The room darkens as the rumble of people running to their seats and chatting before the show dies down. All that’s left is a single sliver of light, the spotlight shining down on the stage, splashing onto the curtain that obscures it. Then, as the velvet red slowly rises, the audience is enthralled by the vibrant fictional world and equally colorful characters there to entertain them for the next few hours.
This is an example of one of the many nights at the newly-opened Niantic Bay Playhouse. Since December when the Niantic Cinema closed down on Main Street, the East Lyme Regional Theater(ELRT) team has worked tirelessly to convert it into a play theatre, with future plans including restoring some of the cinema rooms and a smaller theatre for other performances.
“The goal is to make it both the Niantic Bay Playhouse and the downtown arts center,” member of the ELRT Patrick Conoway said.
Conoway has worked with the ELRT since 5th grade, and he loves that the group now has a place to call their own after many years of bouncing between theatres.
“Having to work with what we have is a challenge, but it’s one that we’re up to,” Conoway said. Despite their challenges, the ELRT have put on many successful plays since they opened last spring with their performance of “Annie,” combining the talents of people of all ages to help produce the play.
“You’re able to do things on a larger scale here at the playhouse. There was a really young cast when we did ‘Annie,’ and they had pretty challenging dances and songs to do, but the adults kept them in line really well,” junior and ELRT member Jane Campbell said. Campbell has also been a part of the ELRT since 5th grade, along with the ELHS
Drama Club, and she notices a difference in the attitudes at each.
“Everything’s a lot more organized [at the playhouse], whereas here at ELHS it’s more for fun,” Campbell said. Both Campbell and Conoway highly encourage everybody to see the playhouse’s upcoming shows “Steel Magnolias” and “A Christmas Carol,” starting October 20 and December 1 respectively, and discover the wonderful transformation of a classic part of the town into something that’s sure to become just as beloved.
