Patricia Spagani, co-president of Town Players of New Canaan, updated the board on a multi-component capital project at the Powerhouse Theater in Waveney Park.

Spagani said the project scope remains an expanded lobby, a new theater-arts education center built on the footprint of an existing storage building, and accessibility improvements including expanded restrooms and courtyard refurbishing. She said the 115-seat theater itself will not be changed.

From a funding perspective, Spagani said the project was scoped at $3,000,000 and that the town committed roughly half (about $1,500,000) in last year’s budget planning; Town Players are responsible for raising the remaining half. She reported that since February the group has increased commitments from roughly $800,000 to about $1,390,000 and that there is just under $1,000,000 in the bank, leaving an approximate $110,000 shortfall to meet the $1.5M fundraising goal.

Spagani said the state bond commission approved $100,000 toward a bond request; that $100,000 is intended for design/architect/engineering fees and will be reimbursed under the state’s reimbursement process when invoices are submitted. She said Town Players will hire a professional estimator in January to firm construction numbers and plan to return in February during the town’s budget review with updated figures.

Board members asked whether the town’s $1.5M commitment includes site work (parking, park restrooms). Spagani said site elements such as park restrooms were part of Tiger’s plan and may be budgeted separately; she confirmed that the $1.5M referenced for the project scope pertains to the construction footprint discussed with the board. She invited members to tour the site and noted public fundraising materials had been mailed as part of the capital campaign.

Spagani reiterated the group’s intention to have construction-ready numbers ahead of the town budget review and said she was confident the remaining funds would be raised.

The board did not take a formal vote on the project at this meeting; Spagani said Town Players will return with updated cost estimates and timeline information.