A village farmstead in Weston is one step closer to becoming a year-round facility for the small town's quintessential theater troupe. The Town of Weston's Zoning Board of Adjustment has granted the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company conditional approval for the project, a renovation of the farmstead into a 2,900 square-foot open theater. The company plans to call the venue the Studio Theatre at Walker Farm.
According to the Weston Playhouse website, the Studio Theatre at Walker Farm will:
- Complement the historic flagship theatre at the Weston Playhouse.
- Enable the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company to become a year-round educational and community resource.
- Grow the company's ability to develop new work and provide a retreat destination for theatre artists.
The Town's zoning decision clears the way for the theater company to build its studio theater on the village farmstead, behind the existing farm house. All existing farm structures, including the circa 1860s house and barn, as well as a barn addition and silos from the 1950s, will remain in place.
The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company has produced a video about the project, and has a capital campaign page on its website which describes the project:
The Studio Theatre at Walker Farm will be a 2,900-square-foot open theatre that supports a flexible seating configuration for up to 140 people as well as a public lobby, rest rooms, and back stage facilities. The new second stage will be home to many of the New Works activities as well as productions throughout the year and will provide rehearsal and performance space for a variety of visiting artists. It will also offer endless opportunities for our community and economy.
The company hopes to have the Studio Theatre up and running by the summer of 2015.
