NEW MANAGEMENT
Playhouse Stage Co. selected as new operator of Cohoes Music Hall
COHOES, N.Y. » Following an exhaustive and transparent selection process, Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler has accepted the recommendation of an independent review committee to choose Park Playhouse’s Playhouse Stage Company to manage the Cohoes Music Hall.
The proposal, one of six that was reviewed following a call for proposals this Spring, continues the tradition of quality programming in the Music Hall, while saving taxpayers between $200,000 and $300,000 annually.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cohoes Music Hall has been closed since March, leading Keeler to the decision in April to cancel the current contracts, which carry a net cost to the taxpayers in excess of $200,000 per year.
Immediately following the cancellation of those contracts, in keeping with his commitment to the arts and their role in the burgeoning downtown business community, Keeler issued a Request for Proposals to manage the Music Hall.
Officials said proposals were rated on:
• How the respondent’s plan fits with the city’s mission to bring arts and commerce to downtown;
• How the plan contributes to the greater Cohoes arts community;
• How the proposed activities at the Music Hall would be integrated with programming for local youth and schools;
• The creativity, innovation, uniqueness or interest of the proposal;
• The depth of experience of the respondents; and
"It is our goal to bring a variety of entertainment to the stage, while making the theater accessible for everyone in the community. The entertainment people have enjoyed at the Cohoes Music Hall for the past several years will not only continue on mywatch, it will improve in quality, and there will be more of it." — Park Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith
• The anticipated direct financial impact of the proposal on the City of Cohoes.
The review committee was composed of those with backgrounds in theatre management, arts education, youth theatre, hospitality management, dance, small business ownership, and municipal finance.
Thegroupwas co-chaired by Ralph Pascale, owner of Spendwood School of Dance in Cohoes, and Salvatore Prizio, program and event manager for Proctors.
“Through this agreement, we are able to save Cohoes taxpayers around a quarter of a million dollars annually while sustaining the arts and the vibrancy of our business district,” Kee
ler said.
“This implements a business model that is fiscally prudent for the City of Cohoes for years to come, thus assuring the viability of the Music Hall over the long term,” Keeler added on the selection.
The city of Cohoes paid out more than $285,000 in Music Hall management costs and show support in 2019, receiving back just $90,326 in ticket and other revenue. Under the new agreement, the city will pay out nothing for management or show support, and receive $2 per ticket sold.
The city of Cohoes will continue to maintain and provide utilities for the Music Hall building, which also houses the city’s Visitor Center.
“The Cohoes Music Hall is the lifeblood for our downtown businesses, and
the cultural center of our community” Community and Economic Development Director Steve Napier, commented.
“With the approval of this contract, the Music Hall and our downtown will thrive for years to come,” Napier noted.
As the Capital Region’s premiere theater company, The Playhouse has brought plays and musicals to the stage of Cohoes Music Hall for nearly four years.
In their new role as the Music Hall’s management company, they will continue that tradition, while incorporating other standards of the Music Hall including stand-up comedy, musicians, and variety acts, officials noted.
“It is our goal to bring a variety of entertainment to the stage, while making the theater accessible for everyone in the community” Park Playhouse Producing Artistic Director OwenSmith, remarked.
“The entertainment people have enjoyed at the Cohoes Music Hall for the past several years will not only continue on my watch, it will improve in quality, and there will be more of it,” Smith added.
The contract will be presented to the Cohoes Common Council at their next meeting on Tuesday, July 28.