Plans Fall Through for Connecticut Shakespeare Theater Renovation

After a vote on Monday evening, the Stratford Town Council has rejected a developer's plan to renovate the Shakespeare Theater in Stratford Connecticut. The 1,500 seat theater has been closed for over two decades, and was to be reopened by Bill Hanney, producer of the Theatre by the Sea in Matunuck, R.I.

The 40-year, $3 million contract with Hanney, of Brewster, Mass., was thrown out by the counsel because of a concern regarding the contract's legality without a performance bond stipulation. The deal had been approved by the council that was in place prior to the November election, but then-Mayor James Miron refused to sign it.

Hanney says he's "very disappointed" with the decision, but he acknowledged the timing isn't right for him now to do the project.

The American Shakespeare Festival Theatre originally opened in 1955 as the result of the work of Lawrence Langner and the support of Lincoln Kirstein and philanthropist Joseph Verner Reed.  In its heyday, the theater featured stars like John Houseman, Christopher Plummer, James Earl Jones, Christopher Walken, Julie Taymor and Kelsey Grammer. Chartered as a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational institution, the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre remained in operation until 1991, when it was officially cut from the state budget. 

Since its closing, several unsuccessful attempts have been made to reopen the theater, however none have followed through due to financial issues. In 2005, the state of Connecticut transferred the property and theater over to town of Stratford.

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