Who We Are
Preserving a Local Treasure
Friends of the Oneonta Theatre (FOTOT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are a diverse group of volunteers who share a commitment to preserving the Oneonta Theatre, which is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Our mission is to revive the theater as both a historic building and a performance venue offering a broad range of events for the Oneonta community and the region.
In order to determine how FOTOT’s goals could be achieved, we partnered with the Greater Oneonta Historical Society in 2018-19 to obtain funding from the City of Oneonta to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study. The city had just received a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant from the State of New York, and recognized that our mission fit into their vision for an economic revitalization of the city and the region.
The studies were conducted by Holzman Moss Bottino, leading theatrical architects, and Webb Management Services, noted arts business advisors. These studies include an architectural review and restoration study of the theater, including detailed cost estimates; and a business plan to determine the operational costs of running the theater once it is restored. You can view these reports in their entirety on the Studies page of this website.
Looking Ahead
In 2020, the FOTOT Board of Directors created a Limited Liability Corporation, 47 Chestnut LLC. The LLC Managers have been working to attract investors and negotiate the purchase of the building, while the FOTOT Board continues to address our long-term planning goals. We are now in the process of raising funds through both entities to purchase and secure the building against further deterioration.
As we continue to renovate the theater, we will be guided by our architectural study and business plan. We pledge to work closely with our city and local businesses, institutions and organizations, to create a thriving downtown district that reflects our community’s cultural diversity.
FOTOT wishes to thank its Board of Directors and the 47 Chestnut LLC Managers for their hard work and dedication. We are grateful to the City of Oneonta for its ongoing support of our mission. And we appreciate all of the heartfelt support we have received as we endeavor to restore this historic theater to its former glory.
Friends of the Oneonta Theatre
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Bob Brzozowski, President
Elaine Bresee, Vice-President
Wendy Hunt, CPA, Treasurer
Tami Lincoln, Secretary
Elizabeth Dunn, PhD
Jim Maloney
Ed May, Jr.
Diane Terry