The Little Theater That Could

When I think about theater in Westchester, my thoughts go to a small but powerful 150-seat theater in Pleasantville. Arc Stages always reminds me of the little engine that could. I guess that’s because, over the years that I have watched this theater grow, it’s always saying “I think I can, I think I can,” and then they make it happen.

I had the privilege of a front row seat at the recent launch of this new 150-seat proscenium theater stages. Wow. It seemed to go up overnight. That’s because it had the help of the Pleasantville community and the presence of what some might call a fairy godmother in Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who was honored at the theater’s opening.

The theater has been in existence for about 12 years in a rough-and-ready format, increasing and sharpening its offerings every year. Arc Stages began as a merger between the Little Village Playhouse run by Adam David Cohen and the Chappaqua Drama Group run by Ann-Ngaire Martin, and is now, according to its website, composed of “three theatre companies under one roof.” They are Next Stage, Community Stage, and Educational Stage.

However, the secret sauce comes from none other than Marlene Canapi who raises friends and funds as the theater’s Development Director and champion. She has put this theater on the map. In this case, “the map” was a vacant lot in a nondescript part of Pleasantville. The lot had a vacant commercial structure, which was turned into the theater’s space.

It has been ambling along in its make-shift space with some 99 seats and two classrooms, and a long hallway that served as a gallery. Then a $500,000 grant secured by the Senator Stewart-Cousins propelled an almost-overnight miracle in the form of a new theater that has 150 seats, and all the bells and whistles needed to stage an extravaganza. In fact, last month they staged an extravaganza that honored the Senator. The master of ceremonies was none other than Mayor Peter Scherer, an early supporter of the theater.

The total project was $1.5 million and set the stage for live theater in a town that has become a creative hub in the county, a cultural destination because of Mayor Scherer, who is also a graphic designer. The mayor is also somewhat of a ham, as is Legislator Margaret Cunzio – the two performed at the opening.

Under the artistic direction of Adam David Cohen, Arc Stages offers education programs, community programs, and live theater. The board and staff seem to be having lots of fun as they perform in the newly appointed space. It kind of makes one think of the adage “if you build it, they will come,” and yes, they are coming to this wonderful little theater that prizes the arts.