WEST VALLEY CITY — After nearly losing more than a half-million dollars in ZAP tax money, Hale Centre Theatre officials have taken two major steps recommended by county leaders.
Hale officials have approved a 150 percent pay increase for their actors, meaning that performers will now make almost $30 per show. Also, three Hale family members who served on the board of directors and worked full time for the theater have removed themselves from the board.
The changes directly address the two criticisms that the theater faced when requesting Zoo, Arts and Parks money earlier this year from Salt Lake County. Though the Salt Lake County Council eventually approved funding of $585,000 for Hale Centre, the ZAP Tier I advisory board had recommended that the theater receive no funding because of low salaries for actors and high salaries paid to board members.
Hale Centre Executive Director Brent Lange said that a wage increase for actors has been on the theater's wish list for years and that it finally has the money to do it. The raises will include paid rehearsals as well as the increased performance wage.
Despite the wages, the actors will remain community members wanting to perform instead of professionals trying to make a living on the stage. That, Lange said, is one of the major draws for Hale Centre audiences.
"This is very much still a community theater," he said. "These are not going to the level" that would attract professionals.
As for the three Hale family members who have executive positions and serve on the board, Lange said their leaving the board "is a change that won't change anything." The three will still work as producers, providing invaluable expertise and experience for the plays, Lange said, and will still be paid. The reason they ever became an issue was because they were listed on tax filings as members of the board of directors who received salaries; now they will be listed simply as salaried producers.
"They were not paid for their positions on the board; they're paid for the 60 hours a week that come in to produce the shows," he said.
The ZAP money, which they received for the first time this year, will be used to update stage lighting, microphone systems and computer systems, Lange said. It will also be used to expand their educational and at-risk youth programs.
Salt Lake County Councilman Jim Bradley, who cast the lone vote against giving the theater ZAP funding, said he was mostly concerned that the money would be used for administrative costs instead of funding performances. The increased salary, as well as the removal of the administrators from the board, showed that it was improving its operation.
"It's a step in the right direction," Bradley said. "These are appropriate moves, so I'm pleased."
Councilman David Wilde, Hale Centre's most vocal supporter during the funding debate, said the moves continue what has been an excellent track record by Hale officials of responding to criticism. Even though he did not think it was necessary for all of the changes, their decisions demonstrate their willingness to work with county officials.
"I think that Hale Centre has been exemplary in responding to concerns that anybody raised," Wilde said. "They are becoming a great organization that is very worthy of ZAP money."
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com