What went wrong at the Rochester Civic Theatre?
If you have been following the headlines in recent weeks, you know the Rochester Civic Theatre is in a bind, and has been for quite some time.
Newly-disclosed financial documents show the Civic Theatre was bleeding money under the leadership of former director Kevin Miller, who abruptly resigned in late January.
Among the most troubling details: Payroll checks bouncing; utility bills going unpaid; and board members putting up personal loans to keep the theater from sinking.
Those are among the findings included in a draft from the Outside Agency Oversight Committee, which met this week to discuss the theater’s future.
The work of the committee, made up of three city council members, helped bring the theater’s dire financial situation into the public view. They are now tasked with forwarding recommendations to the rest of the council on how best to move forward.
To understand more about how we got to this point, plus what it means for the future of the theater, we brought in Med City Beat editor Sean Baker for this week’s episode of the Rochester Rundown.
This weekend in Rochester
Luke Hendrickson @ the Castle
In the Castle this Saturday night, it’s local country artist Luke Hendrickson, headlining a show to celebrate the release of his album One Night at the Crystal Lounge. Hendrickson is a native of southern Minnesota and recorded this record at Carpet Booth Studios right here in Rochester. Special guests Tate McLane and Becky Schlegel round out the lineup. Music starts at 7 p.m. in Les Fields Hall.
Annie Mack @ Forager Brewery
Also on Saturday, Forager Brewery welcomes Rochester’s blues & soul standard-bearer Annie Mack for an acoustic night of soulful tunes. Her voice is a voice that you NEED to hear if you haven’t yet. It’s a free show, and it runs from 8-11 p.m.
Free admission + last day for the Children’s Museum
We previously reported on the Rochester Children’s Museum’s imminent move to Apache Mall (with a new name, “Spark”) … but Sunday is their last day in their current space at River Center Plaza, just off North Broadway near Silver Lake. The museum is offering free admission all day as a thank-you for eight successful years in their old digs. Bring the whole family out, because the museum won’t open in the mall until the summer.
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