Mobile Raises the Curtain for a New Era at the Historic Saenger Theatre
Mar 11th, 2013
The management of the historic Saenger Theatre, which has become a cultural anchor in downtown Mobile, was turned back to the city's control after 12 years of operations by the Center For The Living Arts.
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones made the announcement Friday in the lobby of the historic theater following months of transitional meetings with the CLA to devise a plan to keep the doors open at the facility, which is the home of such events as the Mobile Symphony.
"We are very excited about the future of the Saenger Theatre, one of Mobile's jewels in downtown," said Mayor Sam Jones. "It is of the utmost importance to us that the Saenger Theatre remains a viable performing arts venue. That process begins today. The Saenger has been and will be a tremendous conduit for fine arts and entertainment for our city and the entire region. We certainly thank the CLA for its decade-long management and wish them success on future endeavors."
The facility will formally be transferred on March 10, 2013. While the CLA has had a good 12-year programming at the Saenger, the financial risk in the management of the facility has become far too great for them to continue.
Jones said in the interim period, Greg Cyprian and Ben Durant, two city staffers who have experience in facility management, will assume the management of the facility to ensure that the Symphony and other clients who have reserved the theater for future performances continues.
Cyprian and Durant will manage the facility until the city can secure a facility management firm through Request For Proposal process. The RFP process will be handled by Bobby Bostwick, the city's Executive Director of Cultural and Civic Development.
In an effort to operate the facility on an interim basis, Jones said he will submit to the City Council a resolution establishing an Enterprise Fund to operate the Saenger Theatre as a Centre for Performing Arts until a permanent management structure is secured.