How South Shore Playhouse Modernized Venue Security Without the Sticker Shock

Decades on the Same Analog Cameras, and Footage That Might Not Be There

South Shore Playhouse is a nonprofit live events organization, and for decades it ran on the same analog camera systems: aging infrastructure, grainy video quality, clunky access, and storage that couldn’t retain footage beyond two weeks. For Ross Ronselli, General Manager, the system had quietly become a risk.

“We weren’t even sure if we got 14 days of footage,” Ross said. “It wasn’t terrible, but the quality was falling off, and our coverage wasn’t great.”

The risk became concrete when a request came in for past footage beyond what the system could store. “That moment wasn’t the breaking point per se,” Ross noted, “but it definitely made us realize we needed a better setup.” After receiving an unexpectedly high quote from the legacy vendor, Ross took the search into his own hands, turning to Reddit and Google to compare systems.

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An Upgrade That Was Almost Suspiciously Easy

“One name that kept coming up was Coram,” Ross said. From the first conversation through the install, the process stayed simple: the quote made sense, the team walked the venue through everything, and the install itself was a breeze.

South Shore Playhouse installed the new system in phases. Despite some internal scheduling delays, the first half was fully operational in less than two days. “I logged in later that day and the cameras were already up. Just dots on a map turned into full coverage. It was that smooth.”

Coram stood out for a few specific reasons:

• A quote that made sense: “The quote was miles better than what we were originally given, plus room for flexibility.”
• Effortless install: “One and a half days and it was live. It just worked.”
• Search that works: AI search that pulls up the right moment from a few keywords instead of frame-by-frame review
• Modern hardware, no headaches: “The cameras update with the license, so we’re always current.”
• Trustworthy support: “The install crew was responsive, helpful, and got it done without hand-holding.”

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Search Like Google, and Confidence Across the Venue

Ross wasn’t shopping for AI, but he quickly saw the value. “I’m used to clicking frame-by-frame to find the moment I need. But with Coram, it’s like Google. You type in a few keywords and it just pulls it up. That’s huge.” The pan-tilt-zoom cameras impressed him too: “One camera was facing the wrong way and I figured we missed it. Then it whipped around and caught exactly what I needed.”

Beyond the technology, the system brought peace of mind to staff. “Everyone knows we have footage if anything weird comes up. That alone builds confidence.”

What South Shore Is Doing with Coram

• Finding the moment in a few keywords: AI search pulls up the footage staff need instead of clicking frame-by-frame through recordings.
• Catching what a fixed view would miss: Pan-tilt-zoom cameras whip around to capture the moment, even when one was facing the wrong way.
• Giving staff confidence: Everyone on site knows the footage is there if anything unusual comes up.
• Staying current: Cameras update with the license, so the venue isn’t left on aging hardware again.
• Finishing the rollout: The second half of the install is next, with Coram folded into everyday operations.

South Shore is only halfway through its rollout and already seeing the benefits. “Once it’s fully deployed, it’ll be a major asset,” Ross said. Asked whether he would recommend Coram, his answer was simple: “Absolutely.” For a nonprofit venue that spent decades on the same analog cameras, the upgrade came without the stress or the sticker shock — and just in time for its busiest season.

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