New Haven’s Shubert Theater could have some new bones in time for its 100th birthday — if state lawmakers heed remarks Pat Dillon and John Fisher made at the Capitol on Thursday.
Dillon, a New Haven state representative, and Fisher, executive director of the College Street theater, testified before the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee.
They spoke in favor a bill Dillon has introduced to have the state borrow $3.45 million on behalf of the Shubert. The money would pay for masonry and roof repairs as well as mechanical work. If the bill passes, the work could be done in time for the Shubert’s 100th birth on Dec. 11, 2014.
Dillon and Fisher made a pitch for investing in preserving the state’s cultural heritage.
“Looking to the Shubert’s next 100 years, we envision a vibrant force for the performing arts in New Haven and the region, and as an economic cornerstone of downtown New Haven,” Fisher testified, according to a release from Dillon’s office.
Separately, New Haven’s mayor announced earlier this month that the city is exploring turning over ownership of the Shubert’s building to the not-for-profit corporation that runs it.
The Shubert has been dead since long before 1980 but the ahhts folk do not want to either admit its death or finance its resurrection
They tricked the City and State into bringing it back to life in the 1980's, claiming it would be self -sufficient if only the government refurbished the Shubert again and subsidized it for a couple of more years.
Of course, it never reached that goal, just as it had not in previously tax-paid bail-outs and unfortunately its specialties have been replaced by successful theatres in other CT towns
I have not been at the Shubert since the 1940's when it was already kind of dumpy and long past its peak, I am tired of paying for it
Most New Haven and Connecticut people have never been in the building in their lives but must continue to finance it via their taxes
Cut out the very drab lobby wall and install its bygone posters in the Library entrance if you wish.
There are better uses for the millions of $$$ in new spending proposed for this relic