Catskill’s Community Theatre (373 Main Street) has been shuttered since the Covid pandemic began, but in May 2025 the doors are expected to open again amidst an estimated $2.4 million renovation funded by both private and public sources.
The Community Theatre has been a cultural cornerstone in Catskill for decades. Originally operating as a vaudeville theater in 1920, it began showing movies in the 1940s and initially seated 800 patrons between the main floor and balcony. Its name reflects a town-wide effort to rebuild after a fire in the 1910s destroyed the original theater.
The renovation project comprises two phases. The first focuses on expanding restrooms and concessions, installing fire-proof doors and exit signs, repainting, and upgrading HVAC and sprinkler systems. This phase is partially financed by a $550,000 grant from New York State’s Restore New York program, secured by the village of Catskill on behalf of theater owner and developer Ben Fain. Under the grant, Fain will initially fund the work and be reimbursed later.
The second phase, scheduled for 2026-2027, includes enhancing the main theater’s lighting and acoustics, adding a lobby bar with expanded food and drink options, and creating new backstage amenities like dressing rooms and a green room. Estimated at $750,000, the village is seeking $400,000 from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative to support this phase, though funding is not guaranteed.
Fain envisions the revitalized theater hosting events like comedy festivals and live performances. The venue features a deep stage and historic backstage areas with carvings from past performers. Through his company Nice and Weird LLC, Fain has been active in local development, including projects to revitalize Hudson’s waterfront, such as Kitty’s restaurant, Grapefruit Wines, a wedding venue called The Caboose, and a new 16,000 square foot organic grocery store planned for 2026.
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