Fox Theatre Ends Lease Agreement with Theater of the Stars

Fox Theatre officials made the decision after Theatre of the Stars failed to reach an immediate $500,000 fundraising goal by last Friday and canceled its production of DREAMGIRLS. The theater company is also reviewing its options regarding ANYTHING GOES.

The announcement follows Theater of the Stars recent cancellation of the Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.

Fox Theatre President and CEO Allen Vella says ending the agreement allows the Fox to fill future vacancies and is in the best interest of customers.

“We’re a nonprofit as well and we have our own mission for the theater, and we could not allow their troubles to jeopardize the mission of the Fox. Frankly, we wish them well and we hope they can pull out of this.”

And even though Theater of the Stars is currently scheduled to produce a number of other shows at the Fox Theatre and the Fox works with another company offering programming, Vella says the cancelations will affect the Fox’s bottom line.

“It will be a significant short-term loss. I don’t have any exact figures, but the theater is in very good financial position. We’re not concerned about the theater in the long term.”

Brian D. Frey, vice president of Theater of the Stars was unavailable for comment. In an email to WABE, Frey says, “We are working very hard to stay in business.” So far, the company has raised $365,000.