Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

December 7, 2009

Wharton Center to operate Opera House

BY Sheri McWhirter

smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY -- The show will go on at the City Opera House and a downstate group will raise the curtain.

On Monday, Traverse City leaders unanimously approved a three-year contract between the opera house and the Wharton Center for Performing Arts to manage the facility on Front Street. It's a deal pitched as a way to boost performance offerings and reign in deficit spending at the city-owned historic building.

"They are absolute pros and we look forward to working with them," said Sam Porter, of Porterhouse Productions, a frequent opera house renter who previously voiced concerns about maintaining local access to the facility.

Wharton, an organization based at Michigan State University in East Lansing, will take over operations, finances and bookings for the City Opera House on July 1, but will play an advisory role until then. The opera house will pay Wharton $75,000 a year for three years to manage the downtown Traverse City facility and Wharton will absorb any financial losses during that time, but will not cover the opera house's $250,000 operational debt.

Any earned profits will be split between the opera house and Wharton, with the latter receiving 25 percent. Additionally, annual financial reports will be filed with the city.

Wharton and opera house officials worked on the deal without public input for months and last month brought it to elected officials' attention. The secret negotiations angered some city residents, who attended a Nov. 23 city meeting to complain and express concerns about continued local access.

City and Wharton officials agreed to include in the management contract a clause that ensures local access to rent the opera house will be maintained.

Those conversations are encouraging, said both Porter and Ed Downing, executive director for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra.

Downing said he took Wharton's offer to cover financial losses as a sign of commitment to the opera house.

Commissioner MaryAnn Moore said she's glad Wharton worked out concerns about local access and she "thinks it's great for Traverse City."

Angela Schuler, opera house board co-chairman, said they are pleased to move forward with Wharton, despite recent concerns in the community about how the deal was struck.

"Ultimately, I think the integrity of the proposal spoke for itself," Schuler said.

The debate about opera house management showed the community's interest and commitment to the facility, said Commissioner Mike Gillman.

"The community was reminded this is a jewel and should be treated as such," he said.

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