By Max Oppen
TANNERSVILLE — The Catskill Mountain Foundation (CMF) is making significant progress on its long-awaited expansion project, which is now in the construction phase in the Village of Tannersville. The initiative, supported by a $1.75 million grant from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) secured by the Town of Hunter, has been further bolstered by matching private donations, bringing the total project cost to $3.5 million.
Pam Weisberg, CMF's Director of Performing Arts, confirmed that the funding is being utilized for state-of-the-art technological upgrades at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center and for constructing new, energy-efficient dance studios adjacent to the theater.
The visionaries behind this transformation, CMF founders Peter and Sarah Finn, continue to spearhead the efforts to establish the mountaintop as a thriving arts hub. At a previous gathering inside the Orpheum, they addressed a crowd of local officials, including Daniel Wren from Governor Kathy Hochul's office, Hunter Town Supervisor Sean Mahoney, and Village of Tannersville Mayor David Schneider.
Peter Finn reflected on the Orpheum's evolution from a modest 4,000-square-foot movie theater to a 12,000-square-foot professional performing arts center. Originally designed by renowned architect Hugh Hardy and completed in 2010, the Orpheum lacked essential technical components to attract high-caliber national and international dance troupes. The ongoing upgrades, however, are revolutionizing the venue.
Significant interior improvements include a cutting-edge surround sound system, wireless microphones, and an advanced lighting system that Jean-Claude "JC" Alten of Alten Project Solutions describes as "the latest and greatest available in New York State."
Alten praised Westside Music and other consultants for implementing the 75-plus new lighting components, noting that the system now rivals significant venues in New York City. The new lighting rig includes a hoist mechanism for easier maintenance and repositioning. Additionally, installing four 4K video cameras with pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities enhances the theater's production quality.
A previous article noted that Mayor Schneider echoed this sentiment, calling the upgrades "a tremendous opportunity for the Village to grow economically."
The project is undergoing its next phase, which is the construction of the net-zero, energy-efficient dance studios. This endeavor is a collaboration between CMF, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and expert design and construction teams. Jack Laken of Termobuild, a pioneer in net-zero technology who has worked on sustainable schools in Canada and the Carolinas, is leading innovative energy-saving solutions for the studios.
The new facilities will comprise two buildings—one housing two dance studios and another featuring two floors of office space, storage, dressing rooms, a reception area, and bathrooms. The studios will have full-length mirrors and sprung floors designed to absorb shock and minimize strain on dancers.
As construction continues rapidly, anticipation builds for the grand unveiling of the new facilities, marking a milestone for the arts in the Northern Catskills.
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