BY DEBORA SHAULIS

By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
entley Lenhoff says he's not a born optimist.
"I tend to be pessimistic, believe it or not," he said between drags on a cigarette in one of the sleek, remodeled offices at Youngstown Playhouse. "I'm always carping, finding fault, thinking things could be better. ... That's the nature of theater."
But to those who doubt that the 80-year-old Playhouse can overcome its financial and managerial problems and reclaim its prestige as a cultural and educational center, Lenhoff has a characteristically blunt response:
Baloney.
"It's too important to too many people. Nonsense! This is the finest performing arts facility in Ohio. It had a $1.9 million renovation. You don't walk away from a facility like that. You don't walk away from a history and a past."
Lenhoff is hopeful despite how dramatic his previous and most recent engagements in Youngstown have been.
Lenhoff was executive director from 1965 to 1985, when as many as 6,000 season tickets were sold per season. "I operated the Playhouse for 19 1/2 years without outside interference," until some committee members "started kibbutzing," he recalled. They wanted more accountability, more involvement. His last contract negotiations with the board were "rancorous," he said. He quit before that contract expired.
"Theaters aren't run by committee if they're going to be successful," Lenhoff said. "The last 19 years here have proved it."
After that, Lenhoff taught high school and college courses, worked at various theaters and resurfaced at the Playhouse twice. Once, he said he was asked to help a former business manager. "It lasted about six hours," he said, because people began to call him with their pet peeves, and "I didn't want to be involved." The other time was as director of the play "Steel Magnolias."
Lenhoff, now 74, said he "wasn't doing much" recently. He and his wife, Nancy, were living in the home he and their children purchased in Harbor Springs, Mich., which is near his hometown. He directed a few shows, and he was doing some collections work for his son-in-law's family's business. (His son-in-law is state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd.)
Then a Playhouse board member talked to Lenhoff in July about coming back. He attended a meeting here, agreed to work for $1 a year and began to recruit people for an expanded board of directors (more participation means more expertise, he says). When the sitting board rejected his candidates, he resigned.
A power struggle ensued. The pro-Lenhoff Save Our Stage committee demanded the resignations of the entire board. Details emerged of the Playhouse's debts totaling $183,000, some of which is owed to the general contractor of the federally funded Playhouse renovation project. Questions were asked about financial records that weren't on hand (an audit is still being conducted) and whether the theater has lost its nonprofit status (which is still being investigated, Lenhoff said).
It ended after three board members had resigned and Lenhoff was reinstated as executive director.
Lenhoff is still angry. So, he's asked, what makes him think history won't repeat itself?
"That won't happen again because I've got reasonable people, and I'm now a known product," he replied. "[These are] people who think I'm probably the best shot the Playhouse has to come back. I won't be dictatorial with them. I appreciate them."
The board's primary job will be to raise money, Lenhoff said. The rest, from show selection to volunteer recruitment, is largely up to him.
Lenhoff's philosophy is, "If you're lucky enough or fortunate enough to get someone running the operation" -- especially if that person can show a profit and make people happy -- "leave him alone!"
Lenhoff said he has three immediate and concurrent priorities: To sell season tickets, raise money and improve the quality of productions.
About 300 season tickets have been sold for the upcoming season. Lenhoff's goal is 1,500. He expected 7,000 letters to be mailed last week to potential subscribers about the Playhouse's "renaissance season."
A Planning Events Projects committee, including some former SOS members, is preparing for an annual Playhouse meeting on Thursday and a picnic from 1 to 5 p.m. next Sunday to drum up supporters. Everyone will work for free this season, including directors, Lenhoff said.
As many as 18 volunteers have been at the Playhouse at one time to pitch in (including his wife and their daughter, Alyssa, who is student newspaper adviser at Youngstown State University).
"Artistically, I can tell you right now, I know we're going to make that," Lenhoff said. "We'll be all right at the box office. We aren't going to sit here and play to empty seats."
Yes, Bentley is back, but this will not be an extended run for him.
"I can continue to work for $1 a year, but I'm 74. There's only so much gas left. There has to be two successes. This place has to succeed, and I have to have a successor."
Lenhoff seeks someone who will put in long hours, be a good administrator and know how to work with all kinds of people. He has at least two trainees in mind. One is Jan Aubrey, a musical director with roots at the Playhouse who intends to move here from Brooklyn, N.Y., he said.
Meanwhile, Lenhoff says he'll work until at least the end of the year. If no one is ready to replace him, he'll stay. Ideally, he'd like to work through this season and have the 2005-2006 season planned by the time he leaves.
"If I can do it healthwise, I will," he said with optimism.
shaulis@vindy.com