After seven years of traveling throughout South County, the Contemporary Theater Company is settling down. The CTC has found a happy home on Wakefield’s Main Street, in a freshly renovated, 90-seat space. As their summer season opens in the new digs, the group’s expansion promises to usher in an exciting era of live entertainment for the area.
For Christopher Simpson, company founder and artistic director, finding this venue marks the achievement of a longtime goal. He discovered this particular locale by chance over the winter, after inquiring about another rental property on Main Street. While that one didn’t quite fit the bill, the landlord knew of another building that might. Simpson and the CTC signed a six-year lease as soon as it became available.
The CTC collaborated with the Tetzner family, owners of Phil’s Grille and landlords of the new theater, to renovate the space. Thanks to substantial fundraising efforts and a team of contractors, Simpson expects the building to look almost unrecognizable from its former state. Previously home to the Hera Gallery, nearly everything inside has been removed and the entire layout redesigned. The partnership with the Tetzners and their restaurant also allows the CTC to offer a bar and concessions in the lobby, and provides future opportunities for dinner theater.
Simpson is thrilled for the CTC to set down roots in the rapidly developing Main Street area, amidst bustling restaurants and popular shops. He hopes that having such an accessible location will help to encourage local participation onstage, backstage and behind the scenes, in keeping with the group’s mission. He explains, “Being right at the heart of the community center gives people a chance to be involved close to home.”
In their traveling years, the CTC performed everywhere from URI and The Towers to high schools and outdoor parks. While Simpson raves about the community support that the group received, it wasn’t always easy. As he points out, “I would challenge any theater or business of any kind - a coffee shop, a boutique - to try to sell theirproduct only half of the weekends each year out of a different store front every month. It’s a very, very difficult model.” He continues, “To have a place where we can put on a show and let it run for one weekend if we choose but also six or ten… That’s the kind of thing a lot of theaters take for granted.”
The CTC kicks off the summer season with a rarely seen comedy by classic humorist Mark Twain. In the zany, irreverent Is He Dead? (July 6–21), a French painter stages his own death to get better prices for his paintings. Next to the main stage comes The Foreigner (August 10–25), by American playwright Larry Shue. The funny story follows a shy guy’s attempt to pretend he doesn’t speak English, in hopes of getting a little peace and quiet. And later, three actors lead a ninety-minute, whirlwind tour of the Bard’s greatest hits in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (August 17-September 1).
The whole family can also enjoy Saturday morning Double Features (July 7–August 25), which are two short fairy tale plays for younger audiences, with a “snack-tivity” break between them. With the new theater space, a world of late night programming becomes possible, too. Audiences can swing by on Friday nights for improvisational comedy (July 6–August 31) and catch monthly cabarets (July 21, August 11 and September 1). The CTC plans to maintain their studio space in the South County Commons for workshops and classes, too.
In addition to CTC productions, the new Main Street theater will showcase the works of local artists. This summer’s guest performances include a comedy from the dramatic group RI SALT and a vaudeville act from the song-and-dance team Jones and Boyce. Between the CTC lineup and special events, Simpson hopes to keep the theater open nearly every weekend this fall. And he welcomes the chance to cast a spotlight on other troupes.
“That’s our goal,” he notes. “We’ve been trying really hard to make unconventional spaces into theater spaces. And now we have a theater space and are looking for people to come use it."
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