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ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- St. George Musical Theater officials have appealed to the city to postpone the demolition of their home.
The theater is housed in the old Woodward Gym, behind the Woodward School on Tabernacle Street just west of Main Street. The city owns the building and has allowed the theater to use it for free for a few years.
The city wants the building demolished by Dec. 31 as part of plans for a new town square.
The theater officials have asked for an extension at least through its current season, and preferably for four or five years so it can build a new facility.
Ronald Parker, chairman of the theater's interim board of directors, said keeping the theater downtown would bring more people to the town square.
Mayor Dan McArthur said delaying plans for the square what be counter to what city officials have pledged to do.
City Manager Gary Esplin said the building would be an eyesore in the middle of the new town square, and delaying demolition could increase costs.
Parker said the theater group would like to build a 450-seat facility on two or three acres. City officials said there likely was not room for it downtown.
Lee Caldwell, president of Dixie State College, spoke in support of the theater and said it is proposed to become a charter program of the college.
If approved, the charter would allow the college to help provide some operating services for the theater.
He said the problem was how to keep the theater operating until a building is constructed.
Esplin said the city likely could work around the current season, but it already has started work on the town square.
Councilwoman Gail Bunker said she would like to see the city give the theater at least a year and a half to find a different location, but there little support among other council members for extending the deadline.
Information from: The Spectrum,
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
