Wednesday, October 18, 2000
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Wednesday, October 18, 2000 |
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Westpark's theater: Stage to replace movie screens? By JOHN MUNFORD
After 17 years of atrying, local theater groups may soon get a home of their own if plans fall into place to renovate the three-screen movie theater at Westpark Walk in Peachtree City. That would allow the theater organizations to schedule productions at any time, compared to the limited dates available for using school facilities, said Sandra Jungers, president of the Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts in Fayette County. ECCA officials believe they can make a performing arts theater profitable with the help of the city of Peachtree City. The group is proposing that the city fund the lease for the two or three years while the ECCA funds the costs of renovating and operating the theater. The hope is that after those first few years, the building will be profitable enough to at least break even, allowing the ECCA to take over the facility's lease, said Jungers. "We think this is a very viable project," Jungers said, noting that other counties surrounding Fayette have their own performing arts centers and that is one criticism of Fayette County: that plenty of money is spent on athletic recreation and not on other recreational needs. ECCA can't afford to renovate, operate and fund the building's lease at the same time, Jungers said. Renovation costs alone are being estimated at between $200,000 and $300,000. That includes construction of the stages, adding dressing rooms, reconfiguring the seats and adding sound and lighting equipment. Two of the three existing movie screening rooms would be combined for a theater with approximately 300 seats, leaving the third room for a smaller theater with about 100 seats, Jungers said. ECCA would start a county-wide fund-raising campaign to help fund the renovations if the city decides to go along with the group's idea. ECCA has approached the city about its request and the group is putting together its business plan for the facility before appearing before City Council on the matter. In the past, local theater groups have used space at local schools: either Sams Auditorium or the new auditorium at Starr's Mill High School. But the schools are using those spaces often, leaving little time for area theater companies, Jungers said, adding that the busy schedules in the schools shows that there has been a need for such facilities. Having a theater outside of the school system would eliminate scheduling conflicts and allow ECCA to offer more productions over the year, since it would have more flexibility in scheduling, she said. This could help attract some of the plays that will come to other local theaters, Jungers added. "In order to attract quality plays, directors, actors and actresses, we need to have our own home," Jungers said. ECCA also plans to sell season ticket sales for reserved seats, two features it hasn't been able to offer before, Jungers said. In addition to theatrical performances from ECCA and other theater groups such as Fayette Community Theatre and Offshoot Productions, the theater could also house other programs such as ballets, piano recitals and small conferences, Jungers said. The building could also host musical concerts of orchestras and jazz combos, she added. "We want to have something here every night," Jungers said. The smaller theater also may be used for children's productions perhaps in conjunction with the regular productions the ECCA will schedule, Jungers said. She added that the ECCA wants to include everyone, even local fine arts groups, in the project. Perhaps art could be displayed in the lobby for sale, with some of the proceeds paying for theater operations, Jungers suggested. Offering more local productions will benefit the local economy, particularly in Westpark Walk, since there are plenty of restaurants to eat at before attending a theatrical event, Jungers noted. ECCA has been actively looking at other buildings throughout the county to renovate into a theater, including some warehouses and retail space such as the former K-mart store in Fayetteville. But the Westpark Walk location is the ECCA's best shot to get the theater movement off the ground, Jungers added. ECCA is a 17-year-old organization that began with the goal of providing cultural activities for the community, Jungers said. The group's first project was promoting the need for a library in Peachtree City, she added. Since then, ECCA also has financially supported Peachtree City's amphitheater. Over the years, ECCA has raised more than $200,000 in contributions and membership dues, Jungers said. And that's mostly relying on one main fund-raiser: the yearly Valentine's Day Ball. If Peachtree City can assist ECCA in the first year or two, it appears a local theater location will be within the group's reach soon. Jungers, for one, thinks Fayette County is ready for its own theater house.
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