Wagon Wheel Board Reorganizes, Abandons Bid To Buy Theater
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The news came as a surprise to WWT owner Bruce Shaffner. When asked for a comment about the suspended negotiations and a press release delivered to the Times-Union this morning by Dan Lee, representing the foundation, Shaffner said he was unaware of it.[[In-content Ad]]The press release states the "Wagon Wheel Theatre Foundation board of directors said they have suspended further negotiations to purchase the local Wagon Wheel Theatre, changed its corporate name to 'Roy Hine Performing Arts Foundation Inc.,' and said, in the short term, they will concentrate on producing the Roy Hine Musical Tribute scheduled at the theater on Dec. 14."
Negotiations were ended because of an impasse in reaching financial terms with the current owners, according to the press release.
"The foundation said in a letter to contributors it will redirect its efforts toward other broad-range support for the performing arts in every way possible, including scholarships, and will begin developing future avenues within the next few weeks after seeking advice from its donors," the press release states. "The Roy Hine Performing Arts Foundation, as the corporation will now be known, will continue to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with tax deductibility for its contributors. Its current Web site will become www.performingartsfoundation.org"
The press release states Wagon Wheel Theatre Foundation Inc. was formed in 2006 at the behest of current theater owners Bruce and Steve Shaffner, who are expected to continue commercially operating the theater. Since that time, the foundation has been raising funds to purchase the theater business, while working to negotiate an agreement with purchase price and other considerations included. The foundation had hoped to buy the theater business and continue to operate it as a non-profit with an initial five-year lease on the real estate. The group raised more than $100,000 with many additional pledges, board members said.
In renaming the foundation for Hine, the non-profit organization honors the longtime Wagon Wheel Theatre artistic director, who died in 2007. Purchasing and converting the local theater into a non-profit venue was Hine's dream, according to the foundation's press release. In cooperation with the Hine family, proceeds from the show will go into the foundation's new scholarship fund.
More than a dozen WWT alumni will appear on the stage for the memorial show Dec. 14. Produced in cabaret style, the all-music show features songs performed by WWT alumni as directed by Hine. Proceeds from the 7:30 p.m. show will help establish a new scholarship fund for theater arts students, including one honoring Hine.
Among the alumni expected to perform are Bob Miller, Adrian and Alex Aguilar, Kira Lace Hawkins, Alyssa Wilmoth, Crystal VanArtsdalen, Heather Beck, Brianna Borger, Jennifer Dow, Lars Haglund, Jason Weitkamp and Jennie Sophia. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 574-267-8041.
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The news came as a surprise to WWT owner Bruce Shaffner. When asked for a comment about the suspended negotiations and a press release delivered to the Times-Union this morning by Dan Lee, representing the foundation, Shaffner said he was unaware of it.[[In-content Ad]]The press release states the "Wagon Wheel Theatre Foundation board of directors said they have suspended further negotiations to purchase the local Wagon Wheel Theatre, changed its corporate name to 'Roy Hine Performing Arts Foundation Inc.,' and said, in the short term, they will concentrate on producing the Roy Hine Musical Tribute scheduled at the theater on Dec. 14."
Negotiations were ended because of an impasse in reaching financial terms with the current owners, according to the press release.
"The foundation said in a letter to contributors it will redirect its efforts toward other broad-range support for the performing arts in every way possible, including scholarships, and will begin developing future avenues within the next few weeks after seeking advice from its donors," the press release states. "The Roy Hine Performing Arts Foundation, as the corporation will now be known, will continue to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with tax deductibility for its contributors. Its current Web site will become www.performingartsfoundation.org"
The press release states Wagon Wheel Theatre Foundation Inc. was formed in 2006 at the behest of current theater owners Bruce and Steve Shaffner, who are expected to continue commercially operating the theater. Since that time, the foundation has been raising funds to purchase the theater business, while working to negotiate an agreement with purchase price and other considerations included. The foundation had hoped to buy the theater business and continue to operate it as a non-profit with an initial five-year lease on the real estate. The group raised more than $100,000 with many additional pledges, board members said.
In renaming the foundation for Hine, the non-profit organization honors the longtime Wagon Wheel Theatre artistic director, who died in 2007. Purchasing and converting the local theater into a non-profit venue was Hine's dream, according to the foundation's press release. In cooperation with the Hine family, proceeds from the show will go into the foundation's new scholarship fund.
More than a dozen WWT alumni will appear on the stage for the memorial show Dec. 14. Produced in cabaret style, the all-music show features songs performed by WWT alumni as directed by Hine. Proceeds from the 7:30 p.m. show will help establish a new scholarship fund for theater arts students, including one honoring Hine.
Among the alumni expected to perform are Bob Miller, Adrian and Alex Aguilar, Kira Lace Hawkins, Alyssa Wilmoth, Crystal VanArtsdalen, Heather Beck, Brianna Borger, Jennifer Dow, Lars Haglund, Jason Weitkamp and Jennie Sophia. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 574-267-8041.
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