Corning Public Theater

The building you see in this picture is the Masonic Temple (named after Frank B. Hower) who almost 100 years ago donated over 40,000 to build the structure that has been a part of the historic landscape of Corning N.Y. for nearly a century.   In its heyday the Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral was home to over 1200 freemasons in 1925 including Frederick Carder, the glass artist and founder of Steuben Glass.   The building has been abandoned for over seventeen years and has been through several planned residential renovations, and one private theater project that have failed.  That’s where we come in.   
    Founded in 2019, 100 years after the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple was set, the Corning Public Theater has set out to purchase, save, and restore the building that is scheduled to be demolished in sixty days.  Although there is no major structural damage to the original building, the roof is in need of immediate repair and replacement.  Contents of the building are deteriorating, including the stage inside the 700 seat main theater,  banquet hall and kitchen area and the rest of the interior plaster because the roof is failing. 
    Or initial GoFundMe campaign will include the capital to purchase the building and to repair the roof.  This funding will allow the Corning Public Theater to spend 2019-2020 writing grants, developing plans and strategies to create what we believe is a vital and missing component of our community.  We believe that performance, education, and outreach are the keys to bridging divides, making connections and building community.  
    Our motto is “Creating Community, One Performance at a Time”.    With your help we believe that our mission “To enrich the social, cultural, and economic growth of our region by bringing people together through affordable access to live performance, excellent performing arts programing, arts education, and community events” can be realized.  
    The Corning Public Theater has filed for our Not for Profit status 501(c)3 with the federal government but as this designation is still pending we have secured a fiscal sponsor in order for your donations to be qualified for the best available tax deduction while we wait for our official status to complete.  We would like to thank Centere Stage Community Theatre for their partnership in this campaign!
    Donations to save the theater from the wrecking ball will be recorded as our Saving Grace donors and will provide all donating individuals with exclusive tours of the theater prior to our grand opening,  advanced notice of ticket sales and events and recognition as the reason we were able to save this historic building.  
    We need your financial contribution, but we also need your name as supporters and future patrons to demonstrate that the community, city and county needs this resource in our community.   We pledge to update you as we progress through this project and want this to truly be a public resource.   Steuben County, and Corning have amazing resources with respect  to museums, parks, main streets, small businesses, restaurants and hotels.  We plan to enhance these resources and inject capital back into the community by providing events, and performance opportunities that reach all members of our community through our mission.  
    Whether you have a story of a past event you attended in the Masonic Temple,  were a mason, attended Corning Summer Theater in 1972 in the theater due to the flood, or had no idea that a 700 seat theater has been sitting on walnut street, looming over McDonalds in the skyline of Corning, we need you!  Yes you! because without your help this historic building will be destroyed and replaced with apartments.   Help us save the building and we promise to provide amazing opportunities for our community right here in Corning.  It takes a village to raise a child, it’s going to take a city, and a community to raise our main curtain but  this is for all of us.   Thank you for supporting the Corning Public Theater!  


Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Centre Stage Community Theatre, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

Corning Public Theater Website In its first year of construction 1920 the building is being constructed next to the hospital that is now the Corning Elks Lodge.

Help save this piece of history and in the process let the Corning Public Theater realize our dream of "Creating Community, One Performance at a Time".