Fairfield council delays new operator, extends downtown theater contract after weeks of public outcry

The Fairfield City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 18 to extend the downtown theater’s management with the Downtown Theatre Foundation for the Arts (DTFA) for two years and directed staff to negotiate a revised contract with new oversight requirements after a heated public debate over the city staff’s recommendation to pursue a different operator.

The move followed an extended public‑comment period in which dozens of residents, arts leaders and students urged the council to pause the selection process for Rogers Creative Enterprises (RCE), the staff‑recommended operator, and to investigate allegations that surfaced in recent weeks. Speakers opposing RCE described alleged financial irregularities, missing receipts, and the company’s legal letters to community members who had criticized its founder. “This council should not be discussing contracts or performance until…