June 22, 2009: Dale Vivirito, Executive Director of the Valentine Theatre (400 N. Superior St., Toledo) since 1998, has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2009, after 11 years of service to the theatre and the Toledo arts community.

Vivirito has steered the historic, 901-seat theatre for more than ten seasons, establishing use of the theatre by more than 40 community groups including the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Opera, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Society, and University of Toledo.

Under Vivirito’s management, the Valentine presented more than 380 performances serving more than 480,000 patrons and generating more than $11 million in ticket sales, sponsorships, program advertising, rental income, and concessions. In total, this generated $27.5 million in economic impact for downtown Toledo.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to guide the Valentine over these past 11 years,” said Vivirito. “Keeping a 900-seat theatre in the black has been a terrific challenge—which we have met. I thank the community for its support, and the staff and board for their hard work and continued faith in my abilities.”

Opened in 1895, the historic Valentine Theatre is a 901-seat venue operated by the Toledo Cultural Arts Center. After a 21-year effort by the board of trustees and community, the theatre underwent a $28 million renovation, which was unveiled in October, 1999. Since then, more than 480,000 people have attended more than 380 international, national, and local presentations. For more information, visit www.valentinetheatre.com.

The Toledo Cultural Arts Center (TCAC), which operates the Valentine, has entered into a 5-year contract with the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) to fulfill Vivirito’s role effective July 1, and provide comprehensive management services to the board.

CAPA is currently celebrating 40 years of service, which began with the acquisition and renovation of the 2,791-seat, historic Ohio Theatre in Columbus. CAPA owns and manages two additional historic theatres in Columbus—the 2,837-seat Palace Theatre and the 925-seat Southern Theatre.

CAPA also manages four theatres for the State of Ohio in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts—the Capitol Theatre (903 seats), Studio One (227 seats), Studio Two (187 seats), and Studio Three (60 seats)—and one theatre for the City of New Haven CN, the 1,655-seat, historic Shubert Theater.

Most recently, CAPA entered into an agreement with the City of Columbus to fully renovate the historic, Egyptian Revival-style Lincoln Theatre and operate the venue for the Lincoln Theatre Association. This 566-seat, state-of-the-art venue reopened in May 2009 as Ohio’s only urban performing arts and education center.

CAPA currently has 19 resident arts organizations in Columbus and New Haven, and manages ten additional resident arts groups for the Lincoln Theatre Association in Columbus.

CAPA is also engaged in eight shared service collaborations, providing a range of customized back office services to the Contemporary American Theatre Company, Franklin Park Conservatory, Opera Columbus, and the Phoenix Theatre for Children in Columbus, Ohio, and the New Haven Ballet, New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and Yale School of Music in New Haven, Connecticut.

“CAPA brings 40 years of experience in theatre management to the Valentine,” stated Marty Porter, Director of the Toledo School for the Arts. “We look forward to working with them to support the future of the theatre and welcome their expertise to the Toledo arts community.”

“CAPA will be supporting a celebrated Ohio arts institution within a strong arts community,” said Keith Burwell, President of the Toledo Community Foundation. “In a challenging economy, a partnership like this is a smart business decision, the effects of which will bolster the entire arts community.”