This past weekend, Middlebury came alive in a way that reminded me exactly why I love this town.
Over two days, we celebrated the grand opening of the new wing and performing arts center at Town Hall Theater with food, fire, music, laughter, and a whole lot of heart. From the very first moment, you could feel it in the air—this wasn’t just an event. It was a community milestone.
As I said in the opening remarks at Saturday afternoon’s ribbon cutting, I’ve always been a theater kid at heart. Growing up, I found so much support, joy, and solace in the spaces where creativity and community came together—whether in my school’s drama department or a scrappy black box theater that became my second home. Those early experiences shaped who I am. So to stand outside Middlebury’s newly expanded Town Hall Theater and feel the energy of hundreds of people gathering to celebrate felt deeply personal and incredibly moving.
There was something magical about the way the center of town seemed to pivot toward this new space—almost as if the gravity of our community had shifted slightly, pulling us all toward one another with a renewed sense of connection.
And what a celebration it was!
On Friday night, Mihali took the stage in the plaza and had us dancing and singing along. The outdoor bar was buzzing, families lined up at food trucks for Ethiopian dishes, Taco-de-Town, local fare from Pratts, and ice cream from Sisters of Anarchy, and we all moved to the beat in front of Tilly’s Stage. Dusk brought more wonder, with the drumming of Green Mountain Samulori accompanying Cirque de Fuego, who lit up Merchants Row (literally!)
Saturday’s ribbon cutting by Doug, Walt and Lisa was truly joyful. With the new Performing Arts Wing officially opened, the afternoon overflowed with joy—welcoming speeches, incredible performances (including the unforgettable Rodney Marsalis Big Brass Band!), and the hilarious stunts of The Real McCoy, complete with a hard hat, a traffic cone, a plunger, a small assistant named Mia, and two somewhat bemused guys called David and Matt…you had to be there…HILARIOUS…
Throughout it all, what struck me most was the sheer diversity of the crowd—young and old, longtime locals and newcomers, artists and business owners, students and retirees—all gathered with open hearts and big smiles. People stayed, talked, laughed, wandered between performances and food trucks, and just enjoyed being together.
The weather was perfect, but even if it hadn’t been, I think we still would have shown up. That’s the kind of town this is. We show up—for one another, for art, for fun, and for moments that remind us why we choose to live in a place like Middlebury.
A huge thank you to the entire Town Hall Theater team, the performers, vendors, sponsors, and volunteers who made it all happen. You brought something unforgettable to life. And thank you to everyone who came. You reminded me that this town doesn’t just support the arts—we are the arts.
With gratitude and excitement for all that lies ahead in this special Town Hall Theater of ours.