Bennington's Oldcastle Settling Into New Home
 The new three-story building will be renovated. It will have seating for 150, offices, rehearsal space, dressing room, green room, set shop and library. |
"We were extremely concerned when we were told last summer that we would no longer be welcome in the Bennington Art Center," said Oldcastle's producing artistic director Eric Peterson recently. "But it's the best thing that could happen to us."
In mid-May, Oldcastle moved into the former Knights of Columbus building at 331 Main St.
"It's wonderful! Our new home is provided by the Greenberg family," Peterson said, adding that the Greenbergs, proprietors of Greenberg Hardware stores in Bennington and North Adams, Mass., has earned a reputation for being very generous to the community.
The three-story building will be renovated to include theater with seating for about 150, offices, rehearsal space, dressing room, green room, set shop and library.
Oldcastle representatives have been talking with architects and engineers about the project, and are hopeful that the theater will be opened in September
It will be an improvement over the space at the Bennington Center for the Arts; for example, it will be newly furnished and decorated to give audiences a comforting atmosphere.
"Our expectation is that it will be somewhat flexible, not necessarily conventional theater. We have always placed high emphasis on making theater interesting," said Charles Putney, president of the Oldcastle board of directors.
Oldcastle relocating to downtown Bennington has evoked enthusiasm in all quarters of the community.
"It's has been our dream to be downtown for as long as I can remember — 40 years or so," said Peterson. "We looked at a lot of space, available and not available. We had serious discussions with one Berkshire [Massachusetts] town. Their town government was extremely generous and helpful but when we were offered the opportunity to stay in Bennington and be downtown, we could not let it go by."
"The response from the community has been very optimistic and happy about our being downtown," Peterson said. "It's the beginning of a renaissance for Bennington, and we are glad to be part of that."
Because Oldcastle is now coming downtown, Putney, said people are interested in opening businesses in now empty stores and new of one that was definite.
He said another advantage of Oldcastle being downtown is that it brings it closer to where the community is - restaurants, stores, etc. "We are a lot, lot more visible than they were in the Bennington Art Center."
Talks are under way with other performing arts organizations about being in residence at the new theater, and Peterson said Oldcastle will have announcements in the near future.
Oldcastle is primarily a professional theater with equity produced shows. "But we want to expand our community offerings," said Putney. "The Youth Theatre is a first step in that."
The Oldcastle Youth Theatre will produce "Grease" at Mount Anthony Union High School this summer. Oldcastle also is running an acting class for adults and expects to have more classes and an internship program for college-aged students in the future.
"Community College of Vermont has graciously offered us space to teach classes in acting and improvisation. And we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with our new neighbor," Peterson said, referring to the college at 324 Main St. — across the street from Oldcastle's new home.
Oldcastle will increase its productions from four plays a year to six starting next year. This year's schedule is for three because of the time needed for renovations.
A new musical titled "Northern Exposure" and written by Bennington native Carlton Carpenter, a distinguished stage, film and television actor, and songwriter who is a longtime friend of Oldcastle Theatre Company, will be one of the first plays produced in Oldcastle's new venue.
"Once we know the complete schedule for productions, we will also begin to place other activities, including concerts and films," said Putney. "Our new home is going to be very busy."
