Meet the faces behind C-R Productions

Cohoes Music Hall

By Mary Beth Galarneau

At one time in history, there were nine “Showboat” style theatres across the country dating back to the 19th century. They were called this because of the curved pew seats and curvature of the balcony. Today, only three have been spared the wrecking ball – one is in Washington, DC, one is in Idaho, and the third is right here in the Capital Region in downtown Cohoes.
The Cohoes Music Hall may look non-descript on the outside. In fact, because there is no fancy marquee on the building, you might even pass by it. But once you step inside the building on 56 Remsen Street and take the elevator to the third floor, the 450-seat theatre beckons for a lively time. Since C-R Productions took up residence in 2002 as a “producing theatre” (Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany is the only other producing theatre in the area, the others are “presenting”) the 145-year old stage has come to life with many Broadway musicals such as: “Chicago”, “The Sound of Music”, “West Side Story”, “Chorus Line”, “Rent”, and “The Diary of Anne Frank”, which was one of their first plays.
The Hall dates back to 1874 when it was built for $60,000 by two local Cohoes businessmen – newspaperman James Masten and miller William Acheson. For 34 years, the theatre was the place to see and be seen.
Today, two other businessmen have taken it over and nurtured it back to the grand theatre it once was. Tony Rivera and Jim Charles saw the potential in the theatre back in 2000 and decided to move from Manhattan to Cohoes to pursue a life working behind the scenes, rather than out in front as they had been doing.
In its’ heyday, the Hall was the place to see and be seen. Buffalo Bill Cody, John Philip Sousa, Col. Tom Thumb and his wife, Jimmy Durante, Sarah Bernhardt and Cohoes’ own Eva Tanguay, have all performed here. With the Marine National Bank housed on the first floor of the building, the wealthy weren’t afraid to leave their homes with their jewels and furs.
But, structural problems with the Hall’s truss and roof forced its’ closure in 1908. After the Industrial Revolution people were leaving town and no one wanted to invest money into the theatre.
So the theater, once alive with music and people, sat empty for 66 years. In the 1960s, however, a Cohoes code enforcement officer became interested in what was located above the bank lobby. When the bank decided to relocate in 1967, the city had the opportunity to either tear down the building or buy it for $1 – they chose the latter.
Because it had been left untouched for decades, it was in relatively good shape. So much so that Gov. Rockefeller called it an “architectural treasure” and announced a $162,500 trust grant for preservation and renovation.
Work began in 1970 and on June 14, 1974, the Cohoes Music Hall re-opened 100 years after it’s initial debut with the same show that first graced its’ stage: Dion Boucicault’s “London Assurance”.
Over the years, various theatre groups and local people have been involved with the theatre, but it wasn’t until 2002 that C-R Productions took over as the permanent producing theatre company.
Jim Charles, who was born and raised in Cohoes, left for NYC after graduating high school to pursue an acting career. His resume includes directing and performing in theatre, on cruise ships and he has even appeared in a few episodes of “Law & Order”, on a few soaps and commercials. As a teen, he was an usher at the Hall and had fond memories. In the 1980s he even performed there for two seasons with Heritage Artists.
An international business major, New Jersey native Tony Rivera also found himself in NYC shortly after graduating where he dabbled in theatre, commercials, even hand-modeling.
“My parents thought theatre was a phase,” he laughed. But, he promised them he would treat it like a business and even gave himself a time sheet and clocked in 40 hours a week in his job search. Eventually, Rivera became involved in the marketing aspect of the industry and found he enjoyed it more than acting.
Then 9/11 hit and everything changed.
“As a New Yorker, I never felt vulnerable or scared. I never even looked up. But after 9/11, I was completely afraid,” said Rivera.
He and Charles re-evaluated their lives and decided a change was needed. “It wasn’t running scared, it was taking complete control.” The tragedies of that day made them realize how short life is. “We really wanted to make a difference and connect to a community. In New York City you’re an ant in a huge pile.”
On their way back from working at the Theatre Barn in New Lebanon in 2000, Charles decided to make a pit stop at the Hall so Rivera could check it out.
“I loved it, it was gorgeous,” said Rivera. “I thought it would be great to do something there one day.”
Little did he know that ‘one day’ would be sooner than he thought.
Fast-forward to 2002. Rivera and Charles met with Cohoes Mayor John McDonald with the proposition to rent out the theatre for a weekend. Their plan was to put on a concert called “Tonight, Tonight, A Broadway Concert”, a compilation of various Broadway showtunes performed by seasoned NYC Broadway actors, Cohoes High School students and a local dance studio. Musicians and a nine-piece orchestra from Manhattan made the trek up.
“We wanted to get the community involved,” said Rivera, who also knocked on doors for local sponsorship.
Little did anyone know, but their “box office” was simply a new cell phone in the 518 area code. Back home in Manhattan, the two would meet for lunch and take ticket orders.
The show, which ran two nights, was a huge success. Call it a mother’s intuition, but the Mayor’s mother was in the audience and told her son the next day “this is exactly what Cohoes needs.”
Today, C-R productions (which, by the way, doesn’t stand for Capital Region, but Charles-Rivera) has been the resident theatre company for the Cohoes Music Hall for the past seven years.
The men now call Cohoes home and are heavily involved in the community, working with the local schools and senior groups. During each show, they enjoy greeting theatre-goers, who come from as far away as Glens Falls, Saugerties, Hudson and Lee and Lenox, MA.
Back in 2001, the two men decided they needed a change and wanted to be part of a community and they kept their word. As the only cultural attraction in Cohoes, the two men feel they are helping to boost the on-going revitalization on Remsen Street.
“I think the arts can inspire and rejuvenate a community,” Rivera said. “It’s the common thread of humanity, really. All we are doing is telling stories.”
The two men welcome you to the Cohoes Music Hall – parking is easy and well-lit, and where else can you see a Broadway show for as low as $23?
For a schedule of events visit www.cohoesmusichall.com.