Steve Kim
Ridgewood NJ, If Ridgewood wants to build a 1000 seat Broadway style theater (Northwest End), it should examine the operating history of Paper Mill Playhouse, which seats about the same (1200).
Theaters are difficult and costly to operate and maintain. It’s a major ongoing fiscal drain. Only way it can be run sustainability over time is through donations and corporate and municipal involvement with a community buy in. I mean the whole community.
Borrowing 100% of $30 million estimated cost and dumping the servicing burden on the residents is irresponsible.
In addition, if the theater is to be opened to the community and the public, what does that mean about all the security concerns around the high school? (One Vote people – any thoughts? Of course not ?)
“In 2007, a financial crisis causes Paper Mill Playhouse to launch a “Save the Theater” campaign to enable the 2006-2007 season to finish its productions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Pirates!. The community comes together and donates more than one million dollars in four weeks.
In June of 2008, Millburn Township votes to purchase Paper Mill Playhouse’s four-acre site and buildings for nine million dollars, marking the first time in New Jersey’s history that a municipality has supported an arts organization at such a high level.
That same year Mark S. Hoebee is promoted to Producing Artistic Director and is joined in 2010 by Managing Director Todd Schmidt in taking the reins of the theater. Under their leadership, Paper Mill begins to enjoy a renaissance and embarks on a series of partnerships with commercial entities to present new musicals while still producing and reviving the classics.”
Can these people ever stop pissing away taxpayers money.
Agree with anonymous. If they had the land they’d want to build an airport – this way they could use up all the Village’s money!
“Can these people ever stop pissing away taxpayers money.”
.
NO.
.
Because we are RICH and STUPID
… and they KNOW IT.
.
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”??? Build it!
Where is this one almost one acre addition proposed to be built? What document does the picture in the article come from
Vanity Project.
Stick
K to Reading Writing & Arithmetic
The arts at RHS are fantastic and it would be nice for the students to have quality facilities. And this is why many people move to Ridgewood – for the schools and what they offer our kids. If you don’t want to help improve the school experience, then you’re free to move to Hawthorne like everyone else who is tired of Ridgewood expenses.
There are several performing art centers in northern Bergen County including a theatre at Bergen Community College. Paramus Catholic’s venue is also nice. Why does Ridgewood need to “go it alone”? At a minimum see if other adjoining towns have an interest and do a regional effort, including fundraising.
For once I agree with Paul Smith
BF has 750+ seat auditorium. Why can’t RHS kids use that for their performances?
Between West Side Presbyterian Church and BF Middle school, Ridgewood has two large auditoriums for the RHS kids to use for their performances when they need to accommodate larger audience.
Students are influenced in 8th grade by music and band teachers of RHS to take music and band program in 9th grade.
They realize half way through they cannot continue it in 10th grade and drop out/don’t continue it in 10th grade.
Please ask for a count of music students in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade before this money is spent.