The North Shore Village Theatre is poised to become a cultural cornerstone in downtown Glen Cove, and while renovations of the space it will occupy are underway, fundraising efforts are expected play a crucial role in bringing the vision to life. As of press time, the theater has raised $3,370 of its $500,000 goal, with private donations and grants expected to contribute significantly to the overall $1.6 million cost.
The long-vacant Charles Hardware store, at 19 Glen St., is undergoing a dramatic transformation into a 150-seat community theater, under the leadership of Christopher Moll, artistic director of both NSVT and Jazz Hands Children’s Theatre. For Moll, the opening of NSVT, now planned for June, is the culmination of a dream that began in 2015, when he founded Jazz Hands with 12 children. Since then, the program has expanded to more than 160 participants, highlighting the growing demand for performing arts opportunities in the area.
“It starts with the demo permit, so they can come in and remove everything that we aren’t going to have in here, and then the basic construction,” Moll explained. “It’s going to all start with electric and plumbing and HVAC. All of the whole HVAC system is being replaced.”
The Village Theatre is a collaborative effort among Glen Cove city officials, business leaders, and property owner Bruce Waller, of GW Development. After months of negotiations, Waller agreed to a 10-year lease for the space. City Councilwoman Danielle Fugazy Scagliola played a key role in moving the project forward, recognizing the theater’s potential to energize the downtown area.
“Running a theater is a costly endeavor, but we are thrilled by the community’s support,” Fugazy Scagliola said. “We need to keep the momentum going, so this theater can become a place we all enjoy for years to come.”
The 9,000-square-foot space, which was home to Charles Hardware for over 60 years, is being reimagined in phases. Renovations include removing drop ceilings and wood paneling to create an open stage, lobby and bar area.
Unlike other areas with dedicated performing arts spaces, Glen Cove lacks a theater of this scale, with the nearest comparable venue in Port Washington. NSVT aims to bridge this gap, and make performances accessible to all. The organization plans to partner with local groups, including the Boys & Girls Club and the Youth Bureau, to provide free tickets to underserved families.
Construction began last December, with a community demolition event. Recent progress includes securing permits for key renovations, which will begin with upgrades to the building’s electrical, heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems. The inaugural production of “Steel Magnolias” was originally planned for April, but Moll decided to push the date back to the fall to ensure that the space is fully prepared.
“We decided not to rush it,” he said, “and instead get the construction done properly and push the play to the fall, when the theater will be open properly.”
Fundraising remains an essential focus. While roughly $55,000 has been raised through private donations, and grants from National Grid, PSEG and New York state are in the pipeline, significant financial support is still needed.
“I think there’s not awareness that we’re a nonprofit,” Moll said. “A lot of people know me as Jazz Hands. That’s my business. But North Shore Village Theatre is a nonprofit community theater, and Jazz Hands is just a tenant.”
Maggie Odell, of Sea Cliff, a member of the new theater’s board of directors, said she hoped it would help build on the city’s vision to bring more foot traffic to downtown businesses and build a sense of community.
“Live theater is a beautiful community-building experience for all involved,” Odell said. “Whether you’re on the stage, whether you’re behind the scenes, whether you’re in the audience, there is, I think, no better way to build community than through the arts.”
Moll is considering hosting a staged reading in April as a fundraiser.
“Two years ago, we did a reading of ‘God of Carnage,’ and it was hugely successful,” he said. “We’d love to bring people into the space and give them a preview of what’s to come.”
