This was written in response to an article that ran in the Shoreline Times after Christmas.

Success, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder and one’s own viewpoint can determine everything. Recently several of us were interviewed by Jerome Wilson for a story in the Shoreline Times. Mr. Wilson began my interview with the assertion that the Kate was failing, and despite an hour of discussion to the contrary, that was the story he wrote. But, as the poet points out, there are other viewpoints and other ways to look at things.

First and foremost, it was way too early judge the Kate by its ticket sales, either good or bad. Open less than four months, the Center is finding its audience just as they are finding us. Every performance brings new people into the building and this is a process that will need to continue for some time before anyone can pass judgment. As I told Mr. Wilson, the Kate is like a new born colt scrambling to its feet. The Center isn’t struggling; it’s learning to run.

But even then, we don’t have much to apologize for. By focusing on the 92nd St Y simulcasts, an inexpensive, weeknight filler, Mr. Wilson gives the impression that ticket sales at the Kate are anemic. In reality, of the 53 total events, almost half had attendance of over 75% and there have been 18 sell-outs. Remove the 92nd St Y events and the 75% ratio rockets well past half.

But it is also true, as Mr. Wilson points out, that even if these numbers go to 100%, ticket sales will never fully cover the costs of the Center. What he fails to mention is that this is true of any theatre or performing arts center. Even the Met runs a commercial during their simulcasts saying ticket sales cover less than half the costs of mounting an opera. Such is the way of the non-profit, particularly the non-profit theatre. We will always have to depend upon our donors. But to imply, as Mr. Wilson does, that that makes us a failure is to imply the same about every performing arts facility from the Met to Hartford Stage.

Truthfully, this lack of balance, more than the blatant errors and the stuff he just made up, is what is so disappointing about the article. Mr. Wilson told one of the people he interviewed that negative sells papers, and again that was the story he wrote. Instead of the 92nd St Y, his article could just as easily focused on sell-outs for Pure Prairie League, Cappella Cantorum, Connecticut Ballet, SteveSongs, Salt Marsh Opera, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Poco, and Margreta Stage, as well as the very successful Met in HD  Or he could have focused on all the local children who’ve appeared on stage from the Goodwin School to Old Saybrook High and Middle Schools to the Community Music School to the performers during Old Saybrook’s Family Day to the children cast in Missoula’s King Arthur’s Quest. Or the local talent on stage at the Shoreline Soup Kitchen benefit. Or the outrageous success of the Center’s first gala and the Taste of Old Saybrook.

In the end, I guess an article like this says almost as much about its author as it does the Kate. Over the past three months, I’ve met a lot of people streaming through our doors, and the vast majority have been impressed by the facility and what they’ve seen here. It’s a shame Mr. Wilson, who had never attended a performance here, wrote an article that reflects his own agenda instead of the facts, or the feelings of the population as a whole. That makes it something less than news and much more damaging.
Chuck Still
Executive Director

The imminent opening of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook comes as the result of a tremendous effort on the part of many folks in the community. As we rapidly approach the beginning of our inaugural season, THE KATE is now seeking those who are interested in becoming part of that effort. Theaters everywhere depend on the generosity of members of the community to “get the show on the road”!

We’re looking for folks to assist in a number of different departments, including the Box Office, Ushering, Traffic, Administration, and Concessions among others. Volunteers have the opportunity to see shows at The Kate for free, and to meet and work with other theater-lovers.

This coming week we’re planning a volunteer meeting, so if you’re interested in finding out more on these volunteer opportunities, please contact Peter Johns, the Box Office Manager, at peter.johns {at} katharinehepburntheater(.)org, or call 860.510.0473 ext. 203.

WEEKLY CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
In an effort to keep the public updated on the progress of completion of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, a weekly summary of activities expected to occur in the weeks to come is presented.  As always, questions can be forwarded to either Executive Director Chuck Still at (860) 510-5000 or Town Hall Restoration Building Committee Chairman Roland Laine at (860) 395-3127.

Week of March 26th  through April 1st, 2009
It’s getting warmer, spring is coming.  Thank goodness, right?  The “Kate” is finishing off just in time for Connecticut’s “high season” – summertime.  By the beginning of summer, the exterior will be all but finished with the fitting out of the interior, including the seating, carpeting and such underway.

