What won't get said

Once again, we have an expansion of programs at the Rogers Little Theater. It's funded by Cox and Wal-Mart. That could never be a bad thing, right? This is my favorite part: "Theater officials wanted to expand children’s theater o(ff)erings to include afternoon classes, musical theater classes for teens and to create new performance opportunities for the students."
So what is my problem with this? I'll tell you that if you can tell me where in that sentence it says the theater will be open more nights. Let's face it, this second-rate theater draws a third-rate crowd.


Ooh, but it's great for the arts. Well, yes, like Lincoln Logs are great for improving architecture and Easy-Bake Ovens are great for improving the culinary world. Go downtown any day of the week, especially weekends. What you'll find is a dead building that only succeeds in taking up space.
Over the past year, the downtown merchants have banded together like never before, approaching problems with the what's-good-for-the-whole philosophy. Noticeably absent from the discussions have been any proposals that would help turn the Victory Theater, a city-owned building, could play a part in drawing more traffic to the downtown.
On nights that the theater is open, there is a line out the door sometimes reaching the Daisy Museum. You can imagine what it looks like when it's not open.
But there is a reason this angle will never be discussed in the Morning News. Editor Rusty Turner is also on the Rogers Little Theater board of directors. Is it any question the board members aren't listed anywhere the public can easily find them?
But there's hope, because the Daily Record staff, being independent from the Morning News, at least according to Sunday's editorial. Too bad Rusty's also running the Daily Record newsroom. And the Springdale Morning News and the Northwest Arkansas Times. I wish I could put a clever spin on this, but this situation still has me stunned and without a snappy retort with which to close.