Home

Event Calendar

Buy Tickets

Seating Chart

Directions

Contact Us

FAQS About The Patchogue Theatre

Who owns the Patchogue Theatre?

The fully renovated and restored historic Patchogue Theatre is owned by the taxpayers of the Incorporated Village of Patchogue.

How was the purchase, restoration and renovation of the Theatre financed?

The Theatre was purchased for the Village through loans from three local businessmen. The Village paid for the restoration and renovation with 15 year municipal bonds. Much of the restoration work was done by volunteers.

What is the story behind the renovation and restoration of the Patchogue Theatre?

The Patchogue Theatre stood empty and abandoned for many years until 1996. Much of the original decor had been preserved under the drywall, wallpaper and plywood which had been installed in the late 1950s. The full stage and orchestra pit were still intact, as were the stage-side Juliets (balconies). Patchogue Village took title to the building and made the investment in restoring the Theatre building even to installing period cast iron seats from Shubert’s Imperial on Broadway. Since 2004, the Theatre has maintained a state-of-the-art world class sound system and Broadway lighting and rigging.

Who operates the Patchogue Theatre?

The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation, manages, operates and maintains the Patchogue Theatre as a venue for the performing arts.

What is the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts?

The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, Inc. is a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation, tax exempt under §501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The not-for-profit corporation Board of Directors are unpaid volunteers responsible for managing, operating, and maintaining the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts as a major entertainment venue for Long Island. The not-for-profit Corporation has a long term lease with the Incorporated Village of Patchogue and pays rent to the Village from its operating revenues.

The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts is subject to regulation by the Charities Registration unit of the New York State Attorney General, and its tax exempt status is regulated by the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance and the United States Internal Revenue Service. Each year the not-for-profit corporation files tax returns with both the federal and state government. The books, records and accounting system of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, Inc. are audited each year by an independent auditing firm and the audit report is filed with the State of New York in accordance with its regulations governing not-for-profit public benefit corporations.

Does the Mayor or the Patchogue Village Administration have anything to do with operation and management of the Patchogue Theatre?

No. The Board of Directors of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts operates and manages the Patchogue Theatre. A member of the Patchogue Village Board serves as liaison with the Theatre to maintain communication on matters involving the Theatre building.

Do the Patchogue Village taxpayers contribute any money to operations of the Theatre?

No. The Patchogue Theatre is financially independent of Patchogue Village. The Patchogue Theatre operates on a “pay-as-you-go” basis, and has since it opened.

What is the mission of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts?

The Patchogue Village Theatre for the Performing Arts seeks to preserve one of Long Island’s historic landmarks as a leading cultural Theatre by presenting a broad spectrum of national and international performing artists as well as providing a home for the gifted and talented members of the local and regional community. The Theatre manages and maintains the theater as a full-time mixed-use venue, offering live performances, films, educational presentations, commercial productions, community forums, and other appropriate events from a diverse spectrum of producers and organizations for the entertainment of a wide-ranging audience at affordable prices.

How is the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts fulfilling its mission?

The not-for-profit Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, together with a large group of volunteers who provide all manner of needed support for Theatre performances, has made the Patchogue Theatre a major regional entertainment center.

When the fully restored and renovated Patchogue Theatre reopened in December, 1998, Long Island’s facilities for the performing arts were for the most part limited to the auditoriums of local colleges and public schools, regional play houses with seating capacities of less than 500, and municipal halls or auditoriums.

The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts offers performers not only a high profile, high quality venue—the Patchogue Theatre—but also the most advanced equipment needed to stage professional productions. The art deco Theatre Lobby is an intimate independent performance venue and the established long running feature programs Live in the Lobby, All That Jazz, and Music On Main Street, local talent finally has a place to call home, a reason to stay, and the opportunity to enrich the lives of the community.

How much is the Patchogue Theatre actually utilized?

During the last fiscal year of the not-for-profit Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts—from June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011—the Theatre was active for 216 days. There were 195 performances and an additional 21 days of rehearsals and production set ups. The ultimate goal of the Theatre Management is to light Main Street for the entire year.

How are shows and performers “booked” for the Patchogue Theatre?

Generally producers and production companies rent the Theatre for a show or performance. The rates for use of the Theatre are competitive and vary according to day of the week and season of the year just as all Theaters throughout the Metropolitan area. Because the Theatre receives no operating subsidies from Patchogue Village or any other source, rates for use of the Patchogue Theatre must cover all the expenses associated with operating the Theatre.

The not-for-profit Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts produces a number of shows and performances throughout the year to meet its commitment to serving the local community by providing quality family entertainment at affordable prices while promoting audience development for live music and the performing arts.  

Who actually “manages” the Patchogue Theatre?

There are only two full time salaried positions: Executive Director and General Manager. The Executive Director makes the daily management decisions necessary to keep the Theatre operating, represents the Theatre in negotiations with producers, production companies and performers, is responsible for all the details of contracts and other agreements associated with performances at the Theatre, maintaining the Theatre building and relationships with the building owner and landlord, the Incorporated Village of Patchogue. The Executive Director is responsible to and reports to the Board of Directors of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The General Manager of the Theatre manages the building, schedules employees, supervises the house managers during performances and accommodates performers during their appearances at the Theatre. The current General Manager came to us from Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

A number of part-time employees and expert consultants help make the Patchogue Theatre a truly professional venue, one of the finest in the Metropolitan area.

The House Managers are part time hourly employees who make sure that the Theatre is properly represented during performances and that the patrons are comfortable and safe.

An outside professional contractor takes care of all the technical aspects of production, sound and lighting at the Theatre.

The Box Office is staffed by part-time hourly employees who sell tickets from Noon to 6PM seven days a week and during all the shows.

Why are there so few “major” acts  performing at the Patchogue Theatre?

“Major” acts require guarantees of more than $75,000 and an advance cash deposit of at least $30,000. The Theater at Westbury which is operated by Live Nation Entertainment, which operates 88 entertainment venues throughout the United States. Their contracts contain covenants not to compete which are  strictly enforced. This means that a show or performer who appears at Westbury cannot appear at the Patchogue Theatre. This is a problem with booking many nationally touring “Pop” shows. 

Well-known artists are generally booked from 18 to 30 months in advance of their appearance. They require an advance deposit of 50% on signing the contract with the entire balance due before the performance begins. The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts must wait five business days after the curtain falls at the end of the performance before it can collect on its ticket sales. Unless the show has a sponsor willing to make that “up-front” investment, there is no way that such acts can be booked.

The final problem arises in the price of tickets for a “big name” performer as our mission includes keeping ticket prices “affordable”. There are approximately 1200 seats for sale at any performance.  If the price of the performance is $100,000 and the cost of production, advertising and promotion is $20,000, the minimum average ticket price has to be $100 and the Theatre has to sell every seat, just to break even unless a sponsor is willing to contribute financially.

Why can’t the Patchogue Theatre present the same kinds of performers as the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Theatre?

The 425 seat Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Theatre is heavily subsidized by benefactors  and residents of the community. Without a substantial endowment, the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts cannot commit large amounts of capital for long periods of time. The principle source of income for the not-for-profit Theatre is from the sale of tickets.