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Journal Opinion
"Move -- Before the Final Curtain FallsThe Youngstown Playhouse is an asset of unquestioned value that deserves community support. Whether that asset should remain where it is, however, is an issue that must be addressed in short order, and the Playhouse cannot play Hamlet. We welcomed the return of longtime director Bentley Lenhoff to the helm of the struggling community theater and were dismayed when his encore performance ended before it began, the result of a dispute with the Playhouse board of directors. Lenhoff may be correct in his assertion that the board itself needs expansion, noting that it is not representative of the community, and his suggestion that the executive director's position deserves more autonomy might have merit. But we also were dismayed at Lenhoff's contention that the theater's location -- just off Glenwood Avenue on the city's south side -- is not a factor in its accumulation of $183,000 in debt. "The neighborhood hasn't changed since 1965," he told The Business Journal, and noted that the Playhouse thrived through the steel shutdowns. But today its debts include $82,000 to the A.P. O'Horo Co., $5000 to the state for employee taxes and nearly $35,000 to employees. At the very least, the condition of the Playhouse's neighborhood certainly is a factor in the decline of season ticketholders. A drive down Glenwood today displays only too starkly the blight and decay not present even 15 years ago, let alone four decades ago. Once-thriving businesses such as Mr. Paul's Bakery and the Park Inn are no more, and newer entrants such as the Rite Aid Pharmacy sit vacant. The nearby former Idora Park, closed 20 years ago, remains nothing but an empty lot, still waiting for a once-promised City of God to arise. Such an environment cannot help but discourage the theater patrons who once attended shows there. And such an environment cannot help but retard the revitalization of the South Side itself. If the Playhouse is to remain viable in its present location, then the issue of the surrounding blight must be addressed, both for the viability of the theater and the health of the city. That means owners in the area must be held accountable for the conditions of their properties. Elected officials must work harder to promote the viability and vitality of the area. That's an issue worthy of in-depth exploration by those who would run for mayor next year. While we agree it would be good if the Playhouse could stay where it is, the blight that surrounds it is beyond its control.For the Playhouse to have a chance to return to the days when it drew huge audiences and good reviews, it must stage its productions downtown which is becoming the cultural district of the Mahoning Valley. Downtown Youngstown is home to the Youngstown Symphony, Ballet Western Reserve and Oakland Center for the Arts -- and Stambaugh Auditorium is less than a half mile away.One day the Playhouse may have its own theater downtown as its last executive director posited. But now its task is to survive and to do that, audiences must feel comfortable attending its productions -- before the final curtain falls.Letters to the Editor Dispute this EditorialDo you have a question or comment about this Journal Opinion? To send a message to Publisher Andrea Wood, click here."