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06/10/2019 12:00 AMOn June 6, the Legacy Theatre took the next step toward building a legacy in Branford, with a special groundbreaking ceremony that included a warm welcome from the town and the village of Stony Creek.
The construction project underway, which will improve the former Stony Creek Puppet House while retaining the historic theater’s character, is scheduled to be completed in 2020. The project has been in the making since the building was purchased by Legacy in 2012, and has overcome many obstacles to strike the best balance between the goals and mission of the Legacy Theatre and the small village in which it resides.
The building was originally opened in 1903 as a movie theater and went on to become a community theater, a pre-Broadway house, a World War II-era parachute factory, and several decades as a puppet museum and multi-arts venue featuring famed Sicilian marionettes, until its final years as performance venue, which often drew audiences that were considered disruptive to the community. The building fell into disrepair and was closed 2009.
On June 6, a tent beside the building at 128 Thimble Island Road was filled with well-wishers and community leaders who literally brought tears of joy to the eyes of Legacy’s artistic director and co-founder, Keely Baisden Knudsen. Knudsen was introduced as the day’s master of ceremony duties by an equally excited and emotionally moved Stephanie Williams, president of the Legacy’s Board of Directors.
Particularly pulling at the heartstrings of both Knudsen and Williams were the words of Greg Ames of the Stony Creek Architectural Review Board (SCARB).
“We all remember some time ago when Legacy Theatre first came to Stony Creek,” said Ames. “They received a less than enthusiastic reception from a community stung by prior events in the building. Since that time, things have changed. During that change, I’ve watched the progress of the restoration...first as a member of the Stony Creek Association’s board and then as chair of the [SCARB].”
As a mediator during the process, Ames remarked on the work of the theater to understand the community and to accept “extensive constraints on their operations” to meet the village’s needs.
“I witnessed their intense desire to become a good neighbor and contributing member of the community,” said Ames.
He also said SCARB was “very gratified” by the theater’s efforts to work with the board when planning the building renovation to produce an appropriate, historically accurate design plan.
That collaboration also led to Legacy’s approval in April 2019 for a 25 percent tax credit from the Connecticut Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office. The credit goes toward costs associated with the rehabilitation of a certified historic structure. The Legacy Theatre is raising $4.2 million to restore the theater to a state-of-the-art neighborhood theater arts center.
In closing, Ames said, “the community has overcome our differences and worked together to create a result that should make us all proud. Here we are, at a groundbreaking and rebirth of a unique community treasure, The future will be stewarded by a caring and concerned Legacy Theatre. Legacy Theatre, we welcome you to our community, and we wish you all possible success.”
Knudsen later told Zip06/The Sound she didn’t expect it, but Ames’s words did bring tears to her eyes.
“It was so meaningful. He was there, with all the negotiations, for those years,” said Knudsen. “I’m such a naturally optimistic person that I would like to think that we are being welcomed, but it’s not until you hear from one of the residents that’s so involved and emotionally invested in it saying those words that it truly resonates and I believe it, and say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe we got this far.’ It’s amazing, and we’re so happy to be here.”
Other speakers at the June 6 celebration included Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Lou Mangini from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s Office, Shoreline Chamber of Commerce President Sheri Cote, and Julie Carmelich from the State Historic Preservation Office.
Cosgrove also welcomed Legacy Theatre to the Branford community and congratulated the board and volunteers for seeing the project through to fruition.
“I know this has been a long road for Legacy Theatre,” said Cosgrove. “However, I think there are positives to that. I think over these years you’ve developed a greater amount of support, a greater presence throughout our community and that Legacy has now become part of the community and a partner in the community.”
Since the Legacy Theatre was established in 2011, it’s brought community programming that now numbers more than 50 theatrical productions, as well providing classes, workshops, in-school programs and acting workshops. Currently underway is Legacy’s pilot project for actors who use assisted ambulation, “Wheel Life Theatre Troupe.”
From Tuesday to Saturday, July 2 to 6, to celebrate Branford’s 375th birthday, Legacy will present the town’s first Shakespeare on the Green event in its history, with free public performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, sponsored by Branford Community Foundation.
Cosgrove also noted that while Legacy Theatre’s building renovation maintains the charm and history of the original building, its programming will also enhance the opportunities for the arts and the enjoyment of the arts in Branford, while providing economic development that will spin off throughout the town.
Mangini, who also happens to be an actor and producer, said he had just attended the Connecticut Arts Council Annual Meeting on June 5, where the council called for celebrating “the rich arts” in the area.
“We are just so fortunate to have things like the Legacy Theatre, to have places small and big—sometimes a warehouse that we can convert into a theater space—to bring the community together, and to contribute to the region’s economic development. So congratulations, great to see this going up,” said Mangini, adding “and maybe, I’ll be in here sometime!”
“That’s the best audition I’ve ever seen!” said Knudsen, as she invited Legacy’s board members and visiting officials to join her in taking up one of several golden shovels and don a hardhat for the official groundbreaking.
To learn more about programs and offerings, or to make a donation to non-profit Legacy Theatre’s Capital Campaign, visit www.legacytheatrect.org or find @LegacyTheatreCT on Facebook.