MDC Approves Proposal To Found New Theatre

The controversial proposal to found a theatre and arts center on Soldiers Field Road was approved last week by a 3-2 vote of the Metropolitan District Commission.

According to the projected lease between the MDC and the Metropolitan Boston Arts Center (MeBAC), the state will furnish the land and finance the construction of a tent theatre while MeBAC--a private corporation--will operate the center. It is hoped that the theatre will be ready by July 1 for a 10-week summer season.

The MDC voted down efforts by Commissioners Milton Cook and David Mintz to amend or postpone approval of the measure. Mintz questioned whether state support of the project was a proper use of public funds and urged a reexamination on this score.

No Broader Representation

Cook called for broader representation of local theatre groups on the MeBAC board, but was overruled by the 3-2 majority. For several weeks, the Group 20 Players of Wellesley have criticized MeBAC on the grounds that all three "theatre experts" on its board are officials of the Cambridge Drama Festival, a local drama company.

MeBAC has awarded the first season in the new theatre to the CDF, and Group 20 argues that this move represents favoritism which threatens to drive other theatre groups out of business.

Though the Commission rejected Cook's motion for broader representation, Chairman Charles W. Greenough said he would request the arts center to set up a "theatre advisory group" including representatives of Group 20, the Poets' Theatre, the Brattle Theatre, and other such groups in the Boston area.

Some controversy was aroused at the MDC meeting Thursday because the arts center issue was not placed on the agenda until noontime of that day. Cook urged that a decision be postponed in order to allow further time to study the lease, but he was voted down.