CLIVE FUNDS ARTS CENTER IN NY

The Bedford Playhouse’s John Farr and Sarah Long stop to pose with Clive Davis after a few Billy Joel anecdotes.

Clive Davis has pledged funding to the Westchester County, N.Y., movie theater the Bedford Playhouse to create a state of the art cultural center.

The Clive Davis Arts Center at Bedford Playhouse will encompass all the arts programming offered beyond film, including music performances, theater, art exhibits and stand-up comedy.

“I love this community and I strongly endorse the expanded mission of the Playhouse,” Davis said. “This all seems like a perfect fit, and I can hardly wait for it to open.”

As part of the gift, the 40-seat theater off the cafe on the first floor will be named The Clive Davis Theater.

The Playhouse plans to open the downstairs portion of the new facility, including the main theater and concessions, for weekends later in the spring. The Playhouse is embarking on seat-naming effort for the main theater over the next several months and its success will affect the time of the full opening.

“Our ability to brand the Clive Davis Arts Center will help us convey that we’re not just a beautifully renovated movie house, but also a vibrant cultural center,” founder John Farr said. “Some people still don’t realize the breadth of our mission and all we want to offer.”

Chairman of the Board Sarah Long said, “We are thrilled to have him engaged in this project in such a meaningful way. His wisdom, creativity and guidance will be invaluable. Besides, we’ve never heard these Janis Joplin stories before.”