FOXY

posted by James Reel

Yesterday I stayed home in the morning to fend off a cold, but I had to rally sufficiently to attend an afternoon meeting with Jim Williams, the new executive director of the Fox Tucson Theatre. We’re trying to work out a co-production with the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, of which I’m the vice-president. As of this morning it looks like that show might not happen because of a sudden change of itinerary of the touring ensemble we were going to present, but talking with Jim and his staff was an interesting experience. This project was first discussed toward the end of the tenure of Williams’ predecessor, Herb Stratford, when it was all very informal with a “Hey, kids, let’s put on a show in the barn” atmosphere. Not with Williams.

With his thinning gray hair and ponytail, he looks like an old hippie, but don’t be deceived by the bohemian appearance (which, after all, you really need if you’re working downtown). The first thing he wanted was a detailed budget and revenue projection (which, after all, you really need if you’re a serious manager). The Fox is a glorious art-deco 1930 movie palace, sparkling under a $13 million renovation, but since it reopened in 2005 it has struggled to break even. The place needs to do better than that: Once it starts turning a profit, it has to begin repaying a $5.6 million city loan that allowed the Fox to complete its renovation. If there’s no payment by 2011, the Fox will have to come up with $1.5, or else. I suspect “or else” means the city will take over the non-profit organization and its lovely theater.

So Williams has some hard work ahead of him. Based on the single hour I’ve spent with him, I’d say he has the right mindset for the job.