The curtain is rising on exciting changes for the Palace Theatre, but its top executive is exiting stage left at the end of the month.
In a prepared statement released Thursday, Oct. 19, Holly Brown stated she will move on from her position after five years at the helm of the Palace Performing Arts Center. Susan Rosko Fogarty will step in as executive director.
“It has been my privilege and my pleasure to run this beautiful and beloved theatre,” stated Brown, adding praise to the Palace staff. “There is a saying in this industry that you are only as good as ‘what walks on the stage.’ My goal has been to not only increase the number of event nights at the theatre, but to bring in some of the biggest names in the business.”
The Palace has more than doubled its featured events, from 77 in 2009-10 to 170 in 2015-16, during Brown’s five years as executive director. The move comes just months following the PPAC’s acquisition of the 86-year old theatre from the City of Albany, which paved the way for a $65 million expansion and renovation project for the Capital City venue.
PPAC Chairman Alan Goldberg credited Brown for the Palace’s reputation for its “diverse, outstanding and high-caliber programming.”
“Under Holly’s direction, the [PPAC] is known for its diverse, outstanding and high-caliber programming which has translated into financial success.”
Fogarty has already been named as Brown’s replacement. Goldberg cited Fogarty’s 25-plus years of arts and business experience within the same statement. Fogarty previously served in various sales and marketing roles for V2 Records and Sony/BMG. She has also worked as a leader in the financial district, and most recently as senior vice president of the Capital District YMCA.
This article was originally published by The Spot 518 and is the property of Spotlight Newspapers in Albany, N.Y., and appears as a special to NYS Music. TheSpot518 and NYS Music work in partnership to provide readers with in-depth coverage on the local music scene in the Capital District and New York state, respectively. For more, visit TheSpot518.com.
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