Fairfield Community Theater to be Renovated and Re-Opened as the Sacred Heart University Community Theater

Fairfield State Delegation with Sacred Heart University Administration at the announcement of The Sacred Heart University Community Theater. R-L: Senator Tony Hwang, SHU President John Petillo, Rep. Brenda Kupchick, Rep. Laura Devlin, Rep. Cristin McCarthy-Vahey & SHU SVP Michael Iannuzzi.

FAIRFIELD, CT —The historic, and long vacant, Fairfield Community Theater will undergo a major transformation and re-open as the Sacred Heart University Community Theater. Sacred Heart University has entered into a 10-year lease with Kleban Properties, which is negotiating the purchase of the property that includes the theater, according to Sacred Heart University President John J. Petillo.

The effort, more than a decade in the making, has been working toward “the transformation and rebirth of this iconic theater had stalled and was sparked by an online petition by Fairfield resident Keith Rhodes in 2017 pushing for the sale of the Fairfield Community Theater, which closed in 2011, to a developer or group for revitalization. The theater was owned by the Pollack family at that time and the property sales will hopefully soon be finalized before the project can proceed.

The Fairfield state delegation members, State Senator Tony Hwang(R-28th), State Representatives Brenda

Kupchick (R-132nd), Cristin McCarthy-Vahey (D-133rd) and Laura Devlin (R-134th) all attended and supported the collaborative business partnership.  Senator Hwang spoke on this much needed community economic development initiative saying, “The Fairfield Community Theater is a symbol of our community, not simply as a nostalgic ode to history, but an essential part of continual revitalization of our Post Road/downtown economic development.  I want to especially thank Sacred Heart University for making the commitment to our community that will enhance our educational, cultural, performing arts and economic development in Fairfield. It is urgently important for all necessary property transactions to be completed and begin the desperately needed renovation to the property.”

In a message to the Sacred Heart community, Petillo said the downtown theater will give the university a “much-needed space for performances and programs—in particular for our students. It will also allow us to continue a tradition of cultural programs and entertainment in downtown Fairfield.”

“We will create a premier arts and education site that will be open to the entire Fairfield community,” Petillo said. “It will be a venue for our performing arts, FTMA and e-sports students, WSHU and more. We will also showcase high-profile lectures, author talks, concerts and other programs.”

Once renovated, the theater will have at least 400 seats and will be outfitted with the “state-of-the-art equipment and design elements that have come to define our new construction and renovations,” according to Petillo. Work should be completed in 2020, just in time for the theater’s 100th anniversary, Petillo said.

“This is an exciting project that will positively impact all of us in one way or another,” Petillo said. “It is also another example of how a University gives back to the community where it resides. That we can repurpose this 100-year landmark and breathe new life into it after years of dormancy is a win for both the University and the community. I can’t wait to see what this venue will allow our talented students, faculty and staff to achieve.”

State Senator Tony Hwang represents Connecticut’s 28th Senate District including the towns of Fairfield, Westport, Weston, Easton, Newtown & Sandy Hook.

Photo provided by Sacred Heart University