Season ticket holders with Modern Theater-Coeur d’Alene received an apology letter this week after several weeks of frustration and non-communication.

The theater’s board of directors not only apologized for its lack of communication with patrons, but also announced the theater will go back to being Lake City Playhouse.

When the Modern Theater in Spokane shut down for good at the end of 2016, theater officials said the closure would allow more resources to go to the Modern Theater-Coeur d’Alene. However, with no explanation, the theater in Coeur d’Alene didn’t open for its scheduled show the first weekend of January.

That didn’t sit well with season ticket subscribers.

Lynda Hall, the theater’s board president, said the theater meant to send out notification that the season’s remaining shows had been canceled and will be replaced, but no one actually sent the letter.

On Monday, at least some of the season ticket holders received an apology from the board.

“We have been trying diligently to transition as quickly as possible but admittedly, we have stumbled with communication,” the email to season ticket holders reads. “Moving forward, we have two ultimate priorities, recognizing the ongoing support of our season ticket holders and continuing exceptional community theater at the Lake City Playhouse. As we continue to secure rights for a new spring schedule, we are excited about the possibilities and feel confident it will delight the theater lover in each of you. Please be assured, season tickets are still valid and will be honored.”

The letter then invited patrons to a benefit concert Feb. 4.

Barb Neal, a season ticket holder, said she got the email, but one of her friends who is also a season ticket holder did not.

“Seems to be hit or miss,” she told the Press on Wednesday. “I was a bit frustrated with the last paragraph in the board's email asking us to attend a $50 fundraiser when Lake City Playhouse has yet to honor the tickets we currently hold.”

Over the past two weeks The Press has been contacted by several upset season ticket holders wondering what’s going on with the theater, afraid they’ve lost the money they spent on tickets.

Lake City Playhouse board member Sarah McNeice said the theater isn’t going anywhere. Instead, it’s seeking out new plays, upon patron request, and is in the process of securing rights to them.

“We do not want people thinking there are shady things going on because there’s not,” McNeice said. “We cannot advertise shows that don’t have rights secured… Whatever we say to patrons and season ticket holders, we want it to be what is definitely going to happen, not something we hope is going to happen.”

McNeice said the board has heard from many different groups of theater-goers that they were dissatisfied with the lineup for this season. The board decided to change the lineup and seek plays that are bigger and more well-known.

“We thought it was a disservice to our season ticket holders and patrons if we’re not presenting shows that they are excited about,” she said. “It’s a big transition, but they deserve it.”

She also said securing rights for the plays they want has been a longer process than they expected.

McNeice assured The Press the theater’s 121 Coeur d’Alene season ticket holders will get their money’s worth.

“Hopefully, Spokane season ticket holders will be able to get tickets to the Coeur d’Alene shows and we will honor their season tickets there,” she added.

After receiving the theater’s email, season ticket holder Mike Neher said he and his wife were relieved.

“We are hopeful they will succeed,” he said.