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A Backyard Treasure Adds New Programming To Summer Schedule

BY SHANNON HICKS

NEW FAIRFIELD -- Gateway's Candlewood Playhouse is in a bit of a quandary.

While announcing the new summer season at a breakfast meeting last month,

producer John Hodges was excited at the prospect of another series of musicals

at the New Fairfield theatre. At the same time, he also indicated the theatre

was not going to be able to continue to offer top-notch productions unless the

surrounding communities began supporting the theatre with additional financial

contributions.

"Artistically, the theatre is doing very well," Mr Hodges told those

assembled. Gateway's won seven Connecticut Critics Circle awards last year,

including "Outstanding Production in a Musical."

The theatre's new director of fundraising had some disheartening news,

however.

"Financially the theatre is doing OK," announced Cheryl Reedy. "... but only

OK. Gateway's needs your help. They need your help more than ever before."

For the first four years of the playhouse's management under the Gateway's

banner, tickets sold "at a good clip," Ms Reedy said. The problem in the

latest seasons, she pointed out, was that while crowds were coming in to the

area from New York City, fewer audience members were returning from the

immediate area, which resulted in a noticeable lack of ticket sales.

"Sometimes when you have a really wonderful resource in your backyard, you

begin to take it for granted," Ms Reedy said. People in the New Fairfield

community are not thinking about going to see theatre on a regular basis, she

said. "Our numbers outside the area are growing in leaps and bounds. It's the

local numbers we'd like to see improve."

One major incentive for prospective theatre-goers is that ticket prices for

weekend performances have been rolled back, making attending a show a little

more affordable. Beginning this summer, tickets for all evening theatre

performances are one price ($28.50). Prices for weekend evening shows last

year were as high as $42.35 each.

Also in response to sagging ticket sales, the theatre's managers have decided

to offer a wider variety of programming. The theatre is offering "new and

exciting programs," said Mr Hodges, including the Gateway Good as Gold Club,

which will allow members to purchase remaining seats on the day of a show at

half-price.

The summer will also introduce New England Clam Bakes outdoors, as well as

sit-down dinners inside the theatre's adjoining Playhouse Cafe. These dinners

will replace the buffet style seatings of the past. Dinner-theatre packages

are still available.

Entertainment-wise, a Summer Big Band Concert Series, with matinee

performances from groups such as Sammy Kaye Orchestra and Guy Lombardo's Royal

Canadians as well as the legendary World Famous Count Basie Orchestra, is new,

as is Contemporary Band Nights, with a performance by Johnny Maestro & The

Brooklyn Bridge, among others.

The Children's Theatre Series will also return this year, giving budding

Broadway enthusiasts their own exciting season of shows to look forward to.

Productions are designed with children in mind, while parents won't be bored

or put into the poorhouse, with all tickets available for $7.50.

"This is a really unique resource," Ms Reedy said. "We want to be doing as

spectacularly financially as we are artistically."

The Summer Season

Gateway's will open the 1998 summer theatre season -- the 32nd for Candlewood

Playhouse -- Wednesday, June 3, with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the

Forum . The musical comedy, a combination of Roman farce and American

burlesque, is arriving in New Fairfield fresh from an award-winning run on

Broadway.

From June 17-28, Gateway's will present the Connecticut premiere of what Mr

Hodges calls "the ultimate family musical," State Fair . Following that and

back by popular demand will be Phantom , one of the theatre's most requested

shows. The musical melodrama will run July 8-19.

Hello Dolly will be presented July 29-August 9, and the theatre season will

wrap with Singin' in the Rain August 19-30. Mr Hodges called the closer "the

ultimate Hollywood musical gone Broadway."

For details on curtain times, or the schedule for new events, Gateway's

Candlewood Playhouse can be reached by calling 746-4441 or 888/4TIX-NOW.