Our Mission: Through arts and community leadership be a catalyst for excellence in education, sustainable economic development and rich civic engagement to enhance the quality of life in the greater capital region.

A letter from Philip Morris (CEO) and Anthony Mashuta (Board President)
This past summer, Proctors was honored and challenged to host the annual conference of the League of Historic American Theaters. More than 250 of our peers from around the country – plus many of our friends and neighbors – came to hear sessions on leadership, to talk about Proctors successes and to look at Proctors impact on Schenectady and the Capital Region.

It was a great chance to assess and internalize Proctors impact on board members, volunteers, staff and friends of the theater, such as you.

It was also an opportunity to hear from others about what most impressed them of  the things they saw and heard. The phrase that seemed to bubble up most often about Proctors was, “This place has a soul and you can feel it.”

We have talked about this often. What is at the “soul” of Proctors? Is it the architecture, not just beautiful, but linking one end of the downtown into the heart of the downtown? A covered street, if you will.

Is it the history? The first kisses, the first movie showings, the incredible first-ever demonstration of broadcast television on our stage from General Electric?

Or is it the sense of protection – such as one might feel for a coveted heirloom -- knowing that this place was and is the last of its kind in our community and, as that, was saved in the knick of time only by passion and an incredible sense of optimism?

We are not quite sure; answers may differ. What we do know is that this soul is alive and well. It is carried by 1,300 volunteers, by 2,500 donors, by nearly 4,500 subscribers and by so many citizens of the region who have, at some point or another, been among the 600,000 people who walked into Proctors during the past year.

We also know that this soul  nourishes, in turn, every action to sustain it – creating a circle of support, giving back as it receives. We know, too, that we have much to do to continue to nurture and grow this soul.

Whatever show, event, conference or film that draws you here, take pleasure in knowing that you are part of a community of people linked to and by Proctors. And we look forward to your return, often, to keep it all going strong!