Theater seeks shift in revenue sources

Commission aims for more original programming

IRVINGTON — The commission that oversees the Irvington Theater, which the Village of Irvington owns, is proposing a transition from the theater’s current operating format, which relies on rentals, to one that supports more original programming. Commission co-chairs Shana Liebman and Jessica Arinella presented that idea to the Irvington Board of Trustees during a work session on Tuesday, Sept. 9, following the departure of theater manager Greg Allen, who resigned last month after 11 years in the position.

“We are dealing with the very sudden resignation of our longtime theater manager with whom we were building this [original programming] model,” Arinella told the Dispatch. “It’s a loss, we’ll miss him, but we’re also trying to take a breath and use it as an opportunity and really do the work so that all of the important questions get answered in not only a fair way, but also a sustainable way. How can we really build this model so it lasts five years, 10 years, and helps it grow in scale in a way that doesn’t put any risk to the Village?”