Empress brings food for thought from NY
Tony-winning Roberts, others spotlighted
It took a suggestion by an 81-year-old former mayor for the Empress Theatre to put its hopes on an 81-year- old New York City actor while using technology that’s still in its infancy.
Tony Roberts, perhaps best known as Woody Allen’s confidante in “Annie Hall” and “Play It Again Sam,” reads excerpts from his autobiography, “Do You Know Me” as part of a free-streamed performance available through the Empress on Jan. 15.
Via Food for Thought Productions, the evening’s entertainment also includes “Commercial Break,” a oneact performance by Oscar, Tony and Emmy-award winner Peter Stone, and “Come One” by Susan Charlotte.
For the Empress, it’s new, it’s different, and Vallejo Community Arts Foundation Executive Director Renay Conlin hopes it’s a hit.
“It’ll be ongoing if there’s interest,” Conlin said by phone Monday. “If we don’t get enough people to watch, they (the producers) might decide it’s not worth their time. They’re probably learning as they go as are we. For the first time, I’d be pleasantly surprised if we had 100 viewers.”
And if 500 watched the theatrical performance?
“I’d be absolutely over the moon,” said Conlin, crediting former Vallejo Mayor Tony Intintoli with bringing “Food for Thought to her attention.
Conlin said there were
“It’ll be ongoing if there’s interest. If we don’t get enough people to watch, they (the producers) might decide it’s not worth their time. They’re probably learning as they go as are we. For the first time,
I’d be pleasantly surprised if we had 100 viewers.”
— Renay Conlin, executive director at Vallejo Community Arts Foundation
some negotiations with “Food for Thought” since the Empress couldn’t possibly pay the New York City production company anywhere near what it would normally cost.
“We can’t do what we have typically done. We have very little money at this point,” she said.
So the presentation is free — donations, of course, are accepted — with “Food for Thought” getting a big chunk of the revenue.
“They will get a majority of the money and that will go to the actors and we’ll get something,” said Conlin, thrilled “to have an opportunity to have professional theater and well-known actors performing these plays. I hope there will be a thirst for it in Vallejo and beyond.”
There was a discussion with the rest of the VCAF board to charge admission for the Zoom viewing “but
we’ve found from our previous performances that we’ve done better asking for a donation,” Conlin said.
Conlin has many friends in the arts — and her husband, Thomas, is a symphony conductor — and has witnessed the pandemic struggles. At least in Europe, musicians and other artists are considered “essential,” unlike the United States, noted Conlin.
In Europe, the arts “are so much part of their culture,” Conlin said, adding that this country’s attitude toward the arts “is for another conversation.”
“Obviously, I consider performers essential,” said Conlin, a professional vocalist trained at The Julliard School.
The disrespect started when music was removed from elementary through high schools, Conlin said.
“That was the feeder sys
tem for planting the seed,” she said. “If you didn’t have a parent who went to the theater or the symphony, the only possibility was through the schools. That’s where I was introduced to music.”
Conlin was around 15 when she had her first visit to Carnegie Hall “and I just loved it,” she said. “It was such an amazing experience. I was very fortunate. I want all children to have the opportunity to make that decision.”
Conlin said it’s difficult witnessing the impact of the pandemic on performers.
“There are not only no jobs performing, there are no jobs,” she said. “My heart goes out to all my unemployed friends. It’s just tragic.”
The Empress isn’t in any better shape with no income coming in.
The sold-out “Three Tenors” last February was the
venue’s last show with an inperson audience. Since then, it’s been a financial struggle.
“It’s like at your house. The bills don’t stop,” Conlin said. “Utilities, which are really high. And garbage. All the usual bills. And you have to have insurance.”
There’s also the ongoing rent at the 75-seat Empress Lounge and bar adjacent to the big theater.
“And every time we’ve had a live-streaming event, we’ve had to clean and sanitize every year and it costs $400 to $500,” Conlin said.
Conlin hopes the livestreamed presentation whets people’s appetite on plays.
“Certainly one of my goals when we re- open is that I’d love to have live theater on stage and bring in some touring groups to augment the groups we have in Vallejo,” Conlin said.
Fighting the daily challenge to avoid the gloom of
COVID-19, Conlin shrugged that “right now, opening looks further away than closer. I’m hoping for October or November” of 2021.
“We’re doing such a bad job of rolling out the vaccine,” she said. “I’m hoping things pick up. I just don’t know.”
Three one-act plays by “Food for Thought Productions” out of New York City is live-streamed on Zoom on Friday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., via link at empresstheatre.org.