The chairman of the theatre's board of trustees said the six-month closure would get the organization to the end of the fiscal year, then they will re-assess.
THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING A SUMMARY >>> THE CAROLINA THEATER IN DURHAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 100 YEARS BUT HAS BECOME ANOTHER VICTIM OF COVID-19 . THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE DECISION TO CLOSE FOR SIX MONTH DELAY OF THE STAFF. SARAH KRUEGER JOINS US WITH MORE ON THIS DECISION. SARAH? >> Reporter: THEY SAID THEY HAD TRIED EVERYTHING TO STAY OPEN BUT THEY HAD TO CLOSE TO SAVE MONEY. HE SAID THAT WAY WHEN THEY DERAIL BUT THEY WILL HAVE THE CASH TO DO SO. THE CAROLINA THEATER IS CLOSING DOWN FROM JANUARY THROUGH AT LEAST JUNE AND LAYING OFF 35 PEOPLE, WHICH IS 85% OF THE STAFF. >> THAT IS HEARTBREAKING. >> Reporter: REBECCA NEWTON IS THE FORMER CEO OF THE THEATER. SHE KNOWS A LOT OF THE STAFF PERSONALLY . >> I AM SAD FOR THEM AND I WISH THE VERY BEST FOR THEM. IT IS A UNIQUE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE. >> Reporter: THE THEATER TRIED EVERYTHING TO STAY AFLOAT FROM OUTDOOR CONCERTS TO SELLING CONCESSIONS, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH EXPECT THE PROBLEM IS TRY TO PAY PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE. >> Reporter: HE SAID CLOSING IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE A REOPENING WHEN IT IS SAFE. NC STATE ECONOMICS PROFESSOR MIKE WALDEN SAID IT WILL TAKE YEARS FOR THE JOB MARKET TO REBOUND. >> I'M THINKING WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET BACK TO THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT WE HAD UNTIL 2022 AND THEN THE JOB MARKET I THINK WILL TAKE TWO YEARS AT LEAST AND MAYBE EVEN LONGER. >> Reporter: SHE IS NOT CONFIDENT THE THEATER COULD REOPEN LIKE OLD TIMES ANY TIME SOON. SHE THINKS THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THE THEATER TO REINVENT ITSELF AND LEAD THE WAY. >> I THINK LEADERSHIP HAS TO BE INNOVATIVE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED. >> Reporter: THE BOARD CHAIR
