Shakespeare Theatre called the ShakesBeer Festival in order to raise funds towards the restoration and reopening of the famed theatre. The ShakesBeer Festival held on August 23, 2014, raised over $30,000 and donated $20,000 to the restoration efforts after final expenses. This event was designed to be an annual event in order to bring in a source of revenue to the theatre and to raise awareness. Festival! Stratford The 9th Festival! Stratford presented A Midsummer Night's Dream, performed by the Connecticut Free Shakespeare, on the grounds July 31 through August 1, 2013. Fire On Sunday, January 13, 2019, the theatre burned to the ground from a massive fire. The structure was unoccupied at the time and had been vacant for thirty years. No fatalities or injuries occurred, and nothing was recovered from the building. The cause of the fire remained unknown for several months. In April 2019, three local teenagers Logan Caraballo, Vincent Keller, and Christopher Sakowicz were charged as adults with arson, burglary, and other felonies, in connection with the theatre fire. The three teenagers were charged with starting five additional fires in the months following the theatre fire. Although the trio originally pled not guilty in court, they publicly confessed after the theatre arson on Snapchat. Sakowicz and Keller later changed their pleas to guilty, with Sakowicz being found primarily responsible and receiving a ten-year prison sentence as well as 15 years special parole and mandatory psychiatric treatment. Keller potentially faces up to 18 months in prison, while Caraballo's case remains pending and sealed as of December 2022. The Shakespeare Academy at Stratford said it plans to continue to stage outdoor performances at the property during the summer of 2019. See also Hamlet's Dresser, a 2002 memoir by Bob Smith about the author's experiences at the American Shakespeare Theatre References Sources External links Guide to American Shakespeare Theatre Plays and prompt books at Houghton Library, Harvard University Theatre companies in Connecticut Buildings and structures in Stratford, Connecticut Defunct companies based in Connecticut Entertainment companies established in 1955 1955 establishments in Connecticut 2019_disestablishments_in_Connecticut Entertainment_companies_disestablished_in_2019 Demolished buildings and structures in Connecticut Special Tony Award recipients