A Goodnight Kiss Awarded for Historical Impact
The Connecticut League of Museums honored the drama for its portrayal of local Civil War-era history.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Awards
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The Connecticut League of Museums presented its Award of Merit to the play A Goodnight Kiss. The production brings regional history to life by adapting Civil War love letters found in a local home into a theatrical performance.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes creative projects that uphold high professional standards while deepening public engagement with Connecticut history and culture. By transforming historical archives into narrative drama, the play bridges the gap between scholarly research and community storytelling.
The production was staged at the Five Points Arts Center for 2 performances. The script has been formally archived by the U.S. Library of Congress.
The players
Cinzi Lavin
She is the playwright who authored the award-winning script based on historical Civil War correspondence.
Kathy Kelly
She serves as the commissioner and director of the production.
Connecticut League of Museums
This organization supports local heritage through professional development and awards programs.
The details
Written by Cinzi Lavin and commissioned by director Kathy Kelly, the play debuted in the same town where the source letters were discovered. The production furthered its reach in 2026 as the first drama to be performed inside the Connecticut State Capital Building.
Timeline
The play premiered in 2025 in the town where the letters were found.
The play was staged in the Connecticut State Capital Building in 2026.
An awards ceremony will take place in October 2026 at the New Britain Museum of American Art.
Culture Shift
This award highlights a broader trend of public history institutions embracing narrative storytelling to engage audiences. It reflects a shift away from traditional static exhibits toward experiential media that connects local heritage with contemporary artistic platforms.
Residents interested in local history can visit the New Britain Museum of American Art to engage with the award-winning production team later this month. This recognition encourages future community support for similar projects that integrate archival research into regional cultural programming.
The takeaway
Honoring local historical drama encourages further efforts to translate archival records into accessible community media. Audiences can look for similar programs at regional museums that leverage local letters and documents to build public understanding.
What happens next
The playwright, director, and cast are scheduled to attend an awards ceremony and reception at the New Britain Museum of American Art in October 2026.
Further reading
Find more information on local recognitions at Connecticut Awards.
More information
Learn more about the project by visiting the Cinzi Lavin website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
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