YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE Robert Vargo departs role as managing director

'Idora, Forever!' will go on as scheduled with a new director.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- It's curtains for Robert Vargo, managing director of the financially challenged Youngstown Playhouse.
"My three-year agreement terminated on June 30," Vargo wrote in an e-mail to The Vindicator on Tuesday. "I wish everyone at The Playhouse all possible success." He was unavailable for further comment.
Vargo's departure occurs as rehearsals are under way for "Idora, Forever!," an original musical about Idora Park history that he was directing. Meanwhile, work proceeds on an extensive construction and renovation project that Vargo had been overseeing at the Playhouse off Glenwood Avenue.
John Maluso, president of the board of directors, said he couldn't answer questions about Vargo's status before the board meets later this week.
"Idora, Forever!" will begin its second annual summer run July 25, as scheduled. John E. Ballantyne Jr. has taken over as director "with the blessing of Bob Vargo," Maluso said.
The Playhouse has been billed as the oldest ongoing community theater in the United States, and Maluso said it will remain so.
"Our intent is to keep the Playhouse going because people love it," he said.
Background
Vargo was theater director at Wilson High School and a teacher for 31 years until he retired in 1998. He also has been general manager of a national theater consulting group. He became managing director of the Playhouse in July 2000.
Vargo stated his goals in a January 2000 interview with The Vindicator.
They included: increasing Playhouse income through sales of season subscriptions, attracting younger audiences, improving the appearance of the Playhouse's building and increasing the advertising budget.
Vargo had agreed to a three-year contract and an annual salary of $1 at his desire, Maluso said.
The salary savings didn't spare the Playhouse from other money issues during Vargo's tenure.
In October, American Federation of Musicians Local 86-242 added the Playhouse to its unfair list and discouraged members from performing there because some musicians had not been paid for participating in the 2001 production of "A Christmas Carol."
Payment update
Union president Del Sinchak said that as of Tuesday, several musicians had been paid in full, while three others received partial payment. Their most recent checks arrived about a month ago, along with a letter that stated the Playhouse leadership's intention to resolve the matter soon.
The Playhouse will remain on the unfair list "until everybody is paid," Sinchak said.
Larry Horkey and Jason Webb, both of Youngstown, quit working at the Playhouse earlier this year because they weren't being paid.
Horkey, who is married with two children, said he did general cleaning for about eight months. "For a while things were OK," he said, then employees went without paychecks for about eight weeks. He quit and demanded his back pay, receiving several small checks over a period of time, he said.
Webb was a security guard for about three months. "I had to wait until I quit to get paid," Webb said, noting that he's still owed one paycheck. "I liked the job other than that. It was a great job."
Civil claim
In April 2002, The Cheap Escape Co. of Richfield filed a civil claim in Youngstown Municipal Court for $11,907 against the Playhouse and its former business manager, Mary Kolar-DeNunzio.
The Cheap Escape publishes JB Dollar Stretcher, a coupon book that is mailed to homeowners.
A summary judgment was issued against only the Playhouse in July 2002 by Judge Robert Milich.
Attorneys for Cheap Escape asked in May that the case be transferred to a higher court so that repayment may be expedited.
The Playhouse announced in January that it had eliminated $132,000 in mortgage debt. City officials helped to negotiate a new agreement with First Place Bank.
Building renovation
Construction and renovation at the Playhouse also began in January and is scheduled to be completed this fall. Work includes new storage facilities, restrooms and office suite; renovations to the banquet room, kitchen and main lobby; and the relocation of Adler Arena Theater on the west side of the building.
Funds were provided through a federal grant that was pursued by James A. Traficant Jr. when he represented the 17th District in Congress.
The Playhouse's annual meeting with season ticket holders will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday. That's when board members will be re-elected or reassigned, Maluso said.
In addition, a meeting notice states that changes to the bylaws will be considered.
shaulis@vindy.com