PADUCAH INVESTS IN ARTS; PADUCAH'S MARKET HOUSE THEATRE IS EXPANDING, AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS RAISING $20 MILLION TO BUILD A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

PADUCAH, Ky -- As construction is being completed this month on the second phase of a $1.1 million expansion of the Market House Theatre, the Paducah Chamber of Commerce is spearheading a capital campaign to raise $20 million to build another, larger performing arts complex. The Four Rivers Center will welcome Broadway musicals and become the permanent home of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra.

When completed, the two performing arts venues will stand a block apart in the city's historic downtown district near the Ohio River. Together they will be the two newest symbols of the city's investment in the arts.

"The arts are important to this community," Market House Theatre executive director Michael Cochran says.

The century-old Market House Building was standing in the way of a wrecking ball when the city's beautification board stepped in during the 1960s. A National Register of Historic Places designation was obtained for the entire square.

The city still owns the building but allows the theater, a museum and an art gallery to occupy it through an open-ended lease.

"It brings business downtown," Cochran said, explaining one reason for the city's largess. "We do a lot with tourism."

More than 40,000 attend its productions annually, and it's a regional draw, with audience members coming from as far as 100 miles away.

Cochran estimates 90 percent of the theater's $250,000 annual operating budget goes back into the local community.

The new project involves renovation of three addresses across the street from the Market House Building. The former owner, Petter's Supply Co., discovered it could not use the buildings but could not sell them because of their historic significance.

The buildings were given to the theater in exchange for its promise to restore them to their original condition.

As a nonprofit organization, the theater qualified for a number of grants to help pay for the restoration. More help came in the form of a $492,000 community development block grant.

A grass-roots campaign also is under way to bring in donations from corporations and individuals. A Wall of Stars has been created to recognize donors of $1,000 or more.

The current Market House Theatre project began with replacement of the 30-year-old heating and cooling systems in the Market House Building.

The phase being completed this month will provide the theater with classroom space, a second performance space, a scene shop, a box office and administrative offices.

The third phase of the project, to be finished in August, will add two apartments and three retail shops to the Market House complex. The apartments will house guest artists.

Cochran, who has a master of fine arts degree in theater from the University of Alabama and SIU, assumed leadership of the theater from his wife, April, two years ago. He says they inherited a long history of quality theatrical performances.

"There is a commitment on the part of the community to have adults and children of the area be involved in the arts," he said.

The theater has five full-time staffers who give free classes in the schools in addition to mounting productions specifically targeted for adults, seniors and children. The theater also sponsors a new playwright series.

The current production is the comedy "Dearly Departed."

Many people bring out-of-town guests downtown specifically to see the theater, Cochran said.

"It has become an asset to the community."

The Four Rivers Center was hatched in a conversation 2 1/2 years ago between two Paducah men, an ophthalmologist and the owner of a dry cleaning business. The Chamber of Commerce took the ball and is sprinting.

"It's the one thing lacking in our quality of life resume here in Paducah," said Phillip Lyles, who is helping market the project.

"There are a lot of things to do -- go to the movies, to the restaurants. But we needed something a little more well-rounded."

Lyles' wife, Desiree Owen, is directing the campaign for the Chamber of Commerce.

The big boost came in a $5 million challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The endowment fund now holds nearly $10 million to be used for operating costs, and the governor of Kentucky has just committed $12 million more in surplus state money to the project.

"We got the biggest nongovernment chunk of the surplus fund," Lyles said. "It's unusual for Paducah to come in for that. Usually it's Louisville or some other big city."

Another $8 million is needed before construction begins, and that money will be raised through a broader campaign, Lyles said. Plans call for the center to open in the summer of 2000.

The city will own the building, which will be operated by a nonprofit organization.

An architectural design is now being worked out.

Besides improving the quality of life in Paducah, Lyles said, the center will help the city increase business and will attract more. "Especially when industrial people are looking to locate in Paducah. It will be a boon."