Assemblywoman Jaffee Presents $125,000 To Elmwood Community Playhouse

At the opening night performance of Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar at Elmwood Community Playhouse in Nyack, NY New York, State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) presented a $125,000.00 check from New York State's Community Capital Assistance Program (CCAP) to Elmwood vice president Lisa Spielman.

Assemblywoman Jaffee, a longtime supporter of the arts in Rockland County and art enrichment in our local communities, obtained the CCAP funds for improvements to Elmwood's 99-seat theater, lobby and backstage areas.

In her pre-show remarks to the audience, Jaffee said, "Community theatre enriches the lives of those who participate at every level, from directors and producers, actors and audience members, to the children who take performing arts classes. If that's not enough, research shows that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economically sound investment. It attracts audiences, spurs business development, supports jobs and generates government revenue. That's why funding Capital Projects in the State Budget is so critical to improving our communities and our quality of life."

"Growth has been a hallmark of Elmwood Playhouse throughout its 72-year history", Spielman said. "We grow our audience through innovative takes on popular plays and musicals. We grow our perspective through exploring cutting edge works addressing broad social and political questions, like the play you are about to see tonight. We grow our community by working with an increasingly diverse group of artists, brought together by our love of theater."

"And we've literally grown our physical space, including improved accessibility, renovated lobby and hospitality space, more comfortable seating and increased rehearsal space to support original work, play readings, and theater with non-traditional performers."

"Through Assemblywoman Jaffee's generosity and the CCAP grant program, Elmwood Playhouse was able to accomplish the renovations necessary to maintain these programs and ensure our continued growth for the next 7 decades. We are so grateful for her continuing commitment to this community and to the key role that the arts play in all of our lives."

Disgraced, written by Ayad Akhtar and directed by Omar Kozarsky, continues Elmwood's commitment to presenting works that embrace racial, ethnic and cultural diversity. In this Pulitzer Prize winning drama, Amir Kapoor, a successful Pakistani-American lawyer, is rapidly moving up the corporate ladder while distancing himself from his cultural roots. When he and his artist wife Emily host a dinner party, a friendly conversation escalates into something far more damaging.

Disgraced runs January 18 through February 9, 2019, at Elmwood Playhouse, 10 Park Street, Nyack, NY 10960. For reservations, information or directions, call the Box Office at (845) 353-1313, or visit www.elmwoodplayhouse.com

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