Residents Named To Shakespeare Theater Task Force In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford Mayor Laura R. Hoydick has named 11 town residents to serve on a newly-formed Shakespeare Property Task Force that will be managed through the Stratford Redevelopment Agency (RDA). The task force will manage the community conversations for the future public use of the grounds that once held the historic American Shakespeare Festival Theater, which was destroyed by a fire in the early morning hours on Jan. 13. The theater held its last performance in the late 1980s and was vacant at the time of the fire, which remains under investigation.

Hoydick said that a facilitating consultant would be hired to work with the task force to set up charrettes and gatherings so interested parties and the public at large can come out and voice their thoughts and share their visions about what the future use of the theater property will be.

“The formation of this task force is the first critical step in ensuring that we move forward quickly, but diligently and transparently, in resolving what the Town of Stratford will do with the Shakespeare Theater property,” Hoydick said in a news release. “There are many visions about how the Town should move forward with this property, and we want to make sure everyone who wants to be a part of this process can be. This committee will provide the forum for the voices of the community to be heard.”

Hoydick said that at the conclusion of the formal community conversations, the task force will compile a report to be reviewed by the RDA and submitted to the Town Council.

“This task force is not making decisions about the future of the property,” Hoydick said. “They are assembling the desires and visions across our diverse community for review by the Town Council.”

Hoydick added that for those who had hoped to be a part of the task force but were not selected, there remains a great deal of work to do, and they will have a role.

“Many people reached out to us looking to help with the work of this task force, and I thank each and every person who is offering to be a part of the future of the Shakespeare property,” Hoydick said. “I can assure everyone who wants to be a part of the future of this property that there will be an important role for them going forward – this is just the beginning.”

The following were named to the Shakespeare Property Task Force:

• Anthony Nizzardo – co chair
• Tom Dillon – co-chair
• Al Baran
• Amanda Meeson
• Ed Goodrich
• Eric Hampton
• Peter Wood
• Sib Law
• Scott Bartelson
• Patti Sorrentino-Galello
• Frank Bevacqua

Hoydick noted that the RDA managed the community outreach process for the former Center School property and she imagined this process being facilitated in a similar way.

Those wishing to receive updates on the town’s progress on the Shakespeare Theater property can send their name, email and phone number to Shakespeare@TownofStratford.com to be added to the information distribution list.