$1.5 Million Dollar Upgrade Coming to Torrington's Warner Theatre

Cross your fingers Litchfield County, $1.5 million dollars of sweet state funding from the State of Connecticut's Community Investment Fund 2030 may be on the way to help pay for major renovations and upgrades to our largest performance venue.

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Representative Michelle Cook of Connecticut's 65th Assembly District has announced that the Community Investment Fund (CIF) board is currently reviewing and expected to approve $1.5 million dollars in funding for the Warner Theatre in Torrington at their next meeting. According to Cook, the Warner will use the funds to renovate their historic building, lobby, and stage. Some of the issues that will be addressed are modernizing the Warner's sound and lighting systems, electrical and HVAC systems, and fixing accessibility issues.

The Warner Theatre was built in 1931 by Warner Brothers Studios, survived extensive damage in the Flood of 1955, and fell into foreclosure in 1981. A grass-roots effort by local nonprofit Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts successfully saved the Theatre from demolition in 1983, and the Theatre has operated year-round since. Just recently, Stephanie Fried and Patrick Langevin have been named Co-Executive Directors.

My first experience at this beautiful, Art Deco masterpiece came last November when my wife and I saw The Fixx perform live in the 1,765 seat Oneglia Auditorium. We didn't hesitate at the $60 ticket price because it was a privilege to see one of our all-time favorite bands play 3 miles from our home. In order to keep artists interested in playing a show in Connecticut that's not in Bridgeport, Hartford, or New Haven, the planned upgrades are a necessity. Thank you for your work Representative Cook.

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