Shakespeare revival plans in tryout
RICHARD WEIZEL rweizel@ctpost.com

STRATFORD — Two dramatically different proposals to revive the Shakespeare Theater were presented to the Town Council last night by development groups from Rhode Island and Los Angeles.
Mayor James R. Miron and council members said they were impressed by both presentations and could envision the possibility of combining the plans into some form of hybrid to re-open and operate the long shuttered Elm Street showcase.

One proposal, by Frank Tobin Enterprises of Los Angeles, would rely heavily on producing both Shakespeare and other "classical theater" by featuring actor Randall Duk Kim on the once-legendary stage.

The plan would include a regular Shakespeare Theater Festival season from April-November, operating an academy for actors in training, and conducting outreach in theater and the arts to local schools.

"I would go to Alaska to re-open this crown jewel, historic theater," Tobin told council members, who asked if he would have a problem relocating from Los Angles. "This theater is comparable to the Metropolitan Opera, Theatre Guild and the Julliard School."

The other plan, presented by William J. Hanney, owner and producer of Theatre by the Sea in Matunuck, R.I., would produce musicals, modern shows and concerts — but with virtually no Shakespearean presentations.

Hanney, who has also built, operated and restored movie theaters throughout New England, including the Stratford 14 complex on Barnum Avenue, said he would present summer shows already staged at his Rhode Island theater in Stratford as well.
Hanney's group, Ocean State Theatre Company, is represented by local lawyer Barry Knott, and was the first of five applicants over two interview sessions to offer paying the town a form of rent to compensate Stratford over time for its plan to spend up to $2.5 million renovating the theater, which closed in 1989.

"There are great similarities to what Bill Hanney did in restoring Theatre by the Sea, which had been closed for four years, and what we need to happen here in Stratford," Knott told the council. "Last summer he successfully restored a once popular, but long-closed theater that is now having great success."

Hanney told the council by operating two similar theaters he could utilize the same productions at both venues. But, he added, because the Shakespeare Theater's 1,500-seat capacity is three times the 500 at Theatre by the Sea, it would allow for a wider array of productions.

"You could have big-name stars like Carly Simon for concerts, and other types of shows in addition to the theater productions," he said.

Hanney said he doesn't believe Shakespeare would draw as many patrons.

Tobin strongly disagreed, and in his presentation, cited large sums of money he claimed are generated by other Shakespeare theatrical festivals, and suggested the theater could be an engine for both cultural and economic development in Stratford.

"Shakespeare is a billion dollar business," Tobin said, adding that the Oregon Shakespeare Festival generates $163.1 million annually for the local and state economy, and that Stratford Theatre Festival in Ontario, Canada, generated $145.3 million a year for Canada's economy.

"This theater can be a tourist destination, a place people will come to and stay for days — frequenting hotels, restaurants and other businesses," Tobin said. "We have the passion to make it happen."

Both Miron and Council Majority Leader Michael Julian, R-1, whose district includes the theater, said they were very impressed by the two proposals.

"We saw some great visions tonight of what the theater can be," Julian said.

Three groups presented their plans to the council last week, and three more will make presentations March 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

Among those groups is Stratford Festival Theater Inc., which includes artistic director Louis Burke. The group was runnerup in the most recent selection process, but in 1993 failed in a bid to reopen the theater.

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Article courtesy of the Connecticut Post

Town of Stratford