Arena's ballet choice booed

Augusta arts supporters say competing productions of a classic holiday ballet will split ticket sales and force many patrons to pick between a local tradition and a national touring company.

That's what Brenda Durant, the executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, told the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority on Tuesday, expressing her displeasure with the actions of the civic center's general manager when he booked the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker only two days before the Augusta Ballet's opening night performance of the same ballet.

"We hope you, the coliseum authority, will instruct the staff who accepts bookings to first check our community calendar to ensure we never again book a duplicate show," Ms. Durant said. "I'm sure if the person booking the Moscow Ballet was told last spring that a professional company was going to produce the classic The Nutcracker for the 35th year, that they would not have booked that show but chosen an alternate."

The Augusta Ballet depends on the revenue earned from The Nutcracker to fund its season. Opening night for its production of the holiday show is Dec. 1 at the Imperial Theater.

The city's art community fears theater-goers will not support the local show if the same ballet is performed Nov. 29 at the William B. Bell Auditorium.

The Moscow Ballet is based out of Moscow, Pa., and will feature about 60 Augusta children in the ballet, said Beth Murdock, a spokeswoman for the group.

"We do not wish to curtail the efforts the coliseum authority is making to book your venues," said Ms. Durant, backed by more than a dozen supporters at the meeting. "We hope, in fact, by working together, we can enhance what is offered by not offering basically the same show to the same audience, thereby splitting ticket sales and minimizing profits for both parties, but allowing a diversity of performances and allowing maximum profits for all."

Coliseum authority member Ellis Albright said he understood the concerns of the arts community and apologized, but said the situation had been "blown way out of proportion" thanks to articles in The Augusta Chronicle.

"I appreciate you being here," said Mr. Albright. "My concern is, let's not turn this into a spectacle, where as we keep blaming the civic center and this authority."

Chairman Millard Cox encouraged Ms. Durant and her supporters to call him at home with any future problems.

"We'll work with you. You don't have to call the newspapers or Austin Rhodes," he said.

Coliseum authority member Joe Scott Jr. agreed that the two dates were close together but said there are people in the community who probably would see both productions, to which Ms. Durant said it wasn't two ballets in one week she had a problem with, but the fact that they are the same ballet.

The Moscow Ballet has a "tentative hold" on a performance date for next year, but no contract has been signed, said Larry Rogers, the civic center general manager.

Coliseum authority member Annie Rogers said she was sorry the conflict occurred, but that Mr. Rogers had every obligation to book the ballet because the civic center is a business.

In a discussion held after the arts supporters had left the meeting, Ms. Rogers said she felt Ms. Durant should not have been allowed to speak before the authority.

"If (Mr. Rogers) can book it again next year, he should," Ms. Rogers said about the Moscow Ballet. "What are we going to do, die sitting here, thinking about their welfare?"

Reach Kate Lewis at (706) 823-3215 or kate.lewis@augustachronicle.com.