By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
Sunday afternoon’s “Musical Christmas Party” at Main St. 56 Theater in downtown Batavia is being billed as a magical, merry atmosphere to bring friends, family and the whole community together.
Off-stage, however, the mood of the leaders of the Batavia Players apparently falls somewhere between stressful and cautiously optimistic as they near the end of their five-year lease for space in the City Centre.
In a statement to Video News Service on Friday night on behalf of the troupe’s executive committee, Patrick Burk, president/executive/artistic director, acknowledged that the Batavia Players are $24,000 in arrears on its lease payments but are working hard to make up the deficit.
(File photo)
The current financial situation has been a recent topic at Batavia City Council meetings. Batavia Players executive committee members have asked lawmakers for more time in light of extenuating circumstances while council members have said they support the theater but can’t subsidize its operation.
(File photo- City Manager Rachael Tabelski speaking with City Council on the matter. December 9, 2024)
City Manager Rachael Tabelski said she is seeking more information about the Batavia Players’ finances before the end of the year.
“We are continuing to work with the theater on the back rent and are waiting for their executive business plan and five-year financial projections,” said Tabelski, who manages an annual city budget of $37million. “We are hopeful to get that soon to review.”
(File photo-December 9, 2024- City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. at City Council Meeting)
City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. told Video News Service that the lease is under negotiation.
“It is under negotiation and City Council still wants to work with them,” he said “But at the same time … the taxpayer is footing the bill and that was never part of our plan – to subsidize the theater. They’re supposed to be self-sufficient and they’re not doing that.”
Jankowski said he’s “not thrilled” about the city as a landlord.
“I don’t think it’s something that we should be doing – and even if we have the authority to do that — but I understand that in this circumstance, it’s a way to help them out and get them on their feet.”
(File photo-December 9, 2024)
Hurt by COVID; Dealing with Leaky Facility
In his statement, Burk not only speaks about the lease payments and the desire to roll the amount owed into the lease’s automatic renewal in January, but also about the ongoing issues of the rented space owned by the city.
“First and foremost, Batavia Players is grateful for the cooperative arrangement that we have had with the City of Batavia. Since the beginning of our lease five years ago, we have paid the city over $162,000 in rent. The amount that is owed stems from a period of time when the City Centre was closed due to COVID and we were not able to use the facility nor were we able to forward demolition or construction,” the statement reads.
“For 7 ½ months we were asked to pay the rent when we did not have access to the space due to the restrictions from COVID. This month alone (December 2024) we have paid the City of Batavia close to $9,500 to date with more to be paid by the end of the month. The current due the city is $24,000 which is the approximate amount for the 7 1/2 months.”
(File photos Jan. 25, 2023-Theater under construction)
The statement addresses “a facility that is constantly leaking (and) was leaking from the beginning of construction and continues to leak worse from month to month.”
Continuing, “There are spaces in our new dance studio where new construction has been ruined by the water running down the walls. We have chairs in the auditorium of the theater that have to be moved due to leaking water and we have black buckets up in the ceiling to catch constant water drips. We have lost costumes and equipment from water damage. We have had to cancel events and classes because of water issues.”
Furthermore, according to the statement, “Our HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) has not worked properly since we took over the space. It is the requirement of the lease that the city take care of HVAC as well as the roof. We have had NO properly working HVAC since day one of our signing of the lease. The city’s claim that the HVAC was working prior to construction is not true. It never worked properly, only sporadically and only one provides heat today and one will fan in some cool air.”
The executive committee statement also responds to claims by council members that the city is subsidizing the Batavia Players.
File photo-Grand Opening-August 9, 2023
Paying Bills and Construction Loans
“We pay our monthly bills, have no regular bills in arrears, are up to date with the Batavia Development Corporation and have been able to work to pay down our construction loans. The city has not paid one bill for the Batavia Players. In fact, we have had to pay to have people look at roofing issues as well as HVAC. We even had to have one of our members remove the dangerous trees out front so that construction could continue without danger to the contractor even though the city owned the trees.”
In closing, the statement reads as follows:
“We are grateful for our new space and we have brought thousands of people downtown. We have enhanced restaurants and used local businesses. We have participated with downtown events and brought life back to the former Genesee Country Mall. Our only ask is for the city to allow us to pay back the $24,000 that it claims we owe in the continuation of our lease for the next five years as stated in our original lease agreement.”
Contacted on Saturday morning, Burk revealed that the terms of the lease extension (for another five years) call for monthly payments of $3,654 for a total of $219,240 to the City of Batavia. He noted that the troupe has beefed up its fundraising efforts and is waiting to hear on its application for a grant.
“We’re raising money from members and friends, and have increased our memberships and corporate sponsors,” he said, adding that ticket prices will stay at the current level ($20-$24) in 2025.
Burk said he “has to be optimistic” that the organization, founded in 1932, will carry on. A meeting between the two parties has yet to be scheduled.
“My job is to produce theater for the community,” he said. “Our hope is that we maintain the collective lease agreement with the city and have it automatically renewed.”
‘MUSICAL CHRISTMAS PARTY’
Directed by Sophie Houseman, the Batavia Players’ “Musical Christmas Party,” a holly jolly cabaret, is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at Main St. 56 Theater. It features live performances of classic Christmas songs, food and refreshments, and a festive atmosphere. Tickets are priced at a $15 minimum donation. For tickets, go to www.bataviaplayers.org.