Prominent businessmen buy Branson theater

Killian Construction Co. CEO Bill Killian, PFI Western Store President Randy Little and Branson lakes developer Justin Gage, along with estate planner Scott Rassler out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on March 5 purchased the Starlite Theatre, 3115 W. State Highway 76, from previous owner Ron Layher.

“It wouldn’t have happened but for the variety of all four people and the different things that all of us can bring to make the theater work,” Little said. “If one of us was attempting to do it – I don’t know, I certainly wouldn’t do it by myself, because you can only bring so much to the table. Every one of us brings different things to the table.”

Friends Little and Killian were vacationing in Ft. Lauderdale last fall and met with Rassler, who mentioned he was searching for a theater to operate. The Springfield businessmen returned to town, brought Gage on board and began looking for opportunities. They were attracted to Starlite’s position on the strip and its newer condition, Little said. Little would not disclose a purchase price.

Joe Sullivan has been hired to manage the theater, according to Little.

The five-story Starlite will be the new home of Liverpool Legends, a Beatles tribute band that played at Branson’s Caravelle Theater. Other regular performers at Starlite will be The Platters in the morning and Moe Bandy in the afternoon.

“We’re taking a big risk – we know we are,” Little said of buying the theater in the midst of a nationwide economic downturn. “Everybody my age and beyond wants to be in Branson, but you have to keep reinventing yourself. We want to be a part of changing Branson’s demographics – families, younger groups of people.”

The 880-seat theater’s season begins April 1.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s March 18 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.