Revival / Renovation

The Building

The Clayton Opera House is a beautifully constructed 1903 brick building facing the St. Lawrence River in downtown Clayton, NY. It contains a stately performance hall with balcony on its first and second floors, and a large ballroom and meeting room on its third floor. Though many such opera houses were constructed at the turn of the 20th century, only a few remain today. In the 1900’s, the Opera House hosted many Broadway stars such as May Irwin, James Hackett, William Danforth, Lillian Russell, and Lester Vail. Much local talent was also center stage including the Clayton Band, The Darou Minstrels, Solar’s Orchestra, the Kings and Queens of Rhythm, dance lessons, music lessons and White’s & Franklin’s Old time Medicine Show.

Its Second Century---A Time for Revival

By the turn of the 21st century, the overall functionality of the Opera House was greatly reduced. It was without heating and air-conditioning; without sufficient bathrooms, sound system or comfortable seating. Yet, even though with time the original luster and functionality of the hall had greatly diminished, its intrinsic potential for being a major cultural and community center in the Thousand Islands region still remained. Enthusiasm ran high when the Town of Clayton and the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund (TIPAF – a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering the performing arts) agreed that they would collaborate in a revival of the Clayton Opera House….both the building and its programming.

New Era Of Programming

With the thought of a renovated Opera House taking hold, TIPAF planned and presented numerous appearances in the 2002 and 2003 summer seasons that showed audiences how exciting a revived Opera House could be. Performers included the Bolshoi Symphony Quartet, the Summer Festival Orchestra conducted by Jeff Tyzik of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, renowned tenor Michael Slattery, A.R. Gurney & Carolyn Hetherton in Love Letters and the U.S. Poet Laureate Billie Collins.  By this time, popularity of the Opera House’s summer programming had spread and TIPAF saw increased ticket sales in each of its 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.  Additionally, the community and regional artists began to see the stately hall with excellent acoustics as a desired venue for events and concerts outside the TIPAF season.

The Partnership

In 2003, the Town of Clayton and TIPAF agreed upon the management and renovation of the Opera House. Pursuant to this understanding, TIPAF has responsibility to manage the ongoing operations of the Opera House and raise funds for and collaborate with the Town in overseeing the renovation work. The Town is generally responsible for maintenance, repairs and utilities. Thus, an important public/private partnership is in place.

Why a Revival of the Clayton Opera House?

Bringing back the overall functionality of the Clayton Opera House as a year-round venue for the performing arts and community events has the unique potential to address many of the needs of the region. It will provide a year-round home for the performing arts, create another important destination for tourists, introduce the area’s youth to the enriching experiences of music, theater and dance and provide the area with a year-round venue for activities.  Indeed, a revived Opera House will foster culture, commerce and a sense of community in the region.

Renovation and its Costs

This past September, contractors were invited to bid on the various components of the Opera House renovation.  Subsequently, Upstate Construction from East Syracuse, Northern Mechanicals from Norwood, Hyde-Stone Mechanical Contractors from Watertown, S&L Electric from Colton and Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company from Liverpool, NY were hired to join the renovation team.  The total cost of the project will be $3.2 million. 

The renovation will include exterior improvements, heating and air-conditioning systems, an elevator, major electrical and plumbing upgrades, new bathrooms, state and federal access and egress compliance and some third floor improvements. Also included is an addition to the back of the building needed to house mechanicals, a “green room” for performers and dressing rooms. New stage curtains, lighting and rigging, a new sound system and a general interior face lift are also planned.  

To see construction photos please visit our Progress Tracker Site.

Centennial Campaign to Renovate the Clayton Opera House

As of January 7, 2007, over 400 supporters have pledged or gifted more than $3,000,000 to the Centennial Campaign to Renovate the Clayton Opera House.  $1,300,000 of this total has been contributed by State and Federal agencies.  The generosity of our donors clearly represents the enthusiasm with which the renovation project and the overall revival of the Opera House has been received. TIPAF will continue reaching out to year-round and summer residents of the Thousand Islands region through-out the next few months, asking them to consider a pledge or gift to this exciting project.  We are also pleased to report that gifts and pledges made to the Centennial Campaign by March 31, 2007 will be matched one-for-one by a generous New York State “challenge grant” secured by Senator James Wright. This challenge grant is aimed at fueling further private giving, thereby bringing us to our goal.

 TIPAF wishes to thank those who have pledged or gifted at the Leadership and Heritage Levels to date. Their commitment to the performing arts in the Thousand Islands region and their most generous support of the Centennial Campaign to Renovate the Clayton Opera House is greatly appreciated.  Listed below are those who have made a pledge or gift of $1500 or more as of January 7, 2007.
 

