In the fall of 2005, the board of Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) approached the Bardavon, a historic theater in Poughkeepsie, about a possible merger. UPAC, an old movie and vaudeville house on Kingston”™s central Broadway corridor, was experiencing dwindling attendance and seemed fated to fade away. The Dyson Foundation provided funding for the initial study and a proposed merger plan.
The Bardavon took over management of UPAC in June 2006 and the results have been tremendous: world-renowned classical, pop and rock acts, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame have performed in the space to sellout crowds. While some Ulster County arts people grumble about the takeover, no one can deny the theater has been brought back to life.
The arrangement works well for a number of reasons, said Bardavon Executive Director Chris Silva. Because UPAC is much larger than the Bardavon ”“ 1,500 seats vs. 944 at the Poughkeepsie theater, which is much older, dating to 1869 ”“ ticket prices are more affordable; they start at $40 or $50 for a top act, while they go for $125 at the Bardavon.
With a budget close to $4 million, the Bardavon receives about $35,000 from the Dutchess County Arts Council and some $50,000 directly from Dutchess County, Silva said. It also gets funds from the New York State Council of the Arts. Although it has gained more than 400 new members from Ulster since the takeover, bringing in almost $30,000, the Ulster County government contributes nothing. “Here we”™ve publicly saved this venue, and the funding level is zero. What a difference a river makes,” Silva said.
“Dutchess County clearly recognizes this as enhancing the quality of life. They know it helps tourism, brings people in and improves the economy. The arts mean business. Why Ulster County can”™t get on that train, I have no idea.”
Ulster County Legislator Susan Zimet, who chairs the arts, education, tourism and community relations committee, cited budgetary reasons for the lack of funding. “Because of the county budget crunch we had to cut back severely on all money to arts organizations. It”™s wonderful to be able to give money to the arts, but when you have mandated expenses from the state, the unmandated money is the money you can take back.”
Fortunately, many elected officials have been “totally supportive,” Silva said, naming U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, state Sens. John Bonacic and William Larkin, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and Kingston Mayor James Sottile.
UPAC isn”™t the Bardavon”™s first rescue. In 1998, it acquired the debt-ridden Hudson Valley Philharmonic orchestra with help from the Dyson Foundation. Today, the orchestra is “on a solid footing,” Silva said. The Bardavon also partners with the city of Poughkeepsie and Bowdoin Park to present concerts ”“ including headliner Kenny Loggins this summer ”“ and it has also worked with Bethel Woods as well as other venues. “We”™re all over the place,” Silva said.
The Bardavon recently gained attention when Bob Dylan and his band rehearsed at the theater in preparation for an upcoming tour. Dylan has taken up residence at the theater for 13 days over the last 16 months, said Silva. “It”™s totally his place 24/7,” he said. “He books way in advance.”
In 2003, another celebrity, Al Pacino, did a week run at the theater for a new play he was bringing to Broadway. Silva said he”™s also “aggressively pursuing” Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones as possible headliners.
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