Stories of heart, growth, and the human experience

Fiction and memoir from storyteller Gary Scarpa

Meet Gary Scarpa

More than four decades on the stage taught me about art, life, and storytelling. For 43 years, I directed over 200 theatrical productions—from high school stages to founding Center Stage Theatre in Connecticut. Those experiences became Lessons from the Stage, my memoir about the transformative power of theater.
I also write an ongoing coming-of-age fiction series set in the world of my beloved protagonist, Gabriel DeMarco: Still Life, Gabriel’s hero’s journey, a road trip adventure set in early 1970s America, and What Are the Chances?, a WWII-era romance about Gabriel’s parents. Stay tuned for Gabriel’s next adventure!

Novelist and memoir writer sharing life’s vivid moments.

Coming Soon!

Gary’s inspiring book about a lifetime in the theater.

LESSONS FROM THE STAGE

Theater changes lives. It changed Gary Scarpa’s life—and, in return, the lives of thousands of performers of all ages that he and his family guided for more than forty years. In this deeply reflective memoir, Scarpa shares how a single audition reshaped his future and led to a life built on creativity, collaboration, and the magic of live performance. Warm, engaging, and relatable, Scarpa’s story offers insights for anyone who’s ever stood under the lights, worked behind the scenes, or simply sat in the audience and felt transformed. Launching Spring 2026

Also by Gary Scarpa

Enjoy Coming of Age fiction by Gary.

Still Life

A coming-of-age road trip through 1970s America
Gabriel DeMarco’s journey of self-discovery

What are the Chances?

An epic WWII romance with echoes of the past
Passionate, intriguing, and historic

Team Scarpa

As a family, the Scarpas created theater together in Connecticut’s Lower Naugatuck Valley for decades. After Gary and Fran opened Center Stage Theatre in Shelton in 2005, daughters Gina and Mia were instrumental in helping the organization become a thriving nonprofit with a budget exceeding half a million dollars. When Gary began writing novels, he knew the Scarpa team had the skills to help make his venture into publishing a success too.