Financial pressures threaten Cohoes Music Hall producers | News

COHOES - The cast of "Guys and Dolls" has their signature number ready to go for the production that opens at Cohoes Music Hall Thursday night.

C-R Productions has been mounting shows at this venerable 19th century theater since 2002.

Over that time they've built their subscriber base, sold a lot of individual tickets and courted the all important sponsors, only to see those parts of the business plan all drop off in the last few months. 

"Last year we were over 1700 subscribers," said producer Jim Charles. "This year we're about 700."

There are 10 different shows planned for the upcoming season, which includes youth work and working with people with disabilities.

But if ticket subscriptions and especially sponsor interest doesn't pick up, Jim Charles is not making any long term promises.

"We've never, in ten years, ever had to send a message like this out that we need the community's help in order to make the arts continue in Cohoes," Charles warned.