Roswell community theater closing its doors

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By Ralph Ellis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Christmas Eve won't bring much cheer to the Kudzu Playhouse.

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Wally Hinds and Jeannie Hinds inside their Kudzu Theater in Roswell as actors practice for a Christmas play in the background. They have run the Kudzu Playhouse for two decades, but they are closing the doors at the end of the month because they can't pay the rent.

Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.co Wally Hinds and Jeannie Hinds inside their Kudzu Theater in Roswell as actors practice for a Christmas play in the background. They have run the Kudzu Playhouse for two decades, but they are closing the doors at the end of the month because they can't pay the rent.

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That's when the curtain really drops at the 20-year-old community theater in Roswell. It's being evicted from the Brannon Square shopping center in Roswell – its home for three years.

“The economy’s been bad and we’ve fallen behind in our lease,” said Wally Hinds, who runs the theater with his wife, Jeannie.

They have to be out by mid-January. The last production, “A Christmas Carol,” closes Dec. 24.

Many arts groups are struggling in the down economy, but some community theater groups cut costs by using public performance space. The Hindses rented a former movie theater and depended on ticket sales, which have dropped about 50 percent over two years.

They are retired and devote themselves to the Kudzu theater, which occupied several locations in Roswell and was always a family affair. Some young actors are second generation.

“We have lots of Tiny Tims who are now married with kids of their own,” Jeannie Hinds said.

The actors are committed, too. Brink Miller said he's played Ebenezer Scrooge 16 straight years.

“They’re an actor-friendly theater,” he said. “I’m sure I can find a place to do my thing, but my primary place to do my acting over the last 20 years is the Kudzu Playhouse."

Another community theater that’s struggling is the Blackwell Playhouse in Marietta. Owner John Christian hasn’t called it quits yet, but he sent a letter to supporters asking for donations.

“Since July, we have been losing $ 10,000 a month," he wrote. "I can’t do it any more without help.”

Wally Hinds said the landlord for the shopping center says the Roswell theater group owes about $75,000. The landlord, Butler Properties/Management Associates of Atlanta, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Jeannie Hinds said they are refunding season ticket purchases and down payments made for summer camps. They also have to finish three holiday productions and move out the props, costumes and objects that come with a theater.

Wally Hinds was not optimistic about starting a new theater at another location.

“With the economy being like it is we don’t know what we’ll do,” he said. “I’m not sure the theater base is enough to accommodate the number of theaters in Atlanta.”