San Jose City Officials Defend Continuing Support For Repertory Theatre
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — City officials are defending their ongoing support of Downtown San Jose's cash-strapped Repertory Theatre, after a recent audit questions whether the Rep can continue to operate on its current revenue stream.
Despite the cash crunch, theater managers along with the city officials said that performances must continue.
The Rep continues to produce shows such as the Tony Award-winning "Next to Normal," which just finished its run this month. Managing Director Nick Nichols said reports that the theater is close to going dark are really "just not the case" and that they are already planning their 2013 and 2014 seasons.
San Jose City Officials Defend Continued Support For Repertory Theater
"Last year we actually set box office records for the Rep. We had better sales in our single tickets than we have in the last 10 years," said Nichols. Although, he noted sales are down in the current year.
A recent audit found that due to a shortage of cash reserves, "there exists substantial doubt about the Theater's ability to continue."
In 2006, the City Council bailed out the Rep with a $2 million loan. Mayor Chuck Reed said the theater still a good investment in downtown.
"The Rep has been one of our anchor tenants in downtown providing a lot of great theater and a lot of good reasons to come down, have dinner, and spend money," he said.
A 2011 study found the Rep contributes more than $9 million to the local economy.
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