More Curtains Up

They brought the curtains down on the IMAC Theater here in Huntington, announcing the closing of this venue for the performing arts and depriving this lively downtown of one of its main attractions.

But as curtains were closing on IMAC, Town Supervisor Frank Petrone established a task force to restore live performances to downtown Huntington, demonstrating the important role the lively arts play in many Long Island communities, while also preserving cherished landmarks.

Proof of that can be found at Patchogue's Theater for the Performing Arts, an old movie house that's become the feature attraction in Patchogue's plans to refashion itself as an arts center.

Nearby, Bay Shore has succeeded in restoring an old movie theater for performances. Riverhead has similar plans for its Suffolk Theater. And in Islip recently, a group formed to save the Islip Theater.

In Westbury, efforts to restore an old movie theater for stage shows took a big leap forward, when Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced $1.45 million in federal grants to restore the Post Avenue landmark.

Can Long Island support all these stages? The closing of Huntington's IMAC Theater raises doubt. But the good news is thanks to appreciative audiences, more curtains are going up than going down.

Here in Northport, audiences have flocked to an old movie theater spectacularly restored as the John W. Engeman Theater, bringing equity actors and Broadway shows to Main Street.

Long Island can only applaud. On with the show.