WPCNR  Table 50. By John F. Bailey. October 28, 2004:  Tony Stimac, Producing Director of White Plains Performing Arts center in conversations with WPCNR today, outlined Jeffrey Rosentock’s new role as pro bono Executive Director. Stimac said Rosenstock’s contribution to the theater’s first fifteen months has been “invaluable to the organization,” and continues to be so.

WPCNR was informed last week by Mr. Rosenstock that he had not resigned as Executive Director, (as reported in arts circles), that he was still Executive Director of WPPAC, but was working without pay the last four months.

Stimac, in announcing the cancellation of the Louis Cappelli- Greg Cuneo Celebrity Supper previously scheduled after the Gala on November 8, through WPCNR this morning,  took the  opportunity to laud his partner’s contributions to the theatre success.

A Fund-Raiser.

He said Rosenstock had raised a lot of money for the WPPAC, that Mr. Rosenstock was personally responsible for bringing approximately $50,000 in funds to the WPPAC organization, $20,000 of it in the form of a Fleet Bank grant “to keep rentals low for community organizations.”

He praised Rosenstock for his co-producing Swango in last season’s programming, (which will be presented next Spring at WPPAC). Stimac said that 3 to 4 hours a week of time, as Mr. Rosentock told WPCNR he estimated he spent on WPPAC business, did not  measure Rosentock’s devotion and contributions to the theater. “His contribution is invaluable. We’re not being short-changed for all the things he’s doing.”

Communicates daily.

The Producing Director said Rosenstock was in touch with him frequently. “I talk to him 5 to 6 times a day,” Stimac said. He said Mr. Rosenstock discusses with him all sorts of matters weekly involving the Gala, the shows coming up, and facets of the operation, and he remains on the Board of Directors.

Mr. Stimac said Mr. Rosenstock created the 2004-05 season, with (having booked the shows for this season in the spring of 2004.) “He gets credit for having conceived it with me.” The season officially opens Friday evening with the New York State Theatre Institute traveling production of Born Yesterday. (See previous article this week.)

$100,000 a year to Run the Theater Goes to Expenses. Some for Salaries.

WPCNR asked Stimac if the $100,000 in Operation Expenses the city is paying Mr. Rosenstock and Mr. Stimac to run the theater, now went entirely to Mr. Stimac. Mr. Stimac said that money was provided by the city to run the theater, not pay salaries, though he did pay “some salaries,” but most of it, he said went to programming and expenses.

According to the city contract with Messrs Rosenstock and Stimac, page 22, Paragraph d: “,,,the city has agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding by and between the Initial Incorporators and the City to consider the allocation of $100,000 to the Corporation plus a $25,000 interest free loan in the first Fiscal Year and services usually provided to City-owned facilities to be stipulated in this Contract. Exhibit B of this contract sets forth operating budgets for the Corporation for the First Fiscal Year and services usually provided to City-owed facilities to be stipulated in this Contract.”

( Editor’s Note: The Exhibit B listing is a document that WPCNR was told, does not exist according to the White Plains Legal Department, when it was originally requested by WPCNR’s Freedom of Information Act request about one year ago when WPCNR was supplied with a copy of the Stimac-Rosenstock contract.)

Rosenstock paid $25,000 in 2003-2004.

WPCNR asked how much Mr. Rosentock was paid last year in the first year of the contract as opposed to the fundraising he brought in. Mr. Stimac estimated, approximately $25,000. Mr. Stimac said he took some salary out of the $100,000 for himself, not specifying how much as part of the city contract with the men, and paid other theatre salaries with it, and paid for programming costs.

“People don’t realize that running a theatre is quite an expensive proposition,” Stimac explained.

WPCNR asked when the theatre was going to report to the Common Council on their first year operation financial details, Stimac said an audit of the first year operations was in process, and being administered by Richard C. Baccari, a C.P.A. based in White Plains. He said he would be glad to do that after the audit is completed.

Rosenstock  Very Much a Part of the Theatre.

Stimac said Rosenstock will continue as Executive Director on the pro bono basis in the third year of their contract with the city. Stimac confirmed Rosenstock’s reasons for requesting pro bono status: “The press of his business (Queens Theatre in the Park), made him limit the time he put here.”