Albany Palace Theatre plans major expansion project

ALBANY – The Palace Theatre announced today its plans for a large-scale renovation and expansion project for the near century old venue.

Its next step is to seek funding.

The Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc., the not-for-profit corporation that operates the historic Palace Theatre, presented its vision for a $65 million renovation and expansion project designed to elevate arts and entertainment within the community and bridge together downtown Albany with the growing development of the city’s Warehouse District.

The Palace Performing Arts Center project will include the following elements:

•         Addition of a new 600-seat theatre: Located on Pearl Street adjacent to the Palace Theatre, the new space will host small shows for which the main theatre is too large and will more than triple the number of performances hosted by the Palace Performing Arts Center. Additional programming will include programs with partner organizations Park Playhouse and Albany Symphony, as well as dance and family-friendly events.

•         Addition of a new video post-production center: As the only facility of its kind between New York City, Toronto and Montreal, the post-production center will serve as a professional-quality suite for digital video production companies to mix sound, edit video and create video effects. The space will also include large and small green screen studios with freight elevator access, as well as dedicated dressing rooms and wardrobe support, which will enable shooting video in a variety of techniques as well as audio recording.

•         Expanded Palace Theatre stagehouse: The project will allow for the expansion of the original Palace Theatre stage and backstage, which will create a deeper and wider stagehouse capable of hosting an increased variety of shows and events and reducing loading and set-up time, while improving safety and reducing energy costs. New backstage support spaces will feature a much larger loading dock that meets current and future industry standards and modernized dressing rooms. New technology will also be installed throughout the stagehouse.

•         Expanded Palace Theatre lobby and box office: The new lobby will provide a larger and more accessible space with increased amenities for patrons. The lobby will feature new concessions, dining and breakout areas, as well as restrooms, and will connect directly to a completely refurbished box office. Additionally, an elevator and new circulation paths will provide accessible wheelchair seating locations near the stage, at the orchestra level, and in the mezzanine.

•         Performing arts education development: In partnership with Park Playhouse, the Palace Performing Arts Center will design, build and launch a multi-faceted arts program designed to be available, accessible and affordable to broad and diverse populations of the community, including underserved neighborhoods in and around the City of Albany.

In order to facilitate these developments, ownership of the Palace Theatre building will be transferred to the Palace Performing Arts Center from the City of Albany, pending approval from the Albany Common Council.

“This project is undoubtedly the most transformative arts and culture redevelopment venture in Albany in recent memory, and will further invigorate the downtown area, spur economic development, create jobs and provide a more sustainable future for the arts in the Capital Region,” said Alan Goldberg, chair of the board of directors for the Palace Performing Arts Center.

The expansion is anticipated to have a $125 million economic impact on the community and produce an estimated 225 full-time jobs during the three-year construction period. The downtown Albany area is expected to see its annual economic impact more than double to $10 million as a result of the project upon completion, with the Palace drawing more than 500,000 patrons to the city each year.

“Since the Palace Theatre opened its doors in 1931, the venue has provided a wide array of cultural events and served as a hub for the creative community in Albany and in the Capital District,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “At a time when similar facilities are facing fiscal challenges, this project affirms the Palace Theatre’s standing in the community and commitment to completing the Albany entertainment triangle which includes the Albany Capital Center and the Times Union Center.”

Over the past four years, the Palace has experienced a major fiscal renaissance under the leadership of its executive management team and has increased the number of shows by 53 percent over the last four years.The Palace has spearheaded collaboration efforts with Park Playhouse and Albany Symphony, and a venue management agreement with Cohoes Music Hall.

“The expansion and renovation of the Palace will have a long and lasting impact on downtown Albany and the Capital Region. In addition to increasing the opportunities for residents to experience a wider variety of world-class shows and events, our new education program will make the arts more accessible to the next generation of performers and theatregoers,” said Palace Theatre Executive Director Holly Brown. “We are excited to announce these plans to the community and truly believe that our vision will enhance the quality of life of residents in Albany and the Capital Region.”