New performing arts center at Molloy

By STEVE PARKSsteve.parks@newsday.comNovember 7, 2011

Long Island welcomes a brand-new performing arts center Saturday night in a gala hosted by Martin Short.

Molloy College in Rockville Centre opened its new student center, Public Square, at the start of the fall semester while putting finishing touches on its 550- to 600-seat theater -- the higher capacity available when the orchestra pit is closed. Now the Madison Theatre at Molloy College is ready for its debut.

In Saturday's variety-show gala, Short will reintroduce his Jiminy Glick character, among other bits, while comic Mario Cantone sings both ends of an imagined "When You're Smiling" duet between Liza Minnelli and her mother, Judy Garland. The show also features Tony winner Cady Huffman ("The Producers"), "Saturday Night Live" alum Rachel Dratch, Scott Adsit of "30 Rock," jazz singer Gregory Generet and violinist Ittai Shapira.

"We've put together something that shows off what we can do here," says Angelo Fraboni, artistic director of the Madison, named for its chief benefactor, the Madison National Foundation of Melville-based Madison National Bank.

Molloy president Drew Bogner says the theater accounts for nearly half the $24-million cost of Public Square. The college, founded in 1955 by the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, doubled its student body to 4,400 during his 11 years as president.

With its plush seats on two levels, steeply banked over a stage boasting ample wings and fly space for myriad types of productions, the Madison offers what Molloy officials say they hope will be a barely out-of-town home for emerging artists and companies. "We felt there was a need because even here [western Nassau], people who say they go into the city for the arts often don't," Bogner says. "We want this to be the furthest Off-Broadway house. We didn't build it to bring in road shows."

NEW VENUE, NEW WORKS

In Madison's inaugural season, Fraboni, who appeared in such Broadway hits as "Cats" and "The Full Monty" and produced 2009's Drama Desk-winning "Celebrity Autobiography," has booked for its film series a documentary work-in-progress, "No Kidding! Me 2!!" by Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos") about overcoming the stigma of mental illness.

The Madison is commissioning new works, too. A classical piece based on Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" will be performed by Shapira and his ensemble in April.

"We'll also do cutting-edge dance," says Fraboni, who envisions inviting such troupes as Momix to workshop new pieces at the Madison. So far, there is no dance in the first season.

With digital video and surround sound, plus a link with the Telecare cable channel, Fraboni foresees a revenue stream in simulcasting master classes to campuses across the country. "We want to engage audiences in thoughtful, not just entertaining, programming," Bogner says.

FINDING A NICHE

But is there room for a new performing arts center in a region that boasts several -- many also affiliated with college campuses? "The Madison will fill a need that we see in our community," says Bogner, adding that he admires the work of such nearby hubs as Adelphi University's performing arts center in Garden City, the various stages at Hofstra University in Hempstead and the 2,000-seat Tilles Center -- Long Island's largest such venue -- on Brookville's C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

"We think the more the merrier," says Tilles director Elliott Sroka of the new Molloy theater. "It just enhances the Long Island arts scene."

Fraboni sees the Madison more as filling a niche than as competition for other centers. "We won't be doing classics so much as creating future classics," he says. "That's our goal."