The Southampton Playhouse, known as the Southampton Cinema until it closed its doors on Hill Street in 2020, will reopen in 2025 as a nonprofit entity. Purchased in 2022 by Aby Rosen and Charlie Rosen of RFR Holding, in partnership with Alex Black, C.E.O. of Lyrical Media, the Playhouse will include three state-of-the-art movie theaters and the only IMAX theater on eastern Long Island. It will be able to show first-run theatrical features as well as 35-millimeter films.
The theater’s board has announced that Maria A. Ruiz Botsacos has been hired as the inaugural executive director, and Eric Kohn has been appointed artistic director.
Ms. Botsacos comes to the playhouse after 13 years at Film at Lincoln Center, where she most recently served as vice president for events and special projects. She provided strategy for and oversight of year-round special events and handled and developed fund-raising opportunities for the center.
In Southampton she will oversee the strategic vision and development of the Playhouse and collaborate with the leadership team to implement plans for growth. Ms. Botsacos is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and a board member of Cinema Tropical.
Mr. Kohn spent nearly two decades as a critic, reporter, and editor for IndieWire, where he was the New York–based executive editor and vice president for editorial strategies, specializing in the art and strategy of film and television. He co-hosted IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast for nearly a decade. He is an adjunct professor at New York University. He will guide the artistic vision of the theater, develop and implement creative programs, and work with the leadership team.
“We couldn’t imagine a better way to launch our journey of delivering outstanding film, live events, and educational experiences to our community and beyond,” said the board. “With Maria and Eric at the helm, the future is in exceptional, thoughtful, and caring hands. They are poised to make the Southampton Playhouse a premier cultural destination.”
