Onyx Theatre co-owner taking time to regroup

Last week, I reported that the artistic director of the 5½-year-old Onyx Theatre — an unusual, quality playhouse located inside a fetish shop — announced his sudden resignation, after nine months of employment. Sirc Michaels’ press release was odd in that it was written on company letterhead and contained quotes that were not flattering to the bosses.

“There are many shows in the works that may or may not see the stage,” Michaels said in the press release. “It’s a shame, as I was hoping to see the theater expand even further in its efforts to bring in new works and new talent. Unfortunately, the owners of the Onyx Theatre felt I wasn’t taking the theater in the direction it needed to go. I don’t agree.”

The communication ended with what seemed to be a dig. Co-owner Mike Morse allegedly said, “We want to move on to projects that … represent the edgy, exciting alternative material our audiences have come to expect — like ‘Naked Boys Singing,’ ‘Miss Coco Peru’ and ‘Silence of the Clams.’ ”

It didn’t sound like Morse because few people with any sanity would call any of the above shows “edgy.”

Morse says there’s a reason for this: His ex-employee made up the quotes. Michaels says when he turned in the press release to human resources manager Tom Conroy, the paragraphs about Morse were not there. Conroy told me Michaels did not turn it over to him, and that the first time he saw the release was after it had been circulated.

Morse notes, “Michaels was my webmaster. No one else knew how to send out a mass email.” Morse is particularly bothered by the implication that his theater will not grow without Michaels.

“I want our stage to be a common space,” he explains, “where people can come in and do what they want to do. Michaels wanted big, quality shows with lots of butts in the seats. I’d rather have more shows and fewer butts, but with more (community) participation.”

There are many accusations floating around, but both admit they might have handled things better. Michaels says he was frustrated by the lack of clearly defined responsibilities. Morse says, “Perhaps there’s truth in that.” Michaels says he can at times be abrasive, which may have been part of the problem.

And Morse notes that even though he and Michaels had different visions, he has no doubt the former artistic director has the talent and determination to do well in a theater he would be in charge of.

Meanwhile, Morse is taking about a month to “regroup” and figure out his next move. He says he has no intention of shutting down his space.

Michaels is already working out plans for a slate of productions at the Box Office Theatre.

“I want to do plays that appeal to a young demographic,” he says. “I’d like to see it be a hot spot for the young performing arts.”

Will seniors be welcome?

“Of course. As long as they’re young in spirit.”

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at vegastheaterchat@ aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.