History
The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Company is a dream and a wish several years in the making! When we first embarked on the ambitious journey of starting a theatre company, we were eager to dive in and even considered purchasing property right away.
One of the locations we explored was an old firehouse in Peekskill, NY, which, while full of character, was also full of asbestos.
It was from this vision of revitalizing a neglected space that the idea of the Phoenix arose—symbolizing new life emerging from something in decay. However, when faced with the practical realities of the situation, we quickly realized we were getting ahead of ourselves.
Original Board Members: Amanda Booth, Jenna Isabella, Gina Stanton, Samantha Sanyshyn, Phil Pineau, John Isabella III
Though we've moved on from the firehouse, the idea of the Phoenix continues to resonate deeply with us. We knew based on years of experience on both the creative and managerial sides of theatre that we would need to branch out in order to realize our unique vision, and to fulfill our desire for growth and change.
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In many ways, the Phoenix represents more than just a new beginning; it symbolizes the resurgence of our passion rising from the ashes of burnout we had experienced in other forums and areas in our lives.
The Candy Cane Carolers at the Walkway Over the Hudson, 2021.
Then came 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic surged, and theatres all over the world had to shutter their doors and cancel their seasons.
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With everything on hold, we decided it was the perfect time to rise up and launch our company. Given all that history, the Phoenix felt like the perfect metaphor—symbolizing the resilience and immortality of theatre and artistic pursuits, constantly overcoming obstacles and adversity, even (and especially in!) moments that feel like the end.
A production photo from As You Like It, July 2022.
