Just months after opening its doors in downtown East Rockaway, Strongbox Theater has received a $100,000 grant to help support its continued growth and bring more arts and entertainment to Main Street.
The theater, at 40 Main St., received the funding from National Grid on Oct. 6 through its Cinderella grant program, which supports businesses that transform vacant properties into active spaces.
For Strongbox owners Tony Leone and Marla D’Urso, the grant marks another milestone in their efforts to turn two long-vacant buildings into a gathering place for performers, audiences and the surrounding community.
“Strongbox Theater is focused on bringing quality performing arts to Long Island's South Shore and giving our local artists a place to shine,” Leone said. “We're so grateful to National Grid for this grant.”
The 90-seat theater opened in July after nearly six years of planning, construction and setbacks. Leone and D’Urso transformed a former bank and neighboring office building into a performance venue complete with a bar and lounge, where visitors can gather before and after shows.
The buildings had stood vacant for years before the couple purchased them in 2021. Today, the theater supports 13 local jobs and offers a space for actors, playwrights and other artists to showcase their work.
The new funding will help support the theater's continued revitalization efforts as its owners work to establish Strongbox as a cultural destination on Long Island's South Shore.
“This building sat vacant for twelve years before we opened our doors, and today it's a theater bringing arts and culture back to Main Street,” Leone said. “This funding helps us keep revitalizing it.”
The grant also builds on earlier financial assistance the theater received in 2021, when National Grid awarded $12,497 toward asbestos remediation at the property, helping prepare the buildings for their transformation.
Beyond hosting performances, Leone and D’Urso have emphasized their desire to make Strongbox a place where people can connect. The theater's lounge was designed to encourage visitors to spend time together, while the owners hope to expand programming to include musicians, lectures and other community events.
They also hope the theater's growing presence will bring more foot traffic to Main Street, benefiting nearby restaurants and shops and encouraging new businesses to fill vacant storefronts.
With its first season underway, Strongbox continues working toward its owners' original vision: giving local artists a place to perform while bringing new life to East Rockaway's downtown.
