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"This ensures Middletown steps in the right direction."
The mayor’s press conference came a day after the theater’s board of trustees announced in a press release that the main stage will move out of East Haddam, because Middletown said it would build a theater at no cost to the opera house, give the land’s title to Goodspeed Musicals and give the DeKoven Drive site to Goodspeed. Middletown also has to pay for construction of the $60 million facility.
Administrative and production facilities will sit at the DeKoven Drive site, while the 700-seat theater will be on Main Street where Capitol Liquors is currently located. Stephen Gionfriddo, Common Council minority leader who also worked on the city’s committee for the opera house, has said the Capitol Liquor property still needs to be acquired.
Middletown had been competing with East Haddam, which offered parking and zoning incentives, to attract the opera house. East Haddam was working on its zoning to allow the expansion of the theater and also secured a $3 million state grant for a parking garage. First Selectman Brad Parker said the $3 million can’t be used to build the garage unless the opera house expands in the town.
Parker has said he think the opera house chose Middletown, because the city said it would pay for its expansion.
With the new theater comes more jobs and business to Middletown, Thornton said. She said the city will see a $22 million increase in property values, new tax dollars and more business expansion.
Other speakers at the press conference were no less enthusiastic than Thornton about the opera house coming to Middletown and the bipartisan work of Middletown’s committee.
Michael Price, executive director of the opera house, jokingly said he thought the only true excitement in his life came from learning when his son would marry.
"I think of the city of Middletown and its efforts to make our dreams come true," Price said.
Mark Masseli, chairman of the committee that worked with the opera house, said they are all proud to have Price coming to the city, because he has revitalized American musical theater.
He said the committee looked at the best interest of the town.
"I need somebody to pinch me. Goodspeed is coming to Middletown," Masselisaid. "I know if we all can work together, we can get it accomplished."
Gionfriddo said the work by the president of Wesleyan University, Doug Bennet, and his wife, Midge, showed that the university is a valuable member of the community.
Bill Warner, director of planning for Middletown, said Goodspeed Opera House fulfills a dream that they had in the early ’90s of bringing an art venue to the city.
To contact Josh Mrozinski, call (860) 347-3331, ext. 222 or email jmrozinski@middletownpress.com.
