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Theater Renovation Gets A Financial Boost

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By LOIS KINDLE Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

Updated: 12/06/2007 06:25 pm

SUN CITY CENTER - Although the first phase of the Rollins Theater renovation is complete, its in-residence group - the Performing Arts Club of Sun City Center - recently received more than $70,000 to propel the job further.
Club President Lew Resseguie said the money came from a number of sources: a $30,000 gift from Arlene Oakley; a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Sun City Center; a $3,000 grant from the Interfaith Social Action Council of Sun City Center; and almost $4,000 from the proceeds of a recent benefit for the club at Calvary Lutheran Church in Apollo Beach.

"We're delighted to have this kind of support from the community," Resseguie said. "So far, we've spent $35,000 on the renovation and these donations will help us complete the current project.

"It's great that organizations and individuals such as these are so supportive of the arts and our efforts, through the use of the theater, to expand performing arts community in South Shore."

The first phase included painting the walls and ceiling; acquiring a new canopy; installing seven hanging microphones over the stage; rewiring the building; and purchasing a velour stage curtain with electronic draw, scrim for special effects, new sound mixer and ambient lighting with ceiling fans.

The club is ready to move on to the next phase, which will create a back stage area; build an outer ticket office and separate dressing rooms for men and women for up to eight people each; and add carpet, a new main door and storage.

The 25-year-old theater is owned by the Sun City Center Community Association, which insures and maintains the building. The performing arts club - a small, nonprofit organization - uses and manages the facility and raises money for its renovation through ticket sales, fundraisers, grants and individual donations.

The original renovation project, which would have cost about $700,000, was proposed to the community association several years ago and then placed on a community referendum, which was approved by Sun City Center residents. According to Sun City Center bylaws, each new resident pays a $1,200 fee for future capital improvements. When the real estate market went south last year, the number of closings "slowed to a crawl," which greatly reduced contributions to the capital fund, Resseguie said.

"So I began begging for money after every performance," he said.

In May, Paul Wheat, the community association president, told Resseguie it looked like the major renovation project was at least four to five years off. That resulted in Resseguie's proposal of what he called a "Band-Aid" renovation. The association approved a total of $100,000.

In August, the club paid $10,000 to start the revised renovation plan by rewiring the theater. Resseguie said it's all up to code.

As the theater's prime tenant, the club plans to increase the number of shows, special performances and events presented each year.

ROLLINS THEATER

WHERE: 2203 N. Creek Court, Sun City Center
CAPACITY: 190

INFORMATION: (813) 642-0606

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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