The Playhouse: Target Opening Date for Restored Movie Theater Remains June 21 

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New Canaan Playhouse was built in 1923.

Workers are making good progress at The Playhouse and the target opening date, at this point, remains June 21, town officials said Wednesday night.

Preparations are “going forward” and contractors are “working six to seven days a week,” according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.

“They’re aware of the June 21st deadline and they’re working diligently towards that,” he told members of the Town Council at their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Referring to the new operator of The Playhouse, he added, “And CinemaLab, on their side, is starting to work on some of their ideas for an opening.”

Closed at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and available to a new tenant since later that year, when Bow Tie Cinemas terminated its lease, the Playhouse will remain a two-screen “twin” theater when it opens. Originally estimated at about $4 million, the long-awaited project at the Playhouse came in at nearly double that figure last year, and is finishing at about $8.6 million. Municipal funding bodies in March approved a final $284,000 for the renovation.

Mann said that soundproofing has been completed for both theaters, and that flooring and the screen have been installed in one (the other is in progress).

“One of the bathrooms, the flooring has been installed and the fixtures are installed and all that is waiting is some of the smaller fixtures—the toilet paper accessories, things of that nature, and then the partitions,” Mann said. “And the second bathroom, the flooring is nearly installed and then the fixtures will follow and then the partitions, as well. The concession floor has been installed, the concession area, the bar itself will be placed soon. And then in the bar, the bar has been placed, the back bar has not yet, and then they’ll be working on the flooring shortly. Upstairs the trim is done, the painting is done. We’re waiting for the back bar to be delivered, it was supposed to be delivered today.”

His comments came during an update on The Playhouse before the legislative body.

Councilman Maria Naughton asked when the exterior of The Playhouse will get redone.

Mann said both white window areas outside will be redone “and then we have the sign itself is out for refurbishing, if you will, and that’s going to be completely refurbished with new lights.”

The contractors are “concentrating on the inside and then they’ll work towards the outside,” he said.

Councilman Cristina A. Ross asked about an “official opening day.”

Mann said in response, “We don’t have an official opening day. We’re shooting for June 21st. That’s our goal. And then the opening will be—that’s CinemaLab’s portion of it. And I know that they’re working diligently on a grand opening, and they’ll start to unveil their ideas shortly.”

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