ELMIRA, N.Y. -- It's drawn Broadway performances and visitors from near and far, and now the Clemens Center's new lead character is hoping to be a box office hit.
"I would hope that we have so many great performances going on here that we'll have the seats filled almost every night," new executive director Karen Cromer said.
Cromer described on Wednesday her vision for the future: a Clemens Center that's a destination.
"Certainly I see the potential with wine tourism of the Finger Lakes to bring the tourists on down, past Corning, past Horseheads, to Elmira," she said.
"This is a remarkably positive attribute for this community in terms of its economy, its lifestyle, and frankly the pride that we all have in a facility like this," Chemung County Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Keeley said.
The center recently completed a new strategic plan with an emphasis on audience engagement, where Cromer has some ideas.
"A lot of times a tour would love to have a backstage visit and see what's going on behind the scenes, and that's a simple thing that we can do to share the building with folks and get them coming through our doors and interested in what we do here," Cromer said.
Cromer's vision here for the Clemens Center is clear, but when asked what one show she would want to see, that's a more difficult question.
"I will take suggestions from the public on what those things will be, and I will definitely listen, and do my best to bring those shows," she said.
But one thing's for sure.
"You always want to bring a big blockbuster," Cromer said.
Cromer's tenure starts as the Clemens Center's 2015 series is set to open. The first show of the year, "The Producers" premieres next week.