Supporting Connecticut Theaters

May 3, 2023
Dear Neighbor,

Today I was joined by my colleagues in the legislature and members of the Connecticut theater community for a press conference supporting H.B 6919. This legislation offers a 30% tax credit to companies that tech their Broadway tours in the state.

Together we spoke on the importance of passing this bill because of its many benefits to theaters and Connecticut communities.

Three years after the pandemic, theaters are still bouncing back and finding ways to keep their doors open.  A solution that can help stabilize theaters' revenue is "teching," the process in which a touring theater spends weeks at a time building and creating elements needed for the show while paying rent to theaters. The temporary residency by these touring theaters can also benefit local businesses because of the money spent on lodging, meals, and staffing in the surrounding community.
Anthony McDonald, Executive Director Shubert Theater               Frank Tavera, CEO Palace Theater
Connecticut has the opportunity to fiscally support the arts by providing incentives to artists who share their art form with residents over the competitive markets around us. Touring productions can bring millions of dollars into the cities where they tech productions, enhancing local businesses' economic development.

In 1995, New York began tax incentives for Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. States like Rhode Island and Maryland have since followed, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has incorporated theater tax credits within the state's budget.
      David Fay, President and CEO of The Bushnell                               Steve Sigel, Executive Director, Garde Arts Center
Theater transcends from generation to generation and has become one of the most powerful and influential art forms worldwide, and it has always had a special place in my heart.  I thank the arts community for making me who I am today. We must continue to support our local artists as they adjust to the ever-changing landscape of performance arts.
Watch the full press conference.
Connecticut has six major presenting theaters: The Bushnell, Waterbury Palace, Stamford Palace, Shubert Theater, Garde Arts Center, and several other producing and community theaters. These theaters have become the launching pad for some of the most prolific artists in American history, including Meryl Streep, August Wilson, Mark Twain, Lupita Nyong'o, Al Pacino, and Angela Bassett.
I first proposed legislation for theater tax credits this session and it was later adopted and voted on by the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, receiving bipartisan support. I look forward to seeing this bill through to the finish line.
Learn More about House Bill 6919