Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris Announces $50,000 Grant Secured For Sunnyside’s Thalia Spanish Theater

SUNNYSIDE, N.Y. – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris announced a $50,000 grant secured for the Thalia Spanish Theater in Sunnyside to upgrade their sound systems. The funding comes through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), which Senator Gianaris has pushed to fund and grow through the state budget process. The theater’s funding is part of NYSCA’s latest round of funding for capital projects for the arts across the state.

“The arts are the heart and soul of our community and I am proud to support groups like the Thalia Spanish Theater and their colleagues across New York,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “I will fight to ensure the State Senate keeps investing in the arts and I am glad The New York State Council on the Arts is using some of the funding we secured right here in Queens.”

“We are immensely grateful for the support of Senator Gianaris, the New York State Legislature, and Governor Hochul in making these critical capital investments, affirming the pivotal role arts and culture play in our health and prosperity,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director of NYSCA. “I also want to congratulate the Thalia Spanish Theater, as this project will enable them to continue delivering the measurable rewards of the arts to Western Queens for decades to come”

Angel Gil Orrios, Artistic/Executive Director of the Thalia Spanish Theatre said, “We are very happy to have received this Capital Grant from NYSCA, which is going to make possible replacing our more than 25-year-old Sound Equipment System.  Thalia Spanish Theatre is the only bilingual Hispanic theatre in Queens, serving one of the most diverse communities in the U.S., including over one million Hispanics. Its mission is to promote and celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of Hispanic/Latino culture and heritage with unique productions of theatre, music and dance.  Every month is Hispanic Heritage Month at Thalia.  For the past 47 years, Thalia Spanish Theatre has grown into a world class cultural institution while maintaining community-based roots, collaborating with locally based artists and guests from around the globe. Its more than 245 productions have won 249 Awards for Artistic Excellence, not only locally, but also nationally and internationally, including a Latin Grammy, a Mayor's Award for Arts & Culture, a NYS Governor's Arts Award, 2 Encore Awards from the Arts & Business Council, multiple ACE Awards – the equivalent to a Latin TONY— and recently, on March 27, 2023, International Theater Day, just received in Madrid the Premio Talia Internacional and Gold Medal from the Academy of Performing Arts of Spain.”

About the New York State Council on the Arts

NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. The Council upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life.

NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.