GOOD AFTERNOON FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY THEATRE REVITALIZATION SUPPORTERS!

In case you haven't heard following Tuesday's press event, the Pollack Family Trust has sold the Fairfield Community Theatre to long-standing and well respected Fairfield developers Kleban Properties, led by Al, Ken and Evan. Additionally, Sacred Heart has agreed to a 10 year lease of the property where they will provide a range of events including high-profile lectures, author talks, unique films, concerts and performances to students and the community. SHU President John J. Petillo said in a news release “That we can breathe new life into this building after years of dormancy is truly exciting.” As a community we also HIGHLY ENCOURAGE Sacred Heart University to ensure that there is a sufficient level of children's programming during the weekends to better engage the children of the community in the performing arts—they are the future of the town. 

Your contribution to date has been amazing. Many of you along the way have asked how you can contribute even more—well there is a way that you can become a permanent part of the theatre. Kleban properties has set-up a Indiegogo site where you can select various levels of contribution to the theatre to receive either a theater seat plaque, a courtyard brick or a commemorative t-shirt. You can find the link to the Indiegogo site at the bottom of this article.

But first, please read on as there is so much more on our history together—and I'm hoping that someone will take the time to update the Fairfield Community Theatre Wikipedia page to record our collective history. The link is also at the bottom of the page. 

THE BACKSTORY ON HOW WE MADE HISTORY!

Again, my name is Keith Rhodes and I’m a father of 3 children under 10 and have lived in Fairfield for 13 years, just down the street from the theatre in the beach area. Like many other town residents, I was frustrated and saddened to see the Community Theatre just sitting here—lifeless and falling into disrepair. I kept thinking about what a loss it was to the community—economically, culturally and emotionally. 
I kept thinking about the town’s children—and selfishly my children— how they were missing out on something in their lives that couldn’t be replaced. And, I knew wasn’t alone. 

So, during a monthly Economic Development Commission meeting, I inquired about it—and it was serendipitous that Ken and Evan Kleban happened to be in this very meeting that day. After much discussion on the many past obstacles and much doubt that anything could be done, I know that there was perhaps a new way to advance our collective interests—activating the Fairfield community!

Over the following 48 hours, I began researching the theatre, including a reading a full report created by Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business MBA students. I appreciated their thorough analysis, and it inspired me to push forward, given what I learned.

On the following Sunday afternoon, I wrote the petition that you see today on Change.org as a way to guage community support for the theatre—I reached out to the press and distributed links through social media—hoping for a positive outcome—and while optimistic, I thought that the full renovation of the theatre was a long shot — at best.

But I pressed on—writing emails, speaking on camera, contributing to stories, speaking with town and state representatives and working with many diverse groups along the way, including the Town of Fairfield, Colonial Reality, Sacred Heart University and other interested parties. 

Your response was overwhelming! Over 2K signatures in the first 24 hours. And over the course of the following months gaining nearly 7K signers, 28K petition views, 2K shares. Think about this level of penetration into our community given it’s size! It exceeded everyone's expectations. Everywhere I went in town, people where talking about it. When the Community finally when up for sale, we all were encouraged. 

Now just over 2 years later, here we are! I could’t be be more excited, not only for the Community Theatre, but for the Fairfield Community as a whole— we have the Theatre back and there is no doubt that there are many people smiling right now. The families and children of our community are thankful that they will now grow-up going to the theatre as the center of our community — literally and metaphorically. It will be part of their lives and their memories—which is hard to put a price on. Though, economically, the businesses of downtown Fairfield will also see great value in having a 750 seat theatre that will bring members of the town back downtown where they will shop and eat — and not just on weekend evenings. It's truly the heart of the community. 

Once again, all of this could not have been possible without Al, Ken, Evan and the entire Kleban family—who have been longstanding members and developers of the Fairfield community. I know from speaking with both Al and Ken, this is a passion project for them, it’s something that they wanted for the families of the community for a long time. It’s less about that money, it’s about providing the Fairfield community with a space that celebrates creativity and the arts — inspiring our children, students and adult community members, enriching our lives beyond imagination. 

I’d also like to thank Dr. Petillo, Michael Iannuzzi and Sacred Heart University for their continued commitment to the town of Fairfield. We couldn’t be more excited for the performing arts programming that they will bring to the town of Fairfield.

I’d also like to thank First Selectman Teatreau and Mark Barnhart for their support and commitment to this project. Their work and community support precedes me by decades. 

Once again, I wish to thank all of the residents of the Town of Fairfield. Thank you for your support. Thank you for the more than 1,500 comments and emails to me directly with emotional stories full of passion and for offering your help. And thank you for talking about it with your friends and neighbors — without you this would not have been possible. 

I was happy to have been apart of it and I look forward to its opening next Summer — I will be there on opening night. 

Thank you and Godspeed! ;-). 

Keith Rhodes mail@keithrhodes.com

Fairfield Community Theatre Indiegogo Donation Page: https://igg.me/at/-miFgaw10As/x 

Fairfield Community Theatre Wikipedia Page: Update Please! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfield_Community_Theatre