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01/27/2016 05:00 AMIn its 110-year history, the 1903 Stony Creek Puppet House has been a silent movie house, the repertory theater home of the famed Parish Players, a summer stock house, a World War II parachute factory, and a puppet house featuring a world-renowned collection of 300 Sicilian marionettes. In the past decades, its history became less glamorous, hitting a low point in 2008 when the building was condemned for numerous building code violations.
The future is looking brighter, however. Legacy Theatre purchased the historic Puppet House in 2012 and has been in the process of planning for renovations ever since. Keely Baisden Knudsen, founder and artistic director, says that 2016 is going to be “very exciting.”
“It’s completely gutted right now and the majority of our efforts are to revitalize the theater and we’ll take house in the theater once it is restored,” said Knudsen. “We’ve been in this phase for a really long time. I had no idea how much goes into this process.”
When the original plans for the space were presented, Knudsen said there was a “book full” of code issues. Since then, the team has worked to whittle that number down to four.
“We are getting the final building plans ready,” said Knudsen. “We have an internationally renowned design team, which happens to be local, coming up with beautiful plans for that small interior. As soon as that is done, we put in to Town Hall for the building permit and then we begin.”
Knudsen also noted that a major focus has been communicating with the residents in the neighborhood as she wants them to be “thrilled” with the programs the theatre will offer.
So far, at least some of the neighbors have been less than thrilled.
The Stony Creek Association (SCA), representing some of the neighbors of the Puppet House, have filed a suit against Branford’s Zoning Board of Appeals and its decision to uphold a “fit-up” application for the Puppet House, a decision on the part of the ZBA that, neighbors say, allows for an expansion of originally proposed uses and activities at the Puppet House. Neighbors are concerned about the impact on septic systems, parking, and other issues, says SCA President Daniel Bullard, who adds that the main concern is the “intensity” of the proposed activity and impact.
Still, he says, three SCA members are currently in mediation and discussions with the owners of the Puppet House. “I’m optimistic we’ll be able to work it out,” Bullard said earlier this month.
If all goes as planned, Legacy Theatre will not only present performances, but will also offer a conservatory program with about six classes a year for ages 5 to adult.
Knudsen has known she wanted to be an actress since she was three years old. While she has always enjoyed the spotlight, since founding Legacy Theatre, Knudsen has realized she also loves the technical side of theater, as well as the aspects of running the business, such as seeking grants and donors and management.
“I’m thriving in the role of being an executive director of a theater,” said Knudsen. “I love producing and presenting my own shows, I love the casting process. Bringing all of my experiences into my own theater company is more rewarding than I ever thought it could be.”
The budget for the theater cannot be officially set until the final building plans are approved, but Knudsen said estimates are around $1.25 million. Legacy Theatre is in the midst of a letter-writing campaign to raise funds and about $500,000 in naming opportunities and other grants have already been raised.
“We have a good start,” said Knudsen. “We’re going to do some fabulous things in there.”
-Pam Johnson contributed to this story.