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21 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JULY 12, 2021 For nearly 200 years, Liberty Bank has been behind companies that think big. We provide commercial loans, mortgages, and working capital lines of credit that can be tailored to meet your business's current needs and those in the future. Loans for $1,000,000 and up. Scan the QR code to call a Commercial Lending Officer today or visit liberty-bank.com/ct-commercial-lending to find a local lender. Financing for Becker + Becker's Hotel Marcel in New Haven, CT (formerly Pirelli/Armstrong HQ) provided by Liberty Bank. Loans, lines of credit, owner-occupied and investment mortgages up to $50 million. All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Seven-figure business loans for million-dollar ideas. 21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_HBJ_10x6.75_M1_V2.indd 1 21-LBB-0045_FY21_CL_HBJ_10x6.75_M1_V2.indd 1 6/14/21 10:04 AM 6/14/21 10:04 AM using videoconferencing technology. Donations power reopenings Adding to the excitement about reopening at Hartford Stage with "Ah Wilderness!" is the directing debut of the theater's new artistic director, Melia Bensussen. Raised in Mexico City, Bensussen has led productions across the country and translated and adapted a variety of texts for the stage. Although Eugene O'Neill is mainly known for his searing portrayals of middle class life, "Ah Wilderness!" is a rare bright spot in his work, Rider of Hartford Stage said. The play, with its uplifting ending, is the perfect return to live theater, she added. "People are hungrier than ever to have in-person experiences," Rider said. "People want some amount of hopefulness and optimism." The Bushnell's new season could not have gone forward without support from theater donors, who stepped up long before the federal government cut relief checks, said Bushnell President and CEO David Fay. The Bushnell raised $2.1 million in its 2020 annual appeal — just short of the $2.2 million raised in 2019 — despite the fact the theater was dark most of the year. "Our donors have stuck with us," Fay said, adding, "you can't overcome a pandemic with private donorship." The first stage of reopening at the Bushnell was the resumption of summer programs for young people, including its Children's Theatre, Slam Poetry Program and Noah Webster JAZZicians David Fay instrumentalist program. Training for arts teachers is scheduled to begin in the theater's Great Hall in August, and performances for youth are in the planning stages, said Yolande N. Spears, senior vice president for education and community initiatives. "I cannot tell you how excited I am at the thought of hearing the cheering, applauding and laughter of children coming back in this building," Spears said. Seeking more steady support, TheaterWorks Hartford replaced its subscriptions with a monthly membership plan last August, promising monthly performances either virtual or live. Memberships cost $20.21 per person or $35 for a household; New Haven's Long Wharf Theater has also started its own monthly plan. Hartford Stage has also seen strong support from its fans, with more than half of its 3,000 subscribers renewing despite pandemic closures, Rider said. Most of the subscribers allowed the theater to hold on to their money and apply it to this year's season. "We're so grateful for that outpouring," Rider said. "That's what's allowing us to restart for this fall. It helps us to know that people are ready." Young people participate in Hartford Stage's Breakdancing Shakespeare summer program. The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddman. PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED