Elaine Molinaro is the Arts Advisory Committee Chair.
Elaine Molinaro, Sara Brady, Ian Finnell, Anonda Bell, Jim Price, Kathryn Osborne and Bruce Tyler were officially appointed to the newly formed Arts Advisory Committee for the Township of Montclair. The first five committee members were appointed on Oct. 13, 2015, with the remaining two being appointed at a later date. All five began serving two year terms beginning Oct. 14, which will terminate on Dec. 31, 2017. The Township of Montclair does not set a budget, nor do they compensate any of the Arts Advisory Committee members.
The resolution reads as follows: “Be it resolved by the Council of the Township of Montclair, in the County of Essex, that Jim Price, Bruce Tyler, Ian Finnell and Sarah Brady be and they hereby are appointed to serve as members of the Arts Advisory Committee effective immediately and terminating Dec. 31, 2017.”
The council vote was unanimous, with all seven township officials voting yes. The resolution was officially signed by town clerk Linda Wanat. The latter two were appointed at a later date which was unavailable. The first of seven committee members will be profiled in separate articles, starting with Elaine Molinaro who was appointed at an earlier date and is the committee chair.
Elaine Molinaro is the Arts Advisory Committee Chair. Her education includes a B.A. from Northwestern University, where she was a theatre major, as well as an M.F.A. from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. She was a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, 2014; Trisha Brown Dance Co, 2006; Commercial Theater Institute, 2009; La Sorbonne, Paris, 1991-1992, French/Italian theatre and cinema, modern dance-Wigman technique; Mid-Hudson Ballet Co., Valerie Feit Dancers, Point Park College, Estelle & Alfonso 1979-1989. She has extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance.
“I run a theatre company called Culture Connection Theatre, and when we tried to rent theatre space in Montclair, we found that there was none to rent,” said Molinaro. “The Arts Advisory committee’s focus this year is on space for the arts. We are heading up a space study and intend to produce a guide of spaces with their permitted uses, rental rates, specs and equipment/amenities. We are working with the town on their redevelopment project to include an Arts and Entertainment district and have submitted a proposal for a multi-use, rentable performing arts space. We are also working with the town on a public art project.”
In addition, Molinaro has extensive experience in directing, choreography and producing. She has produced and directed several plays and readings including: The UCC Players, Centenary Stage Co, Dreamcatcher Repertory, Culture Connection Theatre, Jameson Theatre, Sandy Shurin Theatre, Circle East, Marist College, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab workshop, George Street Playhouse, Expanded Arts, Peculiar Works Project, Rutgers’s Mason Gross School of the Arts (MFA Director), Producer’s Club and Ohio Theatre.
Her teaching experience includes: Rutgers University, Westfield Young Adults Cooperative Theatre, Mercer County Community College, Spackenkill High School and the Cornelia Connelly Center for Education.
Her production experience spans from 1995 to 2015, including her work as Associate Producer on the Broadway musical Memphis and Off Broadway Alliance as a producing member. She brings extensive experience outside the world of theatre, and she is currently Senior Compliance Associate with Moody’s Investors Service. Molinaro has worked for Bessemer Trust (Compliance Associate), The Supporting Cast (Administrative Assistant), The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill (Development Associate), Child Care Action Campaign (Development Assistant), The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (Administrative Assistant), UBU RepertoryTheatre (Artistic and Administrative Intern) and The Field (Artistic and Administrative Intern).
Molinaro’s skills and experience will be a valuable asset to the working core of the Arts Advisory Committee. Her skills are varied, ranging from writing grant proposals, membership development and managing corporate sponsorship requests. Her vast knowledge of both the academic and working aspects in the field of theatre history, script analysis, choreography and production will surely make this committee an outstanding addition to the arts community of Montclair.
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