Timex is donates a new clock to the theater.

Timex is the first corporate involvement at the theater. They will be donating a replacement clock (sundial) to the theater. The sundial was originally a gift from Timex and has been removed from the side of the building to be rebuilt. The new one will be a gift from Timex and is being built by Global Scenic Services in Bridgeport.

David Griffith, communications manager for Timex Group USA, said he could not disclose the cost.

“Engineering functions and testing for the timekeeping functionality” are being developed by a Timex engineer, Griffith said. Global Scenic Services is executing the fabrication and installation per engineering specs for timekeeping and its own templating of the original for design replication, which Timex will review and authorize.

“It’s as close as we can come to making the sundial an authentic Timex timepiece without manually constructing it ourselves,” Griffith said.

The original was a gift of United States Time Corporation, as Timex was then known.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” Griffith said. “In 1956 it was donated to the theater by the president at that time and others.”

The new sundial will be made of modern materials to better withstand the elements.

“The original is sheet metal,” Griffith said. “It’s rusted out, there are pieces missing.”

The original is serving as a template for the replacement, and will be preserved by Timex.

Griffith and Catalano both said it’s the only sundial known to be calibrated to Eastern Daylight Saving Time.

“Or as we call it, Festival Time,” Catalano said.

The new timepiece will be unveiled in early October, Griffith said.

He and Catalano both said the evening, still being planned, could include announcement of the consultant chosen to guide the reopening of the theater.

Volunteers recently removed more than 20 tons of trash from inside, and mold is nearly removed, Catalano said.

He said the final few candidates for the consulting work on reopening the theater are being interviewed, and said any choice would be a top production company.

Plans are to reopen the building as a nonprofit, paid for by donations and endowments.

Catalano also wanted to “dispel a myth” about the Shakespeare Theatre.

“It’s not falling down,” Catalano said. “That’s a concrete-and-steel skeleton with teak. The lady’s bones are strong.”