THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509090114
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
THERE'S NO SIGN OUT that says ``Under New Management,'' but patrons of Willett Hall soon should realize some changes in the city-owned auditorium.
Ports Events and City Council made a three-year deal July 1 ,and Linda Lamm, director of Ports Events, became responsible for Willett.
``We've been working since then to make some cosmetic improvements,'' Lamm said recently. ``We're trying to get everything cleaned and repaired to give the people who come there a good feeling about the hall.''
Ports Events is a private, non-profit agency organized primarily to stage Portsmouth's Downtown waterfront events. By giving the management authority to Ports Events, the city is providing for more flexible management, which many believe is necessary to make the hall a profitable enterprise.
The city has budgeted $424,000 for the operation of the hall this year. Ports Events will be paid a management fee and all profits will be returned to the city. Employees will be on the Ports Events, rather than the city, payroll.
``I think we can make it work to the city's adavantage,'' Lamm said.
Willett Hall, named after businessman and community leader T.A. Willett, was constructed about 45 years ago when the adjacent school was built to house the city's Woodrow Wilson High School. However, the auditorium was built as a community facility.
It seats 2,000 people and is one of the most comfortable halls in the region. It was completely refurbished less than 10 years ago.
``There are no really bad seats in it,'' Lamm said. ``It has a wonderful feeling of intimacy despite that it seats approximately the same number as Harrison Opera House and Chrysler Hall.''
She said she believes the right programming and the right promotion will make it a popular venue for shows that will attract people from a wide area.
``The nearby, well-lighted free parking is a real asset,'' she said.
Programming for this year is off to a slow start since much of the booking for a full-fledged season should have been done prior to the July 1 contract signing.
``But we'll have a good season anyway,'' Whit Collins, manager of Willett, said recently. Collins, formerly associated with Virginia Beach's Events Unlimited, was hired by Lamm to run the hall.
``I'm daily in contact with promoters, booking agents and entertainers,'' Collins said. ``We're looking at everything and we'll stay open to any proposals.''
Meanwhile, he's also ``looking to next year'' when Ports Events expects to present a full schedule of entertainment events.
The popular children's theater series will be continued, he said.
``Goldilocks,'' presented by Living Arts for Students of Knoxville, Tenn., is booked for Oct. 10 and ``Treasure Island'' by Class Productions, also of Knoxville, is booked for Oct. 16.
Collins said he also has booked Richmond's Theater IV for children's performances of ``Stuart Little'' in December, ``The Pied Piper'' in February and ``The Tortoise and the Hare'' in April.
The Norfolk Parks and Recreation Department has booked the hall on Dec. 6 for its ``Dance Magic'' program and the Hurrah Players will stage ``Jack and the Beanstalk'' at Willett for a week in March.
The backbone of the season will be the 57th season of the Portsmouth Community Concert Association, the local membership organization that has used Willett Hall for all of its presentations since the auditorium was constructed.
That series will open with a performance by the Richmond Ballet on Nov. 11, when members of the state dance company also will conduct free activities for local school students.
Other performances include Brenda Boozer, mezzo soprano, Dec. 9; Vienna Choir Boys, Jan. 13; and the Xavier Cugat Orchestra, a 13-piece band and three dancers who will present a tribute to Carmen Miranda on April 8.
Several gospel plays also are booked in the fall, including ``Where Do I Go From Here,'' Oct. 19-20; ``Before You Get to Me, You Gotta Get to God,'' Nov. 3; and ``Ain't Nothing Like Family,'' Nov. 28-29.
The ACC Heritage of America Band, a unit of the U.S. Air Force, will bring its Christmas show to Willett on Dec. 7.
Collins said he expects to have several other free performances by military bands, and he is planning to book some big band music and several popular comedians. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
A sculpture of dancers greets patrons to Willett Hall programs.
by CNB