On Tuesday, the City of Westfield joined Main Street Productions, Inc. to break ground on the new Westfield Playhouse in the city’s center.
The 160-seat theater facility will be within two to three blocks of the future Grand Junction Plaza, making it another amenity residents and visitors can enjoy while in downtown Westfield.
“Today marks an important step for our downtown,” said Mayor Andy Cook. “The presence of the Westfield Playhouse will enhance the arts in the heart of our city. Main Street Productions has been an integral part of the Westfield community for many years and we are excited to welcome them to our downtown.”
“Main Street Productions is both nostalgic and proud when considering the accomplishments over the last 17 years in the old building in Eagletown,” said Main Street Productions board member Tom Smith. “Since 2002, over 100 productions have taken place with no running water or indoor plumbing, but time moves on and the breathtaking growth of Westfield has presented us with a rare opportunity. We are thankful for this exciting new future.”
Funding of the new location is made possible through individual donors in the community including a major gift by the Estridge Family Foundation. Mayor Cook also announced the Westfield City Council committed $300,000 and a land lease through the Westfield Economic Development Foundation (WEDF). And, recently, Main Street Productions was awarded an additional $100,000 grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc. to construct the new theater facility.
Construction is slated to be complete in Spring 2020. To learn more about Main Street Productions, Inc. and the new Westfield Playhouse, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
Reporter photos by Stu Clampitt