David Cassidy on the Web
"An Authentic David Cassidy White Jumpsuit"
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009
Who Says Venango County Isn't Open To New Ideas?
The Derrick / News-Herald
Miller nears first anniversary as Barrow manager.
April will mark one year on the job for John Miller as manager of the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin.
Miller stepped into the position last spring during a time of struggle for the theater. But since his arrival, he has sparked new life and ideas that have positively benefited the historic venue.
Miller said he first learned about the Barrow several years ago while on a field trip there with another theater to examine some renovation and expansion work being done.
"From the second I stepped in, I loved this theater," Miller said.
He said that when he graduated from college he realized he had a knack for theater management but his real dream was to perform, so he left home in Ohio to pursue acting.
"The whole time I was in Los Angeles, I periodically called this theater (the Barrow) checking for job openings; I couldn't get it out of my mind," Miller said.
He said working at the Barrow is the result of the "planets aligning."
He said the sequence of events, along with timing and opportunity, is what brought him back to the theater that so quickly enchanted him years before.
For Miller, coming to a small town and theater was a dramatic change of lifestyle after living in various big cities for the past seven years.
"I had to realign myself with the small town atmosphere, which I love," Miller said.
He also faced some difficulties stepping into the role of theater manager.
"It came with many unexpected challenges. The settling in process still continues. I need a year before I've been through everything," he said.
Miller also thinks his previous experiences are an asset to his position.
"Because of my experience in L.A., I have a deeper appreciation for this theater than I did even the first time around," said Miller, who added that what's also unique about the Barrow is the community support.
"There is a tremendous pride in the community over what they did to renovate the building; it's the appreciation that they have that makes this special," Miller said.
He said he's tried to implement new ideas and programs at the theater while keeping a critical eye on the successes and failures.
"I've been continuing to carefully analyze what works and what needs improvement and when I switch gears, I try to do it slowly and with respect for the familiarity that everybody has for the theater," Miller said.
One of Miller's ideas was the addition of a dinner theater.
"It was an idea I had for a long time; I once considered opening my own dinner theater. When the Barrow was looking to expand its use of the Little Theatre, bells went off. It was an opportunity to do dinner theater and also to do some original work," he said.
The Little Theatre hosted two dinner theater shows last fall, the first was sold out and the second ran longer and doubled the attendance of the first show.
"I think it's its own niche of entertainment that needed to be filled," Miller said of the dinner theater.
"One of our biggest successes, as far as growth, is season ticket holders," said Miller, who added that the season ticket program is only three years old but its numbers have quadrupled since last year.
"The success of the youth theater has maintained itself and had steady growth for years. We're starting to attempt daytime shows for high schools, in addition to elementary schools, through the Franklin Civic Operetta Association," Miller said.
He said the theater is also beginning to offer "special daytime shows as part of our educational outreach program" that are geared toward high school-aged children, beginning with this spring's production of "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Miller's biggest project at the Barrow so far is the upcoming March 27 concert by David Cassidy.
A huge fan of Cassidy himself, Miller is thrilled to be bringing such a big name to the Barrow stage.
"It's a big deal, I think he's the biggest celebrity that the theater has ever brought in. When I first suggested it, some thought it was impossible and now we're nearly sold out," Miller said.
Some thought the prices Miller set for the two front rows ($100) was asking too much, but "I knew the fan base intimately and the front row sold out in 10 minutes," he said.
Miller knows the fans intimately because he has been a Cassidy fan since childhood and even owns an authentic David Cassidy white jumpsuit.
"There is a baby boomer niche in the area that's been overlooked. I have seen him in concert and I know what the attendance is like," he said.
Miller also said the concert is an opportunity to bring out-of-towners to Franklin and "its working."
"This is a dream come true for me," Miller said about Cassidy's scheduled appearance.
When asked about the importance of the theater in a small-town environment, Miller said it's "extremely important because traditionally during hard times, sales for three things increase, alcohol, tobacco and entertainment. The entertainment industry tends to hold its own through hard times."
But Miller isn't just trying to put on shows, he's striving for excellence.
"The quality of a product speaks for itself and like (Kevin) Costner said of his ballfield (in "Field of Dreams"), do good theater and people will come," Miller said.
