A Letter to the STAGES Community
December 4, 2024
Dear students, families, supporters, and other cherished members of the STAGES community,
We’re writing today to share some exciting news about the future of our home at Woodfords Corner.
As you know, STAGES Youth Theater has been fortunate to reside in the historic Parish House at Woodfords Congregational Church (WCC) since 2016. Now, the building is poised for transformation, and while change can be bittersweet, we’re excited about what’s to come for STAGES and our community.
WCC has sold the Parish House part of the campus to Community Housing of Maine (CHOM), who will be creating much-needed affordable housing for seniors in Portland. This project, years in the making, reflects WCC’s thoughtful vision for the future – reimagining their underutilized spaces to meet pressing community needs.
What does this mean for STAGES?
First, the bittersweet news: in 2025, the gymnasium space we’ve called home for so many productions will be demolished. This quirky, DIY venue has been the heart of countless magical performances, and we are incredibly proud of the work that’s been created there by our amazing students. While we’ll miss it dearly, we’re excited to hold next season’s performances in some wonderful Portland-area theatrical venues—and perhaps one day, after construction wraps up, we’ll be able to perform in a restored Memorial Hall (our current lobby space, which is not being torn down).
Now, for the exciting news: WCC has graciously invited us to relocate to a new home on campus! In early 2025, we’re hoping to move our office and administrative operations to the “undercroft” space beneath the WCC Sanctuary. This bright, welcoming area includes offices, storage, and two large classrooms, plus a spacious common room almost twice the size of our current stage! Some of our students may already be familiar with The Undercroft – it hosted our PET VETS and PLAYVENTURE summer camps this year and has recently been a gathering space for student cast-members during performances.
WCC has been taking on some beautiful updates to the undercroft classrooms, including new lighting, resurfaced walls, and a stunning new floor. We can’t wait to begin using this space for classes, rehearsals, and other programs soon!
We know that construction projects can bring noise, mess, and the occasional challenge. We’re committed to continuing our programming at Woodford’s Corner during this transition and will also be bringing some programs to additional satellite locations in 2025. Your support and patience during this time means the world to us, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way.
While we’re sad to say goodbye to our performance venue, we’re inspired by WCC’s vision for their campus and for the affordable housing CHOM will bring to Portland. We look forward to being part of a reimagined Woodfords Corner that remains a hub for creativity, connection, and community.
Thank you for being part of the STAGES family and for making this journey with us.
Sincerely,
Stacey Koloski
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Questions / Concerns? Contact us any time
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Additional Resources/Learn More
Community Housing of Maine (CHOM)
Woodford’s Congregational Church (WCC)
