Community Corner

Waterford's Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center Plans Major Expansion

The internationally-known theater institute will receive a $3 million grant from the state to fund the first phase of the planned expansion to turn it into a year-round facility.

A Press Release from Gov. Dannel Malloy's Office

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced today that, implementing the terms of a Special Act passed in the just completed session of the legislature, the state will provide a grant to fund a major expansion project planned by the internationally known Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theater Center (The O’Neill) in Waterford.

“Some of the greatest figures in the history of American theatre, including our own Eugene O’Neill, hailed from Connecticut or called it their summer stock or off-Broadway home,” Governor Malloy said.  “The O’Neill has carried that tradition forward, creating several well-respected programs around the performing arts.  This is another example of what we mean when we talk about building upon our state’s strengths in partnership with our private sector partners. 

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center is dedicated to the development of new work and new artists for the theater by creating and operating programs for the enrichment of theater artists, students, teachers and audiences, in the tradition of bold exploration embodied in the work of its namesake.

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“The practical result of this state grant is tantamount to the opening curtain for this eagerly anticipated expansion because all the local permits and approvals have been secured and the project itself is ‘shovel ready’ in every sense of the word,” State Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford), a longstanding O’Neill supporter, said.  “Once completed, The O’Neill will be bona fide, year ‘round teaching and training center, adding to Connecticut’s prestige in international performing arts circles.”

“I’m grateful to Governor Malloy for including this item on next week’s bond commission agenda and hope the other bond commission members will consider it favorably,” Senator Stillman added.

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“The O’Neill Theater is one of Waterford’s best cultural attractions and its expansion will help draw more tourists and theatergoers from out of state,” said State Representative Elizabeth Ritter (D-Waterford, Montville).  “I thank Governor Malloy for his interest and support in building the National Music Theater Institute. 

The $3,000,000 grant will be used by the O’Neill to fund Phase I of a two-phase project that will expand the O’Neill’s existing theater facilities by building a National Music Theater Institute (NMTI).  The NMTI will offer undergraduate, semester-away programs for musical theater training, attracting students from colleges in the U.S. and abroad.

Phase I will include seven new dormitory cottages that can provide living quarters for up to 65 artists, a separate laundry building, a new rehearsal hall/building, and conversion of an existing structure to rehearsal facilities (Production Cottage).  Phase II will include a new proscenium stage theater, a dining hall and kitchen, reconfiguration of existing dining space into offices, and significant endowment growth.

Collateral for the state’s Phase I grant includes a blanket lien on all business assets; a first-position mortgage on land in New London, owned by the O’Neill, at 321 Pequot Avenue; and a second-position mortgage on land at 325 Pequot Avenue.

The O’Neill anticipates raising a total of approximately $4,820,000 in private donations and pledges for Phase I.  A total of about $3,095,000 ($1,838,911 in pledges) was already in place as of March 2013.  The Center is expecting to secure about $2.5 million in bridge loan financing from Chelsea Groton Bank to cover the private pledges over the next 3 to 5 years.

 

Some of the O’Neill’s existing programs include the National Playwrights Conference, National Music Theater Conference, National Critics Institute, National Puppetry Conference, the Cabaret & Performance Conference, and the National Theater Institute (NTI).


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