Wilson, Collins haven’t given up on their theater dreams

Had Jef Wilson suspected what he now believes — the decision to choose a manager for the Roanoke Rapids Theatre was tied to politics, he would have done things differently.

He still may do so.

“I didn’t know it was so political of a process,” he said Friday, learning he and his partner’s proposal to run the theater was one of 20 that wasn’t recommended by the Theatre Advisory Committee. “I feel the need to go campaigning.”

And that is what he and his partner Russ Collins intend to do. “I need to find some babies to kiss,” he said. “We want the job. We would be really good at the job.”

The Wilson/Collins proposal was one of several which simply asked the city for a chance to manage the struggling venue as employees of the city.

Wilson said there was a groundswell of local support for their proposal. “There were hundreds of people with whom we spoke who were behind the idea of retaining local control,” he said, stating earlier in a telephone interview, “I’m aware most of the council wants to sell. We’re of the opinion that would be tragic because we can make money for the people who are paying for it.”

That will be his and his partner’s mission for the next week until two public hearings are held on Northampton County native and Chicago businessman Lafayette Gatling’s proposal to buy the theater on Oct. 28.

While it might seem like a done deal to some people, Wilson said he has seen the power grassroots movements have. “The public has still not been heard,” he said. “These people incurred a great tax burden. Until their voices are heard, the fat lady hasn’t sung. We’re not giving up on anything.”

Wilson recalls a public hearing in Austin, Texas, where it was believed a proposal to develop a pristine area there would sail through. “They had public hearings in Austin for three days for stopping the development. They won. It’s the most shining example, they fully anticipated council to approve the area, felt they could do nothing to stop it.”

Wilson has high hopes for the Oct. 28 hearings, one at 10 a.m. in the first floor conference room of city hall and the other at 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall. “I would encourage anyone who has an opinion pro or con, whatever opinion, to show up. That’s why they bothered to vote.”

If anything, Wilson said, whether council changes its mind, he and Collins will be remembered for something in the theater debate. “Little did we know when we became the third proposal it opened the floodgates. So if Russ and I accomplished nothing else, we opened the city’s options.”

He said he and Collins liken themselves to Ralph Nader’s ongoing bid for the presidency. “Perhaps, in this case, we’re the Ralph Nader of the bunch, not giving up whatever the odds. We still firmly believe in our proposal and what we could do with the place.”

Meanwhile, Maria Hurst, along with her husband Walter, and Gavin and Kathey Gutterson, who put in a proposal to manager the theater, said, “To be perfectly honest, the smartest thing was to sell the theater.”

If selling was not an option, then the partnership would have liked a chance to run the venue, she said.

A spokesperson for Calvin Gilmore, who submitted the first proposal to manage and possibly buy the theater, did not respond to an e-mail inquiry Friday.

Other proposals included:

• One from Don Kassay of Clayton to run the theater with two options, a five-year lease with an option to buy or a five-year partnership with an option to buy.

• One from Tommy Pair of Roanoke Rapids to manage the theater.

• A proposal from Raoul Henriquez of Nashville, N.C., to manage the theater.

• One from Jason Stewart, executive director of The Centre at Halifax Community College to operate and manage the theater. Stewart’s offer came as an individual and was not connected to The Centre.

• One from Michael Edmonds of Whisper Concerts to promote and produce shows.

• A proposal of Don Biscar to provide assistance on a performing arts series.

• An unspecified proposal from Rick Bain of Cary.

• An offer from Larry Perkins, assistant general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes and RBC Center to help with booking and producing revenue.

• A proposal from Dave Case to purchase the theater which was not followed up.

• An inquiry into purchasing the theater by Virginia Capital Partners but with no proposal ever sent.

• A request for a month try-out to run the theater from Ron Stanley of Liberty.

• A proposal from Ron Major to run the theater.

• A bid for managing the theater from Big Daddy Productions in Norfolk, Va.

• A request from Jaymes Foster, a friend of Clay Aiken, to manage the theater.

• A proposal for a Cracker Barrel Concert series from Lee Hilliard of Nashville, Tenn., which Cracker Barrel declined to do because of the economy.

• A inquiry from Jim Coble, owner of Robbie’s at the Interstate 95/N.C. 561 intersection to look at the theater.

• A proposal from J&R Productions of Rocky Mount to book acts.