A staff shakeup appears underway at the Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts, as it moves closer to a partnership with True North Sports & Entertainment.

True North, which owns the Winnipeg Jets, says a finalized agreement is still months away, but confirmed the company is making progress.

“We are very excited to be working with The Burt,” said Scott Brown, True North’s communications director. “We have no problem with the public knowing it’s moving ahead. We are working with The Burt to work out more details, staffing being one of them.”

In a March 15 letter obtained by the Winnipeg Sun, theatre staff are told that True North will take over the theatre’s operations on April 15, effectively “terminating” their positions the day before. The affected staff of the former Walker Theatre were also invited to reapply for their jobs at MTS Centre Tuesday night.

“Given your tenure and experience and True North’s need for experienced employees at the theatre, I am hopeful that many of you will be offered roles going forward with True North ... I would like to thank you for your efforts and loyalty over the past years and wish you the best in the future,” states the letter signed by Wayne Jackson, general manager of the Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group.

In an e-mail to the Sun, Jackson noted “a press release will be sent out” but did not grant a request for further comment.

One employee said the change will affect about 20 to 30 workers.

“It’s the end of an era,” said the staff member, who asked to remain anonymous.

Back in December, True North confirmed it was exploring a partnership with the Burton Cummings and the Pantages Playhouse theatres but didn’t plan to buy either venue. Instead, the idea was to help secure more concerts at the sites.

The 1,600-seat Burton Cummings theatre, which first opened in 1907, is currently run by a board as a non-profit organization. True North has said that limits the board from taking financial risks on shows that the larger company can afford to take.

Brown stressed negotiations are still underway but True North could assist with concert ticket sales at the venue in the near future.

“We’re still working through a partnership and the details of it and how we can run it together,” Brown said.

True North already books shows for venues beyond MTS Centre, including Investors Group Field, Shaw Park and the old Canad Inns Stadium.

joyanne.pursaga@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @pursagawpgsun