Posted July 19, 2009

Cleveland, OHIO - The League of Historic American Theatres presented Proctors, the performing arts center in Schenectady, NY with the 2009 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award at their July 18th meeting in Cleveland. “This is a total thrill as it recognizes the amazing work of our community and puts Proctors on the national scene, ” said CEO Philip Morris.

“In selecting Proctors for this award, our award jury of historic theatre experts has acknowledged a theatre of exemplary vision and dedication to its community,” said Fran Holden, Executive Director of LHAT.

The judging criteria included the significance and/or magnitude of the achievement, the impact of services and breadth of the populations served and the length of time and/or intensity of the activity. The Outstanding Historic Theatre should be “an exemplary operating historic theatre, demonstrating excellence in its community impact, quality of programs and services, and quality of historic preservation.”

Among those who wrote letters of support for the award were James Jamieson for the Schenectady Historic District Commission, Gloria Kishton for the Schenectady Heritage Foundation, political leaders Mayor Brian Stratton, Legislature Chair Susan Savage, Schenectady School Board President Jeff Janiszewski, and Congressman Paul D. Tonko. Also writing on behalf of Proctors were long-time patrons Gioia Ottaviano, Emily Ross, Betty Carol Barlyn and David and Maureen Kim. Ray Gillen of Metroplex and Jim Salengo, of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, also wrote as well as an official nomination for the award from John Faust, the Stanley Theatre Manager, for the Stanley Center for the Arts in Utica.

A beautiful historic theatre, Proctors has served the Capital Region with outstanding entertainers, touring Broadway shows, movies and more since opening in 1926. Community support fueled a more than $30 million expansion in 2003 which expanded the stage house, added the GE Theatre, conference spaces, etc., making Proctors the cultural anchor of downtown Schenectady.

The upcoming season at Proctors will present the largest Broadway Series to date. The 2009 -2010 Key Private Bank Broadway Series will feature the best and biggest shows currently on tour including Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple, October 13- 18; Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, November 17- 22; Wicked, December 9 - January 3; Spring Awakening, February 16 - 21; and The Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, April 14 – 18.

Founded in 1976, the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) is an international, not-for-profit membership association that promotes the rescue, rehabilitation and sustainable operation of historic theatres throughout North America.

The League serves historic American theatres by supporting a community of professional practice through a network of shared experience. Members of the League include professional theatre managers throughout the U.S. and Canada, who are effective cultural conveners in communities large and small, as well as architects, engineers, specialists in historic finishes, and a range of other consultants, service providers and suppliers.

League members are dedicated to rescuing historic theatres in their communities and returning cultural vitality to their main streets. Some have successfully energized venues and communities, generating significant economic and cultural benefits for their communities. Others are dedicated to providing services, crafts, arts and artists required to professionally restore and operate historic theatres.

Recognizing issues and challenges unique to operating historic theatres, the League focuses on programs that serve to sustain them, including educational programs, publications, specialized services and an annual conference and theatre tour.

Last August, Proctors announced its selection as the host site for the 2011 League of Historic American Theatres Annual Conference. Proctors will partner with Stanley Theatre in Utica and Troy Music Hall for the conference. In October this year, Proctors will host a regional conference for the League titled, “It takes a Village.”

Back to Gail Sez home.