Roanoke Rapids looks to renegotiate Parton contract
Randy Parton (Image from rptheatre.com)
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. -- City Council members in Roanoke Rapids say they are negotiating a revised contract with Randy Parton for his work at his namesake theater.
City leaders wouldn't discuss details, but they've hired an advertising firm to help raise attendance at the 1,500-seat venue.
The Randy Parton Theatre has been touted as the centerpiece of a growing entertainment district that should eventually include hotels, retail stores and a nearby aquatic center.
The city borrowed $21.5 million to build the theater and leases it to Parton for just over $41,000 a month, though critics say the project was mishandled and could go bankrupt.
Parton has already used most of a $3 million reserves fund, and he gets about $750,000 in artist's fees.
Parton is the brother of country music star Dolly Parton.
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"The city is attempting to negotiate a revised contract with Randy Parton concerning the management of the Randy Parton Theatre. The negotiations are continuing. When negotiations are complete and a revised contract has been signed; the details of that revised contract will become public record. It's not appropriate to discuss the details of a proposed contract while negotiations are ongoing."