July 29, 2025
Speaker Heastie Continues Annual Statewide Tour at Schenectady Light Opera Company Announcing $2.5 Million to Increase Accessibility
Pictured in the first photo with Speaker Carl Heastie at SLOC is Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, SLOC President John Meglino with staff, performers and supporters of SLOC.
Pictured in the second photo with Speaker Carl Heastie at SLOC is Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara with staff, performers and supporters of SLOC.
Pictured in the third photo with Speaker Carl Heastie at Pizza King in Schenectady is Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara.
Speaker Carl Heastie joined Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara today at the Schenectady Light Opera Company (SLOC) to tour the facility, announcing $2.5 million to help support the company’s efforts to make the theatre experience more accommodating to people with disabilities.
“I was honored to be able to tour the SLOC today and see their dedication to making the theatre experience accessible and approachable to individuals of all abilities,” said Speaker Heastie. “Lowering barriers to access the arts is critical to making our communities brighter and I’m grateful for the work this company is doing to help their neighbors.”
“The SLOC has been a bright spot in our community for over a century with generations of families getting the opportunity to see performances right in their own backyard,” said Assemblymember Santabarbara. “Now, the company is working to ensure that people of all abilities – including performers and audience members – have access to their incredible programming. I know how critical this access is to families across our community and will continue working with them to ensure they have the resources to make this happen.”
Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Santabarbara met with SLOC President John Meglino to tour the facility and discuss the theatres’ focus on increasing their reach in the community especially to those individuals with disabilities.
Since 1926, SLOC has provided musical theatre performances across the Capitol Region, providing a unique opportunity for the local community to experience the joy of musicals as an audience member or through participating in the performance. In April of 2010, the company purchased several buildings in the developing arts district of Schenectady to provide a more-comfortable permanent home and make their theatre handicapped accessible. The $2.5 million announced today will help the company on their mission to increase the accessibility of the theatre to ensure performers and audience members of all abilities have access to SLOC.