Theater's troubles could mean tax hike

The troubled theater project that was meant to boost the city of Roanoke Rapids' struggling economy could end up costing taxpayers.

City leaders are considering a 3-cent increase to the property tax rate to help make up for the loss of money from the Roanoke Rapids Theatre. The proposal would affect businesses and homeowners.

City Manager Phyllis Lee said Tuesday that since the facility opened, the city has spent about $733,000 more than it has brought in.

The city has already taken measures to help offset the theater's costs, such as putting a hiring freeze on most employment positions and delaying purchases and initiatives, Lee said.

City leaders are expected to consider the proposal at a meeting Tuesday night.

Part of the city's loss comes from a $547,000 buyout of country music entertainer Randy Parton's contract. The theater's former namesake was hired in 2005 to help jump-start the $21.5 million, 1,500-seat entertainment complex along Interstate 95.

Lower-than-projected attendance and revenue, as well as other controversy, ultimately led to the city ending its relationship with Parton.

The management company brought in after Parton also terminated its contract with the city in February, claiming it owed the firm more than $100,000.

Last month, city officials announced a new contract with Gilmore Entertainment out of Myrtle Beach, S.C., to run the theater and produce its shows.

The agreement, as stated in a letter of intent, has the city paying Gilmore $500,000. Separate from that agreement, the developers of the larger attraction in which the theater sits, Carolina Crossroads, have agreed to pay half of that for the first two years

Roanoke Rapids Theatre will have no shows for much of July

Jun. 11, 2008

ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C.

The Roanoke Rapids Theatre will go dark for much of July to give new management time to prepare for new shows.

The city still expects South Carolina-based Gilmore Entertainment to release a full schedule of matinee, weekend and holiday shows during a transition period.

But the city said in a news release that no performances will be scheduled "for the first few weeks in July."

The letter of intent between Gilmore Entertainment and the city expires July 1. Company officials said they continue to talk with the city about whether the company's ideas were a good fit for the theater.

The venue had been named The Randy Parton Theatre before an agreement between the city and the brother of country music star Dolly Parton fell apart. The city borrowed $21.5 million to build the facility, hoping it would help the town's struggling economy.