The Next Act
Simsbury Meadows is thrilled to announce that it is nearly ready to break ground for the next chapter in the story—The Next Act—a transformative expansion of its beloved facility.
In 2004, a group of Simsbury residents, in partnership with the Town of Simsbury, envisioned an outdoor entertainment venue in Simsbury. In 2005, with the help of generous private donations and the State of Connecticut, the venue was built, but more was needed to complete the facility. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra makes its summer home in Simsbury, and the Meadows has hosted large concerts for artists such as Willie Nelson, Darius Rucker, the Beach Boys, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Harry Connick Jr., plus community events, festivals, a circus and marathons.
As Jeff Dornenberg, Simsbury Meadows’s board president, said, “As we approach Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center’s 20th anniversary, we are poised to finish what was started in 2004. The additions will include artist dressing rooms and green room space, permanent office space for our staff, public-facing bathrooms which will be accessible to the playground, the dog park and users of Simsbury Meadows, plus much-needed equipment storage space, all reducing our need to rent trailers annually and give us the ability to attract more talent to the stage.”
In addition to its own reserves, the venue has been awarded a significant grant from the State of Connecticut, funding by the Town of Simsbury, as well as generous donations from supporters in the community. The goal is to raise an additional $450,000 during the Next Act Capital Campaign to cover Simsbury Meadows’ part of the construction costs and the goal is nearly met. The plan is to break ground in September of 2025! The public-private partnership will allow Simsbury Meadows to continue to bring diverse programming to Simsbury, Granby, the Farmington Valley and the Greater Hartford region for years to come. If you would like to support this future, visit simsburymeadows.org and click on The Next Act Capital Campaign.
Executive Director selected
The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center’s Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Simsbury resident Allison Young has been selected as its executive director. She will start her new position on May 19.
Young joins Simsbury Meadows from the Renbrook School in West Hartford, where she served most recently as the Director of Development Operations and Individual Giving. She also brings valuable experience in event planning and public relations from previous positions with the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Regan Communications Group.
Young’s enthusiasm for her new position is clear. She said, “I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity to work with the dedicated board, team and volunteers. My mission is to guide the organization to new levels of guest satisfaction as we get ready to begin our exciting Next Act facility expansion and launch Simsbury Meadow’s next 20 years.”
Submitted by Lynne Adame