The Crandell Theatre has elected John T. Lillis as their new president alongside Amy Barr as the director of Crandell Theatre. This comes at an exciting time as The Crandell Theatre is being renovated, with plans to reopen in fall 2025, just in time for the theatre’s 100th birthday.
John T. Lillis from Old Chatham joined the Crandell Board of Directors in January 2024 after he retired as partner of White & Case LLP, a New York City law firm. He has also served as Chair of the Firm’s Global Tax Committee and for nine years on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of LeMoyne College in Syracuse.
Shining light on the former president, Lillis said, “I am grateful for the many years of strong Crandell leadership by my predecessor, Lydia Kukoff. Her guiding hand has positioned the Crandell to move forward to the next 100 years of service to our community. We on the Board cannot thank Lydia enough for her many years of insightful, steady leadership.”
A Ghent resident for more than 30 years, Amy Barr is an editor and writer creating content for print magazines and digital properties. She’s excited to introduce the third generation of Barrs, her grandchildren, to the delights of the Crandell.
The Crandell Theatre in Chatham is one of a few community-based, nonprofit theaters in the United States devoted to film and one of less than 100 single-screen movie theaters nationally. Beginning in 2010, Crandell Theatre raised more than $1 million to purchase the historic theater and make needed repairs. The current Crandell board is engaged in a multi-million-dollar campaign to renovate and restore the area’s oldest, largest, single-screen theater and enhance the moviegoing experience for generations to come. Plans are in process to expand the film and non-film programming to provide the community with important entertainment and educational experiences.
The theater continues to show offsite screenings at area locations while it is closed for construction.
For more information, visit crandelltheatre.org
Watch this video for a peek inside the theatre as it undergoes renovations
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