Arts Fest At Shakespeare Theater Site Planned After Fire

STRATFORD, CT — The town of Stratford and the nonprofit Stratford Forward are seeking donations to host an arts festival at the former site of the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre, which was destroyed in January by a fire. The Stratford Arts and Culture Festival will take place the first full weekend of September under the theme “The Phoenix Season: Art from the Ashes,” according to the town website.

“… The Shakespeare property will be transformed into a multimedia music, theater, arts and community festival, all with a focus on local Stratford arts and culture,” the website stated.

Opened in 1955 and host to famous actors and actresses, the theater largely stopped showing plays in the 1980s. There had been talk for decades about how to revitalize the historic property before the blaze. Vincent Keller and Christopher Sakowicz, both 18, are accused of setting the fire and 17-year-old Logan Caraballo drove them to the theater property, the Connecticut Post has reported. The three will be tried as adults. In January, Mayor Laura Hoydick named 11 residents to a task force to manage discussion about future public use of the theater property.

“This ‘groundbreaking’ event is the beginning of Stratford’s next chapter, celebrating our past and planning to rebuild for tomorrow,” stated press materials about the event.

The festival will include art installations, an artisans village, historical walks, food trucks and three stages: a main stage for theater performances, a music stage and a children’s stage, according to the town website. The event at American Shakespeare State Park will also feature an outdoor art exhibit made of remnants from the Shakespeare theater, as well as yoga classes, musical instruction and a stage combat workshop.

To donate to the festival effort and for information about donor reward levels, visit www.gofundme.com/stratford-ct-2019-phoenix-season.