Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro announces capital funding for The Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company
Allocates $500,000 to Construct New Performance Space at Sea View Hospital
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced the allocation of $500,000 from his FY ‘07 capital budget to the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation for the construction of a new performance space for The Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company on the grounds of the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center & Home.
During a press conference at the Brielle Avenue facility, Molinaro presented a check to Angelo Mascia, Executive Director of Sea View Hospital, and Joseph Loffredo, President of the Shakespearean Theatre Company. Also in attendance were Fred Cerullo, President and CEO of the Grand Central Partnership, Wayne Miller of Time Warner Cable, architect Vincent MacDermot, and members of the theatre company.
Molinaro’s funding will be used to convert partial space of the old Isolation Building into a new community theatre for the 31-year-old troupe. Until recently, they had been performing in the Nurses Residence Building, which is being converted into senior housing.
The renovation of the 6,000-square-foot space will consist of building a performance theatre with stage and permanent seats, lighting, rest rooms, lobby, box office, kitchen, storage and rehearsal space, administration office, and parking lot with outdoor lighting.
“Although I took office at a time when cultural institutions were falling to the budget ax, I fully recognized the importance of the arts in the lives of Staten Islanders,” said Molinaro. “The Shakespearean Theatre Company is a wonderful showcase for the amazing talent of our community’s residents, and when my staff informed me that the company needed funding for a new theatre, I was happy to help. It’s a win-win situation – the theatre company gets a new home, and Sea View residents get built-in entertainment. Like they say, the show must go on!”
Mr. Mascia said, “We’re happy to join Borough President Molinaro in announcing his allocation of $500,000 which will enable the Shakespearean Theatre to relocate to their new headquarters on the Sea View campus. They have been providing first-class productions to Sea View residents and the Staten Island community for more than 25 years.”
Mr. Loffredo said, “On behalf of the officers and members of the board of the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company, we wish to express our sincerest gratitude to Borough President Molinaro for his extremely generous support and dedication to the company. Without his support, we would not be able to provide quality theatre to the residents of our community. We thank Mr. Molinaro for his commitment to the arts on Staten Island and for all he has done to help make this dream a reality.”
October 24, 2006