LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Theatre pioneer Chris Silva upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Mill Street
Loft

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay trib-
ute to those individuals whose commitment and creative talents have
contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of their commu-
nity and the entire State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Theatre pioneer Chris Silva upon the occasion of his designation for
special recognition by the Mill Street Loft, to be celebrated on Thurs-
day, March 5, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Mill Street Loft is a not-for-profit, community-based Multi-
Arts Center, dedicated to bringing a wide range of creative, educational
and culturally enriching programs to diverse audiences throughout the
Hudson Valley; and
WHEREAS, A major force in the regional theatre movement, in 1972 Chris
Silva founded the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco, California; while he
was artistic director, the theatre presented West Coast premieres of
works by Sam Shepard, Athol Fugard and Mark Medoff, among others; and
WHEREAS, Chris Silva moved to New York City in 1978, and was hired by
Joe Papp's Public Theatre as Associate Director on the U.S. premiere of
Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class," which received an Obie
Award as Best Play; the following year he produced the U.S. premiere of
Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo's "We Won't Pay, We Won't Pay!" which
received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Play; and
WHEREAS, Later that year, with several partners, Chris Silva took over
the management of the Chelsea Theatre Center in Mid-Town Manhattan,
forming the Westside Arts Theatre, a three theatre commercial off-Broad-
way complex which saw the premieres of Chris Durang's "Sister Mary Igna-
tius Explains it All for You," William Finn and James Lapine's "March of
the Falsettos," Farrah Fawcett in "Extremities," and "Penn & Teller,"
among many other plays and musicals; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Chris Silva founded a non-profit arm of
the Westside Arts Theatre called New Writers at the Westside where he
developed new works for scores of playwrights, including Arthur Miller,
David Mamet, Wallace Shawn and Donald Margulies; in 1983 he became
supervising director on Sam Shepard's "Fool For Love"; and
WHEREAS, The play received three Obie Awards, including Best Play,
with a cast that included Ed Harris, Kathy Baker and Bruce Willis; at
this time Chris Silva also became Program Director for New Dramatists,
the nation's oldest playwrights' service organization, where he helped
to develop the plays of 40 member writers, including August Wilson and
John Patrick Shanley; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, Chris Silva produced and directed Casey Kurtti's
play "Three Ways Home," which starred Mary McDonald, Malcolm-Jamal
Warner and S. Epatha Merkerson; the play was purchased by Columbia
Pictures, and shortly after the sale, he moved with his family to Ulster
County; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, Chris Silva freelanced as a producer and
director in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and also partic-
ipated in festivals in Cuba, Berlin and Sundance, Utah; in 1993, he
completed "MIA: Missing in America," a short film featuring Anne Meara;
and

WHEREAS, In 1994, Chris Silva became Executive Director of the Barda-
von Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York; since arriving at the Barda-
von, he has overseen the theatre's dramatic growth; and
WHEREAS, Besides presenting illustrious artists as diverse as Itzhak
Perlman, Al Pacino, Patti LaBelle and Bob Dylan, Chris Silva has also
established major events outside the theatre's walls, including the
Hudson River Arts Festival, Celebration of Lights and Kids Expo and has
spearheaded the expansion of the theatre's community outreach, daytime
programming and in-school residencies; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, Chris Silva oversaw the rescue of the region's
oldest professional symphony orchestra, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic,
which the Bardavon now manages and presents; in 2002, the Bardavon was
honored to receive New York State's highest cultural recognition, the
Governor's Arts Award; and
WHEREAS, In May of 2006, the Bardavon took over the management and
operation of the 1500 seat Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) in King-
ston, New York, and is currently presenting in both venues; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Chris Silva's distinguished record
merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Theatre pioneer Chris Silva upon the occasion of his designation
for special recognition by the Mill Street Loft; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Chris Silva.