Broadway in Binghamton celebrates 50 years of bringing Broadway to the Southern Tier

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WBNG) -- Broadway in Binghamton is celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of bringing national touring Broadway productions to the Southern Tier.

The organization marked the anniversary Tuesday at the Broome County Forum Theatre with a special proclamation and ribbon-cutting.

“We’re thrilled, very excited that we have, in fact, one of the best seasons we’ve ever had, and that we continue to be able to bring the best of Broadway to the Southern Tier,” said Broadway in Binghamton President Albert Nocciolino.

For five decades, the Forum Theatre has welcomed audiences for touring Broadway productions, giving people in the Binghamton area the opportunity to experience nationally touring shows close to home.

The celebration brought together Broadway in Binghamton supporters, including longtime season ticket holders who have made attending the shows a tradition.

For one longtime ticket holder, Rita Ernstrom, the anniversary is a chance to reflect on years of performances and memories made at the theater.

“Well, the first time I saw the show here, the Broadway show here, was decades ago. It was just exciting to see the curtain go up, the lights come on, the energy in the theater, and to just see the spirit, the welcoming spirit of Broadway that was here, and that this is really a successful thing for our community,” Ernstrom said.

Broadway in Binghamton President also reflected on the organization’s history and what reaching the 50-year milestone means for the organization.

“This longevity wouldn’t happen without the support of the entire community, particularly our subscribers, people who commit to buying the entire season every year. It’s the foundation of what we do year after year. People renew their season tickets. We have some people who have been with us for 50 years, unbelievably, which is just really pretty special,” Nocciolino said.

The anniversary also looks toward the future as Broadway in Binghamton continues working to bring touring productions to local audiences.

Organizers say the goal is to continue the tradition and introduce new generations to live Broadway theater.

“I think Broadway is what keeps us coming back. A fabulous opportunity to film shows in our own hometown, and it’s also an opportunity for us to introduce a lot of the younger people in our community,” Ernstrom said.