The North Shore Village Theatre will convert the former Charles Hardware store at 19 Glen St. into a 150-seat theater and rehearsal space.
The building will house the North Shore Village Theatre, an adult theater organization, and Jazz Hands, a children’s theatre organization. The two troupes will offer a combined 15 shows each year.
“We are hoping the theatre will make Downtown Glen Cove a destination for all of Long Island and beyond,” said Maria DeLuca, a spokeswoman for the theater.
DeLuca said having a rehearsal and performance space has been a goal of the organization for 10 years. Jazz Hands is currently in its tenth season, and the Village Theatre is in its eighth.
Discussions regarding the Glen Street location began in February.
“Having our own space will make it possible for us to spend more time designing and building our shows without the restrictions that come with sharing space with other organizations,” DeLuca said.
“When I started Jazz Hands,” Director and Founder Christopher Moll said in a release, “I dreamed of it having a theater to call home.”
Village Theatre currently rehearses and performs at the Glenwood Life Center, while Jazz Hands performs at Glen Cove Middle School.
Jazz Hands, DeLuca said, has nine shows each year, as well as summer camp programs.
“Some have more than one cast,” she said, “so numerous performances for each production.”
The Village Theatre “will start with four productions a year and has numerous projects in development that will expand their season,” she said.
DeLuca said the space will also hold One Act and Local Playwright festivals.
She said there will be outside organizations to fill the performance schedule as well.
“We are also working on bringing in out-of-own companies to fill our programming schedule.” DeLuca said.
Local officials and businessowners gathered for a press event at the theater space this month.
“Having a venue for live theater will transform downtown,” said Jill Nossa, executive
director of the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District.
“This will be a draw for people to come downtown and patronize our restaurants and shops,” Nossa said.
The building is 9,000 square feet. The space will eventually serve as a rehearsal and performance space with 150 seats, according to the Business Improvement District.
“With 10 years of unwavering support from our Jazz Hands families, the community and the hard work of North Shore Village Theatre’s board of directors, that dream is a reality,” Moll said.
“We are excited to help make Glen Cove a regional destination,” he said.
The Village Theatre is fund-raising to help with upcoming renovations and outreach programs. For more information, please visit nsvillagetheatre.com.
“The theater will be available to anyone who wants to perform there,” DeLuca said.
