NY's Shadowland Theatre Receives 'Gift Wrapped House' In Ellenville From Provident Bank

Actors working for the Shadowland Theatre in Ellenville, N.Y., will have a much nicer place to live next year thanks to Provident Bank's decision to donate a house to the non-profit regional equity theater company.

"We've used the building to provide housing for our actors for about 10 years thanks to the generosity of Provident Bank and, before that, Ellenville National Bank," said William H. Collier III, president of Shadowland Theatre's board of directors. "Our union contract requires us to provide housing for our actors, so the banks' support has been essential to keeping our expenses low, which helps us keep tickets affordable. Now that we own the building we'll be able to renovate it to accommodate more actors and staff. We wouldn't be able to do that without Provident Bank's support."

George Strayton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Provident Bank, said he is pleased to help Shadowland Theatre, a critically acclaimed organization that presented five shows during its box office, record-breaking, 25th anniversary season in 2009. 

"Provident Bank and Ellenville National Bank, which Provident acquired in 2004, have supported Shadowland Theatre since it was founded 25 years ago, and donating this house reflects our commitment to helping the theater thrive and attract tourists to Ellenville," Strayton said. "Shadowland Theatre is an important part of Ellenville's downtown economy and Provident will continue supporting Shadowland in the future. We expect to help finance the upcoming renovations and in the past gave Shadowland a mortgage to pay for improvements to its theatre. This is a vivid reflection of Provident Bank's commitment to supporting the communities we serve, which is a core principle for Provident as a community bank."

Time has taken a toll on the house at 7 Elting Court, and Collier said the growing need for repairs presented a dilemma. It did not make sense for Shadowland to pay to renovate a building it did not own, while Provident Bank had little incentive to rehabilitate the old house it was letting the theatre group occupy for free. The solution, Collier said, was for Shadowland to assume ownership of the building so it would be able to make the necessary investments.

"We approached Provident Bank earlier this year to see if they would consider donating the building because it needs renovations," Collier said of the house a short walk from Shadowland's theater. "They decided it made good sense to donate the house for use as housing for our actors and staff drawn from all over the United States. This is a step forward for us and we're very thankful for Provident Bank's support. This addition broadens Shadowland's scope and Shadowland's presence in the industry."
The house, Provident said, is worth about $50,000 in its current condition. Collier said renovating the two-family home to provide six-to-eight bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen probably will cost about $50,000. Shadowland is planning a campaign to seek funds and donations of labor and materials.
"It will be a big project, but when it's done we'll have a much more comfortable place for our actors and staff to live," Collier said. "It will let us offer performances year-round for the first time and also will provide a space for us to hold receptions and other meetings during the off-season. Provident Bank's donation will have a tremendous positive impact on our operations."

The Shadowland Theatre plays a key role in attracting tourists to Ellenville, a village in the foothills of The catskill Mountains with a year-round population of 4,130 that is seeking to increase its summer tourism; nearly 1,000 people per weekend attend Shadowland's performances. The theater company is required to provide housing for Actors' Equity cast members within walking distance of the theater, and Collier said the renovated housing will make it easer for Shadowland to attract professional, experienced actors who typically live and work in New York City.

"It's critical that the accommodations be comfortable because we don't give the actors much of a stipend," said Collier. "But they get to spend seven or eight weeks on vacation in the country, and now hopefully they will have a nice place to reside. It's a cute building and we're going to fix it up so the bank is proud that we own it."

Headquartered in Montebello, N.Y., Provident Bank, with $2.9 billion in assets, is the largest independent full-service community bank in the lower Hudson Valley. Provident Bank operates 33 branches that serve the Hudson Valley region including two Commercial Banking Centers in Westchester County, and one office in Bergen County, N.J. The bank offers a complete line of commercial, retail and investment services. Visit the Provident Bank Web site at www.providentbanking.com.

Shadowland Theatre is the leading professional nonprofit Actors' Equity company in the Lower Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain region. Located only 90 miles from New York City in Ellenville, NY, Shadowland was named "Best of the Valley" by Hudson Valley magazine in 2004, 2005 and 2007; "2006 Cultural Business of the Year" by Ulster Development Corporation and Ulster County Chamber of Commerce; "Best Theatre 2006" by the Times Herald Record; and "Best Drama of the Year" by The Daily Record in NJ for The Good German. Founded in

1984, Shadowland performs in a restored 1920's Art Deco vaudeville/movie house converted to a 148-seat theatre. For more information, visit http://www.shadowlandtheatre.org.