Interior Work.
Much of the interior work at the moment is focusing on paint preparation and clean-up of materials and debris.  Paints have been chosen and contractors are being lined up. The large Main Street window is almost complete as well.  The arched window over the main window has been installed as of Wednesday.   The elevator in the south lobby is almost complete with the exception of adjustments.  Everywhere you look in the building, it appears that most of the major features have been built with trimming and details being left to complete.  The audience chamber still needs finishing, but that will take place after the paint preparation.  As one of the subcontractors remarked, the building’s beginning to look like a theatre!

Exterior Work.
Larry Bonin and his public works gang have indicated that the exterior site work, including the pouring of concrete and the finishing off of the patio and walkways, will be completed by the Memorial Day weekend and in time for Old Saybrook’s traditional Memorial Day Parade down Main Street to the Town Green.  This will indeed be an exciting time as town residents comes together and see, for the first time as a community, the near-finished exterior of the “Kate”.

Electrical Work
The electrical contractor continues to install cable and conduit in the building.   Within the audience chamber, conduits are still being run within the walls to connect the technical boot in the balcony to the stage area and to the lighting trough above the audience.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Big Window

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Big Window from Afar

Here are two views of the grand window on the Main Street side of the new south addition.  These photos may look similar to those posted last week, but if you look again you’ll see that the arched window located over the main window has now been installed as well.  The arched window was the architectural feature included in the design to match the look of the original palladium windows on the original 1911 building and that of the new palladium windows on the Town Green side of the new addition (to right).  The original 1911 palladium windows and the original brick wall within which they are located have been preserved on the interior of the south addition for all to see and admire.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Box Office Window

Standing underneath the south addition exterior balcony which faces the Town Green, you can see the protected ticket window where patrons will be able to purchase tickets during office hours at the “Kate”.  To the rear right of the photo are the new Town Offices. The foreground area to the immediate right of the columns will be the location of a broad patio that will connect the Kate to the Town Green. Small musical groups playing on the exterior balcony above will play to audiences on the patio and Town Green beyond.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Rigging

This somewhat unusual view shows the stage rigging from the catwalk located above the stage.  The proscenium arch which frames the view of the stage from the audience is located at left with the back wall of the stage located at right.  The door that will be used to load equipment to the stage from the rear loading door is seen on the far end of that back wall.  What you see at the top of the photo are the steel battens, suspended by ropes and pulleys, that are lowered to stage level using the ropes on the far wall. Stage lighting and scenery are clamped or tied to the lowered battens and then raised and secured above the stage for performances.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Back Stage Arch

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Cat Walk

This is the view of the loading door in the original back wall of the 1911 building from the stage of the “Kate”.  The large opening, cut through the original brick wall, has been framed out and reveals the new workshop and the garage-style loading door beyond where equipment and materials will be brought into the rear of the building.  Since the stage and workshop are on the upper level of the building, a winch will be installed outside of the garage door in order to lift equipment and materials to this level.
From the right front corner of the audience chamber  looking diagonally back to the rear of the house, one can see the sound booth in the balcony and the maroon-colored steel light trough where lighting for the stage will be hung. The metal grating at the base of the trough has been designed to allow lighting technicians to walk within the trough after descending by ladder from the doorway at upper right.  The light trough is accessed by climbing a ladder in the sound booth, traversing the attic space on a catwalk to the doorway in the upper right of the photo and then climbing down into the trough via a ladder.  The trough’s steel work will be painted black and left in an open state so patrions will not see a bulky, closed-in structure.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Box Office

This is the original 1911 ticket window located in the front lobby of the “Kate”.   The removal of several layers of paint and the exposure of the original wood before refinishing is tesitmony to the lengths that are being taken to restore this building to its original splendor, consistent with the designation of the building on the National Historic Register. Where the ticket booth and a coat room were originally located, a new Patron’s Lounge will occupy the space.  As a result, this original architectural feature will remain but not be utilized as a ticketing facility.  Tickets will be delivered and collected in the new south addition.

Text and photos by Torrance Downes, Building Committee Member and Trustee.

WEEKLY CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
In an effort to keep the public updated on the progress of completion of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, a weekly summary of activities expected to occur in the weeks to come is presented.  As always, questions can be forwarded to either Executive Director Chuck Still at (860) 510-5000 or Town Hall Restoration Building Committee Chairman Roland Laine at (860) 395-3127.

