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Union Savings Bank Donates $25,000 To Ridgefield Theater Barn

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- Union Savings Bank donated $25,000 to help fund the expansion of the Ridgefield Theater Barn community theater.

From left, Wayne Leiss, Ridgefield Theater Barn manager; Jill Mcguire, Union Savings senior branch manager, Ridgefield; Pamela Jones, president, Ridgefield Theater Barn Board of Directors; and Cynthia Merkle, president and CEO of Union Savings Bank.

From left, Wayne Leiss, Ridgefield Theater Barn manager; Jill Mcguire, Union Savings senior branch manager, Ridgefield; Pamela Jones, president, Ridgefield Theater Barn Board of Directors; and Cynthia Merkle, president and CEO of Union Savings Bank.

Photo Credit: contributed

The donation will help the theater build a costume shop, a functional space for set-construction, a classroom dedicated to its “Theater Barn Kids” program, a second classroom/conference room and a separate performance space that will be used for a multitude of different events, according to a release from the Ridgefield Theater Barn, according to a press release.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Theater Barn offers residents a series of performances over 30 weekends. In addition to dramas and musicals, the facility hosts play-readings, improv-themed comedy nights and an “Evening of One Acts” series.

The cabaret-style theater seats approximately 70 people at 11 tables.

“Given our dedication to the cultural entities within the communities we serve, we felt it was essential to help support the growth of this wonderful, multi-dimensional theater as a source of both entertainment and education,” said Cynthia C. Merkle, Union Savings Bank, president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to seeing the Theater Barn thrive as it enters its second half-century.”

Ridgefield Theater Barn manager Wayne J. Leiss said, “This very generous donation will help us in so many ways.  We’ve worked with Union Savings Bank for several years. They continue to be a truly valued business partner.”

Established in 1866 and headquartered in Danbury, Union Savings Bank is a $2.3 billion mutual bank dedicated to being the bank of choice.

As a full-service financial institution, Union Savings Bank provides banking, mortgage, investment, trust and insurance products in Connecticut, with 26 offices in Bethel, Brookfield, Canton, Danbury, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Marble Dale, Monroe, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Southbury, Torrington and Washington Depot.

In 1965, Ridgefield Theater Barn was a handful of Ridgefield residents banded together to form a small theater group dedicated to providing community theater.

This not-for-profit organization grew into the Ridgefield Theater Barn. Housed in a rustic converted dairy barn leased from the town of Ridgefield, the Theater Barn continues to produce an ongoing series of comedies, dramas, musicals, improv and special events.

The Ridgefield Theater Barn is at 37 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield.

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