Ocean State Theatre Company’s “Titanic Tale: From the Theater’s Maiden Voyage to its Sudden Demise

What a difference a few years can make in the life of a theater. On March 9 of this year, Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) issued an upbeat press release announcing the group’s plans for their 2017-2018 season. Producing Artistic Director Amiee Turner was “thrilled” to announce that tickets were on sale for the six-play season that would launch with a new musical version of Titanic, “the gripping story of the ocean liner’s maiden voyage and its tragic demise.”

Just five years earlier, Turner was equally upbeat at a June press conference announcing the group’s intention to relocate to Warwick. She was supported that day by Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, representatives from Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the head of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts. They announced that they were launching renovations to convert the former telecommunications company at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard into a “state-of-the-art” modern performance facility.

Both Mayor Avedisian and the Chamber of Commerce hailed OSTC as a “fantastic addition to our arts and cultural community” and eagerly anticipated the jump in revenue for local businesses that a new theater was sure to provide.

For the next five years, the group steadily produced season after season of crowd-pleasing live shows under an Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) contract. Their programming leaned heavily toward “great American Musicals,” and regularly the producers brought in performers from New York — and also quite often cast themselves in lead roles.

That is not to say that they were not committed to teaching and casting local talent. In fundraising materials, the theater made special mention that 60% of their performers and creative team were local. They created an annual fund earmarked to raise money to “ensure that their programming and casting decisions were based on the highest artistic standards, rather than being influenced by economic factors.”

Continued state financial support for the non-profit facility was announced this past January when the group received a $240,000 State Cultural Facilities Grant. As part of the Creative and Cultural Economy Bonds passed in 2014, the grants have been given to organizations expressly for venue improvements, contingent on the organization having matching funds in hand for the project.

To any outsider or audience member, things were going along as planned. There was no public sign of trouble, save for the occasional heavily discounted ticket being offered up on Goldstar. The last production of the 2016-2017 season, Victor/Victoria, garnered excellent reviews and the group was pushing last-minute ticket sales on TV, radio and Facebook right up until the show closed on May 21.

And then, on Wednesday May 23, the theater closed as well.

Media were informed first, in a succinct announcement stating “Ocean State Theatre to Close.” Suddenly it was not Producing Artistic Director Turner speaking for the theater, but the chairman of the board, Andy Cohen. Citing “ongoing financial struggles,” they were forced to close the theater. Everything was cancelled, effective immediately – summer shows, classes, camps — and their recently announced Titanic of a fall musical.

The outpouring of shock within the local theater community was immediate, with many taking to Facebook to express utter disbelief. Local theater professional Tom Lavallee explains, “I was definitely in a state of shock when I heard the news … A friend of mine shared the news article with me, asking for assurance because of my close ties with them … but I didn’t know anything of it.” Lavallee has been with the group for seven years, and was there when the group first opened the Jefferson Boulevard space in 2012. “I was one of the first employees there working behind tarps as walls answering phones …”

Even senior staff it seemed, were only informed of the situation when all was said and done. “As you can imagine, I am pretty devastated at the moment, so I haven’t really wrapped my brain around what has happened,” says Karen Kessler, director of marketing & public relations for OSTC. “The senior staff, of which I was a part, was informed about the closing Tuesday morning, just before the remainder of the staff…” When asked about the board announcement attributing the closing to income issues, Kessler admits, “I knew there were financial challenges,” she says, adding, “but is there an arts organization that doesn’t have financial challenges?”

Subscription packages had been on sale since they announced the plays on March 9 and were being sold right up until the group’s website was taken offline on May 23. Summer camp registrations had been processed and payment plan reminders sent repeatedly to families to submit in full before the May 30 deadline.

Longtime subscriber Sharon Lyons Montecalvo says she is very disappointed in the group. “I’m angry that they would have so easily taken our money, considering that we’ve been loyal since they opened, and have not reached out to those like us. I’ve lost respect for them.”

Equally dismayed is Father John Soares, pastor at St. Thomas Church in Providence. Soares and two friends recently purchased a $200 “Thrifty Thursdays” subscription the theater was offering. “I heard about the closing by seeing it on someone’s Facebook page. We are not happy that they were in such bad financial shape and still taking money from consumers who had no idea of what was going on!”

News came the day after the venue’s closing that the landlord’s view of the situation was slightly different than that of the OSTC board. Mutual Properties’ Stephen Soscia filed a formal eviction complaint on May 19. In the filing, the landlord sought approximately $861,000 in rent and fees owed to them by OSTC. The complaint also puts the theater’s annual rent at approximately $253,000. Tax records show the theater reported on average $400,000 paid annually in “Occupancy” expenses. Per IRS regulations, “Occupancy” totals include the organization’s rent, plus heat, light, power, insurance and other expenses.

With the lawsuit and the public outcry for answers, the closing of OSTC has quickly developed into a “he said/she said” legal scenario. The one voice that has been noticeably silent throughout all of this is that of longtime artistic director and producer Amiee Turner.

I reached out to Turner for her reaction to the group’s reported financial struggles. Not surprisingly, her replies to my questions were guarded. “Although I have been the voice of the organization for more than 10 years, I am not in a position to say anything publicly at this time.”

Turner is currently in rehearsals for Sunday in the Park with George as part of the North Carolina Summer Rep at the University of NC, Greensboro. Aside from launching this newest production in just a few days in North Carolina, she is unclear as to what lies next for her. “Honestly, I’m not sure,” she replied. “The outpouring of emotions from artists and staff has been pretty overwhelming this week. I am thinking it may be time to take my first summer off in 11 years. Maybe I’ll finally get to spend some time on one of the beautiful beaches here in Rhode Island.”

Meanwhile patrons, students, artists and more await word on how – or if – their faith in the sinking ship formerly called Ocean State Theatre might be salvaged.