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Town Hall Theater Top $3 Million In Donations

Work resumes on historic building in April

photo provided

Tuesday March 28, 2006

    Middlebury's Town Hall Theater is one giant step closer to completion. “We've been working very quietly but very diligently since the theater closed in September,” says THT executive director Douglas Anderson, “and the hard work has really paid off.  In the last six months we've raised over $1.1 million.”

Recent donations include four $50,000 gifts from local individuals, two $100,000 gifts from local organizations, and a $250,000 Challenge Grant from the Endeavor Fund of New York City.

Of the total $4 million price tag for the restoration, Town Hall Theater has now raised $3.1 million.

“It has been an awesome outpouring of support,” says THT treasurer Walter Deverell.  “Literally hundreds of people, businesses and other groups have given their time and money to making this project succeed.  It's a gift we're giving to ourselves and to future generations.”

“We have only $900,000 to go,” says Anderson, “and that's a very achievable goal, especially with the new challenge grant in our pocket.  If everyone gets behind the project now, we can finish it this year.”

The new funds will allow construction to resume in April.  After fixing some serious drainage problems on three sides of the building, Bread Loaf Corporation hopes to complete a new porch, grand stairway and landscaping by Memorial Day - if the weather cooperates.

“People have asked us why we're continuing work on the exterior, when the interior needs so much work,” says Anderson.  “The simple reason is that several donations are specifically earmarked for this work.  All of the exterior work is already paid for.”  Anderson adds that after tearing up the landscape to dig three large drainage trenches, the logical and cost-effective thing to do is re-landscape at that time.  “If we didn't finish the porch and garden after the drainage work, this highly-visible site would look terrible for months and months.”

The new exterior work will also make the building handicapped accessible forthe first time.

Work will then continue on the inside of the building.  High on the list are a sprinkler system, heating and air-conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, insulation and sheetrock.  The amount of work completed this summer will depend on fundraising efforts in the coming months.

THT board members stress how important the completed facility will be to the community.  “This isn't just an arts project, it's a community development project,” said National Bank of Middlebury president Ken Perine.  Perine believes that the finished theater and a new in-town bridge are the two best ways to stimulate the downtown Middlebury economy.

“We're feeling a momentum now that is really exciting,” says Anderson.  “One final fundraising push and this amazing building will be back in operation. When I think of what it will do for the quality of life in our community, I get goose bumps.  I really do.”

Town Hall Theater Awarded $250,000 Challenge Grant

    The Charlotte Johnson Fund of the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundationhas awarded a $250,000 Challenge Grant to Middlebury's Town Hall Theater. The New York-based foundation specializes in projects in education and the arts.

In notifying the theater of the grant, president Julie Johnson Kidd wrote that her mother, Charlotte Johnson, “would join me in my enthusiasm, I know, for the accomplishments of Town Hall Theater and the positive benefits it brings to the community at large.”

Ms. Kidd is a graduate of Middlebury College and has served on its board of trustees.

“This is the best kind of gift,” says THT executive director Douglas Anderson.  “It means that every dollar donated in the coming months will be matched.  It doubles every donation, and I think it will motivate a lot of new donors.”

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