Now Playing at the Royal-George…
Trouble appears to be brewing once again at the beleaguered Royal-George Theatre complex. Last Friday general manager Robert Bron abruptly resigned amid reports of bouncing payroll checks and problems with hundreds of gift certificates left unredeemed in the public’s hands after the theater went dark early last summer. Sources close to events say Bron could no longer tolerate the management of Robert Perkins, head of the rookie production company that recently reopened the place. Perkins would not comment on the reasons for Bron’s departure, nor would Bron. “Perkins is a nice guy,” says one source, “but I don’t think he knows the business. He’s playing theater.”
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Approximately three weeks ago–long after Perkins Productions had taken up residence at the Royal-George–Perkins finally signed a lease to operate the complex. A former aldermanic candidate, he had turned to show business about a year ago in partnership with entertainment attorney James Bagley. That partnership blew apart early last summer, and the inexperienced Perkins decided to go it alone. Last August he hired Bron, a veteran in theatrical management, to oversee operations at the Royal-George. Tension apparently has been mounting for weeks between the outspoken Bron on one side and Perkins and various underlings on the other. The situation came to a head last week when customers appeared at the reopened theater holding gift certificates for which no redemption procedure had been established. The outstanding certificates, good for a year from the date of purchase, potentially represent thousands of dollars in lost revenue for the theater at a time when every penny counts. Though Perkins and producer Michael Frazier eventually agreed to honor the theater-ticket certificates, Perkins claims he was caught off guard because Royal Faubion, the financially strapped owner of the facility, had only vaguely referred to the certificates in their early discussions about the lease. “I didn’t think there was anything for me to do about them at the time,” says Perkins.
Who Will Run Ravinia?
The Ravinia Festival’s new executive director, replacing retiring Ed Gordon, could be announced as early as this weekend: Ravinia’s honchos will hold their annual meeting this Sunday at the offices in Highland Park. Certainly Tribune music critic John von Rhein has made no secret of his choice for the slot–Grant Park Concerts artistic director and general manager Steve Ovitsky. In a lengthy article printed after the search began, von Rhein waxed rhapsodic over Ovitsky’s credentials. Whoever is named to replace Gordon will have little say in next summer’s lineup; that schedule is being arranged by the departing executive director.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Bruce Powell.
