As a council member and a legislator Jackie Clarkson faced many fights during her high energy career. Last week, with the news of her death, there were many memories of a career well spent – including one of a battle 13 years ago that she did not have to fight, but did anyway, and its success still has implications, both economical and even political.
There were many elements of the New Orleans experience that Clarkson felt passionate about including theater. Her dad, Johnny, after whom the West Bank Brechtel park is named, was a co-founder of the New Orleans Recreation Department and the agency’s NORD theater, which still exists at the ground level of Gallier Hall. Her daughter, Golden Globe winner Patricia Clarkson, has distinguished herself on stage and screen including nominations for both a Tony and an Academy award.
It is Momma Jackie, however, who deserved a special theater award for a great performance. By 2011, Le Petit Theatre, a privately-owned community facility in the French Quarter, was on the verge of bankruptcy. The playhouse had opened in 1916 (at a time when urban “little theaters” with amateur performers were becoming popular) and was supported by memberships and ticket sales. Its leaders built a fine facility on the corner of Charters and St. Peter streets featuring a 300 seat theater; a smaller children’s performance area; storage and rehearsal space; and balconies on the second floor exterior and surrounding an interior open air courtyard.
But in an age of growing entertainment options and with the Quarter’s parking problems, attendance plummeted.
Insurance and utilities were a whole other terror.
So, by 2011 the idea surfaced (full disclosure: First advanced by an editorial in our sister publication New Orleans Magazine and furthered by this blog) to sell part of the property to keep the theater opened. There was opposition arguing that the transition was against the spirit of an historic building; but there was support from activists who realized the economic necessity of selling part of the building. Most importantly Dickie Brennan, the offspring of a distinguished restaurant family who owned two places on the Canal Street end of the Quarter, was interested.
Meetings were held; committees were formed; arguments were heard. Part of the problem was that the Le Petit board was not sure how to legally sell the property. Clarkson, who was on the LPT board, got involved in favor of the sale. The case was sent to civil court where it was ruled that the current season ticket holders would essentially serve as the stockholders. A date for voting was set. The politicking, which was often bitter, continued. Clarkson, whose adult life had been spent campaigning for something, led the charge.
I remember the night. The street was busy with ticket holders going to the theater to vote. A court approved ballot was prepared. Court approved watchers looked on as the ballots were counted. Many who came waited in the theater to hear the results. If the proposal lost the facility would likely have to be sold; no telling to whom or for what. If it won, at least there were people in place with a vision of a future.
And then the announcement. The measure passed.
Le Petit would sell 60 percent of its building to Dickie Brennan and Company for $ 3 million – a deal that helped retire $700,000 of the theater’s debt and also allowed Le Petit, which for years had been playing loan roulette with banks, to have an endowment. On Dec. 29 of that year the deal was finalized.
Work began. Brennan’s staff put much effort in trying to be faithful to historic detail even including a restored curved stairway to the second floor.
What emerged is a classic. The restaurant, cleverly called “Tableau,” is an excellent example of quality and service as expected of a Brennan‘s business. The courtyard is a fine place for having a drink, including before and after a show at the adjoining theater, which has been spiffed up and continues to do great productions.
None of this would have happened had it not been for Jackie Clarkson and her supporters. Legislative votes aside, this would be one of her biggest victories.
For those who were worried that the building would lose its historic significance there is a contemporary side story. The second floor exterior balcony overlooking Chartres Street is now used as a serving area where diners can gaze at the Pontalba building across the street or Jackson Square.
It was at one of those tables where a photograph that will have a place in the backpages of political gossip was recently taken. It was the now famous shot of mayor LaToya Cantrell dining with her controversial police security agent, Jefferey Vappie. The two were obviously having fun; so too was a nearby apartment resident with a camera; and so too would be the Metropolitan Crime Commission, which would argue that the photographed moment was an improper procedure for a security detail. None of that would have happened had the building not been converted partially into a restaurant.
That story in itself would make good theater. For the moment though the attention and gratitude goes to Jackie Clarkson who worked hard at making New Orleans a better stage to be on.
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