The State Bond Commission approved a $100,000 allocation for West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.

By Ronni Newton 

West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park has brought entertainment and vibrancy to West Hartford’s Park Road for the past 15 years, and an allocation of $100,000 approved by the State Bond Commission on Friday will help the theater launch its future plans for expansion and renovation.

“It’s a process that’s probably going to take five years,” said Chuck Coursey, founding vice chair and board member emeritus of the Playhouse on Park’s Board of Directors, and a member of the Playhouse Building Committee. He’s hopeful and optimistic that the first phase, however, will be completed in the next two years.

The funds approved Friday will be used to support architectural and engineering costs associated with expanding the Playhouse into space located on the second floor of its existing building, as well as updates to the existing theater space such as the installation of new seats.

Playhouse on Park currently leases a roughly 7,000-square-foot space at 244 Park Road that’s one of four commercial condominiums in an industrial building constructed in 1929, originally occupied by the entire A.C. Petersen Farms dairy operation. Three of the condominiums – including the space the Playhouse occupies – are now owned by Catherine Denton, who also owns and operates the A.C. Petersen Farms restaurant in a portion of the original building.

The roughly 13,000-square-foot space directly above Playhouse on Park – formerly the factory where ice cream was made – is owned by New York-based HPDI LLC, which until about five years ago used it as an auxiliary location for manufacture of its Ronnybrook brand ice cream. Since then, the space has been vacant.

Playhouse on Park founder and Executive Director Tracy Flater said the owner of the former ice cream plant space did make some upgrades when the condominium was purchased about 20 years ago, but the roof is desperately in need of replacement. Some of the leaks have impacted the Playhouse space on the ground floor – which is also in need of renovation – but Flater said the roof needs to be fixed by the owner, and the Playhouse doesn’t want to do any major renovation on a building they don’t own.

“We need more room,” Flater added. There is a need for office space and rehearsal space, and it would be great to be able to run the educational programming for children in the same building as the theater as well as to perhaps have a black box theater. Currently they use space in Simsbury, and run programs at Congregation Beth Israel and Mandell JCC. Being able to have everything housed at one location would allow them to be so much more productive, and having the ability to expand the educational programming is really important to the theater program overall, Flater said.

Taking over the second floor makes sense, and the former ice cream plant is already accessible through the current Playhouse on Park space, which was originally the garage for the dairy’s milk trucks.

“The state is giving us some money to help with the planning,” Flater said. “That protects us and allows us to stay on Park Road,” she added, where they have worked hard to establish an identity. The current location is ideal with easy access to the highway as well as nearby restaurants.

Remaining in the current location, and being able to do some renovations and expand, is the “perfect scenario,” said Flater.

The first phase of the project: Purchasing both the condominium space currently occupied by Playhouse on Park as well as the condominium space of the former ice cream plant. Playhouse on Park would nearly triple in size, from 7,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet.

When Denton first bought A.C. Petersen Farms and the three condominium spaces, Park Road Playhouse operated a community theater in the renovated former garage. The space was vacant after that organization discontinued its operations, but in 2009, Denton connected with Flater and Playhouse on Park co-founders Darlene Zoller and Sean Harris, who were looking for a space to launch a professional theater operation. “That’s how they ended up here,” Denton said.

On a tour of the former ice cream plant, Coursey and Denton both noted that it’s built like a fortress, but just needs some “buttoning up” and stabilizing, including a new roof to prevent further water damage.

The space is cavernous, and fronting Park Road a former storage area is filled with natural light from large windows.

A warren of connecting rooms still house the former mixing tank equipment as well as cream tanks with hook-ups for the hoses from the dairy trucks. There are several former freezer spaces, one of which would make an ideal black box theater, Coursey said.

Having Playhouse on Park own and occupy the second floor condominium space would allow the building façade to remain essentially unchanged.

“We want to preserve one of the most cherished and historical institutions in West Hartford,” Coursey said. “Everybody has an A.C. Petersen story.”

Taking ownership of the all of the space, replacing the roof, and doing some minor upgrades to the theater – like installing new seats – will be the first phase, Coursey said, emphasizing that the theater itself will remain the same size, and retain its existing character.

“We really appreciate the $100,000 from the state, and our legislative delegation’s and the governor’s commitment to Playhouse on Park and Park Road,” Coursey said. The mayor and Town Council have also been very supportive and recognize the importance of Playhouse on Park to the community.

“This is just the beginning,” he added.

Following the State Bond Commission approval of the $100,000 allocation – one of 28 items on an agenda that allocated more than $400 million overall – West Hartford legislators offered comment and praise.

“I am thrilled that Playhouse on Park will be receiving this needed infusion of funds,” said state Sen. Derek Slap. “This fantastic organization brings professional level theater to the Park Road Community and beyond, and I am grateful to Governor Lamont and the Bond Commission for investing in this much deserving local organization.”

“The Playhouse on Park is an important part of West Hartford and Connecticut’s theatre community,” said Rep. Jillian Gilchrest. “I am so happy that our state is recognizing this with an investment in the Playhouse’s sustainability and growth!”

“I would like to thank Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for this funding and recognizing the vital part Playhouse on Park plays in the West Hartford community,” Rep. Tammy Exum said. “I hope this funding will help ensure that the community continues to benefit from the wide range of productions that Playhouse has to offer.”

“Playhouse on Park is beloved to our West Hartford community and is an important part of our region’s economy,” said Rep. Kate Farrar. “I’m excited for the $100,000 on the bond agenda to support their future.”

“A robust art scene is a vital part of a thriving community. Playhouse on Park has not only done an excellent job at fostering and growing the artistic pursuits of locally based thespians, they also provide a wonderful variety of quality entertainment. This grant will allow Playhouse on Park to expand their reach and further serve our area. Thank you to Governor Lamont and the State Bond commission for allocating this funding,” said Rep. Bobby Gibson.

“This investment is a true win for the arts,” said Rep. James Sánchez. “It not only enhances the experience for the talented performers and dedicated staff but also ensures the theatre remains a vibrant hub for our community.”

“For me, just the prospect of this is beyond exciting,” Flater told We-Ha.com. “This is all a dream, and this $100,000 is a small part of what could make it a reality.”

Coursey considers the plans more than just a dream. “This is ambitious, not for the faint of heart, but we’re going to do it,” he said.

Playhouse on Park has recently been approached about possibly moving to other locations, both within and outside of West Hartford, but they have no plans to leave town. “We are fully committed to West Hartford, and Park Road here,” Coursey said.

Twenty-five years ago Park Road was “on the precipice,” he said, but the community came together and the area has been steadily on the rise. Playhouse on Park is a big part of that, and every dollar spent there adds roughly $3 to other Park Road businesses, said Coursey. The Park Road corridor is also about to receive a facelift with a project beginning in the spring that includes repaving, new sidewalks, lighting, and other amenities.

“We have some hard work ahead of us,” Coursey said. “This is going to happen.”

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.