Candlewood Darkened: Gateway's Playhouse Closes After 35 Years in Summer Stock
After almost 35 years and eight managers, Candlewood Playhouse has burned its last wick. The New Fairfield, Conn. summer stock theatre, renamed Gateway's Candlewood Playhouse by its current administrators, will call it quits after this season and the property will probably be used for retail shopping. It's the second such demise in the area this year, the nearby Danbury Theatre Co. having shut its doors in June.
According to Gateway producer John Hodge, "Following our ice show, which closes on Dec. 3 and goes out on tour, we're closing. There's not enough money here, we continue to lose money, we don't see a lot of growth." Hodge and partner Paul Allan also operate the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, L. I., which has covered the debts of its sister venue to the tune of nearly $1 million. Productions usually play both houses.
"I just don't think this is the right area for live theatre," said Hodge. "The people in the immediate surroundings are not that interested. The only shows they go to see are some of the old chestnuts where they know the titles and already know the music. They don't want to be challenged in any way."
Under Hodge, Gateway has done its share of chestnuts but constant recycling is, obviously, not feasible. The past season began with "A Funny Thing..." " and continued with "State Fair," "Hello, Dolly!," and "Singin' in the Rain." Next month will see an engagement of "The Odd Couple." A big winner this season was the revival of the Kopit-Yeston "Phantom," but last year's "Tommy"‹which won a slew of prizes from the Connecticut Critics Circle‹is an example of a challenging piece that didn't do well.
"Compromising Long Island"
"In many ways it's been compromising Gateway on Long Island," said Hodge, "because audiences out there want to see newer, more current stuff, things they know about but haven't gotten toBroadway to see. Danbury is a big city but where the theatre is situated does not provide tremendous access. We can't operate in the winter and the summer people who have cabins around the lake want to relax for the weekend. They're not tourists; they're owners."
The 600-seat proscenium playhouse scheduled eight performances a week, using professional actors and musicians. A for-profit organization, Candlewood required 70-75% capacity to make money; 60% was often the average. Much more profitable is Gateway's touring business. Cross-country bus-and-trucks of "Me and My Girl" and "Meet Me in St. Louis" are ready to go, "A Chorus Line" is set for Taiwan and a contract is about to be signed for "42nd Street" in China, the first such tour for a Broadway show. Also successful is a scenery and costume rental division.
Candlewood's history began with the building of the facility that cost $450,000 in 1964. Originally named the Meadowbrook Playhouse, its first production, opening July 6, 1965, was "Bye, Bye, Birdie." Renamed the Candlewood Playhouse the following year, to more closely conform to nearby Candlewood Lake, the theatre has also offered restaurant meals as well as children's shows and big-bands programs.
The playhouse saw its share of stars: Elaine Stritch, Shelley Winters, Shirley Booth, Dorothy Loudon, Sid Caesar, Gloria Swanson, Jessica Tandy, and Hume Cronyn. In 1974, concerts and star package tours filled the bills with the likes of Ann Miller, Jack Benny, Marlene Dietrich, and Carol Channing. Still, money was lost, as it was when the theatre briefly offered non-Equity revues. Preceding the six seasons Hodge and Allan took over, a different management team closed the theatre in the middle of the 1992 season, leaving subscribers in the lurch.
This year, many incentives were tried. Weekend prices were cut and a hotel-theatre package was continued from last season. A free summer program for children was offered and a ticket booth was set up at the Danbury Mall. A pre-show New England clambake and an after-show cabaret also tried to please customers.
Reached in his New York office, Bernard Posner, the property's owner, said, "If John Hodge can't make it, nobody can. I feel terrible about it and I'm sorry for him. But just not enough people filled the theatre, which is too bad, because I think it was a cultural gem."
