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Bedford Playhouse

Revitalizing the Glamour of Old Cinema: The Bedford Playhouse Reopens its Doors

March 8, 2019 by Shauna Levy

Passing under the iconic arches flanking the entrance of the Bedford Playhouse, Home of the Clive Davis Arts Center, one is instantly transported to the era of old Hollywood glamour. From the old fashioned box office that greets guests to Paul Shaffer’s grand piano from the set of “The Late Show” with David Letterman gracing the foyer, it’s evident that the Playhouse boasts a rich history. The meticulous detail, however, beguiles the fact that it’s been mere months since the grand reopening of this cultural hub that’s now emerging as a bright star after a questionable future.

A Grassroots Movement

The Bedford Playhouse first opened its doors in April 1947 to much fanfare. In 1983, the theater was acquired by Bow Tie Cinemas and divided into two smaller theaters, losing much of its historic nature. In early 2015, when Bow Tie opted not to renew its lease, the beloved theater closed. That’s when the community unified to take action. Lindsay Hearon, director of marketing of the Playhouse recounts, “The community banded together in a ‘Save the Playhouse’ grassroots movement of sorts and reached out to local resident, John Farr, who was instrumental in resurrecting the Avon Theater in Stamford. The landlord gave us 120 days to raise $2M to prove there was significant interest in the project. That goal was accomplished in six weeks. That’s when they began taking us seriously.”

If the first phase of revitalizing the Playhouse was about generating support, then the second phase can be characterized by reimagining, rebuilding and redesigning the structure. According to Hearon, “Since a movie theater didn’t work, we needed to redefine the Playhouse’s role in this phase of its evolution. The local communities were craving a cultural hub. To tap into that void, we conceived of a space anchored by films, but with the capability to function as so much more. The introduction of a wine tasting room and café, where people grab a smoothie or meet friends for a drink was instrumental in the transformation.” Armonk resident and founding donor, Robert Greenfield concurs, saying, “My wife and I absolutely fell in love with the renovation and the overall experience. It’s this intimate, luxurious cultural destination that’s right in our backyard. It’s different from a movie theater or a concert hall. It’s about bringing the community together to have a dialogue, listen to directors speak about films, attend family programming or just have a drink with friends. You simply can’t beat this.”

To make this vision a reality, the team began working fervently, assembling a group of advisors.  “We consulted with the absolute best,” according to Hearon, “from designers to architects to state-of-the-art technology teams to ensure that no detail was overlooked.” Amongst this exclusive team of advisors is local resident and music industry legend, Clive Davis. Hearon explains the icon’s role, “When Mr. Davis learned about what we were doing, he wanted to get involved both personally and philanthropically. He identified with the need to bring arts and culture back to the community. His decades of incredible experience and connections have been instrumental.” Davis’ contributions were so impactful that the Playhouse thanked him by designating the Clive Davis Art Center as its partner entity, an honor prominently reflected on the building’s façade.

“It’s different from a movie theater or a concert hall. It’s about bringing the community together to have a dialogue, listen to directors speak about films, attend family programming or just have a drink with friends. You simply can’t beat this.” – Robert Greenfield

A Marriage of Old and New

The grand opening of the Bedford Playhouse revealed an opulent interior depicting the perfect marriage of old and new. The theaters feature sumptuous, buttery-soft leather seating with trays for food and drink, vintage film posters and waterfall curtains, complemented by state-of-the art Dolby Atmos surround sound technology. “Our doors opened on September 30th, featured three days of fun-filled programming and culminated in a party with guests including Clive Davis and Paul Shaffer. We’ve been chugging along ever since,” Hearon proudly announces.

“Our programming incorporates a hybrid strategy of arts and film that touch topics that are captivating the community’s interest like the “Me Too” movement or politics–we’re not going to shy away from controversial issues,” says Hearon, further explaining, “We have a really exciting footprint where we take a movie and add a unique component to it.” One space in particular has been designed with flexible furniture to accommodate everything from a themed cocktail event to author reading event discussion to a children’s birthday party.