 Governments Grants (totaling $1,300,000)

NYS Department of State (waterfront revitalization grant)

NYS Capital Assistance (two grants secured by Senator James Wright)

USDA Rural Development (business development grant)

NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (historic preservation grant)

NYS Capital Assistance (grant secured by Assemblyman D. Aubertine) 

 

Leadership Gifts/Pledges (Levels - $100,000 - $60,000 - $30,000 - $15,000)

Mary and Ted Mascott

Jeanine and Sandy McNally

Merck Company Foundation

Christy and Patrick Moynihan

*****************************       

Mary and Morse Dial

Judy and Rett Foster

Northern New York Community Foundation

Sweetgrass Foundation

*****************************    

Nancy Breslin

LoisJean and John MacFarlane

Sally Boss and Charlie Moehs

Martha and Dan Tack

Bobbie Trimble

Mabel and Tom Walker

******************************

Carolyn and Harold Anderson

Mary Hannah and Randy Arnot

Lisette and Phil Cooper

Gifts in Memory of Sissy Danforth

Debby and Lee Hirschey

Nancy MacGregor

Linda and Richard Malinich

Carol and Dick Munro

Allan Newell

Martha and Jim O’Donnell

Peggy and Jim Pontious

Nancy Seeley

Judy and Paul Shambo

 

Heritage Gifts/Pledges ( Levels 9,000 - $6,000 - $3,000 - $1,500)

Anonymous

The Marc A. F. Baker Memorial Fund

Peggy and Bill Couch

Susan and John Johnson

Anne Johnson Kaiser

Betsy Ravenel

Grace Louise Reinman Fund

Ineke and Marty Zonnenberg

***************************

Diane and Bud Ames

Bari Bryant

Myron Butler

Colello Family

Barbara and Bill Feikert

Kate and Doug McGhee

Judy and Art Pearson

Anne Potter

Mary and Phil Randazzo

Jean and Sam Rivoli

Amy and Henry Rouse

***************************

Anonymous

Jody and Bob Asbury

Bachman Foundation

Bach & Co.

Susan and Bill Bach

Marilew and Darryl Barnes

Behrhorst Family

Erin and Cary Brick

Bernier, Carr & Associates

Buker Family

Donna and Bob Cantwell

Carr Foundation

Laura and Audie Cerow

Pat and Duane Chalk

Gail and Walt Christensen

Clayton Community Band

Community Bank

Lis and George Couch

Jim Cox

Bill Danforth

Ken Deedy

Peggy and Gary DeYoung

Debra and Doug Dier

Shirley and Bob Digel

Mary Beth and Joe DiPrima

Gladie and Mike Fitzsimmons

Judy and Rett Foster

Trish and John Freeman

Alyssa and Jim Geiger

Sue and Daniel Grant

Janet and Rick Gregware

Jean Heady

Mary and Bill Heyman

Kelli and Rusty Johnson

Dale Kenyon

Kathleen and Henry LaClair

Peggy and Dan LeKander

John McMath

Viggo Mortensen

Ellen and Bob Nesbitt

Pat and Joe Ondrick

Ruth and Henry Parker

Penny and Ralph Partlow

Karla and Lance Petersen

Sarah and Dick Pietrafesa

Hannah Potter

Roxanne and Phil Pratt

Anna Hill Price

Julie and Bob Purcell

Virginia and Robert Purcell

Redwood Bank

Wendy and Bill Reinman

Gail and Brent Richardson

Joan and Fred Rueckert

Jim Schnauber and Patti Wood

Debbie and Earl Sephton

Barbara and John Simpson

Mary Ellen and John Slattery

Debbie and Justin Taylor

Barbara and Paul Thiebeau

John Tucker

Mary Ellen and John Warneck

Cheryl and Dennis Weller

Wellesley Island Building Supply

White’s Lumber

Woodley-Dee Mechanical Contractors

Linda and Marty Yenawine

****************************

Penny and Bill Allyn

Edith Amsterdam

Vivian Black

Audrey and Waring Blackburn

Ruth Ellen and John Blodgett

Bill Britt

Elaine and Bruce Brooks

Chris and Rob Campany

Carter, Ramseier and Holcombe

Clayton Dental Office

Clayton Lions Club

Mary Ann and Walt Cummings

Lori and Mike Docteur

Virginia Doebler

Edith and George Dundon

John Eppolito

Mary and Spencer Falcon

Trudy and Art Fitelson

George Forbes

Goutremout Brothers Construction

Diana and Bill Grater

Marv Hart

Patti and Jim Hendler

Sally and Urban Hirschey

Catherine Hinds

Libby and George Houlihan

Deming and Romer Holleran

Marilyn and Alan Hutchinson

Linda and Fred Jackson

Lynn and Ross Jones

Lynn and Tom Kassouf

Rosemary and Joe Kehoe

Liz and Jeremy Kellogg

Key Bank

Jim Kincaid

Bev and Bob Kittle

Patti and George Kittle

Elaine and Herb Listemann

Mary and Dick MacSherry

Korleen Marshall

Barbara and Michael Mead

Sarah and Chris Miller

Gloria Musser

Karen Nadder and Greg Lago

Leah and Tom Neeley

Susan Parker

Glorian and Jim Reinman

Margot Remington

Rhodes Fund

Tuni and Rob Rodormer

Diane and Doug Rogers

Marguerite and Bud Sanzone

Nancy and Fred Schmitt

Phyllis and Doc Schwartz

Lisa and Mike Simpson

Penny and Bob Smith

Jeanne and Richard Snow

Stewart’s Shops

Thousand Island Inn

Trish and Rick Tague

Nellie and Steve Taylor

Ruth and Bob Uhlig

Robin and Aaron Vogel

Sonja and Wilbur Wahl

Susan Walroth

In memory of Martha Wingrath

Gay and Graham Wright

Linda and Jim Wolff

Norma Zimmer