By KATY SAVAGE
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WEATHERSFIELD, Vt — A 78-year-old building that’s sat vacant about 10 years is seeing new life.
The former grange at 5755 Route 5 is being converted into a theater and community space that will host musicals and performances every season along with a summer youth theater program, birthday parties, workshops, music lessons and just about anything else for artists and creatives.
Sean Roberts, 30, who grew up in Newport, New Hampshire, purchased the grange last November and is making about $80,000 worth of repairs to the building, which needs new septic and heating systems, insulation and handicap-accessible entrance points, among other repairs.
The theater will seat about 130 when finished. Roberts expects construction to be done in May in time for the first play, “The Crucible,” to be performed at the end of June.
“It’s a midpoint of multiple locations,” said Roberts of his decision to buy the building. “It’s only 2 minutes off the highway, it’s 25-30 minutes to White River Junction, (Vt.), Hanover, (N.H.), Lebanon, (N.H.).”
The theater will bring new energy to the small town, which currently lacks a space for entertainment.
“The community didn’t have whole lot going on inside it,” Roberts said. “I saw it as an opportunity for development.”
Roberts also purchased an apartment building and a former restaurant next to the grange. He plans to rent or sell the buildings for reduced costs.
“My goal is to find people around the community who are looking for a place to set up different types of business,” he said. “We’re trying to promote businesses to come in … and take a chance on these places.”
For Roberts, the idea of creating a strong community, especially for youths, became important to him in high school.
“I got beat up a lot, picked on (in school),” he said. “I was a weird kid that not a lot of other kids liked. I like the idea that I have (created) a location where kids can go to, to feel safe.”
Roberts, who is on the Claremont Opera House board, started his own theater business called World Under Wonder Playhouse in 2016. He mostly worked out of the Claremont Opera House until purchasing the grange.
Auditions for “The Crucible” began over the weekend.
Springfield High School art teacher Meredith Pelton was one of 34 people who tried out for different roles. She got the part of Abigail Williams.
Pelton has been leading paint parties in the Connecticut Valley the past six years. In addition to being involved in World Under Wonder plays, she planned to rent the grange building for paint parties.
“It is a beautiful historic building with lots of potential,” she said. “I think Sean is trying to create a vibrant space for an otherwise quiet community.”
Roberts’ purchase of the building has created excitement and enthusiasm. It’s invoked ideas from area artists who want to use the building for dance lessons and photo shoots among other activities.
“It’s nice to see someone take that old building that was kind of falling apart …and do something useful for the town,” said Weathersfield Town Manager Ed Morris.
Cold Pond Builders and Handymen, LLC., owner Clayton Davis, who is doing the construction, said Roberts had a vision to create a space where the community, youths, creatives and artists were welcome.
“He has proven that he will not stop until he has succeeded,” said Davis.
“The Crucible” is a 1953 play by Arthur Miller about the Salem witch trials. The play was a logical choice for Robert’s first in his own theater space. “The Crucible” was the first play Roberts ever performed in when he was a freshman in high school.
“I wanted a piece (that would) deliver a message,” said Roberts, who will be directing the play. “The message is, ‘the crucible is always happening.’ There is always someone being persecuted, someone being oppressed or put down.”
Performances of “The Crucible” are scheduled June 29 and 30 at 7 p.m., July 6 at 7 p.m. and July 8 at 2 p.m.“The Crucible” will also be part of the Great River Theater Festival in Rockingham this July.
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