THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200515
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Gov. George Allen's office said 13 free tickets to a Richmond Ballet performance of ``The Nutcracker'' were being returned Monday - the day Allen announced deep cuts in state funding for the arts.
Allen spokeswoman Melissa Herring Dickie said the tickets sent to Allen free of charge after an aide pressed the ballet for them were received Friday and immediately returned to the sender.
``The Nutcracker'' is the most lucrative presentation of the year for Crosby's troupe. He said he felt Allen should pay for at least some of the tickets, but relented after an administration aide repeatedly argued that the governor's attendance was an honor and the tickets should be complimentary.
The tickets, which would sell for $36 each, were for Allen, his family and some friends and bodyguards to attend the Dec. 26 performance at the Carpenter Center Theater in downtown Richmond.
After Allen learned how the tickets had been obtained, he ordered them returned and bought 13 new ones out of personal funds, Dickie said. by CNB