Waukegan's theater

Dear CI,

Rovine’s administration of the Genesee’s theatricals is open to different interpretations, and we suppose it generally depends if you remember the highpoints of his tenure or the low points. There definitely were high points, the Jerry Seinfeld show, for example.

There also were the aborted Broadway musicals that hit a thump in the road and the endless treadmill of American Idol hoping-to-be stars someday. The Genesse had a large helping of those who wanted to hit the big time and those you used to be big time.

The current list of scheduled performers has the same uneven quality, which we suppose is the inevitable burden of a lovely but slightly-out-of-the-way venue.

This fall and winter, for example, we get Donnie Osmond (hard to get a yo-hoo! out of that one, but he’s better now than when he was a kid swoon producer) but also comedian Lewis Black, who is drop dead funny when he’s on his game. But there’s also a battalion old old rockers still making a buck playing their oldies.

This might the best time to send a message to the new management of whom you’d like to see. Send along your ideas. The Swami will make sure the right person hears.

On a different matter, Rovine had the reputation among some as of a tough boss to work for. Lots of people went through the revolving door of employment there. Whether it was he or some other unknown factor, the Genesee never had the reputation as a great place to work.

He’s getting the same sort of gig in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Mahaffey theater there is another one of those grand city-owned, $20 million reborn music halls that has a hard time fitting into the cultural life of a big city environment.

The previous manager there also left to “pursue other career opportunities” (you can fill in your own blank) and the promotions manager also hit the road just ahead of Rovine’s arrival.