DECEMBER 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 93
THEATRE THREE:
AFTER THE FLOOD
Much drama has graced the historic
Theatre Three stage over the past
half century, but the venue was the
scene of an unexpected feat when a
flash flood inundated its lower level.
The community theatre in downtown
Port Jefferson was swamped
with four feet of water during a
freak storm Sept. 25, destroying its
second stage, cafe, costume shop,
workshop, and dressing rooms. But
the nonprofit group decided that the
show must go on — even before the
storm was over.
“Theatre Three is a landmark venue here on
Long Island,” says comedian Paul Anthony.
“We just kept auditioning because
it was the safest place for the
kids to be, upstairs,” Jeffrey Sanzel,
executive artistic director at Theatre
Three, told Port Jeff Pulse. “We got
cleaned up and we opened that Friday
night with The Addams Family.”
The theatre typically presents a
wide range of performances through
its Mainstage, Second Stage, Cabaret
and Children’s Theatre productions.
It also hosts Friday Night Face Off,
Long Island’s longest-running improv
troupe, as well as its Dramatic
Academy, offering three instructional
semesters each year, plus a diverse
summer concert series.
Established in the 1960s, Theatre
Three is among LI’s longest-running
community theatres. It’s housed
in Athena Hall, a
144-year-old former
vaudeville house.
Despite the flood,
the theatre is continuing
on with its
holiday tradition,
performing A
Christmas Carol
for the 35th straight
season, Barnaby
Saves Christmas
for the kids, and its
comedy series.
And the outpouring
of support
Theatre Three in Port Jefferson recently bounced
back from a serious flood.
— including dozens of volunteers
who turned up to rebuild and a
GoFundMe page that raised nearly
$2,000 — helped them get back to the
business of show biz.
“Theatre Three is a landmark venue
here on Long Island,” said comedian
Paul Anthony, whose production
COMMUNITY THEATRE
company, Long Island Comedy, produced
a stand-up fundraiser series to
help the theatre. “It provides so much
cultural value to the community.”
Theatre Three is located at 412
Main St. in Port Jefferson. It can be
reached at 631-928-9100 or theatrethree.
com.
-TB
A dinner dance for Dads, Grandpas
and the little girl in their life.
The 23rd
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Chateau Briand, Carle Place
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
An enchanted gala for girls aged 4-12 and their Dad or Grandpa.
Guests enjoy an elegant evening of dinner and dancing,
a performance of the Nutcracker performed by
Leggz Ltd. Dance Studio of Rockville Centre, a Magic show, a corsage
and gift for each young lady and other fun surprises
Sponsored by:
To purchase tickets, please
call 516-378-2000 x 651
Cost is $175 per couple ($100 each adult/$75 each child)
All Proceeds Benefit the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County
www.cpnassau.org
/www.cpnassau.org
