The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded a $200,000 grant to Hartford Stage to leverage a $2.5 million challenge grant from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The funds will be used to complete major renovations at the downtown theater company.
In addition to the foundation and state funding, Hartford Stage has raised approximately $2 million in cash or pledges and has $404,961 from a previous endowment campaign to pay for the renovation project.
Improvements made to the theatre include:
- Installation of an elevator
- Completion of electrical, plumbing and HVAC improvements
- Renovation of the lower lobby and the bar/food service areas
- Relocation of the box office and house manager’s office
- Improvements to the exterior of the building, including re-pointing of the brick and roof repairs, and,
- Installation of a new digital marquee, new lighting, signage and landscaping.
This phase of renovations included several features that will make the theatre more accessible to patrons with disabilities, including the addition of an elevator that provides access to the upper lobby and accessible seat locations in the upper auditorium, as well as ADA-accessible features at the box office, in the courtyard and doorways, and at the lower level bar.
“This major renovation effort will ensure that its facilities are not only in compliance with all regulations but also provide Hartford Stage’s audiences with a truly first class theatrical experience for many years to come,” said Dawn Grant, program officer at the Hartford Foundation.