Week of March 19th  through March 26th, 2009
OK, we’re back again.  It’s been a number of weeks and we have a lot to show and tell you:

Interior Work.    The first floor level, which includes the offices of the Executive Director, the museum alcove, the Center’s bathrooms and a “hospitality” kitchen, has been sheet-rocked and trimmed out for the most part.  The south addition lobbies have been sheet-rocked as well.  The most spectacular change that has occurred is the installation of the grand window facing Main Street, which took a significant amount of time to fabricate.  With the balcony door, elevator and Main Street window installed, the upstairs lobby is beginning to have a finished look to it.

In the backstage workshop area, the spiral staircase connecting the first level to the stage level backstage area has been installed – it looks marvelous!  The backstage area has been sheet-rocked, as has been the dressing rooms.  The steelwork for the light trough has been constructed and includes the catwalk grate that will enable Center staff to access the stage lighting that will exist there.

Painting
The job of getting the interior painted has been a long road.  The Finishes Committee has just about selected all of the paint colors that will be used.  If one were to walk through the audience chamber, they’d see many, many patches of varying colors of white, beige, and now, blue paint.  The colors are being selected by viewing the colors on the walls of the interior.

Stage Rigging and Backstage
Stage rigging is almost 100% complete.  The lighting and scenery battens suspended above the stage and are tied off on the north side of the stage area.  The two doors leading from backstage to the workshop areas have been trimmed out and are ready for finishing.

Exterior Work.
Within two weeks or so, Larry Bonin and his public works gang will begin work on the grounds, getting the site in shape for springtime.  Discussion is occurring regarding the removal of the site fence for the sake of appearance.  If that occurs, the Town will safeguard the site in another manner.  With no frost in the ground, excavation for the concrete walkways and patio can begin any time and, with nighttime temperatures above 30 degrees, the concrete can be poured.  This work is expected to happen soon and be finished quickly.

Electrical Work
The electrical contractor continues to install cable and conduit in the building.  The “Supertech” lighting package will be installed shortly.  This equipment includes all of the dimmers and other controls for the stage lighting.  This equipment has been discussed, designed, planned and debated for so long that all involved know not to mention the word “Supertech” in front of First Selectman Michael A. Pace.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Window from Above

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Window from Below

These are two views of the grand window being installed on the Main Street side of the new south addition. This entrance will be one of two entrances that will access the new elevator which will carry people to the stage level on the upper floor.  A large chandalier will hang in this window and will be seen from Main Street.  Walking past these doors to the right will bring one to the broad patio that will face the Town Green.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Hallway

This view of the first level provides a taste of what the finish work will look like.  The view through the opening reveals the ground level lobby door which opens to the walkways and patio.  The stairway in the rear on the far right rises to the front lobby and the Patron’s Lounge.  One particular finish feature that’s been designed into the first floor level is the hip-level ledge on which the workmen have placed various pieces of equipment.  Although a nice finish touch, the ledge was actually necessary due to the configuration of the existing original wall over which the ledge sits.  If one were to walk to the right before entering the door in the right rear, they would enter the Katharine Hepburn museum alcove.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Flys

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Pin Rail

From the stage-left area of the stage (left) one can see the covered stage opening (proscenium arch) to the left, which keeps dust from work being performed in the audience chamber out of the stage area, and the rigging system servicing the Center.  The ropes are tied off at the wall in the stage-right area of the stage (right).  The winch is used to pull the ropes through the rigging system during their installation.  The black and blue bags hold the black curtains that will be hung throughout the stage area.  Behind the rear wall of the stage (right) is the new workshop addition, with its large door entrance partially visible to the right rear of this photograph.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Spiral Staircase

The installation of this spiral staircase within the addition in the rear of the building was the creative solution to the problem of getting people – including performers and Center staff – from the first level to the stage level without going through the audience portion of the building. This stairway is how Executive Director Chuck Still will most often move from his first level offices to the second level dressing rooms and stage quickly, quietly and efficiently.  Without this staircase, backstage personnel would have to come up through the audience chamber and enter the backstage from there – in full view of patrons.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Audience Chamber

This view from the balcony of the Center shows the steel work for the light trough where lighting equipment aimed at the stage will be hung.  The ladder and a catwalk grate at the base of the trough will allow Center staff to work on equipment from the trough itself.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Front Steps

Even the front steps are undergoing renovation.  These steelworkers are installing the new railings for the historic entrance to the building.  These steps, the columns and their masonry supports are original to the 1911 building.  Although there are ADA-complient entrances to the south of the building on the green, the Town Hall Restoration Building Committee chose to insure that the historic entrance was also available for use.  The original ticket booth for the building, which was located inside the double doors on the left, will now be located within and adjacent to the lobbies in the new south addition on the Town Green.  The old ticket booth and coat room to its rear will be the location of a new Patron’s Lounge.

