CENTERVILLE -- CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, with 516 seats, was filled to 85 percent of capacity during the musical "Hairspray."
The break-even point on productions is 70 percent capacity, or about 362 seats, per show, said Susan Bellomy, director of marketing and development for the theater.
Bellomy said the percentage is the best financial assessment she has available until the theater's first-quarter financial reports are complete.
"All of the key indicators are looking very, very good," she said.
But while single-show ticket sales for its first Broadway-style production were encouraging, the theater is 148 season tickets short of achieving its yearly goal of 6,200.
The theater will pick up a few more season tickets in offering a remaining schedule of six productions, Bellomy said, providing an opportunity to still reach the 6,200 figure.
But as the season shortens and the 2012 performance schedule is announced in July, she recognizes fewer season tickets will be purchased for this year.
"We hope to see the (attendance) figure climb in the future. We know that it's going to take us a little while to build our audience," she said of the theater, which opened in January.
The theater is part of the $14.3 million, 63,000-square-foot Davis Center for the Performing Arts at 525 N. 400 West.
The decision to merge Rodgers Memorial Theatre into the center with the new entity known as CenterPoint Legacy Theatre is proving beneficial for the former longtime theater group.
In 2010, Rodgers Memorial Theatre had 4,300 season ticket holders, Bellomy said.
"What this (increase in attendance) shows me is what positive community support we are getting," she said.
The performing arts center is a collaborative funding effort among Bountiful, Centerville and Davis County, which over the next eight years will give $2 million in tourism tax revenues to the center that features a 200-seat flexible black box theater, rehearsal halls and the main theater.
In November 2007, voters in Centerville and Bountiful authorized a recreation, arts and parks sales and use tax of 1 cent per $10 for eight years. The two cities have committed about 90 percent of the RAP revenue to the center.
But none of that money being used to cover the debt on building costs will be shared with the theater group, which must at least break even.
"Essentially, a beautiful building was built, and we are operating our theater company inside," Bellomy said.
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, the nonprofit managing tenant of the public building, has a long-term lease.
Centerville Mayor Ron Russell said he is pleased with the success the theater had with its first production and added it will be interesting to see if it can continue to surpass the 70 percent capacity it needs to operate in the black.
Reaching a season-ticket goal of 6,200 seats is something he would like, Russell said, but he doesn't want the theater to reach a point with season tickets where it becomes difficult for patrons to purchase single-show tickets.
What may please city leaders the most about the theater is the reported economic impact it is creating for area businesses.
During the monthlong run of "Hairspray," area restaurant managers experienced a noticeable increase in business on the night of a performance, said Centerville Assistant City Manager Blaine Lutz.
Sales tax revenue collected for February and March has yet to be compiled to substantiate the claim.
But early on, city officials believe the performing arts center and theater are accomplishing what they intended.
"So far, it is doing what we had hoped it would do," Russell said of the center both creating a venue for the arts and providing an economic benefit for the local communities.
For season or single-show tickets, call 801-298-1302 or visit www.CenterPointTheatre.org.
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