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vacation is over!

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LITERALLY why not?! Life is SHORT. #dump #byebyeblues save the daylight!! Longer days are here. #springing 🩵🌨️#nyc #pennstate

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My show @late_musical is getting a full production in Boston — for just five performances and I would so love for you to be there! Whether you’ve followed LATE from early drafts or are encountering it for the first time, this is the version I most need you to see. An exploration of coming of age in the era of school shootings, this developmental co-production by @moonboxproductions and Love Sadie Musicals brings LATE to life with staging, choreography, set, lights, sound, and an incredible cast. Mar 6-14, Ticket link in my bio and at latemusical.com

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We heard it’s 2016

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2025: absolutely wild year, high highs and low lows, full of surprises, fulfilling in ways i didn’t know i needed. i’m not one for “dumps” but seemed like a 12 months worth documenting…

1. january: @tg_etm ‘s inaugural mixer at @enochs.nyc - shout out to @meggy_eggy_k

2. february: @charleneincarnate IS Patti LuPone at @cmoneverybodybk

3. march: 5-year-overdue housewarming party in which the only pic i took was of the spread

4. april: @maggiewil5on loving every minute of @jackiehoffman16 getting the crowd riled up for…me… at @transportgrp’s gala

5. may: celebrating downtown king David Greenspan at the legendary Westbeth

6. june: a month of whiplash, only made possible with heroes of the american theatre and REAL real ones @ggwiggans and @joeychancey

7. july: dream team of @ketnerrocks @hunter.regian @joeychancey @baayork making theatre history with @achorusline50

8. august: the dawning of the age of @frankiebunstagram

9. september: “working” with @udimsumulosesum and @ggwiggans at @theatreaspenco

10. october: women who DO support women - another dream team on @rhonyopera @marybdirects @sharonkennymusic @grandma.roland

11. november: celebrating 30 years of @hunter.regian

12. december: endlessly talented @joeychancey at the helm of @christmastimeinnyc

2026: you’ve got a lot to live up to

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It’s opening night for The Pet Project! So grateful to TFG Transport Group and New London Barn Playhouse and Laurie Graff and Nancy Shayne and Francesca James and this phenomenal cast for brining me such joy! Love being here and bringing this beautiful new show to an audience for the first time! Here we go!

Read more about the show at the link in my bio! ❤️

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Wow! Revisiting this show with an amazing team, led by the ever present @dababadoo , was not something I knew I needed to do this summer but my spirit and my artistic soul are so grateful for this recharge. I am always proud of the work @nlbarn does but this production is next level! Congratulations to everyone involved in making this show such a success! You all are Fabulous baby!

Director/Choreographer: Deidre Goodwin^
Music Director: Chase Kessler
Scenic Designer: Christian Fleming++
Lighting Designer: Keith A. Truax++
Costume Designer: Dustin Cross++
Sound Designer: Zachariah Rosenbaum
Props Designer: Julia Kowalski
Hair & Wig Designer: Isabella Balfour

Production Stage Manager: Margaret Kayes*
Assistant Stage Manager: Wavyne White*
2nd Assistant Stage Manager: Miranda Munson
Photography & Videography: Ridgelight Studiocostumedesign

#costumedesign #costumedesigner #sisteract #sisteractmusical #whoopigoldberg #alanmenken #raiseyourvoice #nlbarn #boogienuns

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I kept chanting “run your race, run your pace”! My 5th time running the best 13.1 miles in New England. The perfect day for the course today, and I shaved 5 minutes off my time from last year!

@coveredbridgeshalfmarathon

Thanks for the pics and the cheers @rachel.segall ‼️

Oh, and HAPPY PRIDE! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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@transportgrp’s 2025 gala, honoring Ted Chapin and Linda Taft Mackinnon

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March was a month full of friends 🥰 and hobbies, work travel, gardening, house projects, picnics, and of course, loving my #kinnywildman 🐶

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