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The Theater
About Us Mystic Independent Theater premieres emerging independent films, hosts intriguing events, and provides a unique intimate setting for private gatherings. We celebrated our grand opening Thanksgiving weekend 2009 with an independent documentary film In Search of Memory, about the life and work of nobel-prize winning neuroscientist Eric Kandel, and hosted a wonderful show for the kids featuring Linda Lee's Laughs on Us. January and February featured films by visionary director Pere Portabella. A "Pere Portabella Doubleheader" included The Silence Before Bach (Die Stille vor Bach) followed by Warsaw Bridge (Pont de Varsovia). Also in January, we welcomed Celtic flutist Michael “Skip” McKinley and an impressive group of musical friends in concert. State Senator Andrew Maynard, Pamela Weintraub, author of Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic, Kimberlee Pappa, Chapter Chair of the Lyme Disease Association, of Eastern CT, Dr. Megan Marco & Dr. Stephanie Bethune from Stonington Natural Health Center and Daniel F. Hartman, MD from Natura Medica all contributed to a Lyme Disease Day of Awareness prior to showing the award-winning documentary film Under Our Skin. In March, we hosted the Mystic Irish Parade Film Festival and brought two amazing films honoring Liam Clancy: The Yellow Bittern: The Life and Times of Liam Clancy and Liam Clancy & Friends: Live at the Bitter End. A special performance of Family Songs and Stories with Aoife Clancy was a spectacular evening on March 27th. Old Sledge played a lively evening of fascinating traditional music "Old time songs and tunes from the back country" to a dazzled audience. Todd Gipstein presented Geography of the Human Spirit, A Journey Through Life, documenting his travels and photography across the globe and with National Geographic. In June we hosted music events with Masters of Jazz, the Dan Hartman Quintet, traditional Celtic on two fiddles and bouzouki with The Red Wellies and the best of Scottish Folk with international touring band North Sea Gas. July films include the acclaimed documentary May I Be Frank with special guests Frank Ferrante and director Gregg Marks, and Un Capitalisme Sentimentale brought to us by Marc-Antoine Bédard, of the Cultural Affairs and Cultural Development in New England for the Government of Québec. Stay tuned for Eminent Muse, our new series featuring local and regional upcoming musicians!
In addition to showing films and hosting events, the theater is available to rent for both private and public events, for guests or audiences of 46 or fewer. Our interior space has very comfortable tiered seats, a raised stage, superb video and sound, and adjustable lighting. The building is situated on a scenic five-acre campus with beautiful water views – a lovely backdrop for wedding parties and family photos. Mystic Independent Theater is located on the lower level of Quiambaug Cove Professional Suites, 107 Wilcox Road, one mile from downtown Mystic, Connecticut. If you host an event, or come and enjoy a performance or film, you will always have ample parking at our private parking lot, with 144 spaces.
About The Directors Mystic Independent Theater is run by Bill Gash & Casey Cyr Gash. As co-owner of the theater with his partners Michael Blair and John Johnson, Bill Gash has created a wonderful space (from the former CL&P building) at 107 Wilcox Road, Quiambaug Cove that is home to 12 businesses including Mystic Yoga Shala, Riverlight Wellness & Brain Training Center, Stonington Natural Health Center to name a few. Theater director Casey Cyr Gash is a long-time Mystic resident who lived a decade in New York City while creating music, writing, performing, and working in television and advertising. Casey wrote two books with New London's own Hozomeen Press and served as a NY Hozomeen Outpost with Rich Martin organizing shows, released her own CDs and performed often with the legendary David Amram. Casey organized concerts and literary readings, and founded the New York Underground Music & Poetry Festival which took place in 2000 for three days in 14 clubs in NYC. Musical releases include Phantom Moon (Calque Cinema) and Shiva with David Amram, contributions to Kentucky Blues, and Mystic Disc's Trapezium (in her band Psyche). Highlights included performing at CMJ three times, and reading Kerouac with Steve Earle and David Amram. Published literary work includes Metta Morpheus and View From the Launch Pad. New releases: Hozomeen JAM CD, and screenplay Memory Bank. Casey looks forward to helping local artists & musicians present their work at the theater.
The Theater's History In November 2009 we revamped, revived and renamed the former “JBG Theater” Mystic Independent Theater. Restoring it wasn’t too hard, because it had good bones, and a rich history as home to the Stonington Film Society, which also hosted musical events and an Irish Film Festival run by Michael Blair who created the theater and film society concept. The former JBG, (Johnson, Blair and Gash) Theater will continue to run as Mystic Independent Theater, to help draw to it more of the same great talent, as well as new fledgling talent, films and happenings. If you were one of the lucky few who used to attend events at JBG, please visit us again soon at Mystic Independent Theater and tell all your friends “you knew us when!”
The Theater is Available for Private & Public Events Hourly fees or blocks of time are available for private affairs, where intimacy and privacy are required. A flat fee or a negotiated split between the theater and your organization makes reserving the theater affordable for a variety of public productions. If you are planning an event, and would like to consider our venue, we welcome you to tour the theater. We look forward to working with you to make your event as successful as possible. Publicly-held events may include:
Reservation package for publicly-held events
Private events may include:
Reservation package for privately held events
Specs & equipment
To reserve the theater with film or video capability
The theater is downstairs, not wheelchair-accessible
For more information, to book an event or reserve the theater, please contact info@mysticindietheater.com |