A series of unique events have already taken place. The Playhouse screened Always at the Carlyle, accompanied by a Q&A with the film’s directors complete with a cocktail event that recreated the hotel’s legendary Bemelmans Bar. Mary Poppins Returns featured a “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” Spelling Bee and costumed Mary Poppins offering spoons full of sugar up and down the aisles. Martha Stewart hosted a private event in the wine tasting room, while Glenn Close headlined a sneak preview screening of the Oscar-nominated film, The Wife, complete with a Q&A event and cocktail party; former head writer of SNL Alan Zwibel held a Q&A and a screening of Love Gilda. And, there’s no sign of the momentum slowing. In the coming months, the Playhouse is set to offer a special screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, a Q&A with the David Boies, the subject of the documentary, The Case Against 8, and a comedy show starring comedian Robert Klein.

All of the excitement is evidence that the Bedford Playhouse has tapped into the community’s collective yearning for culture. “We’ve even seen the naysayers come out,” Hearon says, continuing, “People really want to join together in a cultural experience. The community has been hungry for this.”

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Arts, Bedford Playhouse, classic, Clive Davis Arts Center, culture, New, Old Hollywood Glamour, performing arts, Playhouse, theater

‘Soul Witness’ Epic Documentary of Holocaust Testimonies: November 1 at the Bedford Playhouse

September 28, 2018 by Inside Press

SOUL WITNESS, THE BROOKLINE HOLOCAUST WITNESS PROJECT

After several sold-out Greater Boston area screenings, a documentary featuring Holocaust testimonies over 25 years old, comes to the Bedford Playhouse on Thursday, November 1, 2018

Soul Witness Survivors Bear Witness

More than 80 hours of witness interviews, conducted by Lawrence L. Langer, one of the world’s foremost authorities on Holocaust testimonies were locked in a metal closet for decades and have never been seen by the general public. Now they have been finally thrust into the spotlight with the documentary film Soul Witness, The Brookline Holocaust Witness Project. In 2017, The film sold-out the 432 seat Coolidge Corner Theatre’s main playhouse within a few days of the release of its trailer and has sold out several screenings in the Great Boston area since.

A special screening of the film will be shown at the Bedford Playhouse on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 7 p.m. The Bedford Playhouse, Home of the Clive Davis Art Center, is a recently renovated state-of-the-art film, arts and cultural center.

The documentary features a collection of interviews of Holocaust survivors, conducted in the early 1990s. Witnesses describe their lives before the war, growing intolerance; their lives during the war and the affect their experiences still had on them at the time of the interviews. Some of these witnesses survived death camps, some hid, others fought in resistance movements and many saved the lives of others.

Mark Skvirsky, Vice President and Chief Programming Office, Facing History and Ourselves on the film, “This film is important both for the stories that survivors share, but also for the way their voices are presented. The structure and tone of the film “humanizes” these individuals who might otherwise be perceived simply as victims.”

Following the film, there will be a question and answer period with the film’s writer, director and producer R. Harvey Bravman.

Director R. Harvey Bravman on the film, “These interviews contain some of the most epic and noble words I’ve ever heard. The stories and lessons from those who survived this unimaginable tragedy and who bravely shared their experiences 25 years ago provide an important message for our society. In many cases they talk directly about issues of intolerance, racism and genocide, as well as their immigrant and refugee experience.”

It is intended for a general audience with an advisory for children under 13.

Supporters of the film include the Facing History and Ourselves and the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

Soul Witness Ticket Link

More information on the film can be found at https://soulwitness.org.

 

Filed Under: Inside Westchester Tagged With: Bedford Playhouse, Boston, Brooklne Holocaust Witness Project, Documentary, epic, film, Harvey Bravman, holocaust, Holocaust Documentary, Holocaust Testimonies, Lawrence Langer, Soul Witness, Witness, Witness Interviews

3rd Annual Bedford 2020 Greenlight Award Finals

April 21, 2018 by The Inside Press

Will Showcase Students’ Big Green Accomplishments

The third annual Bedford 2020 Greenlight Award Finals on May 1st will feature high school contestants with big green ideas at the newly restored Bedford Playhouse in Bedford Village. “This is an exciting opportunity to see our future environmental leaders in action,” said Midge Iorio, Executive Director of Bedford 2020.

The theme of the Greenlight Award contest this year, Changemaker, challenged participants to not only come up with a big green idea, but also to prove that it could change behavior. “Behavior change is an important theme because causing people to do things differently is critical to the success of many environmental challenges,” Iorio explained. “The Finalists have caused people to change their behavior to address a variety of environmental problems – from greenhouse gas emissions to water pollution and waste.”

