PMI to run Meyer Theatre Meyer Theatre board president Kramer Rock (left) and PMI president Ken Wachter discuss PMI's new role in the management of day-to-day operation of the Meyer during a news conference Wednesday (photo by H. Marc Larson). It replaces the Weidner Center as the downtown theater's operator By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle PMI knows arenas. Now, it's going to try a downtown theater. The operators of the Resch Center have signed an agreement to manage and book acts for the Meyer Theatre. That will probably mean some changes in the type of acts seen at the historic downtown theater, PMI president Ken Wachter said. "Moving into the theater area is different for us," he said. "We'll probably book some up-and-coming country performers, and I hope to do some rock and roll down here on a smaller scale than the Resch Center," he said. However, he added, such smaller shows as "The Male Intellect" and "The Vagina Monologues" would still find a home at the 993-seat venue. The contract comes after the end of a three-year deal between the Meyer board and the Weidner Center for the Weidner to book shows and provide staffing and ticket sales for the Meyer. Wachter said he hopes the Weidner will continue to be among groups booking events at the theater. PMI will take over operation of the theater in early June. At that time, tickets for Meyer Theatre events will be available through PMI's ticketing agency, TicketStar. Wachter said PMI would honor all contracts for shows already completed through the end of the year. He also said PMI was not taking an upfront fee but would share proceeds with the Meyer board. "We're doing this to help control the costs and generate some traffic," he said. PMI will add staff to handle the theater, he added. Meyer Theatre board chairman Kramer Rock said the board, made up of volunteers, looked at the possibility of operating the theater itself but quickly dropped that idea. "I wouldn't even know where to buy a ticket-dispensing machine, much less book a theater," he said. The board looked at three operating companies including PMI and Event Pro, which recently started booking events at the KI Convention Center, as well as an unnamed startup company, Rock said. He said the PMI choice was easy because of its experience and knowledge of the local market. Wachter said PMI staffers were excited about the opportunity. "We bring something different," he said. "Our goal is to keep this complex as busy as we can with as wide a variety as we can." Mayor Jim Schmitt, on hand for the news conference announcing the agreement, said "these are the people to do this." "We have this jewel, it's something unique and we should promote this," he said.