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Editorial: Merger wouldn't necessarily be bad for New York State Theatre Institute
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Paterson administration, looking for ways to save money, wants to merge the New York State Theatre Institute with The Egg in Albany. More precisely, it wants to re-merge them, as they were before 1989, when they split. NYSTI wants no part of the plan and is taking the histrionic approach, waging an aggressive campaign to convince the state Legislature that the two institutions have completely different missions and this could never work. We appreciate and respect NYSTI, which has, since its creation by the Legislature in the mid-1970s, done an excellent job producing quality professional theater that caters to families and school audiences, as well as providing internships and classroom and summer programs for children. But in this case, we think they doth protest too much. The previous arrangement failed not because of irreconcilable missions, but because of personalities and politics. The strong-willed and politicallly connected former chairman of the Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation (the official name of The Egg) and the equally strong-willed director of the theater institute were at odds over workspace and programming. The Cuomo administration wound up moving NYSTI to SUNY Albany, and when NYSTI got the short end there (no wonder it’s a little paranoid), Russell Sage College took it in, and there it has remained since. The big mission difference, according to NYSTI officials, is that The Egg is a presenter while NYSTI produces. That seems much less significant than what they have in common: They were established, and funded, by the state to provide quality arts performances and programs to the people of New York. With a reconstituted 21-member board and a number of seats set aside for NYSTI (the plan is to give it three, but five or six would be better), and a clear mandate from the state to work together, there’s no reason the merger can’t succeed. In fact, the biggest problem might be scheduling and use of facilities: The Egg has an ambitious schedule of music, dance and theater, with most of the events (about 35 this season) taking place Friday and Saturday nights. NYSTI’s half a dozen or so productions are also offered on those nights, but most of the performances are for schoolchildren at 10 a.m. weekdays. By careful programming that takes advantage of The Egg’s two theaters (one a 450-seater with a small stage, the other a 980-seater with a full-size stage), NYSTI could actually increase its range of offerings, as well as its visibility and audience. Get ALL of our news...Click here to subscribe to our online edition, a complete replica of our print edition.
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July 4, 2009
6:44 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
"strong-willed director of the theater institute were at odds over workspace and programming."
I laugh at the term "strong willed" lets put it the way it is. She is difficult to deal with.
What ever happened to the investigation of Bill Snyder her husband director of the New York Network (NYN) and his wife Patricia Snyder (NYSTI) in regards to thousands of dollars of equipment not accounted for at the NYN and the relationship of the NYSTI?
Oh yeah NYN is the producer of Government TV productions. Things like the speeches and press conferences of the Governor, the budget school and State of the State.
Doesn't take a rocket scientist to add this one up!
9:41 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
The writer of comment 1-nothing came of investigation, that's what happened because it was a false allegation. period.
As to the Editorial, read the Bill. It states quite clearly NYSTI would stay where it is at Russell Sage College in Troy. NYSTI will not be performing at the EGG under the bill. Neither NYSTI or the EGG were ever consulted regarding the merger and as it's being workable. It's just an empty suggestion that saves the state no money at all. It is not something that makes sense. But please get the facts before you publish your opinions!
9:06 a.m. [ Suggest removal ]
So I stand corrected from what your opinion states. Interesting no media ever covered the fact it was false. I only have the information handed out by the media. All opinions posted here and other stories are based on what the Gazette prints that is the way it works.
Appears you have a close tie to what the NYSTI and EGG are about being that there is that tenor to your post and name you post under.