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Playhouse Campus Expansion Capital Drive

The Huntington Playhouse was established in 1958 and sits on the site of John Huntington’s carriage house. It started as a small summer theater and grew into a place with a 240-seat auditorium. The Playhouse had its last season in 2015. In the summer of 2017 BAYarts began working to clean out the venue. The goal of BAYarts is to renovate the former Playhouse, so it can be used on the arts campus for a wide range of cultural programming.

The first phase of renovations was completed in January of 2019 and included new electrical and fire safety systems. Improvements also included new bathrooms and windows, and drywall in the Hearth Room (previously the space used for intermission). BAYarts currently uses the renovated west end of the building for classes, concerts, and as community meeting room.

A second phase of renovations was completed in the summer of 2024, in which the auditorium was transformed into a multi-use space with the capacity to host concerts, plays, speakers, and more. The flexible event space will also be used for larger classes, weddings, and corporate events. BAYarts received a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Facilities Construction Committee (OFCC) and raised an additional $500,000 to begin Phase Two.

Further renovations to the building include the addition of two music rooms, a large classroom, a second set of bathrooms and a central hallway to facilitate accessibility throughout the building. Fundraising is ongoing for the next phase of improvements.

For more information on how you can donate, please contact Mary Conway Sullivan at mary@bayarts.net or Nancy Heaton at nancy@bayarts.net.

Naming rights opportunities are available! For more information, please contact Mary Conway Sullivan at mary@bayarts.net.

Naming Rights Amount
Building $1,000,000
Vestibule Entrance $300,000
Porter Creek Corridor $200,000
Large Classroom $75,000
Overlook Gallery $50,000
View All Naming Rights

What We Do

Art Education

Classes for all ages. 6,600 students per year in 350 classes, including outreach

Arist Income & Support

Three galleries, art festival, consignment, seasonal market employment, studio space

Community Engagement

Festivals, live music and performance, art, market, public gardens and social space, 80,000 visitors per year at 200 events.

BAYarts classes sell out quicker than you can say “Hamilton tickets.” That’s why we’re adding more CLASSROOMS, MAKERS space, MUSIC rooms, a STAGE and SCREEN for YEAR-ROUND entertainment highlighting northeast Ohio’s diverse cultural offerings. YOU can PLAY A PART!
Include BAYarts in your yearly giving
BAYarts Playhouse Renovation Auditorium Rendering

Funding Sources and Cost Summary

Sources Amount Notes
Capital raised to 10/01/23 $500,000
OFCC Grant $500,000 Awarded late 2020
Total Capital Needs $2,300,000
Remaining Funds Needed $1,300,000
Uses
Renovation $2,000,000 *Includes contingencies
Furniture and other $300,000 Includes furniture, fixtures, architects fees, etc.
Total Uses $2,300,000
  • The above figures are estimates based on information available at the time of preparation and subject to change.
  • Capital Needs are expected to be met primarily with cash contributions but may include donated materials and limited amount of donated labor.
  • Additional capital raised, if any, is expected to be applied to enhancements to planned renovation.
  • In the event of a shortfall in capital campaign, scope changes will be considered, consistent with goal and supporting tenets.
"BAYarts is a wonderful hidden gem in Cleveland! An almost magical place in any weather. We have had 3 events there and all were a huge success!"
Greg EriangerFrequent visitor
"BAYarts is a strong asset to the North Coast. The atmosphere is invigorating, and the venue is wonderful. Creativity and skill abound. A great place to visit."
Joe SmithLocal Resident
"Chris Benevides’ oil class was great; Chris clearly prepped, shared experiences and ideas and gave us helpful feedback to advance us all the while providing individual support. Can’t wait to take another class!"
Nina
"I’ve taken classes myself and with my daughters. How great is it to have such a huge and important arts community so close to home! BAYarts does so much for our community."
Jennifer AndrewsStudent, parent
“The most amazing place for art classes for kids and teens! The friendships and talent that is cultivated through the program have helped my son gain confidence, skills and depth with his creativity.”
Annie Dietrick HyltonParent
“Our whole family attends classes and events at BAYarts. The kids love the one-day classes and camps, and I enjoy dates with my husband.”
Jen Brooks Meyers
“Bought the class with my sisters for our mom’s birthday and we all had a blast. Thank you for the memories.”
Julie Abdallah
“Moondance is the absolute best event of every summer. So much planning and hard work goes into this one fabulous night. Bravo.”
Janet ParlanoHinkley Lighting, BAYarts sponsor
“Renovating the playhouse is a wonderful idea. I wish I was 50 years old instead of 86 so I could see it come to life again.”
Joan Riemenschneiderformer resident of BAYarts Huntington House in the 60’s

Naming Rights & Donating

To achieve the vision of transforming the former Huntington Playhouse into the new Center for Arts & Culture, we are asking our closest friends to support this project, especially those who were pivotal in the 2005 renovation of BAYarts. Nearly 70 years since its inception, we have the opportunity now to complete the transformation of the BAYarts campus, bringing its fullest potential to the community. 

