Program diversity, fundraising acumen and a rumored conspiracy to upend Tim Rater were among the points of discussion at a livelier-than-usual Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole meeting this week.
The first two, while important, were not as eyebrow-raising as the last one, presented by Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, after the city introduced its revamped Aurora Civic Center Authority Board of Directors, which happens to oversee the community’s most vibrant economic engine – The Paramount Theatre.
The Paramount is headed by Rater, who is responsible for turning Aurora’s gorgeous and historic downtown venue into the most successful subscription theater in the country.
Still, as Franco pointed out, there have been lots of rumors circulating for the last year about new Mayor John Laesch’s agenda to replace Rater by stacking the ACCA board with those who feel the Paramount could survive and grow under a different (and less financially-compensated) CEO/president.
That was but one thread in the larger fabric of controversy over the current administration’s slashing of city funding to the Paramount, which couldn’t help but put the mayor and the ACCA board, including Rater, at odds.
And so Franco, an outspoken Laesch critic, wanted to “hear it from the horse’s mouth” whether the mayor had “any plans to put people on the board” that would remove Rater from his leadership role.
Laesch quickly assured Franco there was “absolutely not” any sort of conspiracy or agenda to worry about, insisting he and Rater (who by the way was not at this meeting) are becoming more aligned in their goals that include the above-mentioned push for diversity in programming and fundraising.
Rater is “doing a great job,” Laesch declared, adding that he and the CEO were “building a great relationship together” with plenty of “back-and-forth” conversations.
Which brings us again to the other two points discussed at length as the city introduced what is being touted as the “most diverse board” in ACCA’s history, in regard to ethnicity, background and experiences.
By the way, if I had more time, I’d go back and count how many times the word diversity – or some form of it – was used during this back-and-forth at the Committee of the Whole. That included the city’s reference to a survey indicating more of a need for shows that appeal to the wide cultural makeup of Aurora.
And the mayor piggybacked that by noting he’s heard plenty of “there’s nothing here for us” complaints from residents regarding programming, including Paramount’s recent production of “South Pacific,” an iconic American classic about World War II (which happens to be set on an island from the same area of the world from which Laesch wants to see more ACCA board representation).
Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward, was quick to “completely disagree” about a lack of diverse programming, rightly noting that every show is “never going to be for everybody.”
Indeed. Theater has always attracted a diverse mix of artists and audiences. And in fact, long before diversity became a buzzword, stages were drawing together creative folks from different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Ironically, that’s exactly what the Paramount was pushing forward with its dynamic BOLD Series, a major casualty of the city’s budget cuts to ACCA.
That being said, the vigorous exchange at the Committee of the Whole meeting raised a slew of good questions: What survey says ACCA programming is not diverse enough? How involved should the board be when determining content? Will City Council be able to meet with the proposed candidates individually?
And just how risky is it to mess with a winning game plan?
It’s hard not to argue Paramount’s success was earned through a formula that has attracted audiences in large numbers. So it stands to reason any effort to significantly alter that formula could carry financial consequences. The biggest takeaway from this discussion seemed to be ACCA must not only be prepared to embrace change but work harder to raise the money necessary to sustain it.
Laesch insisted there are no plans to gut programs that are obviously working. He also noted it’s possible to expand the audience through more diversity and community-centered events (think $2 movie nights on the Jumbotron at RiverEdge Park, for example), while also providing more fiscal soundness for long-term sustainability.
We have, the mayor said, “the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time.” And he’s convinced the proposed new board – which the public can meet June 9 before a City Council meeting – can do so, as well.
One thought that was voiced more than a few times by both the mayor’s office and aldermen is that this is an important moment in ACCA’s future. Which means it is also critical for Aurora’s future.
There are plenty of people with deep concerns. So we all need to wish the best of luck to the new board, whoever may end up on it. And a big thank-you to Mayor Laesch, for going on record about keeping Rater at its helm.
Paramount is Aurora’s undisputed jewel. We all know who has made it shine.
dcrosby@tribpub.com
