Since 1992
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GARDINER — Johnson Hall is one giant step closer to fulfilling its vision as a state-of-the-art theater in historic downtown Gardiner, thanks to a $75,000 grant from Jane’s Trust, a regional family philanthropic institution based in Boston. This funding supports the complete historic rehabilitation of the building, with a 400-seat opera house with cutting-edge equipment as the showpiece.
Built in 1864, Johnson Hall is the oldest opera house in Maine that is still in use as a theater. It has played a vital role in the heart of Gardiner, serving as a hall for dining, a performance site, a roller-skating venue and a movie house.
After a period of decline, local citizens purchased and began to breathe new life into the building in the late 1980s. Since 1992, Johnson Hall has been steadily growing, first by presenting performances and offering children’s theater classes and later by hiring professional staff, always with an eye toward full rehabilitation for theatrical purposes.
In recent years, Johnson Hall has experienced ongoing progress with increasing audiences, programs, community partnerships, and a growing reputation for artistic quality and financial stability.
“While much of our success is due to community involvement and support,” said Andrew MacLean, president of the Johnson Hall Board of Directors, who is also a community leader and former mayor of the city of Gardiner. “The efforts of Mike Miclon, who serves as executive/artistic director of Johnson Hall, have been extraordinary. Under his direction, our expanded program offerings have drawn audiences that have more than tripled in size since 2012.”
“We’re tremendously proud of our growth in programming and audience,” said Miclon. “Johnson Hall is in a very good place because for many years a lot of extremely dedicated and generous community members and supporters cared deeply and worked very hard.”
“Our small, 117-seat Studio Theater is consistently at or beyond capacity,” continued Miclon. “Now our goal is to accommodate larger audiences for national touring musical and comedy acts, off-Broadway shows, dance performances, and other top quality theatrical productions, as well as select films and simulcasts. The funding from Jane’s Trust puts us on the path to expanding our capacity through a complete historic rehabilitation.”
In addition to the creation of the opera house on the third floor, the historic rehabilitation will include the creation of a spacious lobby/concessions area and a performers’ green room/dressing room on the second floor and a full-service box office and expanded foyer for the existing Studio Theater on the ground floor. The Studio Theater will continue to be used for smaller, more intimate performances–experimental productions, emerging performers–and for expanded arts programs for young people.
“I am very excited about this funding and the positive impact the project will have,” added MacLean. “Johnson Hall is the anchor in the center of downtown, and has made substantial contributions to the cultural and economic life of Gardiner. Our plan for a performing arts center in downtown Gardiner will dramatically expand its cultural and economic impact on the city and the surrounding communities.”
