By Kimberly Dijkstra

May 21, 2021 — The Argyle Theatre at Babylon Village, Long Island’s newest professional theater, was steadily making a name for itself when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Just about to cross the two-year mark and opening a production of Cabaret, the countrywide shutdown of non-essential business came as a devastating blow to father and son co-owners Mark and Dylan Perlman.

“The sole goal [was] perseverance and survival and being able to say, okay, COVID-19 is obviously going to put a big dent in our plans and we’re going to be closed for X amount of time,” said Dylan. “We will be back and The Argyle Theater will survive and thrive once again. That has been the goal throughout this year and it hasn’t been easy.”

Compared to other theaters with longer histories or wider subscriber bases, The Argyle was in a unique situation. They didn’t want to fade into obscurity just as they were growing their fanbase. Fortunately, the Perlmans were able to continue running The Argyle Academy of the Arts, educational programming for kids and adults, and pivot to hosting online streaming events.

“By offering virtual programming, we were still able to engage our students and our audience,” Dylan said. 

The theater also gave kids a safe place to learn and express their creativity.

Their experience hosting concerts, comedy shows, and other limited engagements in addition to their year-long roster of musicals uniquely positions The Argyle for reopening, as New York State mandates allow.

“As the restrictions loosen up and as we see the vaccine rollout proceed, we will likely be looking to book one-off events, whether it be comedy shows, concerts, or bringing in our former performers for a Broadway night,” Dylan said. “I think those will be the things we utilize to ease our audiences back into the theater and theatergoing experience.”

Though schedules are not settled yet, the Argyle never took down the set of Cabaret, so there is no doubt what their first post-COVID musical will be.

Also looking forward to saying “Vilkommen” to The Argyle are the businesses on Main Street.

“We’re an integral part of that downtown,” Dylan explained.  “All the foot traffic we create, all of the restaurants and shops that really benefit from the theater being there.”

“We, and those in our situation, are economic engines of our communities,” continued Dylan. “It’s so important for we, meaning we as a community, as a society, to prioritize getting theaters and venues back up and running.”

“I do think the mood is up. The mood is positive,” Mark said, reflecting the words on the Argyle marquee:

Stay The Course. Stay Tuned.

For more on The Argyle, visit argyletheatre.com.

Additional reporting by Waldo Cabrera.