Presenters pitch $109 million American Globe Center for Norwich waterfront, seek state and private funding

Tom Evans and Jim Warren presented plans for the American Globe Center during a Norwich informational meeting, pitching a $109 million cultural campus at the downtown waterfront that would include a timber‑framed recreation of the 1614 Globe Theatre, an indoor performing arts center, gallery and event space.

The proposal, presented by Tom Evans (presenter, American Globe Center) and Jim Warren (presenter, American Globe Center), said the project would be funded primarily with private investment, New Markets Tax Credits and a draft state appropriation. Kevin Brown, president of NCDC, joined the presenters at the meeting and flagged early state interest.

The presenters argued the center would be an economic engine for downtown Norwich. Evan's projection—based on a conservative 50% average attendance across a repertory model—estimated roughly $131,000,000 in revenue flowing to local businesses and between $300,000 and $500,000 in municipal revenue from a proposed $1-per-ticket surcharge. Evans said the campus would create about 100 jobs and that ticket prices would include very low‑cost options: “You’ll be able to see a show in the globe for $10,” and he added that top prices would be modest, with Globe seats topping out near $45 and a main‑stage maximum of about $60.

“We are offering our actors a different type of contract, so they’re going to want to move to town, stay in town, raise their families,” Evans said, arguing the project would increase the local tax base…