El Morro seeks community input

Patrons line up to enter El Morro Theater in downtown Gallup. [Independent file photo]

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — Beverly Newman, manager of the El Morro Theater, is hoping the community will show a bit more support for the facility.

“We’re trying to raise revenues,” she said.

The city recently finalized its fiscal year 2009 budget, and one thing became pretty clear. The city needs far more money than it has. As part of the effort to cut costs, the city is taking a look at public facilities, which are projected to have total expenses exceeding $2 million in FY2009.

The El Morro is projected to cost about $145,000 to operate. The hope is that with more attractions and some repairs that people will start coming to the shows.

“It’s a quality of life thing,” Newman explains.

Next year, Newman hopes to have some more concerts and dance groups come to the theater to increase ticket sales. She’s targeting the acts for the fall, because, she says, it’s hard to draw a crowd this time of year when many people are engaged in outdoor activities or on vacation.

“We’ve done some plays and they didn’t go well, because people are out of town,” she said.

The theater will continue to show its Saturday children’s matinees, and she’s working with the children’s library to coordinate events where kids read a book and then see the movie for comparisons. She’s also hoping that as gas prices rise and people seek affordable entertainment in town that they’ll consider going to the theater.

City Manager Gerald Herrera says that lodgers tax money will be spent for some renovations, including new curtains and repairs to the camera system.

Newman is also seeking input from the community. She would like to know what acts they would come to see.

“They’re more than welcome to make suggestions. We like to hear from people in the community what shows they want,” she says.

Information: 726-0050.