Mixed signals are never good. On one side of the coin you get a fluffy web extra press release from the Chicago Journal News-Star, quoting an anonymous inside source -- telling the community the theatre will remain open.
On the other side of the coin you get actual photographic evidence, with these catchy phrases on the Morse Theatre Marquee, proclaiming the "End is Near" and RIP.
So, last night, I asked the face of the Morse Theatre, Andy McGhee, what was going on with the doom and gloom messages being flashed to the public on the marquee. I asked him face-to-face. I looked him square in the eye. I asked if this was some sort of practical joke. Andy told me it wasn't. It was no joke at all.
This wasn't some conversation over the phone. It wasn't an email exchange. He looked at me face-to-face and told me this. Like any good Rogers Park soap opera, this leads us back to where we all began. What's going to happen to the Morse Theatre? Will it stay open like the silent partner says? Or will this be the end? So we all can rest in peace...
8 comments:
I'm confused. What did he say? Is it open, closed, reopening? Tell us sage one.
This looks to be a nasty fight. Most likely in court. The money wants the face out. The face doesn't want to leave quietly. The money who wants to be the face anonymously hasn't shown the community a plan.
Like I said, this is a classic Rogers Park soap opera.
So - it looks like the place will close and then a court battle? How crazy! It seems to make more sense to keep the money coming in while they duke it out.
If Andy is reading, I just want him to know that many of us are just brokenhearted over this. Personally, it gave me a really good feeling that he was running that place. It was obvious to anyone that he has a true passion for the venue and what he was doing with the theater was remarkable and starting to build.
Perhaps it is true that the restaurant needed some tweaking, but taking this theater away from the very person who envisioned it is very sad.
I really hate to see this great venue twisted into something less than what it could have been. If the investors are reading, I can tell you that many around here feel this way. We don't know what's going on, but we want you to work it out and not spend your money on attorney's fees.
This was such a wonderful and exciting thing for RP and Morse Avenue. It was a virtual miracle to many of us. Please don't spoil it.
And to Craig, what happened yesterday? :o)
I'm sure the Morse Theater will stay open...just like I'm sure the Morse Avenue Streetscape will happen.
One day...
Did anyone go there regularly and pay the high prices to see generally unknown acts, classical and jazz?
I've met Andy once or twice, and I feel the same way about him as Jocelyn. I feel bad for him that the economy has tanked with the worst timing for them.
I believe he executed his vision flawlessly, but I do remember him quoted on what they would have to do with attendance to get a return. I'm only speculating, but I find it hard to believe you could do that with their lineup and prices. I wonder if that is part of the dispute. Like, with all do respect to Andy, I wonder if they are in dispute because the place isn't making any money. I'm sure it'll all come out.
Sorry to speculate, but when you put that on the marquee, what am I supposed to do?
It's been so frustrating to open the Reader and see acts playing at places that are not as good as the Morse.
HAH. I am laughing so hard I dropped by crack pipe. The Morse Theater is in financial trouble? Boo-hoo for Andy. Maybe he shouldn't have put all those pro-Nobama messages or the marquee before the inauguration. All that left wing bull shit tends to allienate at least half of the population. Anyway, if the Morse is in trouble, it couldn't happen to a nicer little dog-kissing, police-hating, commie loving, bald man.
I just saw this in the Trib - Morse Theatre operators, owners strike deal to remain open
By Howard Reich | Tribune critic
March 11, 2009
The music may keep playing at the Morse Theatre.
An agreement in principle has been struck between the firm that has operated the refurbished Morse since October and the owners of the building.
The two parties fell into a dispute last month over operation of the facility, which opened in October to critical acclaim, after a multimillion-dollar restoration. The theater's operators—Rogers Park Entertainment Ventures Inc.—said last month that the theater might be shuttered.
Instead, 86th Ohio LLC—a corporation based in Illinois—will take over the business operations of Rogers Park Entertainment Ventures.
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