Our Playhouse

The Montauk Playhouse Represents What Montauk Is All About

By Eugenia Bartell

Today, as passengers depart from the train at the Montauk Railroad Station, this historic Montauk Playhouse building is still the first thing they see. It is no longer abandoned, but has had a miraculous metamorphosis championed by the determined, industrious and phenomenally community-spirited Joan Lycke, President of The Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation (MPCCF). Together with her board of fifteen directors, they have resurrected the historic super-structure. Now it is the recreation and cultural centerpiece of our year-round community.

"By working together, playing together, growing together and building together," the first phase was completed in May 2006 after six long years of arduous efforts. To provide opportunities for recreational, social, cultural, educational and human services the dream of the MPCCF has established affordable services, including the Child Care Center, the Adult Care Center, the Senior Nutrition Center, the Body Tech Fitness Center and Manual and Sports Therapy.

"Phase II is moving forward but there is a long way to go to reach our $7 million goal needed in order to construct the second floor," Joan Lycke explained.

Indeed it is in everyone's interest to support the second phase in any way possible. The efforts of the Boy Scouts and the Girls Scouts and the Montauk School PTA are just three of the numerous organizations who will make the second dream happen. The MPCCF will also seek grants from corporations, government entities, individuals and private foundations. Of particular interest is the naming opportunities, of which there are several, especially within the Performing Arts and the Aquatics center. Contacting Joan Lycke or Maureen Rutkowski will be the way to begin your naming donation.

To have a Performing Arts Center will be a testimony to the importance and appreciation of the arts on the East End. The new theater will be positioned to become a destination of choice for performers and patrons.

The 5-lane recreation pool, as part of the Aquatic Center, will provide for swimming lessons, water therapy and rehabilitation and a venue for great family fun all year long.

Two community lounges, North and South, will accommodate recreational games, meeting and small gatherings areas, and quiet reading spaces next to the original Carl Fisher fireplace, warming you on cool fall and cold winter nights. You may view lovely artists' renderings and photos of phase two on the MPCCF's amazing website, remarkably designed by Maureen Rutkowski at montaukplayhouse.org.

Reaching out to the community, MPCCF encourages everyone to take part in the upcoming fundraisers. The Annual Harbor Lights Gala at the beautiful Montauk Lake Club on August 2nd from 7:00-11:00 p.m. will honor the Gosman family, Jim and Lori Corless and Edward Albee who celebrated his eightieth birthday in July. The October Fall Festival Chinese Auction will be held on the Village Green with special live music to entertain you.

The Showhouse Showdown at the Panoramic View Resort on Sunday's, October 19th and 26th, and November 2nd, where you will tour three exquisitely decorated villas overlooking the majestic Atlantic, will be a first time, unforgettable treat.

The community of Montauk has much to celebrate. There is an immense sense of passion, challenge and pride within our community and it is people like Joan Lycke and those she has inspired who exemplify an amazing civic spirit. The merits of their focus and their tenacious determination to make dreams realities have given our community so much of which to be proud of and to enjoy.

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