On Oct. 31, the Pa’lante Theater located in downtown Waterbury will close its doors.
The theater is the first and only Afro-Latino theater in Connecticut and opened a physical location last year after receiving a grant from the federal government.
“It’s important in Waterbury, but also the larger state of Connecticut,” said founder and artistic director Rafael Feliciano-Roman. “There are a lot of Black and Latino folks who are out there.”
That grant total was $130,000, but the theater only received half of it. It says the second half has been rescinded due to the federal governments funding cuts on diversity programs.
“Part of the grant was to help fund some of our expansion and our growth rate,” said Feliciano-Roman. “That grant was unfortunately cut by this administration.”
The theater had to lay off six staff members as a result but it says it has four remaining staff members. It also will have to close its physical location on Grand Street.
“It’s tragic, devasting loss to the community,” said office and house manager Fior Rodriguez. “To the theater community, to the Hispanic community, to the art community.”
Feliciano-Roman says this is not the end of the theater company, but that they’ll have to find new homes for their productions and they’re excited to explore the other cities the state has to offer.
“We’re going to come back in 2027,” said Feliciano-Roman . “We’re going to go and partner with theaters throughout the state.”
Pa’lante Theater says it still plans to host its film festival, which will be announced soon.
