$750,000 Given To Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival in Auburn, NY received a major boost with $751,450 in state funding awarded by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo last week.

The Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (CNY REDC) submitted its five-year strategic plan as part of a competition for $200 million of New York State economic development assistance awarded by the governor’s office, and the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is a regionally significant project within the winning CNY REDC plan.

“The Central New York region has been tremendously supportive of the Festival, and with this recognition from the state, the Festival will be able to realize one of its new facilities even sooner,” said Ed Sayles, Producing Artistic Director of the Festival.

The Festival will use its portion of the state funds toward the expansion of its scenic design and set production facility.

“This is a considerable advancement for the Festival, which relies on the investments of many private donors to support our efforts,” said Michael Chamberlain, Managing Director of the Festival. “The funding will allow us to move from seasonal to year-round production facility, creating full-time skilled production jobs.”

Currently the production facility is used to build the sets and props for Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.  This facility will need to double in size to support the shows at the Festival.

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival has surpassed the $10 million mark in private and public support. Launching in May 2012, the Festival is projected to draw 150,000 annual visitors, create hundreds of new jobs, and have a regional economic impact of nearly $30 million.

For more information about the history and the future of the Festival, visit www.FingerLakesMTF.com

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