Town Signs Yorktown Stage Lease

Since opening its doors in 1998, the Yorktown Stage has become a fixture in the community. Many local families have frequented the venue over the years, and watched friends, children and neighbors involved in the musical theater productions.

However, the 10-year lease on the Yorktown Stage expired on December 31, 2009 and in the months since, tension has risen over the new lease agreement.

On June 16, a new lease was drafted and Barry Liebman, director, was given an August 1 signing deadline.

While undergoing these lengthy discussions with the town board, Liebman made several announcements to audiences at The Wiz on June 5 and Grease on July 24, asserting that the town board intended on closing the theater.

"Neither I nor the Town Board want to close the theater," said Supervisor Susan Siegel in a statement given at a town board meeting on August 3. "Whatever you have heard is wrong. Simply wrong."

"Our primary concern in writing the new lease has been to resolve ongoing safety, liability and maintenance problems that were not adequately addressed in the previous lease," she added. "At no time was closing the theater part of the discussions."

Siegel also explained that one day before the signing date, Liebman's attorney requested several changes to the lease language. Those changes were not detailed until August 2, one day after the deadline.

The requested changes have since been made and Liebman was given a one week extension, moving the deadline to August 9.

"That will be the final deadline," Siegel said. "No more extensions. No more stalling."'

The new lease was approved to be signed during the town board work session meeting on August 10.

"Every wrinkle has been ironed out," Leibman said. 

He shook hands with each member of the board saying, "Sorry, I had all these things going on."

The lease is a 3-year contract subject to permissive referendum and Siegel is confident that it acts in the interest and safety of Yorktown residents while ensuring the continued operation of the Yorktown Stage.

As negotiation were going on, Liebman remained reserved but hoped "the contracts [would] be signed and we can move forward in Yorktown."

As required by the new agreement, the Yorktown Stage is currently in the process of obtaining supplemental insurance. The town anticipates this will be accomplished by the close of business on August 17.

The new contract means an increase in rent for the Yorktown Stage. While in 2008 and 2009 it was $1,000 per month, in 2010 the rate is $1,850 per month, for 2011 it will be $1,905, and in 2012 the rent will reach $1,962 per month.

Other changes required by the new lease include a series of new regulations. One of these calls for an adult to be on the premises at all times, whereas before there was no supervision when the premises were sublet.

Also, the lease can now be terminated if it's in default of the lease provisions, as opposed to before when only the Yorktown Stage had the right to terminate the contract.

Although the new lease means a number of changes for the Yorktown Stage, the general feeling was that of happiness and satisfaction that its doors will remain open.

"The Yorktown Stage is an important institution which serves as an amenity for town residents." Siegel said. 

Plamena Pesheva contributed to the article.