Donate Now

Naming Rights Opportunities

For more information, please contact Mary Conway Sullivan at mary@bayarts.net.

Naming Rights* Amount Amount Donated Named Space
Building $1,000,000 _________ Cultural Arts Center at BAYarts
Vestibule Entrance $300,000
Porter Creek Corridor $200,000
Flex Space/Auditorium SOLD SOLD Sullivan Auditorium, Gift of Barb & Frank Sullivan
Stage SOLD SOLD Carney Stage
Hearth Room SOLD SOLD Sally J. Otto Gallery
Large Classroom $75,000
Overlook Gallery $50,000 _________ Overlook Gallery
Outdoor Patio SOLD SOLD VLX Travel Patio
Music Rooms SOLD SOLD Carleen Herring Bonds Music Rooms
Current Phase, 2023, Sponsorship Opportunities
Furniture, Fixtures, + Equipment $75,000
Exterior Painting/Staining $35,000
Stage Curtains $25,000
Exterior Signage $20,000
Sound System $17,000
Donor Recognition Wall $9,000
Landscaping Front Gardens $5,000
Fire Safety Improvements $3,000
Security Modifications $3,000
IT $1,000
Finishing Phase, 2024, Sponsorship Opportunities
Movie Screen System $50,000
Classroom Fixtures $20,000
Electronic Piano Music Room 1 $5,000
Electronic Piano Music Room 2 $5,000
Movie Projector $3,000
Director's Circle
Diamond $20,000+ Sean & Mary Conway Sullivan, Tom & Amie O'Brien
Platinum $10,000+ Community West Foundation/William & Jill Oatey, Lisa Napoli, Mary Ellen French, Thomas & Amie O'Brien
Gold $5,000+ David & Karen Brill, Nicholas Noyes, Andrea Richards, William Bonds, Arthur McBride Foundation, Alice McGinty, Walter V. & Judith L. Shipley

*Subject to time limits and conditions of written agreement to be approved. Additional opportunities may be available.

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Updates

Dec 17th, 2019
Warm-up at BAYarts this Winter – Westlake/Bay Village Observer

March 5th, 2019
Devon Gess and Father fund Music Rooms at BAYarts – Westlake/Bay Village Observer

Jan 8th, 2019
The first class in the Playhouse Hearth Room is Spirit Dolls with Janet Wade. Classroom now open and used for ongoing classes.

Dec 19th, 2018
BAYarts’ Future: Why it will take a village – Westlake/Bay Village Observer

Dec 1st, 2018
Phase One is near completion in one month. – Facebook update

Nov 2018
Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle) has been named the Playhouse Campaign Honorary Chair

Aug 21st, 2018
Noted Cleveland architect to design BAYarts expansion in Bay Village  – Sun News

Aug 13t, 2018h
Naming rights will help transform BAYarts’ expansion of the old Huntington Playhouse – Sun News

July 28th, 2018
Phase I begins.

May 2018
BAYarts updates community on former Playhouse – Westlake-Bay Village Observer

May 2018
BAYarts hosts a Playhouse progress meeting, open to the community.

April 2018
Encore! event fundraiser 

March 2018
BAYarts granted $100k for Playhouse from state budget – Westlake-Bay Village Observer

February 2018
Patricia Heaton and David Hunt donate $50,000 as seed money. Read about that here. 

January 2018
Bay Men’s Club helps the final clean-up of materials, taken to Savers.

November 2017
Donations made to City Mission.

August 2017
Playhouse Liquidation Sale

August 2017
Press: BAYarts Takes on the Playhouse – Westlake-Bay Village Observer

July 17, 2017
Clean-up begins on interior prop pieces.

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Office and Shop Hours:

Monday–Wednesday: 9am to 5pm
Thursday: 9am to 8pm
Friday: 9am to 3pm
Saturday: 10am to 3pm
Sunday: Closed

Fuller House Gallery Hours:

Monday–Saturday: 10am to 3pm
Sunday: Closed or by appointment

Phone:

440-871-6543

Email:

info@BAYarts.net

Address: 

28795 Lake Road
Bay Village, Ohio 44140

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