Patchogue Theatre Welcomes New Executive Director & Board Chairperson

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) has named Gary Hygom, producing director, Bay Street Theater of Sag Harbor, as its new executive director and appoinTed Christopher Capobianco, current PTPA board member, as the new chairperson of the board of directors.

Capobianco will replace current Board Chairperson Barbara Kane, who has served more than 10 years on the theater board. Gary Hygom, who will report to the board of directors, will assume his position as executive director on June 5. Capobianco assumes his new role immediately. Together they will work to lead Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts in a new creative direction.

Gary Hygom brings a new vision to Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, after 20 years of working at the 299-seat Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, where he was the producing director. At Bay Street Theater, Hygom was responsible for developing innovative programming, such as a classic American film series featuring special celebrity guests like Julie Andrews, Alec Baldwin, Lauren Bacall and Eli Wallach to name a few, interviewed by renowned film critic Jeffrey Lyons.

"I could not be more excited to take on this wonderful new challenge, creating new programming and working within a diverse and vibrant community," said Gary Hygom.

He continued, "I look forward to collaborating with the board of directors, building on their 19 years of success and establishing this beautiful venue as a major performing arts center."

Throughout his storied career at Bay Street Theater, Gary Hygom wore many hats, from the development and implementation of programming, to the negotiation of contracts for artistic staff, to the management of Bay Street's three main stage summer shows.

In 2004, Hygom needed to shift creative directions at Bay Street Theater. He took a fading cabaret series on Monday nights and replaced it with a headline comedy series featuring up-and-coming comedians. Some of those comedians, like Zach Galifianakis and Amy Schumer, later went on to become comedy gold and have since appeared in numerous Hollywood blockbusters like "The Hangover" film series and "Trainwreck." Hygom has also been credited with bringing live music back to Bay Street Theater. He has attracted everyone from local musicians to G.E. Smith and Roger Waters.

Hygom is a strong proponent of educational programming in the arts. He created Bay Street's "Literature Live!" series, bringing American classics like "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Of Mice and Men" to life on stage. The educational series helps students better understand these great literary works and attracts students from over 40 high schools and middle schools across Long Island.

Newly appointed PTPA Board Chairperson Christopher Capobianco said, "The board looks forward to working with Gary as he brings tremendous talent and more than 20 years experience working in theater and the arts to our organization."

He added, "This is a big moment for Patchogue Theatre as we seek to expand our reach as a regional performing arts center while continuing to nurture and support the thriving local arts scene here in Patchogue."

Board Chairperson Christopher Capobianco has been involved with Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, since the nonprofit organization's first call for volunteers in 1999. He was asked to join the organization's board of directors in 2005, and soon after that he curated the popular local music series, "Live in the Lobby," which ran for 12 seasons. His passion, and that of his fellow lobby volunteers, made "The Lobby," as it's called, one of the premier intimate venues on Long Island for local original music.

Capobianco also organized the first Patchogue Folk Festival and the first Patchogue Arts Festival. He helped the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC) establish the PAC Lobby Art Gallery and encouraged Worldwide Voices, another nonprofit organization, to bring its local musical theater series "The New Musicals Project" to Patchogue Theatre.

In his "day job," Christopher Capobianco is known nationally for his expertise in the floor covering industry. In 2012, he helped open the New York office for Spartan Surfaces, a wholesale distributor now covering 24 states. He also shares his flooring expertise as a journalist and speaker throughout North America and on his Facebook page, "The Cork Dork of New York," a nickname Capobianco earned because of his passion for cork tile flooring.

Hygom currently resides in Mattituck, N.Y. with his wife Mary and his daughter Grace. Capobianco has been a resident of Patchogue Village since 1991, where he lives with his wife Arlene.

Patchogue Theatre first opened in 1923 as the largest theatre in Suffolk County. It still is, with the installation of 1,106 brand new seats during the 2016 renovation. Saved by Village of Patchogue in 1996 and lovingly restored it to its original grandeur, this beautiful and historic venue was in use 230 days with over 150,000 in attendance for its 2016-2017 season. PTPA is an independent community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leases the building from the Village of Patchogue and covers all of the operating costs without any subsidies from the Village. PTPA's leadership consists of a volunteer board of directors and a small professional staff. Patchogue Theatre continues to thrive thanks to the hard work of over 90 volunteers as well as the businesses, funding agencies and individuals who support PTPA by contributing their time and resources. Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts is located at 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, N.Y., and can be reached at 631-207-1313 or by visiting PatchogueTheatre.org.

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