Stratford committee hears ideas for Shakespeare theater property

Shakespeare Property Task Force Co-chairman Anthony Nizzardo speaks during the task force’s first meeting Tuesday as fellow members (left to right) Amanda Meeson, Patti Sorrentino-Galello, Co-chairman Tom Dillon, Frank Bevacqua and Ed Goodrich listen. less Shakespeare Property Task Force Co-chairman Anthony Nizzardo speaks during the task force’s first meeting Tuesday as fellow members (left to right) Amanda Meeson, Patti Sorrentino-Galello, Co-chairman Tom ... more Photo: Ethan Fry Photo: Ethan Fry Image 1 of / 62 Caption Close Stratford committee hears ideas for Shakespeare theater property 1 / 62 Back to Gallery

STRATFORD — About 50 people showed up Tuesday for the first meeting of the town’s Shakespeare property task force.

The committee, appointed last month by Mayor Laura Hoydick, has been charged with overseeing a community conversation about what will happen at the property since a Jan. 13 fire burned down the historic theater.

To that end, the committee’s members on Tuesday tentatively scheduled another meeting for Feb. 19 at which they said they’ll hash out the process more.

"What our job is to do is to get the community’s input about what should happen now," Tom Dillon, one of the task force’s co-chairs, said.

Members of the task force listened to about 40 minutes of comments from residents offering their thoughts during Tuesday’s meeting.

None got louder applause than Elm Street resident Rachel Rusnak, who said the town should use the property to offer residents a chance to engage with the arts more.

"I’m tired of going to Milford and I’m tired of going to Fairfield to do anything," Rusnak said. "There’s such an opportunity here. I hope the town doesn’t let it go to waste."

This story will be updated.