‘We’re not angry, just surprised’: Longtime Bedford theater needs a new home
OnStage in Bedford began performing plays and musicals over 40 years ago in buildings the organization leased from the city for a nominal fee.
Last week, OnStage board president Hannah Bell learned that the theater has to find a new home as the city plans to renovate the historic Old Bedford School, originally built in 1915.
Bell said when she met with city officials, she learned that OnStage would have to leave by July 31. Bell said she heard about plans for the renovations a couple of months ago, and when she met with city officials, she knew that the theater would have to move.
But during the meeting, Bell said, she asked when OnStage could come back to the Old Bedford School.
“I was informed that we would no longer be the resident theater company,” she said. “We were a little shocked.”
Bell said she and the other board members had been excited about the renovations, as the improvements would also help the theater enhance its performances.
Bedford said in an emailed statement that once renovations are finished, the city’s vision for the Old Bedford School is to operate as a shared community arts space for multiple organizations rather than one group. The statement also said that Bedford is looking forward to working “collaboratively” with OnStage and other arts groups.
“The City values OnStage’s longstanding contributions to the Bedford community and hopes the organization will continue to play an important role in the next chapter of Old Bedford School,” a statement said.
Molly Fox, a spokeswoman for the city, said renovations will begin in August and take about a year. Plans call for renovations to restrooms, adding a catering kitchen and repairing windows and glass.
Bell said that when OnStage first started, the theater leased a building at Generations Park (formerly the Bedford Boys Ranch) for $5 a year. OnStage moved out when the building was going to be torn down. The city and the theater had an agreement to lease the Old Bedford School for $10 annually.
“We offered to pay the city more money,” Bell said.
Bell said after OnStage moves out of the Old Bedford School at the end of July, there are plans for “pop up” performances at senior centers and the Bedford Public Library.
Bell said OnStage wants to stay in Bedford and that she hopes the theater can find commercial space to lease.
OnStage is in “gritty good” financial shape because of Bedford’s generosity over the years, she said.
“I want to be fair with the city. I’m not angry, just surprised,” Bell said.