Performance Venues
Large Venues • Small Venues

Please note: Clubs with live entertainment are listed under “Bars & Clubs.” In addition to the information below, keep in mind that area churches often host classical-music concerts, and that clubs and coffeehouses present poetry readings and, on occasion, theater. The Capital Region also boasts a number of community theaters, including Albany Civic Theater (462-1297), the Schenectady Civic Players (382-2081), the Schenectady Light Opera Company (393-5732) and Saratoga’s Home Made Theatre (587-4427). Finally, a major attraction each summer is the free Park Playhouse (434-0776) musical production that takes place in Albany’s Washington Park. (Boldface type indicates that a venue is home to a significant local ochestra, theater company, dance troupe, or other performance organization.)

Large venues

Martin Benjamin

Calvin Theatre
19 King St., Northampton, Mass., 800-THE-TICK. A beautifully restored theater in downtown Northampton, the Calvin offers an eclectic season of concerts, theater, ballet and kids’ shows.

The Egg Empire State Plaza,
Albany, 473-1845. The Egg presents an impressive and varied schedule of music, dance, theater and children’s performances from touring artists and companies. Also home to resident company the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company.

Glens Falls Civic Center
1 Civic Center Plaza, Glens Falls, 798-0366. This versatile sports and entertainment complex, home to the Adirondack IceHawks hockey team, boasts a seating capacity of up to 7800. The civic center hosts everything from the Ice Capades to giant rock acts, and offers banquet facilities as well.

Palace Theatre
19 Clinton Ave., Albany, 465-3334. Major renovations are in the works for Albany’s prized old hall, a beautiful former movie house with a capacity of about 2,900. It’s home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Albany Berkshire Ballet, as well as music and comedy concerts.

Pepsi Arena
51 S. Pearl St., Albany, 487-2000. This 15,000-seat facility is the largest Capital Region venue by far. In addition to sports (see “Sports Venues”), the Pepsi Arena hosts such events as kids’ shows, circuses, ice shows and some of the largest pop-music tours to pass through these parts.

Pines Theatre
Look Park, Northampton, 800-THE-TICK. Yet another project of the folks at Iron Horse Entertainment Group, this outdoor venue features concerts by big-name music performers every summer, often in conjunction with all-day festivals.

Proctor’s Theatre
432 State St., Schenectady, 382-3884. This 2,700-seat theater-in-the-grand-manner hosts one of the area’s most substantial and eclectic seasons of theater, dance, music and comedy. This is where the Broadway touring shows stop, where classical and Cajun music come to the big stage and where the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra hangs its hat. Home of Goldie, “the Mighty Wurlitzer” (organ), and Northeast Ballet’s annual productions of The Nutcracker. The venue, which occasionally hosts pop, country and oldies concerts, also has an ongoing second-run film series.

RPI’s Houston Field House
Peoples and Burdett avenues, Troy, 276-6262. Best known as the home of RPI’s Division I ECAC hockey team (see “Sports Venues”), the Field House is also a popular midsize (seats 6,500) venue for pop and rock shows. RPI also books pop music shows into the MacNeil Room and Mother’s Wine Emporium.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Spa State Park, Route 9, Saratoga Springs. 587-3330. This indoor-outdoor amphitheater is the summer home of the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra. And there’s always a full schedule of “Special Events”—concerts by top jazz, pop and rock & roll artists.

Tanglewood
West Street, Lenox, Mass., 413-637-1600. The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, this revered indoor-outdoor amphitheater features a comprehensive schedule of classical concerts, as well as occasional jazz and pop shows, during the warm-weather months.

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Second Avenue and Fourth Street, Troy, 273-0038. From symphony orchestras to jazz greats, this hall, renowned for its acoustic splendor, is the first choice of many artists for performance and recordings. Regularly presents subscription concerts by the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The annual season boasts a classical music series, a jazz series and an acoustic music series, plus an assortment of acoustic, folk and world music events.

Smaller Venues

The Arts Center of the Capital Region
265 River St., Troy, 273-0552. This versatile facility boasts a state-of-the-art black-box theater suited to all-manner of intimate performances.

