SCHENECTADY SLOC planning to make move to bigger venue BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
A longtime dream is about to come true for the Schenectady Light Opera Company. After a decade of wishing, the board is finally planning to move downtown and open a bigger opera house. Company members have been dissatisfied with their converted synagogue at 826 State St. for many years. It’s so small that costuming and set design have been moved to separate locations. Economically, it’s not a good fi t, either. Parking is inadequate, and the company draws far more customers than it can fit inside. The venue seats just 260 — company leaders want a building with room for an audience of 400. The company has $100,000 in seed money and is planning a major fund drive to buy a building and outfit it. Board members have already toured several downtown spots but haven’t picked a building yet. “It’s exciting to get to this point,” said SLOC President Bob Farquharson. “This has been on my mind for nine years. The board has been considering this for a long time.” Board members have been focusing on buildings downtown because they want to move near the other stages there. “We would like to be in the arts district,” Farquharson said. If they find a good location, SLOC would open the fifth stage in the area. Proctors has three — the vaudeville-sized main stage as well as the new, 436-seat GE Theatre and the 100-seat acoustic performance space dubbed Upstairs at 440. In the nearby Stockade neighborhood, the Schenectady Civic Players perform in a converted Masonic temple. Given all the theater going on, Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen has tried to brand downtown as an arts and entertainment district for years. He said the conjunction of five stages within four blocks would add to his vision of theatergoers fueling an economy of bars, cafes, restaurants and art-related stores. “It would be great to have their programs downtown,” he said of SLOC. “It certainly would add more events, more activity to the growing arts district downtown.” But he stopped short of saying Metroplex would give the light opera company money for the move. The Metroplex board hasn’t discussed funding but generally gives out grants only for facade improvements nowadays, he said. That is a departure from the agency’s early days, when large grants were common. “There are exceptions to every rule, but other than facade grants, we’re trying to focus on our lending activity,” Gillen said. He suggested that SLOC could qualify for state grants. Farquharson said SLOC is well aware that it will have to raise a lot of money on its own. “We know we’d have to do a major fund drive,” he said, adding that the company is already meeting with a consultant to plan that effort. It’s not clear yet how much the move will cost, but he said it could be well more than $1 million. “I’m not afraid of a multimilliondollar project,” he said. “I’m an optimist. Dream big and you will do it. People will support it.” He expects to spend the next year planning for the move and fundraising. Renovations would then take one to two years, he said. The Schenectady Light Opera Company is a nonprofit amateur theater organization that has presented more than 200 productions since its creation in 1926. ANA N. ZANGRONIZ/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER Schenectady Light Opera Company set builder Richard Lenehan disposes of old paint in the furnace room on Friday. Lenehan is responsible for most set-related projects.
Given all the theater going on, Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen has tried to brand downtown as an arts and entertainment district for years
Well that is the point here Mr.Gillen. It is YOU that has tried to brand downtown as an arts and entertainment district. What about the wants and needs of the rest of the city? And let us not forget to read your stated word...TRIED. I would have preferred the word SUCCEEDED!
And in all do respect, 200 productions since 1926 (over 80years) doesn't seem like a big whoop to me! This Metroplex is nuts I'll tell ya!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Here's an idea. If Mr. Gillen (and Mr. Farley for that matter) are so big into theater, and thinks that the Metroplex is going to do so much for the COUNTY, why not look for a place in the surrounding counties to move the theatre to? Scotia is just over the river. Mr. Farley said that towns are generally built around a theatre. Where's Rotterdam's theater? Or do we not care about the other municipalities in the county? If theater is so good for downtown, why not spread the good things around the county? How about putting it right at the old Main Florist right at the end of Campbell Road? Plenty of room there, I would think, good access to 890, plenty of room for parking, and if theater drawsso much, imagine if you had the theater right next to Rotterdam Square Mall, a wonderful thing that it is, it could actually get people to come to the county to go to the theater, then send them over to buy more merchandise they don't need at the mall!
Excellent idea BigK!! Unlike Mr. Gillen, and I may be wrong here, I just don't see the rational for all of these so called "ARTS" in our downtown section or anywhere else for that matter. Maybe Mr.Gillen and his followers are hoping for people to come from the surrounding cities, towns and villages to take part in the ART'S DISTRICT. Right now I don't see that happening. I think that downtown not only needs to be more diverse, but also, it needs to be made safer. I know that I will not go downtown at night for safety reasons. And there is nothing to draw me there during the day either. But time will tell.
Mr Gillen is trying to make Schenectady mirror NYC with it's arts and theaters only without the population or the demand for them in this area.
You hit that one right on the head. NYC does have a very lucrative arts/theaters district, but that is NYC! They are known for Broadway shows! But they also have China town, Little Italy, Grenich(sp) Village and a huge retail district.And not to mention that Gillen has tried a Little Italy which has fail miserably! DUH!
And like you said Shadow, a population to support it. NYC also has businesses central to this nation. And let us not forget the illegals there too! They are plentiful there...and I know that for a fact!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
With anticipation that this will never be published, I sent the following to the Daily Democrat.
Quoted Text
I was interested to read Saturday, December 8, that the Schenectady Light Opera Company is looking to move to a new home, since they have outgrown their current location. If Mr. Gillen is so big into theater, and thinks that the Metroplex is going to do so much for the COUNTY, why not look for a place in the surrounding towns/villages to move the theatre to? Scotia is just over the river.
Mr. Farley said recently at a county board meeting that towns are generally built around a theatre. Where's Rotterdam's theater? Or do we not care about the other municipalities in the county?
If theater is so good for downtown, why not spread the good things around the county? How about putting it right at the old Main Florist right at the end of Campbell Road? I would think it would have good access to I-890, plenty of room for parking, and if theater draws so much, imagine if you had the theater right next to Rotterdam Square Mall, a wonderful thing that it is. It could actually get people to come to the county to go to the theater, and then send them over to buy more merchandise they don't need at the mall!
Or is the Schenectady Metroplex just worried about State Street?
I bolded the towns/villages as I accidentally sent out saying counties, but I think it can be understood what I meant by the rest of the letter. And Matt Dolan (and inou ), when you come in and read this, feel free to use it and/or contact me for any further comment. My information is available in other links on this site, or send me a personal message and I'll get back in contact with you.
Logged
), when you come in and read this, feel free to use it and/or contact me for any further comment. My information is available in other links on this site, or send me a personal message and I'll get back in contact with you.
