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08/07/2023 12:22 PMThe impacts of the coronavirus pandemic were felt in nearly every aspect of daily life. Among those severely impacted was the performing arts. While events focused on music, theater, or any other kinds for large groups to commune have returned, North Haven town officials are more sure than ever that a space like the Town Green is the perfect location to provide exciting entertainment for its residents and those from other towns.
“Coming out of COVID in the pandemic a couple of years ago, I saw very clearly the need to have people recreate more, and we as a town, [Assistant Director of Recreation] Andy DelVecchio and I…we are convinced that having people come out and utilize the Green, go to our parks and our facilities, is a wonderful thing not only for us but for our residents and their families,” said Freda.
One of the newest developments in North Haven recreation for 2023 has included the expansion of the “Music Under the Stars” concert series, which has run since Memorial Day weekend and will conclude with a final performance on Sept. 5. With additional dates added this year, the town has made a commitment that “we’re going to try to bring in the most popular tribute bands that are out there,” and retain some core favorites in genres. This has made the concert series a popular attraction for members of the North Haven community and beyond who want to hear their favorite music every Tuesday evening at the Green.
“We get people who travel from all over, not only our North Haven residents, and when I’m walking through the crowd when I’m dancing with the people on the dance floor, I hear the same thing continuously that our concert series is one of the best that the people attend and that I think is why we get people from other cities and towns.”
In order to further this entertainment experience and others that will come to the Green, the town has purchased a permanent bandstand structure to support these events instead of using a showmobile stage.
“That will be a permanent structure that not only will be designed to enhance the concert experience, it will be designed to enhance the ambiance and the optics of the North Haven Green during the concert series, and it will also be utilized for us…to support the arts; theatrical performances, plays, and have more events on the Green for the recreational pleasure of our residents and others,” said Freda.
According to Public Works Director Lynn Sadowsky, the bandstand will be delivered to North Haven following the conclusion of the concert series and is expected for construction “as early as Sept. 15.” The structure will need to be constructed upon a concrete slab base and be connected with associated electricity for more support.
Freda said the bandstand should be something that fits in soundly as something “symmetrical with the Green.”
With a permanent stage structure in place on the Green, the town can continue to deliver musical and other forms of entertainment to multiple community members of all ages in the most optimal location during the warmest time of the year, said DelVecchio
“If at all humanly possible, we have that concert outside. We do have the option to go inside for bad weather, but people really enjoy the environment in the atmosphere of the picnic, where they can bring their lawn chairs, bring a blanket, be outside for a couple hours, hear some great music,” said DelVecchio. “We find that the public—and we’re talking all ages. We’ve got from the youngest to the oldest out there—they really enjoy it.”
Other events that have brought people to the Green in recent months include the inaugural North Haven Pride event in June and movie nights that will continue in the future. DelVecchio said community members and even organizers recognize the Green can help establish a “communal atmosphere” which is “essential to town life.”
The remaining dates for the “Music Under the Stars” series are on Aug. 15, 22, 29, and Sept. 5, and will include bands playing rhythm and blues, party-themed music, and tributes to rock artists Bon Jovi and Journey. The full list is available on the Recreation Department’s website.
Spotlight Stage Company is one performing arts organization in North Haven looking to use the incoming bandstand, said its executive director, Sandy Masica.
We are totally excited about this. We’ve been working with Mike [Freda] over the last several years in anticipation of this while we’re looking for a permanent home in North Haven,” said Masica. “Even then, when we find a permanent home, we still like outdoor events, especially in the nicer months.”
Masica said Spotlight has held its productions on the Green before and has seen that being outdoors in that space can help create an “immersive experience” for those who may feel more inclined to enjoy the performing arts in an outdoor setting.
“I love the whole concept of people roll[ing] up with their coolers and their chairs, and it just makes it a whole different theatrical experience,” she said.
More theatrical performances put on by Spotlight “would bring great value into our community,” with a diversity of productions such as plays, cabaret, and ballet productions, said Masica.
“There are so many different opportunities under the performing arts cap that we could bring into the Green, and to have a permanent bandstand to just make it come to life would just be so awesome.”
Those “many different opportunities” through Spotlight are also important for North Haven residents who may be more interested in seeing a performing arts event than a football game.
“North Haven is a big sports town. We have our sports, we love our sports…but we need that other component, and that’s the performing arts, the entertainment because not everybody is a sports person,” said Masica. So I think it’s just gonna fulfill a huge purpose… There’s going to be a multitude of other things we could do there. So I think it’s going to add a great benefit to our town for sure.”