WPCNR STAGE DOOR. April 18, 2009. UPDATED 1:30 P.M. E.DT.: The last scheduled big show of the 2009 season of the White Plains Performing Arts Center scheduled to open April 30 is no longer selling tickets on the White Plains Performing Arts Center website.

Geoffrey Thompson, spokesperson for Cappelli Enterprises, told WPCNR today that Cappelli Enterprises, the major sponsor, supporter and angel of the White Plains Performing Arts will not fund the theater if the City of White Plains withdraws its financial support, now budgeted for $142,000 in the new 2009-2010 city budget released last week.

WPCNR has asked whether Cappelli Enterprises would purchase back the theatre space, and have asked Mr. Thompson if Cappelli Enterprises would match whatever funds the city eventually decides to use to support the theater.

John Ioris, the head of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation has not responded to a query on how theatregoers could obtain refunds or will be accommodated now that Hello, Dolly production appears off the WPPAC Schedule.

Ticket sales for Hello Dolly have stopped online,  just one day after the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation head advised WPCNR Friday afternoon by e-mail whether any decisions had been reached on the future of the Performing Arts Center, saying,"Nothing has changed since our last communication. We'll let you know if anything new occurs. Many thanks."  

WPCNR learned  a month ago the show had been cancelled but for the last month, the WPPAC management has insisted the show would go on in some form, perhaps with a substitute show, and has continued to sell tickets. The website Saturday morning has no mention of any upcoming Hello Dolly show, and there is no mention of how subscribers and ticketholders compensating options.

WPCNR has contacted the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation Chair, John Ioris, to confirm the official "cancellation" of Hello, Dolly, and for clarification of the refund policy.  Previous WPCNR inquiries asking if the Foundation was attempting to purchase the theatre from the city have not been answered, and the status of Executive Producer Jack Batman (whose contract expired at the end of March, have not been clarified.

The New York Times Westchester Section reports this morning that Entergy funding for the theater may be reduced and that Cappelli Enterprises -- the major supporter of the theater since its inception six years ago-- will not support the theater unless the City of White Plains does. The Times reports in error that the city had cut all funding for the theater ($142,000 still remains in the2009-10 proposed budget at this time).

The Times reports Mr. Batman as confident he (Batman)would be able to mount a fall season.