Several teams from Horace Greeley High School have advanced to the Finals and will present their projects before the judges and audience. The Greeley STOP Club worked on an anti-idling campaign, another student installed a kiosk where people can take or leave reusable bags, and a third team tapped into people’s interest in donating to charity to improve recycling habits.

Community members are encouraged to attend. “Our hope for the future will be elevated by these students who have taken on this challenge,” said Sarah Douglis, Bedford 2020 Board member and Pound Ridge resident. “I bring my kids, who are in elementary school, to the Greenlight  Finals so that they are inspired first hand by these high school role models and become part of this important movement of their generation of environmental leaders”

The eight teams of Finalists were selected from 19 initial teams from Fox Lane, Horace Greeley, Somers, Harvey, John Jay, and Rye Country Day high schools. Finalists received up to $1000 in seed funding and worked with community experts to develop and carry out their big green ideas. At the Finals, the teams will show how they worked with stakeholders, created and carried out a strategy, catalyzed behavior change, and measured their results. The most impactful project will win the Greenlight Award and a $500 cash prize.

The presentations will be scored by judges Kitley Covill, Westchester County Legislator, Dale Akinla of Morgan Stanley, and Caela Murphy of the Endeavor Foundation.

The 2017-2018 Greenlight Award is sponsored by PepsiCo.

The Greenlight Award Finals will take place on Tuesday, May 1st at 6:30pm at the Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Rd, Bedford, NY.

For more information about the Greenlight Award visit www.bedford2020.org/greenlight

—

Bedford 2020 is a non-profit organization leading a community-wide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to create a sustainable community that conserves natural resources. More information is available at www.Bedford2020.org.

Filed Under: New Castle Releases Tagged With: award, Bedford 2020, Bedford Playhouse, Big Green, Contest, Greeley, Greenlight, showcase

Clive Davis Pledges Major Support Toward Transforming Bedford Playhouse

March 23, 2018 by Inside Press

MUSIC LEGEND CLIVE DAVIS TO MAKE MAJOR GIFT TO  BEDFORD PLAYHOUSE

ARTS CENTER TO BE NAMED IN HIS HONOR

Bedford Playhouse announced today that legendary music producer Clive Davis has pledged substantial support towards the capital campaign that is funding the transformation of the space into a vibrant, state of the art cultural center.

John Farr, Clive Davis, Sarah Long

Five-time Grammy award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Clive Davis is credited with discovering some of music’s biggest stars, including Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Earth, Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, and Alicia Keys. It’s little wonder he is known throughout the industry as “the man with the golden ears.”

The gift will establish the Clive Davis Arts Center at Bedford Playhouse. Within the Playhouse, the Davis Center will encompass all the arts programming offered beyond film, including music performances, theater, art exhibits, and stand-up comedy. The Center will receive prominent exposure, both inside and outside the theater.

“Clive Davis is a living legend in the music industry,” said Chairman of the Board Sarah Long. “We are thrilled to have him engaged in this project in such a meaningful way. His wisdom, creativity and guidance will be invaluable.”

Founder John Farr observed: “Beyond all the other benefits of Clive’s support and involvement, our ability to brand the Clive Davis Arts Center will help us convey that we’re not just a beautifully renovated movie house, but also a vibrant cultural center. Some people still don’t realize the breadth of our mission and all we want to offer.”

As part of this gift, the forty-seat theater off the cafe on the first floor will be named “The Clive Davis Theater,” to be known as “The Clive.”

A new, recently approved exterior sign outside the theater will read: “Bedford Playhouse, home of Clive Davis Arts Center”. In light of the building’s historic significance, the existing sign will be restored and moved up higher on the front façade of the building.

Reached for comment, Mr. Davis was enthusiastic. “I am thrilled to support the creation of the new Playhouse and its new Arts Center,” he said. “I love this community and I strongly endorse the expanded mission of the Playhouse. This all seems like a perfect fit, and I can hardly wait for it to open!”

The Playhouse plans a partial opening later this Spring. This will involve operating just the downstairs portion of the new facility, including the main theater and concessions, for weekends only. Assuming the Playhouse completes its seat naming effort for the main theater over the next several months, the full opening is projected for later this year.

(Story via Release Courtesy of the Bedford Playhouse.)

Filed Under: Gotta Have Arts Tagged With: Bedford Playhouse, Clive Davis, Clive Davis Theater, Cultural Center, The Clive

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