![Main Street Milton has ceased all negotiations to manage the Imogene Theatre in Milton. According to Main Street, part of the reason came from a national vendor pulling out of its deal to bring acts to the theatre following the specially called City Council meeting for Main Street in July. [FILE PHOTO]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-91afe3d5-a725-5f57-e053-0100007f1bd5-45dd5104.jpeg)
MILTON — Main Street Milton has announced they have put a halt to negotiations to manage historic Imogene Theatre.
MSM Executive Director Edward Spears said following a special meeting of the City Council in July to discuss the multiple concerns made public by city officials and citizens regarding the program, the national vendors that were to partner with MSM to bring in regional and national acts for the Imogene have decided against working with MSM.
"They advised that they were stepping aside until a later date. If things might change, then they may come back to they table," Spears said.
Spears said without the vendors to help bring in the acts MSM was unable to proceed with their plans for the theatre and would be ceasing all activities at the Imogene, including the Bands After Dark program. He said he also recommended to the MSM board that they cease all negotiations on the contract to manage Imogene.
"My recommendation is that we hit pause and wait and see how the environment changes and improves," Spears said.
MSM President Cassandra Sharp said she agreed with the recommendation and asked the board to think of ways that MSM could continue to help Imogene continue at the level it has been at over the years.
"I think we can all agree that this is a huge opportunity for our downtown," Sharp said. "And a very viable aspect of our downtown for bringing people (in)."
Sharp, who is also vice-president of the Santa Rosa Historical Society, the organization that owns and operates Imogene, said the SRHS board had not yet met to plan for the next steps on how to proceed following MSM's decision to end negotiations. She said the theatre would still be available to rent for functions.
With MSM ending negotiations, the Imogene Theatre will be without a management company until the historical board can find a replacement for the theatre after they parted ways with their former management company.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: MSM ends negotiations to manage Imogene