Edmond Town Hall is much more than a movie theater. The historic building at 45 Main Street, say two of its staff members, is expanding its offerings while crafting a new definition of what the former municipal building offers the public.

When construction was completed in 1930, ETH was considered a state-of-the-art facility. The building was one of the many gifts the Town of Newtown received from its benefactress, Mary Elizabeth Hawley, who planned the building and financed its construction by a gift of $750,000. She also set up a trust fund of $250,000 for maintenance of the building.

ETH was designed in Georgian colonial style and embellished with marble, Tiffany silver, and brass chandeliers. It contained offices for the town clerk and probate court, a courtroom, and meeting rooms.

It also included recreational and social facilities, including a bowling alley, gymnasium, a theater that could seat 675 people with the capability to show sound films, and a ballroom with a kitchen and stage.

A post office was also included in the original plans. The room later served as the area for the town’s first selectman until Town offices moved from 45 Main Street to the Fairfield Hills campus in 2009.

A Board of Managers, elected for six-year terms, is charged with the management, supervision, and maintenance of the building. A small management staff also oversees maintenance of the building and manages its schedule, which has grown significantly in recent years.

Today, the proscenium theater can host up to 500 guests, offering state-of-the-art sound and digital presentations. While many know the theater for its movie screenings, its programming has expanded to more live performances, from music and theater to comedy.

The ballroom, initially dubbed The Alexandria Room and now referred to as Stage 2 when intimate performances take place there, is also a formal banquet room capable of hosting up to 100 people.

The gymnasium has a 600-person capacity, and the former municipal offices are now hosting private business ventures, many focused on arts and entertainment.

New Leadership

A conscientious restructuring of Edmond Town Hall is being led by Lauren DiMartino and Antony Sartori.

The current business manager and department head, DiMartino has been employed at Edmond Town Hall for more than four years. She accepted a part-time bookkeeper position in February 2019. That post became a full-time position, she said, with the additional responsibilities of managing the ETH rental calendar.

“I became more involved with finances including prepping the budget, and slowly got more involved with more of the programming,” she said.

DiMartino’s job role expanded earlier this year following the departure of former Operation Manager Sheila Torres. In addition to being responsible for all financial management — from day-to-day expenses and the building’s operating budget — DiMartino continues to manage programs and live events, obtains grants toward both general operations as well as theater and the arts, schedules rentals, and oversees the staff.

Sartori began working as the ETH Operations Manager on July 1. He comes from a background of hospitality and the operation of restaurants and hotels. He arrived in town looking at the entertainment center from a new angle.

“My job is to make sure the lights are on and the building is kept up, maintained to its original structure,” Sartori began. “We’re also adding upgrades that will benefit the theater, the tenants, the town, and allow for the progression of additional renters, and rental space.”

Daily walk-throughs began immediately, with Sartori looking at what was being done, and what could be done for future cost savings and better building efficiency, he said.

DiMartino said her new employee’s goal is to improve operating efficiencies.

“His vision, his fresh eyes, it’s all helping us with the restructuring we’re undergoing,” DiMartino said. “He looks at Edmond Town Hall in a much different way than we ever have in the past.”

One of Sartori’s first undertakings was the concessions stand.

“When I got here, they were still serving soda by the can. Due to COVID restrictions, that’s what they changed to, but now that COVID is not as prevalent we’ve been able to go back to fountain soda, which is something everybody looks for,” Sartori said. “That’s part of the experience. When you go to the movies, that’s what you get: popcorn and a fountain soda.

“We were able to bring that back, which allowed better flow of concessions and a better experience for our customers,” he added.

DiMartino agreed, saying the redesign of the concession stand will make its service more efficient.

Sartori plans additional changes and upgrades.

“The public may notice subtleties as we progress,” he said. “For the front entryway, floors will be refinished, painting touch-ups will be done. I think it’s going to be a good feeling, that they’re going to have when they come in.”

DiMartino agreed.

“It’s a beautiful building. We’re working toward the fact that the building is approaching 100 years old,” she said. “Aesthetically, Anthony has been making some nice changes, and has some great plans.”

DiMartino said she and Sartori “are a great fit, and share the same vision for Edmond Town Hall and the future for the building and new programming.”

Myriad Offerings

The ETH staff is clearly proud of the expanded programming it has been adding to its calendar in recent years.

“I hear people come in and very often they’ll say ‘Edmond Town Hall is not just a movie house,’” DiMartino said. “People have been noticing that a lot, with all of the programming we’ve been doing. We’re going from being ‘just a theater’ to home for theater and arts, and movies.”

Those people are noticing spring and fall concert series, summer drive-in movies, performances by stand-up comedians, and more.

The Flagpole Radio Café recently presented its first full performance since the global pandemic.

“They’ve been away for a long time, but now they’re bringing their members back and they’re engaged in a lot of projects,” she said. “We’re excited to have them back performing. They plan to have shows in December and next spring, so we hope to do several shows with them again per year. People really loved their shows.”

Recently formed Newtown Stage Co. has taken up residency, and is planning its second staged production for December.

“Having their musical theater business come to Edmond Town Hall is certainly a great new area of the arts that we’re happy to be home to,” she said.

Thanks to the Alexandria Room’s commercial grade kitchen, not only do bridal and wedding showers and receptions get booked regularly, but a culinary summer camp was offered during the latest school break.

“We’re looking to do more culinary programs,” DiMartino said.

Newtown Record Riot, with 40+ tables of vendors offering LPs, CDs and 45s, is scheduled in the gymnasium for Sunday, October 22. That special event is being done in collaboration with Friends of Edmond Town Hall, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting the historic building.

Returning shows include Stella Blue’s Band, Back to the Garden, and The Yale Whiffenpoofs, all before the end of the year. Also returning, this month, is a weekend of screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show — a young tradition now in its third year — with a shadow cast planned for the October 21 shows.

Current building tenants also include The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation and Newtown Bridge Club.

DiMartino isn’t shirking tradition, however. Edmond Town Hall has been home to Lathrop School of Dance, the town’s oldest dance studio, for decades.

“It’s the 72nd year of that studio and we’re so proud to have them here,” she said. Tenants, she added, “are the foundation of the building. They’re making Edmond Town Hall their business home, which is really nice. It’s such a special combination of business and performance space.”

Maintenance of the 83-year-old building relies primarily on revenue generated through event and space revenues. DiMartino said sponsors are starting to reach out to her, which makes her happy because people “are starting to see our growth in the theater and arts.

“They’re starting to see us more as a true arts venue. That’s one of the most satisfying things to me,” she said. “I feel like we’re really starting to make it.”

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.