Text and photos by Torrance Downes, Trustee and Building Committee Member

WEEKLY CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
In an effort to keep the public updated on the progress of completion of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, a weekly summary of activities expected to occur in the weeks to come is presented.  As always, questions can be forwarded to either Executive Director Chuck Still at (860) 510-5000 or Town Hall Restoration Building Committee Chairman Roland Laine at (860) 395-3127.

As of February 5th
This construction update will show that a tremendous amount of work has been done in the last week and a half.  Finish features are being installed that are making the KHCAC look like a cultural arts center!  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, this week’s report will consist of mostly pictures:

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Door from Lobby

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Doors

These two photographs show the doorway openings that will connect the audience chamber, or house, to the new south addition lobby.  The photo at left is the view into the house from the new lobby while the photo at right shows the two door openings as seen from the balcony.  Although the opening in the third door (from right) will be used, the door at right will be the primary entrance.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Rigging

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Pin Rail

These photographs show a truly unique feature of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.  For several reasons, the Building Committee made the decision to install a manual rigging system similar to what would have been used in the original 1911 theatre. Although not the modern automatic electric winch system that exists in many modern theatres and performing arts centers today, it’s one that works well and is consistent with the historically-designated building.  Such manual systems, although not that common anymore, do exist in some older historic facilities.  For students that will attend educational programs at “The Kate”, operation of a manual rigging system presents a unique educational opportunity that most would not get to experience.  If they pursue the arts as a career– as backstage personnel – they will have had the experience of working with such a unique and historic rigging system, giving them a “leg up” over those who have not.  Remember, the American theatre is a proud and longstanding institution where tradition and history is a core value.

In the photo at left, one can see a series of pullies hung from steel rafters that will allow steel pipes  connected to ropes to be raised above and lowered to the stage. Such pipes, or “battens”, will be where the theatrical lights, curtains and scenery will be hung.  The  ropes run down the far wall and are tied off on the numerous wood “pins”connected to the frame at right, which is bolted to the floor, much like the sail rigging system on the “tall ships” of yesteryear.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Cat Walk

This photo shows the steel structure of the ceiling area that will house theatrical lighting which will light the stage.  These lights will be focused from a “cat walk” accessed from the attic above.  An opening in the technical booth located in the balcony will have a ladder allowing technical personnel to get up into the attic and access this lighting area if the need arises during a performance.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Booth

This photo shows the technical booth in the balcony enclosed in sheetrock.  Work has yet to be done to raise the level of the floor in a way which will allow the space between balcony chair rows to be widened in order to provide for more leg room than existed in the original 1911 building.  People nowadays must be bigger than they were back in the early 1900’s both in width and in length as more seats existed in the balcony when constructed in 1911. Either that or we’re just more concerned about comfort in “The Kate”.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Elevator

These photographs show two views of the Main Street entrance door to the new south addition lobby.  A second major door to this lobby will open onto the patio that flanks the Town Green (in left wall, right photo).  The large, custom-built window above the doorway, to be installed shortly, will display a grand chandelier.  The photo at right shows the doorway to Main Street as seen from the lower lobby with its elevator core in the right foreground.  The elevator installation continues and should be done in several weeks.

Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Pin Rail from Back

If you were standing in the backstage workshop addition behind the stage area at “stage right”, you’d be able to look through the new opening cut through the original brick exterior wall that allows scenery and other large equipment to be brought from this area to the stage.  At right and just out of view is a second-story garage door that allows for the loading in of large equipment and materials from the outside of the building to stage level.  Through this opening, fitted with a roll-down door for use during performances, you can see the “pins” of the manual rigging system on the stage-right wall to which we referred above.  The black sacks at lower right are curtains and other materials that will be hung using the rigging system.  The brick walls seen in this photo are all part of the original 1911 structure.

Text and photos by Torrance Downes, Trustee and Building Committee Member