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Town Players seek town contribution as Powerhouse design nears final cost estimate
Summary
Town Players presented an updated design for the Powerhouse campus, including a lobby expansion and an education center/black-box theater, and asked the town to include $875,000 of a prior commitment in this year's budget toward a $3 million project. The group said it is close to its fundraising goal but still has a gap; selectmen stressed the town's commitment is capped and nonprofit fundraising must fill the remainder.
Representatives of the Town Players of New Canaan updated the Board of Selectmen on a proposed expansion of the Powerhouse theater campus and asked the town to carry forward $875,000 of a previously committed amount into this year’s budget as part of a $1.5 million town pledge to a roughly $3 million project.
Patricia Spagani and members of the design team explained the plan: expand the lobby, add an education center (a rehearsal/teaching space sometimes described as a "black-box" theater) and better integrate buildings with a new courtyard and terrace overlooking the pond at Waveny Park. Scott Crossfield, the theater-design lead, said the design team focused on optimizing use and keeping the project within budget.
The Town Players said they have a near-term funding gap; their materials estimated the project budget at roughly $3,000,000 and described a remaining funding shortfall (presented as between roughly $1.0M–$1.15M depending on final scope) assuming the town carries its $1.5M commitment. The formal, on-the-record request to the board was to bring $875,000 of a prior town commitment into the current budget and to continue town participation as previously discussed.
Board members emphasized that prior town commitments were understood and that the town's contribution is capped. "We've capped out what the town's gonna pay for this," one selectman said, urging the Town Players to proceed with their capital campaign for the remainder. Town staff said design refinements and a professional estimator will be engaged in the coming months to produce a firm construction budget.
Why it matters: The project proposes new community arts and education space and would affect town capital planning, including parking, ADA access and site work for public bathrooms. Town contributions and decisions about town-owned potting-shed reuse and parking-lot reconfiguration were discussed.
What’s next: The Town Players plan to finalize design documents by early February, hire a professional estimator, launch a capital campaign and return with refined costs and a request schedule. Selectmen reiterated that any additional town funding beyond existing commitments would require specific approval in the budget process.
