Town Players present Powerhouse Theater plan; council hears $3 million scope and local fundraising progress
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Summary
Town Players updated the council on a plan to expand the Powerhouse Theater lobby, add ADA bathrooms and build a theater arts education center. The overall theatrical scope was estimated at $3 million; the organization reported raising roughly $600,000 toward private fundraising goals and noted a $100,000 state bond award.
Town Players representatives updated the New Canaan Town Council on Dec. 17 about plans to renovate the Powerhouse Theater in Waveny Park, adding an expanded lobby, ADA-compliant bathrooms and a theater arts education center.
Patricia Spujani, co-president of the Town Players, said the project scope for theatrical components and education space remains about $3 million. The town proposed to fund roughly half of the identified costs; Town Players reported having raised approximately $600,000 toward private fundraising goals and a private-goal figure of $1.5 million for their portion of the project. Spujani said a $100,000 state bond award has been secured to support the design work and the group is pursuing additional grants and donations.
Scott Crossfield of Theatre Projects (design partner) described work to optimize the existing footprint and to accommodate accessibility improvements and educational programming. Councilors asked about whether the existing annex is historic; presenters said the annex (built in 1983) is not historic but the full design will be reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office as part of state grant requirements.
Funding and next steps: Spujani said the Town Players will continue fundraising and expects to close the remaining gap before construction needs to begin; any material increase in scope would return to council for approval. The town’s proposed share (in capital planning) includes an allocation of $875,000 currently identified in the five-year plan and subject to the DPW budget process.
Implications: Council members expressed support and asked procedural questions about site work, sewer connections for new bathrooms, and whether DPW will manage related site projects. Presenters said site and DPW-managed work will be coordinated and that specific DPW items (potting shed conversion to public restrooms) would come to the council separately.
