Exterior work on the Rees Theater has started, but more funding is needed before immediate repairs can be done before the winter season.
Brent Martin from the Wythougan Valley Preservation Council and architecture firm SRKM said the roof is bulging from the south side of the building. Immediate repair is also needed indoors as a portion of the ceiling collapsed on the auditorium floor. The repair is expected to cost around $120,000. While grant money won’t be available in time for this work to be complete before November, donations are being sought of any denomination. An account has been set up at gofundme.com/reestheatre for donations as a crowdfunding effort. When you make a donation, that notification can be shared on social media to alert other community members about the opportunity to give to a community landmark event.
The Rees Theater fund has just over $5,000 to use which is not nearly enough to complete the immediate work.
The LED lighting project is underway and the neon lighting was recently updated. The façade work on the west side, or the front of the building, was done and brightens up the downtown area.
The Rees Theater Committee has been endlessly researching uses for the building. To accommodate a host of possibilities, a tiered seating arrangement is being planned. Seats can be removed and theater seating added to fit the need of the event presented. The business plan includes featuring class reunions, weddings and receptions, themed movie nights, musicals and theater productions, educational events, live music, banquets, meetings, and second-run movies. The stage will be extended for additional space for productions and an opportunity to store stage sets and other props.
Volunteers are always needed to help with many committees in this venture. For more information, visit therees.org.
