Newtowner Carol Spiegel Working To Boost Danbury Palace’s Patronage

By John Voket

You can hear the anticipatory excitement in Carol Spiegel’s voice when she talks about the handful of upcoming shows booked into the modest 400-plus seat Palace Theater in Danbury. A longtime Newtown resident, Ms Spiegel is working with Palace Director Dave Monte, channeling their collective energies toward invigorating this local performing arts and event landmark on Main Street.

They are doing it with a carefully orchestrated combination of acts they believe will have appeal to a broad range of audiences.

And they hope to draw those audiences back to Main Street to enjoy the unique venue’s intimate atmosphere and convenient location just seconds off Interstate 84 and a few miles north up or down Route 7 where a robust population of potential patrons in Fairfield County and southwestern Litchfield County reside.

As outreach director for the Danbury Palace, Ms Spiegel is tasked with an array of responsibilities including qualifying acts that contact the venue pitching for possible bookings, and working to promote those acts so performers will enjoy a warm welcome when they arrive.

“We have a capacity of around 400, and that has been a perfect size for a number of shows we’ve had here from rock musician Ian Hunter to live touring companies putting on plays, a 50th high school reunion, even corporate clients and last year’s run of the Connecticut Film Festival and a separate indie film showcase,” she said. “We really see ourselves as more than a theater, more like a performing arts center.”

Besides the cozy stage area, the theater boasts wonderful lobby spaces, including a balcony reception area big enough to hold a planned master class for aspiring cabaret singers.

Upcoming shows on the Palace schedule include Connecticut’s own Caravan of Thieves October 21, Roomful of Blues October 22, and a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on October 29 where hard-core Rocky fans are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character and dance the night away.

She said the theater will only sell about 300 tickets for the Rocky Horror event so there is plenty of room for the fans to “get up and do their thing.”

The Palace will also feature a rare “unplugged” acoustic show with Southside Johnny and the Poor Fools November 11, and on November 12 the Palace hosts The Heroes Award Concert.

This event includes performances by acclaimed songwriter John Farrell and world renowned Ghanaian drummer Kofi Donkor, and feature students from local schools. There will be a video presentation highlighting Bridges of Peace and Hope Projects.

On December 3 the Palace will turn into a skiers’ paradise with a screening of Attack of La Nina, which follows the journey of Frenchman Richard Permin as he chases storms throughout Canada, and chronicles the exploits of X Games superstar Bobby Brown as he leads an A-list team back to Alyeska, British Columbia for another massive jump session.

Ms Spiegel is particularly thrilled to bring the Palace back to its heyday when “we had five floors of dressing rooms packed with top vaudeville performers” with a slightly saucy review titled: Santa’s Babies — A Holiday Burlesque Show.

That December 10 performance will be followed by the more traditional family fare of the Charles Dickens’ classic play, A Christmas Carol for two shows December 17.

“We think with the focus that Cher has brought to burlesque with her recent film on the subject, and the incredible talent of our cast for this show, that maybe we’ll see a resurgence of that art form here where it all started in Danbury back in the 1930s,” she said.

Ms Spiegel said over the past few years she has welcomed “tons of people” who have fond memories of attending events, plays, and concerts at the Palace going back to the mid-1960s, but is even more gratifying is when she meets newcomers who “just fall in love with the decor,” Ms Spiegel said. “We get thank you cards from patrons and performers alike.”

Ms Spiegel has dabbled in performing arts and show business throughout her life, starting out as a college theater major, and later being tapped to program the first Bethel Film Festival. Besides her work at the Danbury theater, she still takes voice and dance classes

“It keeps me honest,” she said with a smile.

The limited size of the Palace stage, at 15 by 22-feet, also limits the scope of performances the Palace can host, but it has served for private rental clients including the aforementioned reunion, weddings, birthday parties, and corporate gatherings.

There is ample free parking in adjacent lots and several restaurants within walking distance, Ms Spiegel said. “And after 6 pm, Main Street metered parking is free,” she added.

Anyone interested in booking the Palace can contact Ms Spiegel at 203-794-9944, and individuals who sign up to be on the Palace e-mail list also receive first choice of seating when tickets go on sale, as well as other insider benefits.

Learn more at thepalacedanbury.com.