Upstage Proposes Stewardship

Upstage Players hope to become Opera House Stewards

The Upstage Players (UP) are excited to announce their hopes of becoming stewards of the historic Littleton Opera House. The proposal, which requires public approval through a warrant article vote, would have the town retain ownership of the space while UP would act as primary tenants and promoters of the historic venue.

More Details

UP has been in working conversations with the Town of Littleton for quite some time about the Opera House space. While the town would still have some financial responsibility for the historic building, such as maintaining the exterior shell and safety systems, they would no longer be responsible for promoting the space and trying to raise additional dollars to staff it and keep it operational. UP would take on primary fiscal responsibility for maintenance, improvements, and staffing. The overall result would be a reduction in tax burden for residents of the town.

Future of the Opera House

All are looking forward to making improvements to the Grand Hall in accordance with Historic Registry standards that will make it more appealing to performers and the audience, eventually to the Cottage Street level, as well as. The goal is for Upstage to not only grow their own offerings, but to continue to host a larger array of performers and experiences for the North Country, as well as town and community events. This would be continuing the work of current Opera House Manager Sue Pilotte, who is looking forward to retirement in the summer of 2020.

Since the building is literally and metaphorically the cornerstone of the town, UP hopes to continue its use as a community resource, working with existing partners like the town itself, the Littleton Historical Museum, and Creative Edge Dance studio and building additional partnerships.

Upstage’s Accomplishments

Managing Artistic Director Andrew Lidestri, who took the reins of the Upstage Players seven years ago, has helped the organization grow by leaps and bounds and hopes to cultivate the same success for the Opera House.

UP now boasts a robust annual appeal and donor base, an active Board with numerous actors and volunteers, and excellent community support, all of which Upstage hopes will provide a strong foundation for the management and stewardship of the Opera House into the future.

The organization has a strong team with a deep and diverse skill set, including Lidestri who, along with a professional background in the performing arts, has years of experience in events coordination and organizational leadership. UP Board Treasurer Jess Griffiths is a familiar face in the development of downtown Littleton with her work on the Ammonoosuc 23 building, which houses WMSI, The Littleton Studio School, and Iyengar Yoga North. Other areas of expertise include the arts, education, youth involvement, non-profit management, social media and technology, food service, and how to manage large events. UP will likely hire additional staff for the Opera House to optimize the building’s potential.

Community development studies show the arts are a critical part of making our area enticing to new, existing, and potential residents and investors. UP wants people to see both the Opera House and the Upstage Players as important components to the overall success of Littleton and the region. This partnership will make that a reality. Questions or comments on this project can be directed to Andrew Lidestri at upartistic@gmail.com.

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