Founded in 1995 by owner Bruce Grossman, the Cultural Arts Playhouse of Plainview is a year round, regional, off-off Broadway-style theater that has produced over 500 productions including educational and touring shows. It is also located in Roslyn Heights and Wantagh.
Named as one of Long Island’s Best Live Theaters, the theater serves more than 20,000 people each year with its professional adult productions, children’s theater performances, and theater education classes for ages 7-18. Artistic Director Tony Frangipane took time out of his busy schedule to talk theater.
“I help pick the shows and do all of the scheduling for rehearsals,” said Frangipane, who also teaches acting classes at the Plainview location. “I also advise the other teachers in our Roslyn and Wantagh theaters.”
The Playhouse offers musical theater and acting classes, audition classes, Broadway workshops, and agent classes where kids have the opportunity to audition for top agents in New York City.
“We open classes to those starting in first grade and go all the way up to 12th grade,” said Frangipane.
As for the local actors, Frangipane sends out audition notices and posts information on the playhouse’s website, Facebook page and a local theater website called Debsweb.
It’s all hands on stage for everyone at the playhouse, as they are currently gearing up for the theater’s holiday production of Fiddler on the Roof, which runs for three weekends beginning Nov. 21 to Dec. 7, with show times on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
When choosing a show, the playhouse like every theater, looks for box office success shows.
“We really pride ourselves on smaller shows such as Carrie, Dogfight and our upcoming production of Once on this Island,” said Frangipane. “We were also the first to do the musical Side Show here on Long Island, which started its first Broadway revival.”
Frangipane and the rest of the staff at the playhouse are immensely proud of their actors, who have gone on to star on Broadway.
“We have had our actors land roles in Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Rock of Ages, Spring Awakening and many other hit shows,” said Frangipane proudly. “One of our more recent students started in the Bye Bye Birdie revival, then went over to Newsies and now will be performing in the TV event Peter Pan LIVE! this Christmas.”
The theater offers several workshops and invites anyone to join. According to Frangipane, the first workshop this season will be with Danny Quadrino, the student set to star in the live Peter Pan production.
“Danny will talk about his journey from the Cultural Arts Playhouse all the way to Broadway followed by a question and answer session,” said Frangipane. “After the talk, Danny will teach choreography from one of the numbers from the musical Newsies to the participants.”
The workshop will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. until noon at the theater’s Plainview location. Pricing for non-students is $50.
In terms of garnering attention for the playhouse, Frangipane takes out traditional print ads, but admitted that he and his team have found success through the theater’s website and Facebook page.
With the goal of creating great theater experiences for its audience and students, the Cultural Arts Playhouse is looking forward to expanding its newest location in Wantagh.
“I still think we are a hidden gem in Plainview,” said Frangipane. “I don’t think many people know who we are, but we’re working very hard to change that.”
For more information about the Cultural Arts Playhouse, visit www.culturalartsplayhouse.com or call 516-694-3330.
