MU will play a large role in the future of the Missouri Theatre as a result of an agreement between the university and the Missouri Symphony Society, the current owners and operators of the historic downtown venue.
The agreement gives MU the right to lease and manage the theater for three years, with the option to purchase the venue at the end of that period. According to a news release, MU will pay $12,000 per month, which will be taken out of the campus rental account. The cost of purchasing the Missouri Theatre is $3.7 million. College of Arts and Science Dean Mike O’Brien said the negotiations have been taking place for months.
“I think eventually buying the Missouri Theatre is a wonderful option,” he said. “The university currently [has plans to build a new music facility](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/6/1/upcoming-campaign-centers-new-performing-arts-cent/), which includes a new performance center. Why build that when we have the Missouri Theatre? It would also save millions in construction costs.”
School of Music Dean Robert Shay agrees.
“The School of Music is very happy about the new deal,” he said. “The Missouri Theatre is much more beautiful and has much better acoustics than other music halls.”
The UM System Board of Curators, which was briefed on the transaction, will have to approve the purchase.
“The board has been behind every effort to construct a new Performing Arts Center for the university, so I think they will very seriously consider approving the purchase,” he said.
The staff of Jesse Auditorium, headed by John Murray, will now also manage the Missouri Theatre. Murray thinks his staff will be able to increase both the number of events in the Missouri Theatre and the attendance to those events.
“Fortunately, I have a lot of talented people working presently,” he said. “We’ll learn the Theater’s operation soon, but we will also need to increase the size of the staff.”
The 83-year-old Missouri Theatre, constructed in 1928 and renovated in 2008, sits on the corner of Locust and Ninth streets. The theatre, which holds 1,216 seats, has housed community events such as the True/False Film Festival and music concerts from the School of Music and will add new events to the program.
These programs will be transferred from Jesse Auditorium, which cannot meet the demand exceeding its 1,732 seats. Murray said the decisions of which events will be moved to the Missouri Theater depend on how appropriate each event is for the venue.
Murray said the Up Next Comedy Show taking place at the Missouri Theatre this Friday is an example of what kind of events will be held there.
The deal also aims to alleviate MOSS of the debt it uncured after renovating the building. Previously, the Missouri Theatre relied on private donations.
“This is a great opportunity for the city and the university to keep a historic jewel of the community an active operation,” Murray said.
Both parties involved in the agreement view the Missouri Theatre as valuable to both the community and MU.
“The deal seemed like a good idea so everyone involved immediately jumped on board,” he said. “The agreement will be officially signed next week.”
The Missouri Symphony Society could not be reached for comment before deadline.