Hayes Center: Suspended for now
By Jeff Eason

The town of Blowing Rock is in danger of losing one of the major jewels in its crown.

The Board of Trustees for the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center announced Tuesday that it would be suspending all operations at the center immediately after the closing of the Blowing Rock Stage Company Production of the musical biography Hank Williams: Lost Highway. That production is scheduled to end Sept. 6 but could possibly have an extended run after that date.

According to a press statement released by the Hayes Center on Tuesday, “The Board of Trustees is currently evaluating and seeking all its options and resources available to resume operations at the Center on sound economic footing prior to the 2010 summer season.”

Hayes Center interim executive director and Blowing Rock Stage Company producing artistic director Kenneth Kay tendered his resignation effective Sept. 8. Kay has served as interim executive director of the Hayes Center since last October when Jeff Clark resigned from the position.

Kay’s staff at the BRSC and the Hayes Center were told of the suspension of activities at the center in a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees Tuesday afternoon.

“I want to emphasize that we are not closing the Hayes Center,” said Ron Bryson, chairman of the Board of Trustees for the building. “This is and always should be a facility for the cultural and economic life of the High Country. In 2007 the Hayes Center had an estimated $3.1 million economic impact on the local economy and in 2008 it had a $3 million impact.”

Bryson added that one of the current problems that faces the Hayes Center is due to the fact that it started with a narrow donor base, many of whom have been effected by the economic downturn of the past year.

“The donor base should have been broader to ensure sustainability,” said Bryson. “We had an initial round of capital that came from 700 to 800 initial donors, including a dozen to 20 large donors. We have called them to tell them about our current challenges and that we are suspending operations at the Hayes Center to re-organize and restructure operations there.”

According to Bryson, the Hayes Center currently has seven full-time and 10 to 12 part time employees.

“We don’t know if everybody will be leaving,” said Bryson. “They all want to stay on if possible.”

Despite drawing record crowds this summer to BRSC shows such as Bye Bye Birdie and Hayes Center special events such as Ryan Pelton’s Elvis Presley tribute, the center is facing financial difficulties when it comes to paying off some of its initial loan to Wachovia Bank and Trust.

Bryson called the Wachovia “a very supportive partner” and said, “the loan, in my opinion, was not properly structured to the business plan of the building. We are working with the bank to better structure the loan.”

“We’ve had a tremendously successful run of shows this summer season,” said board member Ginny Stevens. “We have to give credit to Ken Kay for putting this season together in such a professional manner. We are very proud of the job he has done.”

A prepared statement from the Hayes Center noted “Across the nation, entertainment of all forms has endured unprecedented economic difficulty over the past 12 months. The Hayes Performing Arts Center and Blowing Rock Stage Company are no different. Nevertheless, the Stage Company and Hayes Center have enjoyed unequaled artistic success in spite of the severe economic downturn.”

Several upcoming activities will go on as scheduled. The Jewish Film Festival will take place Sept. 13-16. Other shows that are also on schedule are Chicago City Limits on Aug. 23, Blue Ridge Descendents on Aug. 30 and Diana & Sarvis Ridge on Sept. 6.

The suspension, however, cancels two September concerts featuring The Kruger Brothers and the Echo Park presentation of the The Who’s Tommy.

The Blowing Rock Stage Company’s fall season, including the plays The Scarlet Letter and Dracula, is also in doubt.

Bryson stated that he and the board would do everything possible to end the suspension by the summer of 2010, a year marked by several significant anniversaries including the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway the 25th anniversary of the Blowing Rock Stage Company. But to do that the Hayes Center will have to host a whole array events that will attract more people from outside Blowing Rock.

“We’d like to open it before the summer of 2010, but it has to be fixed,” said Bryson.

“You can’t have a solid house on a shaky foundation. We need to make the Hayes Center more of a regional center. We need to make it appeal to people in a five-county area, not just the people of Blowing Rock.

“The board and staff are proud of the work that they have provided our community, and we commend Kenneth Kay and his staff for the manner in which they have coped with this difficult economic climate.”

Bryson stated that the board of trustees for the Hayes Center plans to meet with all center employees in two weeks to update them on the situation. Bryson and Stevens also indicated that board members would like to host a town hall-style meeting at the Hayes Center in the next couple of weeks to get feedback from local residents and business owners.

“That’s the one thing that’s been missing, we don’t have a working relationship with the town and businesses,” said Bryson.

“We started doing that this summer with Glidewell’s and a few other restaurants and the response has been tremendous. We’d like to do that in a more universal manner by partnering with hotels, restaurants and other area attractions.”

Added Stevens, “What’s been very heartening is all of the calls and emails we’ve been getting since (Tuesday) from people asking how they can help.”