On Stage: Inventive Programming Keeps Century-old United Theatre Fresh

A century ago, on a bustling stretch of downtown Westerly, the United Theatre first flickered to life – its marquee glowing, its doors open to a community eager for connection, entertainment, and a shared experience. What began as a vaudeville house has, over time, become something more layered and meaningful: a place where history lingers, but the present feels vibrant and alive.

After closing in 1986, the theater lay dormant until it was acquired by the Westerly Land Trust, which led to years of fundraising, planning, and community outreach, culminating in a transformative restoration. Now a community arts hub, the revitalized complex opened to the public in July 2021, blending history and charm with contemporary functionality. Executive Director Carly Callahan explains how programming is the thread that connects generations, noting, “It’s really looking forward by celebrating that past.”

Today, stepping inside The United feels less like entering a traditional theater and more like walking into the cultural living room of Southern Rhode Island. The theater’s mission – to “unite the community through the arts” – extends far beyond presenting films, concerts, and other live shows. With a board that includes Michael McDonald, the former tour manager for the Dave Matthews Band, The United offers a blend of lesser-known and well-established acts. In 2022, McDonald himself moderated a discussion and book signing for Dean Budnick and Peter Shapiro’s work, The Music Never Stops, which focuses on the music industry.

The theater also serves as an educational anchor, offering arts programs for pre-teens to octogenarians at any skill level in one of its three event spaces. The United Music School provides music lessons, ensemble opportunities, and performance experiences for students of varied backgrounds, and part of that curriculum is the business of being a working musician. Other programs include film studies, visual arts, digital design, and podcasting. These offerings invite lifelong learning and creative exploration in a welcoming atmosphere, with many students qualifying for scholarships.

Communications Director Tim Cotter hits on the theme of regional unity by saying of the ensemble groups, “Many of the bands that have formed are made up of a kid from Westerly, one from Stonington, and another from Chariho who didn’t grow up together, but met here and have music in common.” Westerly native Walle Hutton, owner of Rhode Island Surf Co. in downtown, and frontman of the band Sea of Giants, is undoubtedly grateful for The United’s commitment as a venue that showcases local acts while encouraging future generations with its educational programs. After his band played a gig there in mid-January, he said, “I’m humbled by how great the community is, and how it shows up for us. My neighbors, friends, and whole cohort are all passionate about what the United has done for the community as a whole.”

Some events themselves carry a distinctly local flavor. Take SoupyFest, a celebration of Westerly’s beloved tradition of making dry-cured soppressata in home kitchens, which sells out in seconds. It’s the kind of gathering that feels equal parts festival and family reunion. Or the screenings of Westerly’s Gold, a documentary about soupy, so moving it filled the theater again and again, leaving audiences feeling both nostalgic and deeply connected.

In just a few years since its reopening in 2021, The United has grown from a restored historic space into a thriving cultural hub, expanding its circle of supporters and deepening its roots in the region. And yet, it still feels intimate – a place where everyone has a stake, where every show, class, and conversation adds another thread to the fabric of the community. As summer approaches and the calendar fills with new programs, the marquee’s glow once again signals something familiar yet ever-evolving. Learn more at UnitedTheatre.org.