Shubert Theater

Designed by Albert Swazey and built by the H.E. Murdoch Construction Company, the Shubert Theater is a cultural center point in New Haven, Connecticut. The 1,600 seat theater opened on December 11th, 1914 with the production The Belle of Bond Street.

Since then, the theater has undergone many changes, including new owners, shutting down for a short period in the 1970’s, and once, being threatened with demolition. In December of 1983 the theater re-opened as a non-profit organization, and was a key element in the cultural revival of downtown New Haven. Today, the Shubert Theater is recognized as a historical icon.

Grand Light was selected to completely restore a large number of the original fixtures from the building, one large 60″ pendant, including nine small flushmounts, 18 large flushmounts, 5 smaller pendants, and dozens of sconces. Due to the extensive deterioration of the frames structural integrity and various repairs over the previous 94 years, the fixture’s frames required a full restoration including fabrication and replacement of cast zing filigrees and vertical glass supports (missing and non-original), fabrication of glass alignment tabs and retainers, frame re-alignment and repair, and replacement of three damaged art glass panels with similar glass in color and texture. The fixtures also required an application of a new gold finish to match the existing finish.