FOCUS Greater Syracuse highlights 20 communitywide achievements as this community engagement organization marks its 20th year. These 20 are a glimpse of where we’ve come since they were identified as goals our community wanted to set in 1998. These accomplishments show what can be done and has been done, not necessarily by FOCUS, but by Forging Our Community’s United Strength.
Goals achieved require continued devotion. The Landmark Theatre marked its 90th year in 2018 with a Gala fundraiser June 23. This year the Landmark is working on making its seating roomier and more ADA compliant. The 2018-19 season begins with Fiddler on the Roof on October 17, 18, 19. This is truly a landmark worth seeing in Syracuse and a wonderful community goal achieved.
After threats of closing and demolition in the 1960s and 70s, a group of citizens managed to get the ornate movie theater listed on the National Register of Historic Places, then raised cash and matching funds from New York State and the National Endowment for the Arts to buy the building.
In 2000 community renovation efforts paid off as the awesome Landmark lobby was restored to glory. In 2011 a $16 million reconstruction added 15 feet to the depth of the theater stage and improved dressing room facilities to handle modern Broadway road companies. 2017 was one of the theater’s most successful years with productions of The Lion King and Wicked.
There’s more work to do read about the other goals HERE.