After some major financial problems, the board of directors at Interplayers is merging operations with the Lake City Playhouse of Coeur d’Alene. The merger, announced Monday, gives operational control of Interplayers to Lake City. The playhouse’s artistic director George Green will oversee both companies.
Interplayers was started in 1980, and brings in auditioning actors from around the country. Those paid actors work with local actors in Interplayers productions. But in recent years Interplayers has been trying to find ways to get more financial support. That included season ticket sales and corporate and individual sponsorships, but not enough to keep the effort afloat.
The staff and board members sought help from the Lake City Playhouse in Coeur d'Alene. While Interplayers is a professional company that pays their actors. Lake City Playhouse, as a community theater, does not, although both organizations have paid professional staffs.
Lake City Executive Artistic Director George Green was able to turn around a money losing organization when he came on board a few years ago, and say he is optimistic that strategy can be used to save Interplayers as well.
Green: “We turned around the core product, and efficiently without have ing to spend a whole lot of dollars and find ways to partner in the community, and partnering with organizations and take some faith in what the new goals are going to be.”
Green says one production, “The Hound of the Baskervilles” will be canceled, but the opener “Broadway Bound “ will continue. The rest of the season is still intact.
Green says they are considering options as to whether they will rename Interplayers theater.