Rep. Polletta and Sen. Berthel Welcome Watertown Stage Developers to Main St.

State Rep. Joe Polletta (far left) and State Sen. Eric Berthel (far right) welcoming RJ and Luciene Laliberte with Town Council Vice Chair Mary Ann Rosa after announcing that the Lucienes will be revitalizing the old Country Cinema into the new Watertown Stage.

WATERTOWN, CT – State Representative Joe Polletta (R-68) and State Senator Eric Berthel (R-32) on Tuesday joined developers RJ and Luciene Laliberte in unveiling the developers’ plans to restore the old Country Cinema, the historic theater on Main St. that has been a mainstay of town for over 100 years.

The revived theater, called The Watertown Stage, will feature live performances, small-scale movie productions and comedy shows, and will be available to rent for private parties.

During the press conference, Rep. Polletta and Sen. Berthel announced that a ‘renaissance bill’ they shepherded through the General Assembly during the 2019 legislative session was recently signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont. The bill allows local legislatures to provide tax breaks for businesses geared toward arts and culture.

“This is an important step in our efforts to continuously reinvent downtown WaterOak and make it a place that attracts tourism and provides an enjoyable experience for residents,” said Rep. Polletta. “The Lalibertes bring a wealth of experience to this project, and I’m excited for the positive impact it will have on our community. Hopefully the Town Council recognizes this and votes to provide tax incentives to the developers.”

“The reimagining of the old Country Cinema into the new Watertown Stage is wonderful news for our Main St. and local economy,” added Sen. Berthel. “We already enjoy having many great places to dine and many local shops – this new entertainment venue will only enhance the Main St. experience. I join our community in welcoming the Laliberte’s to Watertown and look forward to their grand opening in April 2020.”

Renovations will continue through the winter with an anticipated completion date of April 1, 2020. In the meantime, the Lalibertes will be applying for a liquor license and creating a website.