How was everyone's weekend? For most of us, celebrating St. Patrick's Day was an all-weekend affair!
But now back to the music....and this one is a favorite of ours in Westchester County, NY! The Tarrytown Music Hall has been prominent in the area for 125 years and counting, which makes it one historical, yet fun venue to explore! (And it's all ages too!)
Remember, if you like a venue or have any questions/comments for us, please don't hesitate to contact us at BringBDtoEC@gmail.com and let us know what you think! (Please let us know, we want the boys here just as much as you do!)
Peace, Love, & Bonnie Dune!
www.facebook.com/bringbdtoec
Tarrytown Music Hall:
13 Main Street
Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 631-3390
Booking:
Karina E. Ringeisen
info@tarrytownmusichall.org
(914) 631-3390, x102
History:
The historic 843-seat Music Hall, erected in 1885 by
chocolate manufacturer William Wallace, is the oldest theater in Westchester
County and one of only 6% of theaters in the United States built before 1900.
2010 marks the Music Hall's 125th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of its
rescue from the wrecking ball.
The Music Hall was built during Tarrytown's
"Millionaire's Colony" era. Notable Tarrytown residents such as the
Goulds, Rockefellers, and Vanderbilts were patrons of the Music Hall,
participating in its elaborate flowers shows, balls, and entertainment.
Designed by distinguished architects Theodore DeLemos and August Cordes who
also built New York City's Grand Central Palace and the Macy's building at
Herald Square, the Music Hall's facade is considered to be one of the finest
examples of Queen Anne decorative brickwork in the county. The Music Hall was
one of the first theaters to show silent films in 1901 and was the venue for
several national causes, including women's suffrage in 1915. Antonin Dvorak,
Rafael Jossefy, Mae West, and Woodrow Wilson are among the first performers and
speakers to grace the Music Hall stage.
From the 1930's on, the Music Hall presented first run
films. The Music Hall closed its doors in 1976, largely due to the rise in
popularity of multiplexes and television, and it was soon thereafter proposed
by the Village of Tarrytown that the theater be torn down to make way for a
parking lot.
The Friends of the Mozartina Musical Arts Conservatory, a
501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational, and cultural organization, purchased the
theater on Valentine's Day, 1980 with the purpose of establishing a center for
the performing arts. The rescue was a risky one, for not only was the theater
located in what many considered to be a depressed area, but it was also not
operational due to a leaking roof, frozen heating pipes, insufficient
electrical power, and other problems. The purchase and extensive renovations
were made possible by Bank of New York Vice-President Stephen Byelick who
arranged a mortage, and Founding Board Member Berthold F. Ringeisen who, convinced
the theater was important for the community, placed his home and life savings
up as collateral. As there was no money available for a staff, the theater was
completely operated by volunteers for twenty-three years and Berthold and his
wife, Helen, did most of the work themselves while balancing the demands of
their full-time jobs as a college language professor and piano teacher
respectively.
The Friends placed the Music Hall on the National Register
for Historic Places in 1980 and the Music Hall today is a fully operating
theater, offering the best in music, theater, dance, and film. With a full-time
staff, forty freelancers, and over 200 volunteers, it has become a cultural
destination, attracting over well over 80,000 people including 30,0000 children
on an annual basis from all over the tri-state area. The theater is an economic
engine, generating over $1 million for the local community and it contributes
between $50,000 and $80,000 of space to local nonprofit organizations. It is a
recent recipient of the ArtsWestchester 2007 Arts Award, was voted the
"Best Music Venue" and "Best Kids' Theater" by the readers
of the Westchester Magazine in 2008 and 2009, and was honored by the Thursday
Club in 2009, a privilege bestowed on a select few.
Concert goers have always been treated to a wonderful
experience at the Music Hall due to its excellent acoustics. Notable artists
and groups who have performed and/or recorded in the Music Hall since 1980
include Joan Baez, Lewis Black, Chris Botti, David Bromberg, Dave Brubeck, The
Count Basie Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Savion Glover & TiDii, Nanci
Griffith, Lionel Hampton, The Hubbard Street Dance Co., Kim Hunter, Joe
Jackson, Lyle Lovett, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, The Preservation Hall
Jazz Band, Tito Puente, Bonnie Raitt, Brian Regan, Chita Rivera, Sonny Rollins,
Lea Salonga, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, John Tesh, Richard Thompson, Gwen
Verdon, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Cassandra Wilson, and Dan Zanes to
name just a few.
Several films and commericals have been shot in the Music
Hall with such actors as Jessica Alba, James Caan, Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro,
Vera Farmiga, Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves, and Denzel Washington.
