Duluth focuses on local theatre

The Red Clay Theatre has become an intragal part of the downtown area. And now the city council wants to increase the theatre's effectiveness downtown.

The Duluth City Council voted Nov. 3 to form a subcommittee with the goal of deciding upon the future direction of the theatre located on Main Street. Councilmember Marcia Bomar was elected to serve as the chair of the committee which also consists of councilmembers Doug Mundrick and Jim Dugan.

Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee, City Administrator Phil McLemore and the city attorney will also serve on the subcommittee.

Following discussion, the council decided the subcommittee should focus on maintaining quality and increasing variety at the Red Clay Theatre. Bomar said the goal should be to have a plan formed by the end of the year.

Mundrick said he wasn't set on the idea of Red Clay being solely a theatre.

"I am not personally invested that it has to be a theatre," he said. "What we ultimately want is foot traffic. I envision this as a theatre but I want to be open to other ideas. I'd like us to be open minded."

Other ideas could be a music or art venue.

Regardless of the event, Bomar said quality is most important to create opportunity for downtown businesses.

"I'm all about the quality," she said. "We have such a variety of interests in the community. To me, if we have good quality productions, people will come."

Bomar said the subcommittee would discuss quality and variety of the events as well as the possibility of holding events at different times of the day.

"Something like this generates activity for the businesses downtown," she said.

Mayor Nancy Harris said she regularly attends theatre performances.

"Quality is my attraction," she said. "I like to go to something new to broaden my horizon, so I think quality and variety are important."

Bomar said they should also discuss the seating, which she described as "uncomfortable."

"We need to be willing to adjust the theatre," she said, "and discuss what changes we could consider."
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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