The Arden – The Village Center for Gilds of Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft

The arden, the village center for the gilds of Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft, is a place for dining, concerts, theatrical performances, weddings, and family gatherings. It is also a rental space for parties and meetings. The grassy amphitheater of the Moonlight Theater sits to one side of Gild Hall, and the pool of the Swim gild is to the other. The arden is home to a number of other community buildings, including the Founders’ House, Library, and Dance Hall.

Arden Theatre is a community-based professional theatre company that offers classes and programs in acting, musical theatre and film acting for students of all ages. The company is committed to being an equitable, diverse, inclusive and anti-racist organization.

The Arden Shakespeare series has long set the gold standard for annotated, scholarly editions of Shakespeare’s plays. Each volume features a modernized text with comprehensive commentary notes glossing meanings and discussing staging issues, together with a lengthy introduction exploring the play’s critical and historical contexts.

A great deal of planning for the arden fair takes place throughout the year, with an initial meeting of Gild Leaders and Arden Club Board members to shore up assignments. Contacts and meetings among volunteers are continued throughout the summer, up through the day of the Fair if necessary.

Arden residents are responsible for the care of the “shoulder,” or right-of-way, which runs alongside their leaseholds and extends to the roadway. Keeping this area free of overgrowth and debris helps to prevent flooding, keep the roads safe for pedestrians and drivers and avoid costly maintenance.