Arts and culture in Stamford, Connecticut facts for kids

Avon Theatre on Bedford Street

Stamford is a city that loves art and culture! In 2017, the city created the Stamford Arts and Culture Commission. This group helps make art and tourism in Stamford even better.

Stamford's Theatres and Films

Stamford Theatre, about 1919

Stamford has a long history with theatre and film. Back in the 1870s, a theatre was on the third floor of the old Town Hall. Sadly, that building burned down in 1904. A famous actor named Edwin Booth is said to have performed there. Another theatre, the Grand Opera House, also burned down.

Later, the Alhambra Theatre opened around 1909. It showed "High Class Vaudeville" which meant family-friendly shows. In 1914, Emily Wakeman Hartley started the Stamford Theatre. Many famous performers played there before they became huge stars.

For example, in 1924, Humphrey Bogart acted in a play called Fool's Gold. In 1927, Béla Lugosi starred in Dracula: The Vampire Play. He later played the same role in the famous movie.

Even music legends visited Stamford. George Gershwin's first Broadway show, La La Lucille, played here in 1919. In 1928, the theatre advertised a performance by the "World's Greatest Pianist," Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Current Theatre and Film Spots

• Stamford Center for the Arts: The Palace Theatre first opened in 1927. It was a vaudeville house, showing many different acts. After falling apart, it was fixed up and reopened in 1983 as a non-profit theatre.
  • In 2005, the Palace Theatre had a big makeover. The stage area was made much deeper. Now, this 1,600-seat theatre can host big Broadway musicals.
• Rich Forum: This venue opened in 1992. It has been a place where new shows are tested before going to Broadway. Since 2009, the Rich Forum has been a TV studio. Shows like The Jerry Springer Show and Maury are filmed there.
• Curtain Call Inc.: This group puts on plays and other fun shows. They perform at the Sterling Farms Theatre Complex. You can see shows at the Kweskin Theatre or even "Shakespeare in the Park."
• Avon Theatre Film Center: This non-profit movie theatre opened in 2004. It shows classic, independent, and art films. It's a great place to see movies that are a bit different.
• Bowtie Theatres: Stamford has two Bowtie movie houses. Together, they have 15 movie screens. These are the Landmark and the Majestic.
• State Cinema: In Springdale, this two-screen cinema shows second-run films. This means you can often see movies that have already been out for a while.
• Outdoor Movies: During the summer, you can watch "Movies in the Park." These free outdoor movie nights happen at Mill River Park and Commons Park in Harbor Point.

Stamford's Unique Buildings

Stamford has some very cool and unusual buildings.

• One Landmark Square - This tall building was finished in 1973. It was the tallest building between New York and Boston for many years. It was designed by Victor Bisharat. Many people recognize it because it looks so unique.
• Fish Church - The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford is often called the "Fish Church." This is because of its very unusual shape! It was designed by Wallace K. Harrison. It's a great example of modern architecture. Its tall tower holds 56 bells.
• St. Mary Roman Catholic Church - This church was finished in 1928. It looks like an old Gothic church from Europe. It is the biggest church in Fairfield County.
• 1 High Ridge Park - This building was built in the late 1960s. It looks like a fortress with a moat around it! Bridges lead to its entrances. It was built for a company that needed a lot of security. It used to have very few windows on the outside.
• 2 High Ridge Park - This building looks like a flying saucer or a concrete bowl. It was built for a clock company. Its design was meant to remind people of clocks and watches.

Science and Nature in Stamford

After World War II, many new places for learning and culture opened or grew in Stamford.

• Stamford Museum & Nature Center - This museum started in 1936. It first had a small planetarium in 1941. It was the first one between New York and Boston! The museum later moved to a large 118-acre site.
  • It has art by Gutzon Borglum, who sculpted Mount Rushmore. He lived in Stamford for ten years.

Bendel Mansion at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center

• • The nature center has a farm with llamas, pigs, and sheep. Many baby animals are born there each year!
• The Fairfield County Astronomy Society - This group started in 1956. They run the Stamford Observatory. A large 20-inch telescope was added in 1965. This telescope helps them study stars and space.
• Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens - In 1965, Connecticut bought this 64-acre estate. Dr. Francis A. Bartlett had planted trees and bushes from all over the world here. It opened to the public in 1966. Now, it's run by the Bartlett Arboretum Association and is even bigger, with 91 acres.
• SoundWaters Community Center for Environmental Education - This center is located at Cove Island Park. It teaches people about the environment.

Visual Arts in Stamford

Stamford offers many chances to see art by local and international artists.

• Loft Artists Association - Since 1978, this group has been a home for many local artists. It used to be in an old factory building. Painters, sculptors, photographers, and craftspeople work here. They often have shows where you can see their art.
• Stamford Art Association - This non-profit group started in 1971. It helps show local artists' work to the public. You can find it downtown near the UConn-Stamford Campus.
• Stamford Downtown Special Services District - Every summer, this group holds "Art in Public Spaces." Artists create art pieces based on a yearly theme. After the exhibit, the art is often sold to raise money for charities. You can still see many of these art pieces around the city.
• Hoyt-Barnum House Museum - This historic house was built in 1699. It is the oldest real home in Stamford. It has old items from the 1700s and 1800s. You can even touch some of the reproduction items. The house was moved in 2016 to be next to the Stamford History Center.

Examples of two of the painted electrical boxes.

• Stamford Museum & Nature Center - Besides being a nature center, it also has an art gallery. This gallery is in the Bendel Mansion. The mansion itself is a work of art! It was built in the 1920s and looks like a grand English manor house.
• Painted Electrical Boxes - All over the city, you can see electrical boxes painted with colorful designs. In 1993, the Springdale Neighborhood Association asked an artist to paint some boxes. This idea became popular. Now, over 100 boxes have been painted by different artists. They help make the city look brighter!