By Marisa Dawson

On Wednesday evening, the Bennington Community Theatre marked a significant milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Bennington Chamber of Commerce at its new dedicated space. At the same event, the local chapter of 100 Women Who Care presented the theatre with a $4,400 check from its January giving event, recognizing the organization’s growth and contributions to the community.

Cofounders Blake Thompson and Donna Dahlsten, who have led the theatre since its inception a few years ago, expressed deep gratitude for finally having a permanent home. Previously, the group relied on shared community spaces for auditions, rehearsals, and meetings, with props, costumes, and equipment stored off-site in Elkhorn.

“It’s very special for us to finally have our own spot and to be able to rehearse when we need to and come and go as we please and not have to rely on others. We’ve been so grateful for the community to allow us to use community spaces,” Thompson said, noting how they have started outgrowing those spaces among other challenges. “And our community doesn’t have a lot of community spaces, so they’re being used a lot.”

Dahlsten highlighted the practical challenges overcome to reach this point. “Well, we had to make sure we could afford it. That was the big challenge. Well, first of all, finding a space, because there aren’t a lot of spaces available that fit our needs,” she explained. The group secured a one-year lease to allow flexibility if needed, after carefully reviewing their budget and confirming financial stability from successful productions.

The new space consolidates storage, previously requiring trips to Elkhorn, and provides immediate access for auditions, and initial rehearsals. “The last two nights, we didn’t have to make arrangements with another facility… We just came out, unlocked the door, walked in, and we were set,” Dahlsten noted. It will also support expanded programming, including restructured kids’ workshops, potential visits from groups like Missoula Children’s Theatre, and ideas for senior-focused shows, such as a seniors-only Music Man.

Thompson emphasized that audiences can expect the same high-quality productions, with potential for growth. “It’s just a step of growth… It gives us opportunities to do more. They should be used to the same caliber of what we produce. It should only get better. We hope, however, we should be able to provide more.”

For Dahlsten, the ribbon cutting represented a long-awaited achievement. “That’s just a milestone for me. You think, are we ever going to see the day that we have a spot to call our own? So the fact that the chamber is here doing a ribbon cutting on our space… it’s just really meaningful.”

Bennington Chamber of Commerce President Felicia Weaver praised the theatre’s new presence. “To have their presence in a brick and mortar place is a huge asset to the community… for them to call their space home,” she said. “The growth has been amazing.”

Weaver noted the value of including nonprofits like the theatre in the chamber. “It allows for us to give a lot more support to those nonprofits… every nonprofit kind of has their own little niche and we get to support that.”

Molly Hoge, a committee member with 100 Women Who Care, said the group was thrilled to see the impact of its donation. “We love seeing how the community theater has been able to use the funds; they were the recipient of our January giving event… We love being able to see their actual space and how they’re utilizing those funds to better their organization.”

Hoge highlighted the theatre’s impressive growth in youth participation. “It’s been incredible to hear about the number of kids they’ve had try out for different things, even from their very first production to the most recent one… It just allows for one more activity for kids to be involved in here in Bennington.”

Thompson and Dahlsten both stressed the broader community impact. “I think it symbolizes that our community’s growing and that the arts are so important,” Thompson said, noting the jump from 13 kids auditioning for an earlier show to over 70 recently. “For some kids that aren’t athletic, I was one of those kids, this is a wonderful outlet,” Dahlsten added.

The theatre’s shows will continue to be performed at various local venues, including at the schools and St. John’s. Its next production, The Addams Family Musical Young@Part, is scheduled to debut during Bennington Daze. More details will be announced soon- keep an eye out for our article covering the initial auditions and show details.

The new space not only provides practical benefits but also fosters community and tradition. Board members pitched in during the move and community members helped with donating time and materials to make the space their own, turning it into a bonding experience. Donations from KE Flex, Design 4, Bennington Community Foundation, and 100 Women Who Care were vital in making this space come to life, in addition to continued community support. The theatre looks forward to creating new traditions, like signed posters from productions and more. As Dahlsten and Thompson look ahead, the focus remains on expanding access to the arts for all ages in Bennington.