....November 3, 1:59 PM
	Ground Broken For Theatre Expansion Borough officials gather around to toss ceremonial dirt at the QTIP groundbreaking.Tribune Photo by Michael Rehak By MICHAEL REHAK The house that Claire Shulman built will soon get a $16 million upgrade, as ground was broken last week for construction of the renovated Queens Theatre in the Park. The expansion of the existing theatre, located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which includes the playhouse named after the former borough president, will include a new 75-seat cabaret performance space with a full service café and kitchen facility, a dramatic new 3,000 square foot lobby/reception area, new visitor amenities that includes accessibility improvements and financial backing to sustain the theater in the future. With funding from the Mayor’s office, the City Council and the Borough President’s office, the 18-month project is expected to be completed by Spring 2008. The theatre will remain open during the construction period. At the groundbreaking reception and ceremony held Oct. 26, many elected officials and representat ives took par t in the ceremonial dirt toss and also provided their comments. “Queens Theatre in the Park has become our Broadway in the park, featuring fine talents, music and theater programs,” said Borough President Helen Marshall. “This is an institution that reflects all our city has to offer,” Council Speaker Gifford Miller said. He added that current and upcoming performances that range in cultural diversity, genre and style represent the community that is known as Queens. “It was really important for the City Council to support culture for the arts and it’s not found just in Manhattan.”