The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Local News

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Members of both the town and the College communities met at the site of the Town Hall Theater (THT) on Oct. 31, for the groundbreaking of a new wing. This new wing is to be funded by a $1 million agreement made between the College and THT that was announced on Oct. 22.

This long-term partnership formed between the College and THT entitles the theater to a yearly gift from the College amounting to the sum of $1 million over the course of 20 years. In exchange for the College's financial contribution, students and faculty will have access to a variety of the theater's resources.

"The agreement guarantees the College a certain number of days of usage of the theater," said Doug Anderson, Executive Director of THT. "It also guarantees a specific number of student employees and interns."

Not only will the partnership grant students and faculty access to rehearsal and performance spaces - which the Theater and Music Departments currently lack - but it also will benefit the community surrounding the College.

"College students, faculty and staff will be able to use Town Hall Theater facilities," wrote President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz in the Nov. 4 entry on his blog. "Students will obtain internship opportunities at the Theater, our Language Schools, so short on performance space on campus, will have use of the facilities for parts of the summer and the Theater's presence will have a positive economic impact on the town. Just as the town's and College's histories are so intertwined, so, too, are their futures, and I believe it is in the College's best interest to contribute to the town's vitality through this project."

Isabel Mettler Professor of Theater Douglas Sprigg explained that his department did not have much input in the decision. "The President came to the department and asked if we were interested," he said. "We all said sure, if there's a way for Middlebury students to make use of [the theater's] space."

Though the official agreement was made on Oct. 22, according to Anderson, it is not a recent development, but rather was a long time in the making.

"It started fairly organically about four or five years ago," said Anderson. "Students started coming down on their own and participating, as well as faculty and staff. It really just started to snowball."

Continued...

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