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37 °F 5 Day Forecast Wednesday, November 26, 2003 --> Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 16, 2003 Ballet bristles at thought of two-‘Nutcracker’ town By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune Ballet Rogue may sue the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater over plans for a Nov. 29 production of "The Nutcracker" featuring local children, the dance group’s president said Wednesday. Glenn Hill of Phoenix said it’s unfair for the Craterian to have scheduled the show, which is to feature area youngsters dancing with a professional troupe, just three weeks before Ballet Rogue’s annual production of the popular ballet — its main moneymaker. Hill acknowledged that performances of "The Nutcracker" are widespread during the holiday season. "But not two productions three weeks apart at the same theater," he said. "We’re worried about losing our profit. This is our main annual fund-raiser. We’ve never not made a profit, even a small one." Advertisement The November show is not being presented by Craterian Performances, the Craterian’s presenting arm. The theater is renting the space to the California-based Russian Festival Ballet, which is touring Western states in a series of shows with local students dancing with dancers trained in Russia. "They approached us," Craterian director Stephen McCandless said of the touring group. "They wanted a specific date, and it was open. It’s part of our mission to make the space available to other organizations to enrich the cultural life of Southern Oregon. "We’ve never said no to a rental, except a heavy metal band once. We don’t police the marketplace." McCandless said he asked staffers how far the requested date was from the annual Ballet Rogue date and was told three weeks. "I didn’t see how anybody could get farther apart and still be in the season," he said. Hill said the grounds for a suit would be an alleged violation of good faith and fair-dealing practices. He said he’s afraid people can’t afford to attend two productions. The group rented space from Tuesday through Sunday the week before Christmas. Tickets for four shows are priced from $14.50 to $22.50 with $2 off up to Dec. 1. Tickets have been on sale since June, and the space booked since last year, Hill said. He said the group hoped to net $5,000 or $6,000. "Even a loss of $3,000 (to the other show) could be our profit," he said. Hill said what he sees as competition is particularly galling because the Craterian is a community-supported nonprofit. "Are we supposed to be the only company to do ‘The Nutcracker’? The answer is yes — in the same theater," he said. Not true, McCandless said. In a Tuesday meeting of his board’s executive committee, nobody thought the traveling show should be shut out, he said. "The overarching element was that we’re here to accommodate these kinds of opportunities for the larger community. We understood it might have an effect, but Ballet Rogue puts up a good show and have a good constituency. "He’s had many opportunities to present ‘The Nutcracker,’ but for others to come to us, that’s part of why we’re here. "Sometimes part of our mission might conflict with the goals of a specific group," he said. Ballet Rogue is the resident dance company of the Craterian. McCandless says what that means is essentially free advertising in the Craterian’s literature. Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times