Warner Dreams: Special League Of Historic American Theatres Tribute. How the restoration of a Connecticut theater founded during the depression is revitalizing a community. By Suzanne Billo Kaiser Issue: June/July 2001 Artist rendering of interior after completed renovation. In Connecticut’s smallest city, Torrington, an industrial and commuter stronghold of 36,000 people nestled in the Litchfield hills, a three-phase restoration of the Warner Theatre (built in 1931) is uniting citizens, establishing regional arts alliances and stimulating the revitalization of the area’s historic business district. In 1980, the bankrupt 1,700-seat theater owned by a private investor was identified by a group of passionate local residents as a potential resource for expanded arts education programs. It was also hailed as a way to spur economic development in the region, where the theater could evolve into a permanent performance space for student and adult community drama series, educational programs, lectures, graduations and dance recitals, as well as a venue for touring professional companies and celebrity performers. The citizens formed The Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts, and began a two-month local fundraising blitz to buy the theater, culminating in the organization’s 1982 purchase of this water-damaged, vandalized, but still-impressive landmark on Main Street, with a $30,000 down payment and a $102,000 mortgage. Restored lobby painting with original colors and design of walls and ceiling of lobby. Today, the grassroots effort has grown into a $11.5 million project to preserve the heritage monument, with a mission to expand arts programs within a broad regional base. The half-block property on which the theater sits, once slated to become a parking lot in the 1980s, has retained its prominence in downtown Torrington because of its tall Art Deco architecture, emblazoned with its original chaser-light marquee and heavy brass and etched-glass doors. Because it is the last remaining historic theater in northwest Connecticut and only one of 12 still in existence in the northeast United States, it is on the register of National Historic Landmarks. Torrington’s Warner Theatre was only one of many Warner Brothers Studios’ theaters built during the depression to lift the hearts of Americans who had very little money for entertainment. It was also constructed to act as a source for visual news before television was invented, as well as act as a vehicle to test Warner Brothers movies in front of regional audiences before they were sent to large cities. These theaters were also outlets for vaudeville touring companies who brought popular city entertainment to rural America. Art deco silk painting in downstairs lobby. Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland. Thus, the In 1998, the Association’s 31-member board of directors successfully submitted an architectural feasibility study toseed planted by a few inspired citizens in the 1980s blossomed into a $6 million matching state grant campaign 20 years later. “The three-phased restoration project has been successful so far because it appeals to people on different levels,” says executive director Barry Hughson, a native of nearby Waterbury and former ballet dancer. “We’re a grassroots, non-elitist, arts-for-all community. First of all, the community supports the restoration because they have open access to the space. It is a unifying place. Secondly, as an arts center, the theater has one of the most successful community theater companies in the country in terms of quality and attendance.” He goes on to explain that the diverse community is comprised of 120 performances by resident performers composed of 150 Young Actors Series dramatists and musicians, Studio Theatre dramatists, summer campers from the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Camp, adult community theater musical dramatists and home-based Nutmeg Ballet and Momix, the modern dance company. Daytime performances by these groups are given to 10,000 to 15,000 young people from regional schools each year. “Thirdly,” continues Hughson, “the restoration appeals to individuals on different levels. For some it’s an education project. For others, it’s a performance arts project. Last of all, we have become a cultural destination for tourists promoted by the city’s Department of Economic Development.” Dual Images: (Inset)The façade of the Warner Theater as it appeared in the 1930s; (right) Artist rendering of interior as it will appear after renovation is complete. Hughson and the board of directors have high standards for the restoration. According to their mission, the theater should be refurbished to its original quality and color, with no compromises dictated by trying to complete the project under a deadline. A committee has been created to oversee this. Also, to achieve the desired results under fundraising guidelines, a time-task framework for the staff and board members was established to raise the necessary $2 million for the completion of Phase I construction by October 2002 and to receive $3 million in matching grants from the state of Connecticut. It was concluded that 75 percent of the funds should come from 10 percent of the givers in individual gifts of $25,000 or more. The rest would be expected to come from a broad-based regional campaign targeting $5 to $500 levels of giving. Business alliances were solicited. Last year, Connecticut Light and Power pledged $200,000 to the campaign and Torrington’s largest local business, O&G Industries, offered a $100,000 challenge grant to kick off the campaign. The state bond commission approved $1.96 million for Phase I construction at the instigation of local state congressional representatives from Kent, Goshen and Torrington in the state legislature. In addition, tangibles such as rooms, seats or water fountains would be dedicated under fundraising guidelines, which, according to Hughson, would be important for generations of families who want to leave a legacy in the community. Because only $2 to $3 million could be expected to be raised within a three-mile radius of Torrington, the 21,000 households in the northwest region of the state who have bought tickets or subscribed to theater series would receive solicitations by mail beginning in 2001. A restored painting graces the front lobby. Torrington’s showcase theater was designed by Thomas Lamb, the architect of more than 60 other atmospheric theaters of the same size in the United States. As with other theaters from this era with similarities in ambiance and decor, the interior of Torrington’s Warner Theatre, designed by the Rambusch Company of New York, is an expanse of airy lobbies crowned with ‘style moderne’ geometric ceiling designs. These are in hues of red, rust and yellow, and framed with marble water fountains, heavy brass heating grates and brass banisters. The orchestra and balcony audience seats are of bronzed metal, with retractable plush red velvet seats resting under a star-shaped, tiered central light fixture set in a gold-painted, aluminum leaf-covered plaster ceiling. The stage is surrounded by an orchestra pit and pipe organ bays. The side aisle wall panels are covered with velvet and damask. Among the firms whose names are being bandied for the restoration are Evergreen in New York and Conrad Schmidt in Wisconsin. Lighting and sound upgrades are going out to bid. “In the year 2000, we wanted to give the public something they would see right off, to get a feel for the restoration and the theater’s original luster—an enticement as it were,” says Hughson. “Last summer we closed for 10 weeks to paint, plaster and replace some textiles in the lobby and update electric and sound technologies.” Phase I goals, to be continued over 14 weeks this summer, will include updating heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, improving fire and safety codes in the space and addressing Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. It will also include replacing the main curtain. In this way, with the infrastructure in place, the theater could stand alone and be operational, according to Hughson, and also act as a kind of safety-net phase, in the event that future fundraising goals do not meet the designated multiyear timetable. Phase II goals next year will address stage house expansion. Green rooms will be built along with a fly tower for scenery. Phase III will include building classrooms and studio theater space in an adjoining building where the street level space is currently being used by the Warner Theatre box office staff, administrators, education faculty members and Studio Theatre staff members. Original brass heating grate. Hughson is enthusiastic that season subscriptions have increased each year since 1998 and that the Warner is operating at 72 percent capacity with a record number of attendees in the year 2000. Advanced notification of upcoming series and performances has become important to area residents. The theater’s $1.4 million annual budget has been used wisely to develop professional arts products for residents and visitors that have caught the attention of legislators and government agencies. Grants from the Connecticut Commission for the Arts, for instance, support student workshops, such as one recently held with the Boys’ Choir of Harlem. In fact, the growing number of visitors to Torrington led Connecticut congresswoman Nancy Johnson to apply for a $500,000 grant from VAHUD, a federal agency which gives money for urban redevelopment projects. Although the result of this request may not be known for two years, it is indicative of what Hughson sees as the Warner Theatre’s broadly recognized potential for becoming a state-of-the-art regional center for arts, entertainment and education. sd Suzanne Billo Kaiser is a frequent contributor to Stage Directions.