‘Topping Off’ Celebrated at Legacy Theatre in Stony Creek
Non-profit Legacy Theatre CT and supporters held a “topping off” celebration for the renovated structure of the historic Stony Creek building on Friday, Aug. 21, when a traditional evergreen tree was set atop the building by a crew from O,R & L Construction (Branford).
The tree was lifted into place following a short celebratory ceremony with speakers including founding member Stephanie Stiefel Williams, chair of the Board of Legacy Theatre; Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and founding member Keely Baisden Knudsen, artistic director of the Legacy Theatre.
Even in times of a pandemic, it is “...still important to support the arts,” said Stiefel Williams. “Because sometime in the near future, we are going to begin to return to a sense of normalcy. People are longing for the lights to come back on in the theater.”
Cosgrove said the topping off milestone was an important point in the project, but that what was also being celebrated that day was a milestone for Legacy Theatre in their mission. He said the theatre will also complement a growing interest in tourism in Branford and Stony Creek, which will help all industry thrive. The theatre will use a commuter bus to bring many theater-goers into Stony Creek from a commuter parking lot at I-95 Exit 56.
Cosgrove said the day was also an important milestone for the community.
“When you start to see [the theatre take shape], it transforms the curiosity to excitement. People are now waiting for the doors to open and be a part of the celebration of the arts that will occur here long into the future,” said Cosgrove.
Knudsen said the structure is a “physical manifestation” of what can happen when organizations and communities work together and “dream together.”
“For years we have envisioned what it could be, and banned together with the community to make it happen,” said Knudsen, adding, “...this moment celebrates all who are making this theater become what it will be in just a few short months. An outstanding jewel of a theatre, a state-of-the art venue for live theatre and specialized training that will be better, safer, more efficient, more community oriented and more professional and beautiful than ever before.”
Ahead of announcing the upcoming 2021 season anticipated to open at the new Legacy Theatre beginning in April 2021, Knudsen also noted the building will be equipped with a state of the art clean air infiltration system and that the theatre is developing COVID-19 safety practices and working models for the safety of audience members.
“Very soon we will be launching our ticket sales for our 2021 season, which will be a wonderfully busy season,” said Knudsen.
Legacy plans to bring accessible play productions, musicals, classics, new works, Broadway cabarets/concerts, shows for young audiences as well as classes for all levels and ages and much more. The season will kick off with a grand opening featuring Broadway and TV star Telly Leung on Friday, April 16, 2021. The theatre’s first main stage production will open 12 days later. During the 2021 season, Legacy Theatre CT will also host a solo concert Broadway performer series, a Saturday morning children’s series, and Expanded Voices series for those who have been marginalized and Legacy’s Wheel Life Theatre troupe, for those who ambulate with assistance, said Knudsen. She also noted the building hosts a handicapped accessible tech booth, which is “...quite unusual for an historic theatre.”
Knudsen said the Legacy also needs continued support from more founding donors.
“Our founding donors are critical to finishing this project and will have a permanence in Legacy’s history,” she noted. “Please consider becoming a founder donor; the most impactful of donors, as you will be the ones bringing us to the finish line and creating this building’s new history.”
As work on the building progresses, Legacy Theatre CT’s offerings have been curated to meet the pandemic, including a popular online “Social Distance Theatre” series with more than 25 different episodes created, to date. Visit www.legacytheatrect.org to learn more, to take a virtual tour of the renovated building, and to donate.