THE YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE Board works on revival plans

By GARRY L. CLARK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The board of directors of The Youngstown Playhouse says it is selecting productions for a new season, has begun sales of season tickets and is working on plans for fund-raising activities.
The board met Friday with Vindicator staff members to express its position regarding recent events. John Maluso, board president, said the board will reveal plans in the near future, probably by the end of the week.
In response to Bentley Lenhoff's departure, members of the board said that Lenhoff's appointment to the position of executive director had not been formalized, although they had met with him July 7 to discuss his agenda for reviving the 80-year-old institution.
The board said Lenhoff presented them with a memo of understanding at the annual meeting Monday in which he outlined his plans.
Lenhoff's offer
Lenhoff, who describes himself as an autocrat, stated in the memo that, "As your executive director, primarily because of the lack of time, without consulting you [the board] I have or will:
USelect your season of plays.
USet season ticket prices and policies.
USet single-admission ticket prices.
UEngage and dismiss personnel.
UEngage play directors.
URecruit new board members.
USchedule promotional events.
UEnlist a leader for an operational fund campaign and help him run it.
UFind a chairperson and help that person run a season ticket campaign with everyone pitching in.
UTalk to the press anytime it is necessary.
UNot increase your indebtedness and agree that any expenditure I do not pay for myself be approved by having an officer of the board join me in signing checks.
UTender my resignation, effective Oct. 1, if our efforts to raise money, sell season tickets and improve volunteerism have not shown significant improvement."
The board said that Lenhoff told them to sign the memo or he would leave. Board members said they expressed reluctance to do so without further study of the document, and Lenhoff then left.
Board members Glenda Whitehouse and Ida McLaughlin said that they were the people who contacted Lenhoff asking for his assistance.
Whitehouse, in a written statement, said the vote rejecting Lenhoff's "offer to return as executive director of The Youngstown Playhouse was not unanimous. I, for one, voted to accept his agenda. I've worked with Bentley for many years; I've stage-managed many of his shows. I believe his return to The Playhouse is our best hope for the future."
She called the decision "totally inane" and decried the loss of dozens of volunteers who had agreed to work with Lenhoff.
The current board stated that though its members are fairly new to The Playhouse board, most of them have served there for many years in other capacities, both onstage, backstage and as volunteers or on the advisory board.
Other members
Maluso has been on the board for nearly three years, and the other members are: McLaughlin, two years; Atty. Anthony Donofrio, one year; Lois Thornton, one year (and four years on the advisory board); Mary Jane Karam, three to four months; Whitehouse, four months; and Michael Jordan and Richard Woolford, two months.
"We [the board] inherited a real mess when I came here almost three years ago," Maluso said. "The place was $320,000 in debt and you couldn't even walk through the second and third floors. At that time, there were nine people on the payroll. We're now down to two."
Maluso further stated that through a loan and gift from the city and the forgiving of a substantial amount by the bank, that figure has been reduced to less than $200,000, including about $82,000 owed to the A.P. O'Horo Co. for renovations, a few of which are still being completed.
Board members said they were reluctant to accept Lenhoff's offer because they had in the past been "burned" by similar situations.
McLaughlin, in a written statement, said that "in 1999, the Playhouse board gave its authority over to one individual for one-dollar-a-year. ... The managing director could hire and fire personnel, spend money without accountability, set policies and procedures to suit himself. ... When asked for a budget, he would reply, 'That is none of the board's business. I will not be micro-managed.' Because of the frustrations experienced by sincere individual members, the board became a revolving door. Members resigned in groups."
She further stated that the slate of names for the board that was comprised of "prominent citizens" recruited by Lenhoff was "disavowed [by the board] because the individuals had not signed an oath of allegiance to The Playhouse. The fact that they were willing to help rescue The Playhouse was not enough. ... Bentley presented a list of demands that would have duplicated the abrogation of stewardship that had burned the board in the past. The board had no choice in all conscience but to not accept his offer."
United purpose
Board members stated that they have a unanimity of desire to restore The Playhouse to a place of prominence among the area's entertainment choices.
They said that the following plans are being put in motion:
UAnnouncing coming season's productions within the next one to two weeks.
USecuring directors for those productions. (Some have already agreed.)
UContinuing work begun last week with auditor.
USeeking grants and other funds upon completion of audit.
UContinuing rental of the facility for special events. (Two are scheduled in August.)
UOperating under an austerity program as funds are built up.
USeeking low-royalty or free plays to keep costs down.
UHaving a board member responsible for keeping the media advised of developments and answering questions regarding them. (Tentatively, that person will be Whitehouse, or, in her absence, Thornton.)
UDemanding accountability for finances.
Maluso said that the board has a lot of hope for The Youngstown Playhouse to make a great comeback as a true community theater and is diligently working toward that end. The board members are looking to the public to be a part of it through attendance and support.