LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE WILL NOT POLL MEMBERS

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE HAS REJECTED A PROPOSAL TO POLL ITS MEMBERSHIP ON THE KIND OF NEW PERFORMANCE FACILITY THEY PREFER.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY THAT BOARD TREASURER BOB LASALLE PROPOSED THE POLL AT A MONDAY MEETING, BUT THE PANEL DENIED THE MOTION BY A 5-2 VOTE.  BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN AT ODDS AS TO THE TYPE OF NEW FACILITY TO BUILD TO REPLACE THE 95-SEAT THEATER ON WEST DEARBORN STREET.  ONE FACTION WANTS TO GO WITH A $12.2 MILLION DOLLAR, 300-SEAT THEATER AND RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE THAT COULD BRING IN ADDITIONAL INCOME TO THE PLAYHOUSE.  ANOTHER FACTION SAYS A FACILITY THAT BIG WILL BANKRUPT THE PLAYHOUSE, AND THEY PROPOSE A SMALLER THEATER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 200-250 SEATS WITH NO ADDITIONAL SPACE.  ELAINE MILLER, PRESIDENT OF SUNCOAST ARCHITECT AND THE DESIGNER OF THE PROPOSED NEW FACILITY, SAID A POLL WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION WOULD NOT RESULT IN AN INFORMED RESPONSE BY THEATER MEMBERSHIP.