New Beginnings

A bit over one week and three years ago, March 5, 2015, the Stratford Town Council selected The American Shakespeare Theatre, Inc. (formerly The Stratford Stage Group, Inc.) to restore and operate the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre on Elm Street. At the same meeting the Elm Street Theater Group’s proposal was denied and Frank Farriker and Suzanne Cahill, the two principals, turned their attention to restoring and operating the long closed Globe Theater in Norwalk, renaming it, the Wall Street Theater.

Next year, January 11, 2016, the newly installed Stratford Town Council chaired by Beth Daponte, voted to table the Shakespeare Theatre Project. Then on March 14th, the Council voted to re-start the contract negotiations. However, on April 11th, Ms. Daponte relinquished the Chair to Chairman pro-tem, Mr. Chase, in order to allow herself to make a motion that negotiations with the Stratford Stage Group be and are hereby ended. The motion passed and she reassumed the Chair. Ms. Daponte acted in bad faith and in the opinion of several legal experts, illegally: cutting off all negotiations with the Council’s chosen developer for the Shakespeare Theatre revitalization and then trying to do an end run around the Council’s decision by later forming another (ineffective) “Shakespeare Subcommittee” and appointing herself as Chair.

No Tax Credits were to be used by the Chosen Developer, which was one large part of the reason for the Council’s award. In stark contrast, the eventual failure and bankruptcy of the Wall Street Theatre in Norwalk can be directly attributed to Mr. Farriker’s reliance on Tax Credits that did not materialize.

With all these very questionable machinations, and even though advised to do so, The American Shakespeare Theatre, Inc. did NOT sue the Town or Ms. Daponte. Is it any wonder why the voters in Stratford have rejected her for any elected positions in Town?

The American Shakespeare Theatre, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation, founded by David D. Reed in 2014, has re-formulated their Proposal to eliminate the “Shakespeare Inn” in favor of a much smaller, Visitor Center/Museum/Restaurant. His co-founders and associates include CEO George C. White (founder of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and co-chairman of Yale School of Drama Theater Management Department for 14 years), President Joseph Visconti (Emmany award-winning producer and public relations expert), Artistic Director Michael Kahn (co-founder of Julliard School of Drama and Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC for 31 years), and Musical Theatre Director Michael P. Price (Executive Director of Goodspeed Musicals for 45 years and now Chairman of Connecticut Commission of Culture and Tourism).

Now in 2018, the Town of Stratford is poised on the possibility of re-opening this iconic Theatre. The American Shakespeare Theatre, Inc. has significant, certified plans for restoring its 1500-seat auditorium to state-of-the-art specifications and operating it to present the finest in theatrical productions, educational services and profitable enjoyment to tens of thousands of visitors and theatre lovers from across the nation. We have the support of the Town of Stratford’s Mayor, Ms. Laura Hoydick and significant support from members of the Town Council. With substantial seed-money and a wealth of expertise and experience in place, this noble effort will begin again, succeed and thrive.

Where there’s Theatre . . . there’s Life!

Dan Wolgemuth Director of Communications The American Shakespeare Theatre, Inc.