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Performance for Landmark Theatre

Front and center on the Branford Festival stage, Stephanie Stiefel Williams 1983 recently “belted out” the history of the Stony Creek Puppet House. Stephanie, a former Miss Connecticut, took the audience down memory lane during her performance to enlighten the public on the revitalization of the Stony Creek historical landmark—the future home for The Legacy Theatre. Click above for full story.
Front and center on the Branford Festival stage, Stephanie Stiefel Williams 1983 recently “belted out” the history of the Stony Creek Puppet House. Stephanie, a former Miss Connecticut, took the audience down memory lane during her performance to enlighten the public on the revitalization of the Stony Creek historical landmark—the future home for The Legacy Theatre.
Stephanie is co-founder of the Legacy Theatre, along with artistic director Keely Baisden Knudsen. The duo from Guilford is spearheading a $1.4 million campaign to turn the Puppet House into a state-of-the-art facility.
According to the Legacy Theatre website, the organization is “a professional theatre company that enhances the Connecticut Shoreline's economy, educational opportunities and quality of life through live theatre and related programs. The Legacy strives to be a premiere arts house for local artists, professional companies, and to ensure ongoing seasons of uplifting, inspiring, and challenging professional theatre and theatre training for all.”
Further, the Puppet House aligns with The Legacy’s vision of passing on the rich tradition of the theatre. It was originally built in 1903 as a silent movie house called The Lyric Theater.
In 1920, it became The Stony Creek Theatre when The Parish Players, a Stony Creek community theater group, purchased the building. As home of the famous Parish Players, they collaborated with Lee Shubert to produce the world premiere of Death Takes a Holiday. In the 1930s, the theater became a professional summer stock house, where actors such as Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten performed.
During WWII, the building was transformed into a parachute factory contributing to the war effort. In 1960, the building returned back to its tradition of theatre as The Stony Creek Puppet House.
 
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Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.