Vermont’s Historic Theater Curtains
Christine Hadsel provides a glimpse into the rich cultural history of pre-World War I Vermont through the painted theater curtains of its grange halls, opera houses, and community theaters.
Christine Hadsel, Director of Curtains Without Borders, was the first Executive Director of the Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance. In 1996, she procured a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to search for Vermont’s historic stage scenery. As of 2018, she and her term of conservators have restored all 191 painted curtains in Vermont, with Tunbridge Town Hall to be finished up in 2019. The scale of work ranges from the elegant grand drape at the Haskell Opera House to advertising curtains at the smallest Grange and town halls. In addition, she has documented hundreds of painted curtains in New England and beyond. In her illustrated talks, she addresses the cultural, historical and artistic value of one of Vermont’s great public treasures – it’s collection of painted theater curtains.
Contact Information
- Phone: (802) 238-2720
