Hartford Stage’s Sleek New Renovation Nears Completion

Theatergoers attending Hartford Stage this fall will entering a building with a decidedly new look.

Since 2010, the Church Street theater has undergone several phases of renovation, including an increase of the number of bathrooms, an expansion of its downstairs lobby, a renovation of its upper lobby, new seating, new HVAC equipment and stage and technological upgrades.

But when the theater formally presents the latest $5.5 million phase in early October, it will have the largest wow factor so far.

Right now, the theater looks like a war zone, with carpeting pulled up, ceilings pulled down, walls removed and new HVAC equipment ready to be installed.

When finished in September, the new lobby will sport fresh carpeting, painting, seating, three video monitors, new display cases, a new bar area and a slightly raised ceiling.

As you approach the theater, you will pass through a courtyard area with planters and benches and enter through a glassed-in area with a new box office setup. A glassed-in elevator, features prominently on the right side of the building, will take passengers to the upper lobby and then to a special accessible-seating area.

The theater which opened in 1977 in its present location will be able to light its iconic red letters that spell out “Hartford Stage” against the red brick backdrop of the Robert Venturi building in a number of different ways. (The logo also will be displayed on the opposite side of the building so those attending Hartford Yard Goats games can see there’s something going on beyond home plate.)

Unseen, but vital to the future of the building, are the upgraded HVAC equipment, all new electronics in the building and roof repairs.

There also will be a new digital marquee, similar to the one for the XL Center. And what will be on it? “Whatever we want,” says managing director Michael Stotts.

Stotts says the project was designed to improve the audience experience, upgrade the theater’s infrastructure and it a state-of-the-art facility for the artists. Many of the upgrades are driven by the Americans with Disabilities Act, he says.

“It will be a new Hartford Stage,” says Stotts. “It will be sleek, contemporary, but I don’t think it will be over-the-top like those [theaters] that make bigger architectural statements. It will be as much as a contemporary theater as it can be with a limited budget in the city of Hartford. …

“We didn’t want to interfere with the Venturi design, but we knew we wanted to open up the building so it was much more transparent to what was going on inside. We wanted to add as much glass as we could without interrupting the space.”

The final $650,000 phase of the total $13 million, multi-year project will take place next summer when the dressing rooms and the Green Room get a face-lift, the costume shop expands by a third and a backstage elevator is installed.

Starting in 2017, some sort of summer programming will be presented, says Stotts, perhaps an extension of the final show of the season or some sort of family or community-oriented shows.

‘Wonderful’ Cast

Duke Lafoon, most recently seen in off-Broadway’s “Clinton: The Musical,” will play George Bailey in the musical “A Wonderful Life” at Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam Sept. 18 through Nov. 29. Lafoon performed the role regionally in other productions.

The show’s score is by Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo (songs on “Sesame Street”) and Tony Award and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Sheldon Harnick (“Fiddler on the Roof,” “Fiorello!”). Harnick also wrote the libretto to “A Wonderful Life.” The show is directed by Michael Perlman and choreographed by Parker Esse (“Fiddler on the Roof,” “Carousel,” “The Most Happy Fella”).

The musical is based on the 1946 Frank Capra holiday classic starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore.

Also featured in the musical are Kirsten Scott (Broadway’s “Big Fish,” “Follies,” “Hairspray”); Logan James Hall (off-Broadway’s “The House of Connelly”); Ed Dixon (Broadway’s “Anything Goes,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Mary Poppins”; Goodspeed’s “Something’s Afoot,” “Big River” and “Pirates of Penzance”); Josh Franklin (Broadway’s “Ghost,” “Anything Goes”); Frank Vlastnik, (Broadway’s “A Year with Frog and Toad,” “Sweet Smell of Success”); Bethe B. Austin (Goodspeed’s “The Boy Friend”); Ryan G. Dunkin (national tour of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story”); Michael Medeiros (off-Broaddway’s “Violet,” Goodspeed’s “The Baker’s Wife,”); George McDaniel (Broadway’s “Big River”); Kevin C. Loomis (Broadway’s “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”); and Ben Stone-Zelman (Hartford Stage’s “A Christmas Carol”).

Also cast are Riley and Ella Briggs, Alissa Alter, Maddy Apple, Drew Nellessen, Hollis Scarborough, Curtis Schroeger, Carol Schuberg, Laura E. Taylor, John T. Wolfe, Jessica Wu, Alex Dreschke and Kate Cherichello.

Orchestrations will be by Dan DeLange, who has orchestrated more than 40 productions at Goodspeed. The music director, Michael O’Flaherty, is in his 24th season as Goodspeed. Information: 860-873-8668 and goodspeed.org.

Arts Grants Available

“Ignition Grants” for initiatives to sustain arts and cultural organizations in the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s 34-town service area are now available. The grants are supported by the council and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving,

“The council seeks to help sustain the cultural infrastructure,” says CEO Cathy Malloy, “from strategic plans to audience development to financial assessments and board training, Ignition Grants give arts organizations the power to create innovative solutions.”

Intent to Apply forms are due Sept. 17. Those applicants approved will be invited to submit a full application. Information: LetsGoArts.org/Ignition.

Change In Cast

Lauren Marcus will take over the role of Audrey in the Sharon Playhouse production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Anneliese van der Pol was unable to continue with the production due to a family emergency.

Marcus has appeared in “Merrily We Roll Along” and “They’re Playing Our Song” at the theater. The show runs through Aug. 30 and also stars Ryan Vona (“Once”) as Seymour, Ira Denmark as Mr. Mushnik. Jennifer Werner (an associate director for Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon”) stages and choreographs, with music direction by Eric Kang.

Short Takes

>>Playwright Christopher Shinn will be “In Conversation …” at the West Hartford Public Library on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The Hartford-born, Wethersfield-raised Shinn will have his play “An Opening in Time” premiere Sept. 17 to Oct. 11 at Hartford Stage.

>>New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre has named Betty Monz as its new director of development. Monz succeeds Eileen Wiseman, who left the theater in June to become the director of strategic initiatives at The Tow Foundation. Monz most recently served as a major gifts officer and senior development officer at Choate Rosemary Hall and at The Hopkins School.