Bay Theatre Public Forum Back On For Tonight

The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay will host a public forum tonight (Tuesday) after all to discuss future plans for the theater’s operation. The forum had previously been canceled, with theater manager Erik Bahle telling The Ticker that a private meeting of The Bay’s “newly created advisory group” would take place instead. However, the advisory committee ultimately decided to invite the public to the meeting as originally planned. The forum will take place this evening at 6pm at the theater.
 
Last Tuesday, the Bahle family, who have owned and operated The Bay since the mid-1970s, hosted a public forum to discuss the theater’s closure. The Bahles had announced in Novemberthat The Bay would cease operation at the end of December. The forum was about trying to find a way to keep the venue open under new leadership, and ideas were floated for a community-run theater.
 
At the end of the meeting, Erik Bahle asked those who were interested in actively working on The Bay Theatre project to stick around. Those individuals formed an advisory group, naming Rick Andrews to lead the efforts. Andrews and the rest of the advisory team will be on hand this evening to answer questions and provide the public with an update on their progress.
 
According to an email newsletter sent to Bay Theatre subscribers, Andrews has established three priorities for moving forward: 1) build a team; 2) establish a workable financial and legal structure for the theater; and 3) build an action plan for transitioning management from the Bahle family to a new organization. The advisory group has reportedly already met with the Bahles to learn more about the theater’s finances and operations.
 
Those wishing to stay up to date with the latest on The Bay Theatre can join the theater’s email list online.