WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. February 8, 2006.: The proposed sale of the Helen Hayes Theatre in Nyack will have no effect on White Plains Performing Arts Center, WPCNR has learned. A source on the White Plains Performing Arts Center Board of Directors, speaking on condition of anonymity reported the WPPAC is no longer a partner with the Helen Hayes Theatre Company and has not been since mid-November. WPCNR has also learned the White Plains theatre was paying half the Helen Hayes Theatre payroll during the two years, three months of the partnership.

WPCNR has learned the White Plains theatre is owed no money by Helen Hayes and has paid back its $61,563 debt to the Nyack theatre (listed as receivable on page 13 ofthe Helen Hayes 990 form filed October, 2005 for the 2003-04 year).

WPPAC has also “settled up” the money the fledgling theatre owed Helen Hayes for the White Plains share of the Helen Hayes payroll that White Plains has been paying for the two years and about three months the partnership lasted. Informed sources tell WPCNR the White Plains share amounted to an even split of the Helen Hayes payroll.

A source who is a former director, told WPCNR that “Tony” (Stimac) had informed the board of sharing expenses and costs with the Nyack Theatre, but this person did not know whether the expenses included paying half the Helen Hayes payroll.

WPCNR has also learned the full salaries were carried on the Helen Hayes books. The latest Form 990 filed by HHTCO October 28, 2005,  reports salary expenses of $1,048,131 for the 2003-2004 fiscal year of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company. With White Plains Performing Arts Center paying half that sum, the WPPAC share each year would amount to approximately $500,000 a year. It is not clear on the Form 990 where the White Plains revenue to Helen Hayes is accounted for.

An informed source told WPCNR Wednesday that the White Plains Performing Arts Center had severed its agreement with Helen Hayes in mid-November, when it “settled up” with Helen Hayes on what was owed in salaries, and presently the source said there is no money owed, no litigation, no money owed.  “We settled up with them. They paid what they owed us,” but the source did not elaborate.

After White Plains Performing Arts Center ended its partnership with Helen Hayes in November, the Producing Director for WPPAC remarked to the Common Council, when requesting (and being granted)  $100,000 funding in Urban Renewal funds to carry WPPAC through the rest of 05-06 season on November 27, (when the severing process was reported underway or possibly completed)  noted that the relationship with Helen Hayes Theatre was an asset to WPPAC.