It was before an audience of Curtain 440 members and supporters at Chardon City Council’s Jan. 11 meeting that Mayor Chris Grau announced the decision regarding Geauga Theater’s future has been postponed.
It was before an audience of Curtain 440 members and supporters at Chardon City Council’s Jan. 11 meeting that Mayor Chris Grau announced the decision regarding Geauga Theater’s future has been postponed.
“It was our goal leading up ‘til tonight to make a recommendation to council on the future of Geauga Theater and, unfortunately, we are not in a position to do that tonight,” he said, adding the announcement would be postponed until February at the earliest.
“Due to information we recently reviewed, we think it’s best to hold off on a recommendation about the future of Geauga Theater at this time. It’s a complicated and important decision that deserves additional review and consideration,” Grau later added in a Jan. 12 email.
The future of the theater came into question following the dissolution and subsequent vacation of the building by Thrive Performing and Visual Arts in December 2023.
While the city has been in contact with the Fine Arts Association, a Willoughby-based theater company, regarding use of the space, local theater company C440 has also been vying for it.
The January meeting marks the third month in a row C440’s members and supporters have spoken before council in favor of the company taking over management of the city’s landmark theater.
Jackie Moskal and Mandi Matchinga, parents whose children have been involved in C440’s productions, gave testimonies of their experiences with the company.
“It is estimated that 50% of start-ups never make it past five years,” Moskal said. “C440 is in their fifth year and thriving. Even through the COVID years. They have a full schedule slated for 2024. In fact, they have a show and will be ready to go in February. The cast of ‘Mean Girls’ is currently in rehearsal as we speak. C440 isn’t going anywhere.”
Moskal also noted C440’s existing fanbase.
“C440 has a following of both patrons and local towns,” she said. “People from Chardon and the surrounding communities line up to see C440’s productions, wherever they may be. You’d think not having a home theater would curb patronage, but it doesn’t … Imagine how large the audience would be if they had a home.”
She ended with a reminder C440 is a local business and owner Angela Miloro-Hansen is a local resident.
“She lives down the street from the theater with her husband and baby daughter,” Moskal said. “She is vested. She represents who lives here. She knows the community because she is part of the community, and will produce shows the community wants to see. Think local. Think C440.”
Matchinga spoke of the community built around C440 and the support her daughter has found there.
“I could stand here tonight and list all of the theater skills and unique talents that my daughter developed through her years with C440, but it’s not the most remarkable thing that C440 has to offer,” Matchinga said. “The strong, independent women behind this production company were my daughter’s most incredible role models.”
Matchinga recalled the C440 staff supporting her daughter at high school productions and helping her choose monologues and songs for college auditions when she decided to major in musical theater.
Matchinga also recounted the friends her daughter made through C440, many of whom, now college age, remain in touch and travel to see each other’s productions.
“I remember very vividly at my daughter’s 16th birthday, where I took a picture of my … living room full of C440 actors. They were all there to wish my daughter a 16th birthday, and I took that picture and I sent it to (Miloro-Hansen) and I thanked her,” she said, calling the group “more than theater.”
Also present was Colton Gray, Thrive’s chief audio engineer, who bid Thrive a heartfelt farewell and expressed thanks to council for their kindness to the group.
Gray recalled starting as part of the now-defunct Geauga Lyric Theater Guild in 2016 before joining with Thrive in 2021.
“I felt that there was more at that theater after GLTG had closed,” he said, recalling the process of learning more about audio engineering until he eventually took over as chief.
“I’ve done roughly 40 shows with (Thrive) alone and greatly expanded my capabilities and just what I think about in my free time,” he said.
Gray described the joy his work at the theater brought him.
“There’s been trying times as the management has changed, but the excitement of waiting for a show to start is a feeling I can’t describe,” he said. That feeling doesn’t change whether I’m onstage or running sound for the folks that are.”
He finished with a thank you to council.
“On behalf of myself and (Thrive directors) the Boardwine family, we wanted to thank you all for your kindness and your graciousness to us,” he said.
