Burnsville performing arts center is in a financial pickle

Wolf Larson, the outgoing director of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, lamented during his exit interview with the Burnsville City Council on Tuesday the controversy that has surrounded the nearly year-old city-built facility.

Larson then proceeded to create a little controversy of his own on his way out of town.

Asked about any weaknesses he perceived in the $20 million building, Larson said having a 1,000-seat main theater makes it hard to make a profit. The costs associated with bringing in a headline act do not dovetail with the revenue such a booking would provide.

Larson's remarks drew a variety of responses.

"We're in a pickle," council member Dan Kealey said. "It would appear that regardless of a turnaround in the economy we will be hard-pressed to break even."

The PAC has not met financial projections; the original budget called for an operating loss of $265,478 for the year. It surpassed that total in the first four months of operation.

Carl St. Clair, a vice president of VenuWorks, the company hired by the city to operate the PAC, is serving as interim executive director. He agrees with Larson's assessment but said the PAC simply needs to find its niche. Mayor Elizabeth Kautz shares St. Clair's views.

St. Clair said he believes any fault can be found in not doing a better job of shaping the public's expectations of the type of acts it should expect to see at the PAC. For example, comedian Rob Schneider is scheduled to appear Thursday night. While Schneider has name recognition, he is not a hot commodity on the comedy circuit. Likewise, comedian Sinbad is booked for Feb. 12.

Some see a pattern over the first year of operation that suggests the PAC is a first-rate facility destined to provide second-rate talent.

"Are we going to get acts that are on their way up or on their way down? Yes," St. Clair said. "But we're not going to be relegated to that. We are going to get some top-drawer acts."

Asked whether he plans to implement any changes while in charge, St. Clair said, "I better. I should have something to offer these people who work here after being in the business for 50 years."

"If Wolf would have stayed, he would have made changes, too," St. Clair added.

Able to pay for itself?

The City Council has decided to look into the possibility of creating a commission that would focus on the PAC. Such a commission could be made up of council members.

Council Member Charlie Crichton made it clear he was not pleased that VenuWorks hasn't asked the City Council for input.

Crichton tersely asked Larson when the PAC will be able to pay for itself. Larson said he couldn't answer that. Larson's response was the same when Crichton asked whether the PAC will ever be able to pay for itself.

St. Clair said VenuWorks hopes to have a new director in place by March 1. St. Clair is not a candidate. He said the company believes in most cases that it is advantageous to have a person in such a position who is familiar with the local community.