Crime & Safety

Music Theater of CT Gets State Help for Move from Westport to Norwalk

The Music Theater of Connecticut is moving from its current location at 246 Post Rd. E. in Westport to 509 Westport Ave. in Norwalk, where a theater is being built with $150,000 in funds from the State Bond Commission.

State Sen. Bob Duff, a Norwalk Democrat, announced the grant to help finance construction costs for the $600,000 theater. The State Bond Commission is expected to formally approve the grant at its upcoming meeting next week.

Duff's office issued this news release on Friday:

On Friday Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) announced that the state is poised to aid the Music Theater of Connecticut with its ongoing construction of a new theater in Norwalk, to be located at 509 Westport Avenue. 

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The announcement represents the latest of a series of investments on the part of the state to support new development in the City of Norwalk and bolster the arts and culture in the city. Other recent initiatives have included Norwalk 2.0 and the renovation of the historic Globe Theater, now the Wall Street Theater.

“I am very excited to have the Music Theater of Connecticut relocating to our city and building a new venue to host their first-class productions. Culture and the arts are essential for any successful city, and as the Music Theater and other Norwalk attractions grow, so will our shops, restaurants and other businesses,” said Senator Duff.

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“Our city is very fortunate to have such a successful theater company moving to town, adding to our growing list of cultural attractions. I know that the Music Theater has been seeking a new home for some time, and I couldn’t be more pleased that they found it right here in Norwalk,” said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling.

The Music Theater of Connecticut’s new location will include a black box theater with 108 that wrap around the main stage on three sides. State of the art sound and lighting will support the productions, as well as rehearsal studios, full costume and scenic shops, dressing rooms and administrative office space.

“We have been on the hunt for a larger space for a very long time. It wasn’t easy, but we finally found it in Norwalk. We are very excited to actually be moving forward, and expect to be open at our new location after Labor Day,” said Kevin Connors, Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Music Theater of Connecticut. 

“We have been very fortunate to have so much support from Senator Duff and the City of Norwalk. This state aid will help us to close the gap between our private fundraising and the total cost of the project. It is great to be part of a community that is so supportive of the arts.”

The total cost of the project has been estimated at $600,000, toward which the State Bond Commission is expected to approve $150,000 in support next week. 

Founded in 1987, the Music Theater of Connecticut produces an annual series of Equity productions featuring New York professionals, six annual student productions, and a conservatory-style school of performing arts with curriculum-based training for students ages four through high school, including the nationally-recognized College-Bound in the Performing Arts program for performance career-focused high school students.


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