WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. December 14, 2005: White Plains Performing Arts Center Producing Director, Tony Stimac's "other theatre," The Helen Hayes Theatre Company is going dark after its last performance Sunday.

Mr. Stimac confirmed to Rockland County reporters yesterday, that Helen Hayes  is "reorganizing" and WPCNR has learned, it is not producing or selling tickets for any spring shows at this time.  The Helen Hayes Box Office reports to WPCNR no spring shows are planned at the Helen Hayes at this time.

Theatre union sources two months ago told WPCNR about the Helen Hayes theatre financial troubles, but would not go on the record. Those sources said that both Helen Hayes and the White Plains Performing Arts Center would be declaring some form of reorganization, because the Hayes and the WPPAC had not renewed ther Actors Equity contracts. The Helen Hayes bankruptcy report and the WPPAC bankruptcy portion of that rumor were denied by Mr. Stimac.

In October Ray Cullom, brought in to be the Executive Director for the business/fund raising side of both Helen Hayes and the WPPAC, left the position after less than two months in the position.

Most recently Mr. Stimac, who acts as Producing Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center sought and convinced the White Plains Common Council  to approve a $100,000 contribution to the WPPAC, which is to be matched by $200,000 in matching grants from the Super Developer, Louis Cappelli and other contributions Mr. Cappelli has promised. Mr. Stimac or Chauncey Walker, the Chairman of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation, have been contacted for comment on how the WPPAC will be affected by the loss of their "partner," Helen Hayes Theatre Company.

A front-page article appearing in the Rockland County edition of the Journal News, (but devoted only 8 micetype lines without a headline in the Westchester Edition),  quotes Stimac as saying as part of the reoranization, that the Helen Hayes Theatre Company was going to raise money first then program the theater based on the money raised.

WPCNR has put in a call to Mr. Stimac to ask whether a similar strategy is being contemplated for the White Plains Performing Arts Center which lost $197,000 in 2003-2004, $100,000 in 2004-2005, and is on track to lose an additonal $300,000 in 2005-2006 (which the City of White Plains-Cappelli cash injection will erase).

Stimac is reported as saying that the Helen Hayes Theatre Company  went into a partnership with the White Plains Performing Arts Center to pay the cost of overhead, use mutual staff and create productions.