Ridgefield Theater Barn looks to expand
‘We need more physical space’
RIDGFIELD — The Ridgefield Theater Barn is awaiting one more “yes” from the town to finally launch an expansion that was initially approved in 2015.
The 4,800-square-foot expansion would tack on a new space to the existing two-story building’s frame and renovate a portion on the back end of the structure, allowing the theater to grow its programs.
“If we’re going to grow or expand any of our programs, we need more physical space,” said Pamme Jones, the theater’s executive director.
The organization has been plotting the project for about a decade, but the theater has been “quietly getting our ducks in a row” since obtaining initial approval from the Ridgefield Planning and Zoning department, Jones said.
The theater recently requested an additional about 167 square feet from its original proposal, which will need to be granted a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals before attaining a final stamp of approval, said Richard Baldelli, director of planning and zoning.
A variance is needed for the extra square footage because the theater is housed on a small parcel of town land encased within strict parameters.
Zoning officials, however, authorized a 65-day extension to the theater that would give them enough time to get the variance and avoid any issues with the “statutory [zoning] clock,” Baldelli said.
Baldelli said he didn’t have any concerns about the project and hopes the theater is given the OK. If permitted a variance, Jones said the theater plans to start construction in 2021 and expects it will be finished within a year’s time if all the groundwork holds water.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the theater won’t need to worry about shows being affected, she said.
Jones said it could also give the theater a chance to put some money into the local economy. She doesn’t foresee having to “go dark” for long and said construction won’t have much effect on the existing space, meaning performances can continue during that period.
With the expansion, the top floor will have a work room to build sets, she said. To build sets now, the theater must shut down and empty the entire theater, which has often caused them to lose about five weeks a year.
The project will create off-stage wings leading into the workshop, while yielding space for two classrooms and a black box theater for smaller performances on the lower level. There will be an elevator installed to ensure complete compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as well.
Although the changes won’t necessarily be “visible to the patron’s eye,” Jones said it is “a huge improvement.”