New theater manager reports rising ticket sales, outlines partnerships and volunteer plan for Chapaqua Performing Arts Center

Rachel Samansky, the Chapaqua Performing Arts Center’s newly appointed theater manager, told the Newcastle Town Board on June 9 that early programming is showing signs of growth and wider regional draw.

Samansky said two early concerts produced encouraging results: the Fleetwood Mac tribute drew 219 attendees while an April ABBA tribute attracted 379. “We were actually selling out on more of the premium and standard pricing range,” she said, and noted the shows generated 76 and 122 first-time buyers respectively. According to Samansky, ticket purchasers represented dozens of towns, with some patrons traveling from Albany, Greenwich and Queens.

The manager attributed the ticket momentum to a mix of targeted digital marketing, e-blasts maintained by the Friends of the Chapaqua Performing Arts Center and artist-driven promotion. “There’s going to be all sorts of different people and what they want to see,” she said, adding that some of the sales spikes reflected the bands’ own followings.

Samansky said the events produced a small profit for the town and that the program team is testing multiple booking and revenue-sharing models to balance risk and guaranteed income. She also outlined a clarified partnership with the town library, which will use the center’s ticketing system this fall so theater staff can access opt‑in email addresses to expand marketing lists. The library and rental clients will be offered opt‑in options so the center can gather additional patron contacts.

Looking ahead, Samansky presented a loose fall–winter lineup that includes family programming, seasonal films aimed at different audiences (including sensory‑accessible showings), and tribute acts such as a Beach Boys tribute and an Elvis Christmas special. She said staff hope to finalize performer contracts and a template rental agreement within weeks to enable regular booking.

On operations and community engagement, Samansky described an outreach push to recruit volunteers for ushering and light facility work. “There’s a job for everybody,” she said, proposing volunteer days to do cleaning and minor repairs and training sessions for ushers so patrons feel welcomed.

Samansky closed by noting a planned rebranding and website overhaul with a 12–16 week timeline and said the goal is to make the center’s town ownership clear in its identity. Michelle Rexson, identified at the meeting as chair of the Friends of the Chapaqua Performing Arts Center, was present and affirmed the importance of the Friends’ sponsorship and data-sharing to build sustainable programming.

The presentation prompted brief questions from board members about marketing tactics, band promotion and whether rental clients will be allowed to opt patrons into center communications; Samansky said opt‑in data will be used according to consent preferences and stressed continued coordination with Friends on sponsorship and ticketing costs.

The board did not take any formal votes tied to the presentation; Samansky said contracts and policy templates would be brought forward for any necessary approvals.