Capital Repertory Theatre
111 N. Pearl St., Albany. 445-7469. Home of Capital Repertory Company, the Capital Region’s Equity theater company.

Cohoes Music Hall,
57 Remsen St., Cohoes, 434-1703. Folk acts of international and national acclaim as well as local bands perform in this venerable location.

Curtain Call Theatre
210 Old Loudon Road, Latham. 877-PLAY (7529). This former church is named after its year-round tenant, a professional theater company.

Dance Theater,
Filene Recital Hall and Bernhard Theater Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, 580-5000. As the name indicates, Skidmore’s Dance Theater regularly hosts performances of dance—by students and national troupes and artists. The recital hall features faculty showcase concerts as well as an interesting mix of classical, jazz and avant-garde music. The Bernhard Theater hosts mostly campus productions.

eba Dance Theatre
351 Hudson Ave., Albany, 465-9916. Home of Maude Baum & Company Dance Theatre.

Foy Campus Center Theater,
St. Mary of the Angels Chapel and Alumni Recreation Center Siena College, 515 Loudon Road (Route 9), Loudonville, 783-2527. The theater often hosts a slate of performances by the drama department, while many a classical ensemble fills the chapel with heavenly sounds. Look for the occasional pop-music concert in the ARC.

Hilton Center for the Performing Arts,
40 Russell Road, Albany (near Westgate shopping center), 453-1048. This small theater presents occasional events, ranging from theatrical productions to music performances.

Hudson Opera House
333 Union St., Hudson, 822-1438. This space hosts art exhibitions, concerts, readings, workshops and other events.

Kiggins Hall
Emma Willard School, 285 Pawling Ave., Troy, 274-4440. Troy’s Friends of Chamber Music presents a first-rate classical concert series here.

MASS MoCA,
1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, Mass. In addition to gallery space, this sprawling former factory complex includes performances spaces for music, dance, and film. They have recently hosted everything from avant-garde opera and modern dance to silent film. (413) 664-4481.

North Pointe Cultural Arts Center
Route 9, Kinderhook, 758-9234. A pleasant space that presents musical offerings, theater productions (StageWorks makes its home here) and the like.

Page Hall
135 Western Ave., downtown University at Albany campus, Albany; and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center 1400 Washington Ave., uptown UAlbany campus, Albany, 442-3995. Both locations concentrate on campus-related music, theater, readings and more. Several pop concerts are usually presented at Page Hall annually, as is the New York State Writers Institute Film Series. In addition, the UAlbany Concert Board often books popular musical acts into the Recreation and Convocation Center, also at the uptown campus.

Schacht Fine Arts Center Theater
Russell Sage College, Troy. Home to the New York State Theater Institute (274-3256), a professional company presenting theater for family audiences. Also at Sage, the Meader Little Theater.

Spa Little Theatre,
Saratoga Spa State Park, Route 9, Saratoga Springs. This intimate space hosts seasons by community theater troupe Home Made Theatre, the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival and more recently, the Lake George Opera Festival.

Steamer No. 10
Theatre 500 Western Ave. (near intersection of Madison and Western avenues), Albany, 438-5503. The restored firehouse is home to acclaimed productions of children’s theater, as well as special events—puppet shows, storytellers, magicians—throughout the year.

Time & Space Limited
Warehouse 434 Columbia St., Hudson, 822-8448. Theater, film, art, and literary events are all presented in this one neat space. There are premieres as well as classics in their movie series, and the live performances range from avant garde to children’s fare.

Union College Memorial Chape
l Union College, Union Street, Schenectady, 388-6000. Regularly features an impressive classical music series, as well as pop and rock bands. Union also boasts the Yulman Theater, which is home to college theater productions.

WAMC Performing Arts Studio and Linda Norris Auditorium
339 Central Ave., Albany, 465-5233, ext. 4. Newly renovated former bank building now hosts classical, jazz, pop, and folk performances. Many of these shows are broadcast on public radio station WAMC.

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Metroland's Dining Guide 2001
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