The Paintsville Tourist Commission has approved a $10,000 sponsorship for a fall production of a play about the life of the late Eastern Kentucky entrepreneur John C.C. Mayo.
The funding request came from the Johnson County Community Foundation and was approved at the commission’s May 20 regular meeting.
In a letter to the commission, the group said it was formed to “support philanthropic efforts in Johnson County and lead the creation of a permanent community fund that will support local philanthropic goals now and into the future.”
The foundation has requested $10,000 in sponsorship for its signature event, “The Richest Man in Kentucky,” a play about Mayo written by John H. “Butch” Preston.
“We are partnering with the Main Street Players and Point of Joy Dance Studio to create a spectacular event that will be held in the historic SIPP Theatre with the premiere performance at the Mayo Mansion,” the letter reads. “We have high hopes and goals for this production and believe it will be a hugely successful event in our county for years to come.”
The letter said the “Diamond Sponsorship” would earn the tourism board the title of “presenting sponsor” on all marketing items, two VIP tables of eight people per table at premieres, up to 16 theater tickets, the largest logo on table decorations and the largest logo on social media and on the foundation’s website.
“We hope you understand the importance of this event,” the letter read. “On behalf of the Johnson County Community Foundation, we invite you to join us in our mission to make a difference together.”
Jeremiah Parsons, director of the Paintsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the play, which will premiere in October, will have a running time of about an hour and a half and a cast of “around 25 people.”
Committee member Kay Hall, who made the motion to approve the funding, said the purpose of the event is two-fold.
“This is about sharing our history and attracting tourists,” Hall said. “It’s going to be a slow process, as with anything like this. No one has done anything like this in a while, other than Jenny Wiley.”
The committee unanimously approved the sponsorship request.
