Future Of Shakespeare Theater Site, Community Feedback Discussed

STRATFORD, CT — The American Shakespeare Festival Theatre may be gone, but it was clear at a meeting Tuesday that Stratford residents remain invested in the future of the property where it once stood. Experts reviewed the results of a community outreach effort seeking feedback on how to use the theater site after the long-vacant venue burned down in January.

"Inaction has been a detriment to us," Mayor Laura Hoydick said. "... We have a second chance and I'm really excited about the second chance."

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. Three teenagers have been charged in connection with the fire. The theater site is deeded to the town by the state and intended for community use.

About 700 people offered input about the property through community workshops, an online survey and other feedback, according to a presentation by Patrick Carleton, deputy director of the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments, which served as a consultant for Stratford. Most of the community outreach for the theater site, including the five workshops, took place in April. The effort was overseen by a special task force formed by Hoydick.

"There's a lot of passion, involvement, interest in this," said Town Planner Susmitha Attota, who assisted with the presentation.

Feedback indicated residents envision the property as a destination for local talent and arts, want improved accessibility to the site and hope to see it become a place for events such as festivals and concerts in the short term, according to the presentation. The theater property provides an opportunity for Stratford to develop a local or regional attraction and address community needs.

"It's a clean slate, it's an empty space," Carleton said.

The majority of residents hope to see the property used initially for live events and open space and in the long term as a multi-use arts and entertainment space or theater, according to the presentation. In terms of financing future site use, community members suggested grants, public-private partnerships, revenue-generating events, and corporate, private and nonprofit funding.

After the presentation, the task force discussed the findings, with member Al Baran saying whatever occupies the property should operate year-round, member Frank Bevacqua saying public and private funding would likely be key, and member Curtis Eller questioning how to gauge market demand for the site.

Another meeting will be held about the theater site July 9 at Stratford Town Hall. It will focus completely on public response to the community feedback on the property.

Additionally, the town of Stratford and the nonprofit Stratford Forward have plans to host an arts festival at the theater site during the first full weekend of September.