Conway Entertainment outlines 90-day overhaul of Lerner Theatre; council approves $75,000 transfer

Conway Entertainment Group on Monday told the Elkhart City Common Council it has begun a 90-day program to stabilize operations at the Lerner Theatre and reduce the venue’s reliance on city funds.

Conway representatives said they have focused on staffing, ticketing, marketing and facility maintenance while working with the Lerner governing board. “Our vision is to transform the Lerner into a world class venue of cultural enrichment for residents and visitors alike,” Conway principal Scott Welch said.

The report matters because the Lerner has required city subsidies since its renovation, and council members asked for clearer accounting of past shortfalls and how the venue will move toward financial stability. The council voted to move $75,000 from a Lerner full‑time wages line to a contract‑services account to continue contracted management while the general manager position remains vacant.

Interim Lerner director Sherry May summarized operational changes she said the team implemented during the interim: stakeholder engagement; restructuring the box office and creating a director of operations; reclassifying job titles in coordination with…