Washington theater's closure has ripple effect on local economy

The historic Turnage Theater in downtown Washington normally hosts plays, concerts, comedy and children's camps, but the coronavirus has caused it to close its doors.

Posted 3:25 p.m. Apr 3, 2020 — Updated 9:37 p.m. Apr 3, 2020

WASHINGTON, N.C. — When a local theater has to shut down because of a pandemic, the entire community's economy can be affected.

The historic Turnage Theater in downtown Washington normally hosts plays, concerts, comedy and children's camps, but the coronavirus has caused it to close its doors.

"It's meant that events have been canceled. Artists haven't been paid. Technicians weren't able to work," said Debra Torrence heads the Arts of the Pamlico, a regional arts council that runs the theater.

The historic Turnage Theater in downtown Little Washington is now home to ARTS of the Pamlico. (Photo Courtesy of Washington Tourism Development Authority)

The closure has also left the theater's nearly 100 local and regional vendors potentially out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"Caterers, paper goods, lodging, printers, beverages, advertising...all of those have stopped their work for us," Torrence said.

It's a ripple effect that can hurt any economy, especially a rural one, she said.

“Some restaurants count on us for almost 30 percent of their income, so when we stop operations that means they stop operations.," Torrence said.

Torrence said she is thinking outside the box to continue arts activities in the area, including virtual galleries and art classes through the organization's website.

The Turnage Theater is truly a community hub with buildings dating back to 1910. It was set to be demolished in the 1970s but a local group worked to save it. The Arts of the Pamlico took over its operation in 2014.

Suggest A Correction