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BREAKING NEWS: Orpheum Theatre President to Step Down
FIRST REPORTED 3:59pm 12/1/11 The person in charge of Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre is in the process of stepping down.

The Knox County Civic Center Authority Board Thursday afternoon voted to accept the resignation of theatre president Kate Francis.

Francis' last day will be in January, at which time she will leave the area and go to Saint Louis, to work for the Jazz St. Louis organization as its director of development.

In a prepared news release, Francis, a St. Louis Native, says she loves being in Galesburg, but it's been difficult for her and her family, because there aren't any relatives close by.

She says she looks forward to hearing what Galesburg will do in the future, especially as it relates to its downtown area.

Francis leaves the Orpheum at a critical time. The theatre is about to begin as much as a half-million dollars in renovations to its lighting, heating, and air conditioning systems.

But, she says she's helped the theatre grow in four-and-a-half years, nearly doubling annual attendance, and growing the number of events the theatre has.

No word from the C-C-A board on when they'll have a replacement, as that was discussed in a closed-door meeting.


(Orpheum Theatre president Kate Francis, right, receives a donation from Richard Kowalski, CEO of OSF Saint Mary Medical Center, in this 2009 file photo.)
12 01 11 by Newsroom
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