Colonial Fox receives survey results

The results are in, and the Colonial Fox Theatre has its place in Pittsburg.
A few months ago, Colonial Fox Theatre Foundation members hired Andrea Springer, a consultant with Hutchinson-based Springer Coaching and Consulting, to find out more about what citizens wanted to see in Pittsburg. Recently, they received the results to that survey, which Springer said shows that the Colonial Fox has its niche.
“Participants felt that there was a definite place for the Colonial Fox in the arts community in Pittsburg,” Springer said. “They don’t see it as competition for what’s already going on at the university, or at Memorial Auditorium. They see it filling a different role.
“There was a lot of affirmation for what’s already going on in the community. And at the same time, they saw gaps that they felt the Colonial Fox could fill.”
Springer said there were a wide variety of responses from the nearly 450 people surveyed through either questionnaires or personal interviews. But the trends showed that citizens were interested in three things — live performances, film presentation and community rentals.
“They wanted to see something appropriate for the venue,” said Vonnie Corsini, CFTF president. “They recognized that Memorial Auditorium was too large for some performances, and that there were many that would be more appropriate for the stage of the Colonial Fox.”
Corsini said live performance ideas ranged from local music acts to smaller theatrical productions. For films, she said the feeling wasn’t to show the big blockbusters. Instead, she said, responders felt that specialty and art films were more the way to go, with a possibility for future film festivals.
“We do have quite a few filmmakers in this area,” Corsini said. “When you have a university with the film and broadcast programs that we do, it’s a nice complement.”
Corsini said genre weekends where classic films were shown were also mentioned. In terms of public events, Corsini said the Colonial Fox could serve for receptions, lectures and business meetings.
Corsini said another part of the survey questioned the cost of a ticket, which, according to those surveyed, could range depending on the event.
The survey also asked for challenges for the theater, which ranged from minimal parking to funding.
“None of those were reasons to quit,” Corsini said. “But they are things that we will have to look at.”
Springer said the survey was important for a non-profit organization to maintain a connection with shareholders, in this case, Pittsburg citizens.
“A good board always remembers that they sit there as members of the community, as representatives of the community,” Springer said. “In one sense, it’s a stewardship issue. You’re trying to provide a service that people want to see there in town.
“The other side of it is that it’s not show art, it’s show business, and you want to put something in that people will pay money to participate in,” Springer said. “What better way to find out what people want to pay their hard-earned money for than to ask them?”
Springer said she was impressed with Pittsburg and its level of commitment to the project.
Corsini said the survey gave the foundation “a clear mandate to proceed” with the Colonial Fox.
“They all felt that the Colonial Fox’s revitalization would be a tipping point for downtown renaissance,” Corsini said. “It’s something that we’ve felt all along. It’s great that the community at large has that sense. We think the theater can become a jewel of Pittsburg.”

Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134