Parton banned at namesake theater

Singer Randy Parton denies misbehaving, but the Roanoke Rapids mayor says Parton was drunk Thursday and used profanity

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- Randy Parton's name is still emblazoned on the palatial white-columned theater that looms over Interstate 95 on the outskirts of Roanoke Rapids. His picture is on the bottles of wine sold inside.

But Parton, brother of country-music superstar Dolly Parton, wasn't welcome there Friday. And Roanoke Rapids Mayor Drewery Beale said Parton may not be back on stage after reports that he appeared drunk and used profanity in public.

"Based on my experience in law enforcement, I'd say he was impaired," said Beale, the city's former police chief. Beale saw Parton on Thursday night backstage at Randy Parton Theatre.

City officials, including Beale, asked Parton to leave just before a scheduled performance. On Friday, Beale said the length of Parton's hiatus was indefinite.

In an interview Thursday with WRAL-TV and Carolina Journal after he exited through the backstage doors, Parton denied that he had been drinking.

"Randy was ready, willing and able to perform," said his lawyer, Nick Ellis of Rocky Mount.

The mayor disagreed.

"I just don't see how he can stand on that stage anymore," Beale said in an interview at city hall. "I think it would be a slap in the face."

The Randy Parton saga pivoted on a $21.5 million gamble by the city of Roanoke Rapids. The city, intending to bring prosperity to a community badly hurt by the demise of the local textile industry, borrowed the money for theater construction and provided Parton access to $3 million of it to get the project off the ground.

News outlets fought to see how Parton was spending that money. He refused to open the books. Just this week, the city made public records that showed how the entertainer spent some of it.

Following the money

Parton spent $2.4 million, but only $254,000 has been publicly accounted for. Beale said more records would be released after the city reviews them. The city, he added, didn't approve of Parton's purchases of alcohol or tickets to Vegas shows.

After renegotiating its contract with Parton last month, the city hired a management firm that vowed to improve promotion and offer shows other than Parton's. Parton's salary was cut from $750,000 a year to $250,000 -- but he draws it even if he doesn't work.

"As of right now," the mayor said Friday.

The council will discuss the issue Tuesday. Beale said the city may formally terminate its relationship with the singer.

Under the original agreement between the city and Parton's production company, Parton was obligated to produce a show and star in it. Ellis said his client held up his end of the bargain by putting together a high-end show.

"If there has been a breach of the contract," Ellis said, "it's been a breach by the city."

Attendance has not met expectations, he added, but the theater was designed to be surrounded by other attractions. A hotel is being built and restaurants and a billiard hall have been planned. None has opened.

Will he sing again?

Despite the city's objections, Parton hasn't given up on performing there.

"We hope the city will have the wisdom to let Randy get back on the stage," Ellis said. "We hope we can work through the disagreements."

What this means for the Randy Parton Theatre isn't clear. Parton was supposed to use his music industry connections to put people in its 1,500 seats.

The onetime farm fields nearby were meant to blossom with an entertainment district patterned after Branson, Mo., or Myrtle Beach, S.C.

When officials held a groundbreaking to kick off the project, a crowd estimated at 10,000 turned out. Country music shows at the outdoors Carolina Crossroads, which is separate from the Parton theater, also had good crowds.

But the theater opened a couple of months behind schedule, and turnout has not matched projections. Though the place was filled some nights, the audience has been sparse at others.

The mayor admits he was an early and enthusiastic cheerleader for the project and for Parton.

On Friday, he said he was disappointed in Parton. "We went into this thing in good faith," he said. "He [Parton] has not been accountable to us."

Beale insists there is hope. Even without Parton, he said, the band puts on good shows. And he says the city is running the theater under a budget that will be reviewed like those of other departments.

More than 500 people attended a Christmas show at the theater Friday night. Dale Medlin of Littleton said he was aware of the theater's problems but thinks it can survive without Parton.

"I feel it's going to go on," he said.

Christmas shows are scheduled through Dec. 22, led by Steve Dixon, Parton's bandleader. Other performers have divvied up Parton's parts in the production.

"We're confident with it," Dixon said.