The Summer Theatre of New Canaan (STONC) enriches local communities with a professionally produced theatre experience, providing exciting performances for multigenerational audiences as well as learning opportunities for many of the region's talented performers and technicians who work along side professional performers and production staff.

Ed Libonati is the Executive Director and one of the original team creating the Summer theatre of New Canaan. Prior he was  founding partner of Brandloft, a branding and communications agency based Connecticut. Ed also co-created and was the CEO of ICR Network, an international advertising agency, with companies in the United States and Europe. He is a multi-award winning TV commercial, film, TV Director, writer and producer. He has directed hundreds of commercials, many with celebrities and stars.

Ed has produced and directed jazz, pop and R&B music videos and TV shows plus numerous corporate films. As an on-camera advertising consultant for CNN, Ed commented on advertising trends and campaigns. He has been interviewed on TV & radio talk shows, in numerous trade magazines and featured in USA TODAY. Ed has participated in TV advertising trade panels, hosted award ceremonies, given college, advertising club and community talks. He was also awarded an Ithaca College Communications Ceracche Outstanding Alumnus award.

Active in both the CT arts and community service, Ed serves on the Board of Directors for the Summer Theatre of New Canaan (CT). He is also an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan. Ed has helped raise funds and has promoted local non-profits with commercials, videos or producing events for organizations like the Norwalk Aquarium and Maritime Center, Stamford Center for the Arts, the YMCA of New Canaan, New Canaan Horizons, The Pro Arte Singers, The First Presbyterian Church, The Labyrinth of Connecticut, The New Canaan Nature Center, The Powerhouse Theatre and New Canaan Country School. He is an avid sailor (at least once a year).  Over the past 20 years with the Summer Theatre of New Canaan, Ed is insprired to create a performing theatre arts center that will evolve and thrive in our exciting transforming and increasingly immersive culture.

Melody is a professional director, actress and educator. She has performed leading roles on Broadway, in National Tours and Regional Theatre Companies. She held a running role on the soap opera, One Life to Live , and has been featured in numerous national and regional TV commercials. She has sung on award winning radio and TV jingles.

As a director and choreographer, Melody has staged many plays and musicals utilizing professional, student and local talents. She has written and produced a pilot Music / TV program, "Melody's Drama Rama Kids", adapted from her pre-school creative play program taught in New York City and Connecticut. Melody developed the performing arts program at the King & Low-Heywood Thomas High School in Stamford, CT where she directed the plays and musicals, taught musical theater, acting, dance, speech, and choral singing to hundreds of high school and middle school students.

Diversity - Equity - Inclusion  (DEI) 
Our Statement to address Racism

The Summer theatre of New Canaan is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. As a leader in performance and education in the arts we strive to bring together a diverse team  of artistis and staff.  Individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our artists and staff invest in their work represents not only part of our culture, but our reputation and Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s achievement as well. In recruiting for our team, we seek out the unique contributions that are brought in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.