News

Walker Farm Theater Unveiled for Large, Excited Crowd

Bruce Frauman

At noon on Friday the new barn-red building behind the old barns, silos and farmhouse at the intersection of Route 100 and the Andover Road in Weston stood silent and empty.

But by noon on Saturday, Sept. 23, the new theater — the Center for the Arts at Walker Farm — was abuzz with excitement as those who had worked long and hard and donated funds were thanked for their support.

Courtesy Weston Playhouse Theatre Company. Photo by Hubert Schriebl

Then, around 2:30 p.m., the ribbon was cut, and the crowd of 600 poured into the building for its long anticipated opening. Spotlights had been hung for the first performances of the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company’s new black box theater and, in a tent outside, simple hors d’oeuvres were served while longtime Weston Music Director Kent Baker entertained the crowd with show tunes. It was so hot on this early fall daythat a Ben & Jerry’s cart served up ice cream for three solid hours as patrons patiently waited their turn.

Anthony C. Wood, outgoing chair of the WPTC’s board of directors, told the crowd that the opening of Walker Farm is “a transformative moment for the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company.”

“It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a super village to raise a theater,” said Wood.

Echoing Wood’s remarks, incoming board chair Oliver Olsen pointed to the role that arts and culture play in bringing people to the Weston community. “566 is the official U.S. Census population of the town of Weston. … 21,549 is the number of (theater) tickets sold this summer,” said Olsen.

For full article visit The Chester Telegraph

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