The rumor mill is churning, but Maralyn Thoma-Dougherty, the co-founder of Bend’s 2nd Street Theater, wants folks to know the theater is not for sale, at least not for the time being.

”My kids are here, grandkids are here, this is my home, and I’m staying,” said Thoma-Dougherty. ”I’m not going anywhere, and the theater is not going anywhere, if we can help it.”

The fuss concerns the announcement by NBC to cancel its daily soap opera ”Passions.” Thoma-Dougherty is an Emmy-nominated writer for the show, a job that’s helped her finance the day-to-day operations at the theater, which she founded with her husband, Steve, in 2001.

But after 26 years of writing for daytime TV, including ”Days of Our Lives” and ”Santa Barbara” (for which she did win an Emmy), Thoma-Dougherty is ready to holster her quill. She is tired, she said, and looking forward to a break.

The downside is the theater becomes unsustainable.

”I’ve been subsidizing it because I wanted to do it,” said Thoma-Dougherty. ”I love the theater, love what were doing, and I love the audiences. I always knew when ‘Passions’ ended, (the subsidy) probably would have to end, too, because, ya know, I just wouldn’t have the money. I didn’t think it would end this quickly.”

Thoma-Dougherty plans to continue with this year’s season and said she has enough money to keep the theater running through the next season. She and her husband do plan on selling the theater’s annex, which is used as a rehearsal space and for storage.

But rather than sell the theater, located at 220 N.E. Lafayette Ave., Thoma-Dougherty and her husband envision leasing it to a nonprofit acting company that would take over its day-to-day operation.

The forerunner is Bend resident Sandy Silver. A regular in the region’s community theater circles, Silver has directed plays at both 2nd Street and the Cascades Theatrical Company, including the Eugene O’Neill classic ”Desire Under the Elms,” which opens Friday at CTC.

An agreement has yet to be finalized, but both Silver and Thoma-Dougherty say they have reason to believe they will reach one shortly. Silver said she already has begun forming a nonprofit in preparation for the transfer.

”The transition should take about a year,” said Silver, who would work as an assistant artistic director to Thoma-Dougherty for the theater’s 2007-08 season.

”I’m not familiar with day-to-day operation of a theater, so it’s perfect,” Silver said. ”And hopefully, I’ve built a good enough reputation in town that they know what I can produce, know my love of theater.”

Silver believes a nonprofit would be viable and that there are enough theatergoers in town to support it. CTC is also a nonprofit.

”There are so many in Bend that love theater and want 2nd Street to continue, so I don’t think fundraising would be a problem,” she said.

Thoma-Dougherty said the theater has roughly 450 subscribers. She also said the theater’s productions – usually six per season – make money; it’s the upkeep and maintenance on the building that eat away profits.

The last thing Thoma-Dougherty wants to do is sell it. She said she and her husband have worked hard to bring quality theater to Bend and aren’t so willing to walk away. Instead, Thoma-Dougherty said they will ”back away as gently as possible.”

Silver said she would continue in line with the what the Doughertys built, but also add her own stamp. Attention would be paid to new dramatic works as well as pieces that aren’t normally seen in community theaters, she said.

”I’m just very, very excited,” said Silver. ”I am thrilled they are confident in my abilities. It’s a wonderful theater.”