By Dirk Langeveld

FAIRFIELD — Building on a relationship that has spanned a quarter-century, Fairfield University and Fairfield Theatre Company have announced a new partnership.

The agreement formalizes the longstanding partnership between the two organizations, which dates back to 2001. In that year, the Fairfield Theatre Company presented three off-Broadway productions for its first season, with Fairfield University hosting them on campus at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. 

Under the agreement, Fairfield University will serve as the exclusive arts and education partner of the theater. The goal of the partnership is to “strengthen Fairfield County’s cultural ecosystem, connect students and arts patrons in new ways, and create a foundation for imaginative collaborations across education, performance, and the arts.”

“This partnership is rooted in something Fairfield University has always believed: that education does not stop at the classroom door, and that the arts are among our most powerful ways of learning, imagining, questioning, connecting, and becoming more fully human,” said Christine Siegel, PhD, Fairfield University’s provost. “We are thrilled to formalize our relationship with Fairfield Theatre Company in a way that creates new possibilities for our students, our faculty, our audiences, and our neighbors.”

In addition to its arts curriculum, Fairfield University offers additional arts and cultural programming through the Quick center and the Fairfield University Art Museum. The partnership intends to build on this existing infrastructure, serving as “a platform for future co-presentations, co-productions, educational opportunities, student involvement, and experiences that bring University communities and public audiences closer together.”

Fairfield University says the partnership also allows students expanded opportunities, including engaging with professional artists; participating in the creation, presentation, and promotion of cultural programming; and encountering new models of arts leadership and nonprofit cultural production. It also says that the partnership promises a broader range of cultural experiences for the public to enjoy.

“This really is a full-circle moment for Fairfield Theatre Company,” said Patsy Fox, executive director of the Fairfield Theatre Company. “We remember the early days when a small group of people had a big idea: that Fairfield County deserved extraordinary theatre and that we could build something meaningful here. Fairfield University believed in that idea and gave us a place to begin. Twenty-five years later, to formalize this relationship with the University in such a significant way, is incredibly exciting. It brings new visibility and prestige to FTC, but even more importantly, it creates opportunities to dream bigger about the productions, artists, educational experiences, and community connections we can create together.”

Fairfield University has been working to establish itself as a regional hub for arts and culture, including the appointment of Matt Malone as the university’s first vice president for arts and culture. Malone will begin in this role on Oct. 19th.

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts

Dirk Langeveld

^{_{Dirk Langeveld has worked as a news reporter, content marketing specialist, and freelance writer. He is the author of “The Artful Dodger: The 20-Year Pursuit of World War I Draft Dodger Grover Cleveland Bergdoll” and has contributed to several books on Connecticut history.}}