A man who has submitted previous proposals to run the Roanoke Rapids Theatre is trying again.

Russ Collins’s letter to City Manager Paul Sabiston is one of the two proposals submitted to run the venue. Elizabeth Price Branham submitted what she described as a letter of interest. Lakeland Theatre Company withdrew its proposal.

“My wife and I care about what happens to the theater and this town,” Collins says in his letter. “I presented a proposal to the city in 2008 to manage the theater which is now void because of the lease by Mr. (Lafayette) Gatling and his firm. I would like the city to consider me as a candidate to manage the theater as a temporary city employee.”

Collins explains he would not need benefits. “My job would be to get the theater up and running as soon as possible and start to see profits from events and productions.”

Before his first proposal to the city, Collins said he developed contacts with agencies to bring shows to suit all ages. “Everyone I talked to seemed to be willing to work with me on artist prices, some even less than half price.”

Collins said his idea to make the theater successful is to involve the people in the community and surrounding areas to rent parts or the entire theater for weddings, reunions, meetings, revivals and anniversaries. He also plans to bring Class A or better artists two or three times a month. “Most people in the Roanoke Valley area can’t afford $40 to $60 tickets two to three times a month. So my idea is to have more diversified functions at a lesser price on a weekly basis.”

Explains Collins: “It will not be an overnight success due to the history of the theater, but I am confident with hard work and the support of the people in this area we can make this work.”

Collins promises he will spend as much time as it takes to make the theater successful. “No one I have been in contact with wants the theater to fail. The people of the Roanoke Valley want a theater they can be proud of and see an icon in the community that will hep bring in tourism, business expansion and income to the city. I think I can make that happen, given the chance.”

On cost factors Collins proposes the following:

Hire two people to work as part time employees to manage phones and keep the venue open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $600 per week. All others would be hired per event.

Off duty law enforcement for security.

Pay Collins a beginning salary of $1,000 per week.

Lease concessions per event.

Profits go to the city.