CANDLELIGHT THEATER MOVIE
CANDLELIGHT THEATER PROFESSIONAL

Candlelight needs to raise $300,000 for this project and is half way there at $150,000. Part of the fundraising includes a Capital Campaign that focuses on one specific area – replacing the stage and the stage’s support structure.

CANDLELIGHT THEATER PROFESSIONAL

Update, but still maintain the integrity of our venue.”Ĭandlelight’s overall fundraising effort, Keep Candlelight Glowing, focuses on three main initiatives: “maintain a venue suitable for professional arts and dining experiences, subsidize production and special event operational costs and provide educational programs and scholarships for the community.” “But after that, once the new stage (is in place) and the foundation is secure, also to re-do the kitchen and work on the foyer. “That’s my vision exactly,” said Cloutier. “Our primary goal is to sustain, get people in the seats and establish a core fundraising system so we aren’t in a position where we are scrambling,” Kelly explained. Kelly said the theater has been able to set itself apart by putting on high quality work under adverse conditions that other theaters don’t have to deal with, such as the age of the barn and the stage. “There’s no other venue like this one – it’s right out of Judy Garland movie.” “We have a great subscriber base and a core group of loyal people, but it only benefits the theater if we can move the name out,” he continued.

“As long as the theater has been here, people a short driving distance don’t know (Candlelight).” Kelly said he, himself, lived 25 minutes away and wasn’t familiar with the theater until he became involved with the re-opening ten years ago. “Our primary vision is to get more people in the seats,” said Kelly. With an updated name and a growing vision that includes expanding the fan base of the theatre, growing the capital campaign and working on fundraising to “Keep Candlelight Glowing,” Artistic Director Bob Kelly, Chairperson of Fundraising Sue Hornung and Chair of the Capital Campaign, Delaware State Senator Cathy Cloutier hope to fill the seats and get the word out that Candlelight is the place to be.Īs Kelly, Hornung and Cloutier talked, their love for not only theater, but this theater in particular, was palpable. In 2014, the group dropped the “new” from the name and officially became The Candlelight Theatre. In 2006, New Candlelight was formed as a not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization and “in the fall of 2010, the Millers turned over management of the facility, including the food operation to the non-profit,” according to Candlelight’s website. The theater opened as New Candlelight Theatre in 2004. The Millers began renovations that included extending the stage, adding a new sound system, installing a permanent buffet area, renovating the lobby and refurbishing the restrooms, among other projects. 28, 1969, Candlelight Music Theatre opened with a production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” Over the years, the theater has seen many actors and actresses grace the stage, including film actor Bruce Willis, Broadway musical star Diane Fratantoni and Tony Award winner Susan Stroman.īorris left the theater in 1985 and Candlelight continued under the direction of John and Lena O’Toole until they sold the business to Kathleen Nadolny and Ennio diGenova in 2000 who later sold it to Bob and Jody Anderson Miller in 2003. They spent five months renovating the barn and on Nov. Borris and O’Toole planned to open a dinner theater, the first in Delaware.

CANDLELIGHT THEATER MOVIE

The theater “went dark” in 1966 and served as a movie theater before it was revived by Julian Borris and John O’Toole in 1969. During this time, actors such as Jack Klugman, Barbara Bel Geddes and Anthony Perkins performed on the stage and in 1953 Arthur Miller directed his play “All My Sons” at the Robin Hood. The Robin Hood Theatre operated as a summer stock theater until the 1960s. The theater was originally the Harvey Barn before it was transformed into The Robin Hood Theatre in 1931. The intimate theater seats 150 and is rich in history. Forty-five years later, Candlelight is still engaging audiences with five (soon to be six) main stage shows each year, monthly comedy nights, special musical performances and more. The Candlelight Theatre, 2208 Millers Road, Wilmington, Del., has been entertaining patrons since its inception in 1969.

Nestled in the heart of Ardentown, Del., hidden inside an old barn, is a Delaware Valley treasure.

Candlelight theater