Church lives again as Light Opera’s new home Company aims to raise $600K to turn building into theater Friday, August 28, 2009 By Kathleen Moore (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Just two months ago, the little church in the heart of downtown closed for good. But on Thursday it sprang back to life, filled with singers and actors who will turn the worship space into a stage for the Schenectady Light Opera Company. The deal has been in the works for nearly a year, and the ups and downs of the negotiation left former SLOC President Bob Farquharson with just one emotion when the contract was finally signed. “I’m relieved,” he said, confessing that until the last minute he was worried that the sale might fall through. The diocese of Albany agreed to sell St. John the Baptist to SLOC for $600,000. The company has the money for that, but it needs another $600,000 to turn the church into a theater, complete with lights, sound system, stage and tiered seating. Once that money has been raised, the company will attempt to raise $2.4 million more to build a larger backstage area, add a glass lobby that links the theater to the nearby rectory, and make other improvements. They hope to finish fundraising by 2014...............>>>>......................>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/aug/28/0828_sloc/
I wonder how happy Proctors is with this. I bet they...and the Metroplex...were hoping the SLOC would just crawl into a corner and die. Well, they didn't. Congratulations, SLOC.
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