BINGHAMTON, NY – This week, Senator Webb presented KNOW Theatre with a NYS Empire Award. The NYS Empire Award is the highest award a NYS Senator can bestow upon businesses and organizations in their district.

“KNOW Theatre has been in existence since 1992,” said Founder & Artistic Director Tim Gleason. “We have been striving to bring stories to the community that make them think and feel ever since. We were blessed to have found our home at 74 Carroll St. in 2006 in the Old Central Fire Station. We are Downtown on purpose. To be recognized for our contributions to our City makes all the work worthwhile. Thank you, Senator Webb, for this amazing award.”

“KNOW Theatre has been an incredible asset to our community for more than 30 years, creating a space where storytelling and connection can thrive. The arts have the power to bring people together, challenge us to see the world in new ways, and strengthen the fabric of our communities,” said Senator Lea Webb. “They have provided a welcoming home for local artists and ensured that quality live theatre remains accessible in downtown Binghamton. It is an honor to present KNOW Theatre with a New York State Empire Award in recognition of their lasting contributions to our region’s cultural vitality and the countless lives they have enriched through the performing arts.” 

KNOW Theatre of Binghamton has served as a vital cultural institution in the City of Binghamton for more than three decades, providing a dynamic and enduring home for innovative and community-centered theatrical arts. Founded in 1993 by a group of actors committed to producing work of quality and substance, KNOW Theatre has consistently fulfilled its mission to deliver performances that range across drama, comedy, farce, fantasy, and contemporary experimental works. 

From its earliest days performing in churches and community spaces, KNOW Theatre built its identity on accessibility, artistic risk-taking, and a deep commitment to storytelling that challenges and inspires audiences. In 2006, the organization established its permanent home in the historic former Central Firehouse on Carroll Street, transforming the space into the intimate black-box Binghamton City Stage. This unique venue remains the only theater of its kind in downtown Binghamton and has become a cultural anchor for the region’s performing arts community.

Photos from the event can be viewed here. 

###