Troubled Beverly Theater Files For Bankruptcy

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly-based Boston Children's Theater Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection this week. The theater listed assets raning from $0 to $50,000 and debts ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The filing, which did not list the theater's biggest creditor, comes as the theater is being investigated by the Essex County District Attorney's office.

Beverly police forwarded the investigation of Burgess Clark to the DA's office. Clark resigned as executive artistic director at the theater in November, just two days before interim president Jim Solomon forwarded an anonymous email to authorities.

Clark resigned while on a six-week medical leave from the theater. On Nov. 16, the theater said it had "decided to part ways" with executive director Toby Schine. Schine shares a house in Beverly with Clark and his partner. The theater also said it was canceling its planned production of "A Charlie Brown Schedule" for the holiday season.

Schine's departure came 12 days after the theater's board said it had "full confidence" in its executive director. More than a dozen former students at the Boston Children's Theater have accused Clark of inappropriate behavior, but some parents expressed skepticism about the allegations after a meeting with the board of directors.

In 2015, the theater listed assets of $66,923 and liabilities of $269,985 on tax filings. More recent tax filings were not available. The theater posted a loss of $203,062 for 2015 on revenue of $1.1 million. Schine was paid a salary of $45,000 in 2015, according to the tax form.