Hamilton Stage is likely to be out of commission until next summer after it was closed in September as a result of flooding during Hurricane Ida.

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“We still haven’t gotten a final number, somewhere  between six and 12 months – hopefully closer to six,” Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) Executive Director Craig Sumberg said during an interview last week for an upcoming episode of the RahwayRising podcast. “We’re telling renters next summer that they may be able to get in there. We’re still trying to not make too many decisions about next summer up until the summer, so through April, we’re trying to move people.”

Response to a fundraising appeal in early October has been great, Sumberg said. While there’s not a strong tradition of giving to the organization, he said a number of people reached out with some fairly significant gifts just wanting to help. “So that was a great sign.”

UCPAC has annual revenue of about $1.6 million, with almost $225,000 generated from rentals and other events at Hamilton Stage. UCPAC aims to raise at least $30,000 to close the gap created by a potential a six-month closure. To make a donation, click here or visit https://ucpac.org/donate/

UCPAC announced in early September that Hamilton Stage would be closed indefinitely after flooding from Hurricane Ida. Insurance is likely to cover the vast majority of the cost of repairs, Redevelopment Director Robert Landolfi said during an interview last month. At the October Redevelopment Agency meeting, he suggested to commissioners that the facility be deeded to the city.

Landolfi doesn’t see any benefit to the agency being party to the lease agreement. “When you’re a property owner, you have certain responsibilities; the Redevelopment Agency has certain responsibilities. Even though the city insures it, we need to get involved in the insurance claim. I don’t see an inherent benefit,” he said. There’s no financial benefit given the $100-a-year lease while the city provides virtually all the services, primarily through the Department of Public Works.

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