The non-profit group that oversees the operation of Danville’s historical Fischer Theatre is planning more improvements there. Ashton Greer, Executive Director of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation, explains….
{AUDIO: “The auditorium seats are the biggest complaint that we get here at the theatre. So, in June we’re launching a chair campaign. So, we’re going to allow people to sponsor seats. Their name will be engraved on the back of the seat for the life of the seat – or someone they choose if they want to honor someone. It’s around $600 a chair. We have over 500 chairs to replace – you do the math. We have to fund raise over $300-thousand dollars to complete the project. But we believe that our community will rally.”}
(Greer welcomes the crowd for the dedication.)
Greer talked about those plans as the Terry Lake Café was dedicated at the theatre over the weekend. Lake was a Fischer Theatre volunteer who died in January….
{AUDIO: “Terry was cleaning this building for four years – every week for free. So, this man cleaned our building. He was an usher. He worked in the café. If there was a toilet broken, he fixed it. And he did this for several years while the Fischer couldn’t afford those services. We calculated his hours and he spent over 5-thousand hours of his time for free.”}
Greer says the volunteers play a key role at the theatre….
{AUDIO: “Just insuring this building is close to $50-thousand dollars a year. Because it’s a historic building it’s very expensive when something breaks. All the parts and pieces are so intricate. We have an elevator. We have a neon marquee. These are not cheap things, so our budget is very tight. So we depend on our volunteers in order to be viable…to be a viable business in Danville.”}
In addition to the renovations in the concession area – now called the Terry Lake Café – a historic gift shop has also been restored and will re-open this month. And Greer adds a major project continues to advance under the stage….
{AUDIO: “We received a $280-thousand-dollar DPEO Grant to renovate below the stage, the basement down there to bring it back to its original purpose. So, it’s going to be 5 dressing rooms, 2 green rooms, 2 showers, 2 bathrooms – everything that a touring act would need to be comfortable, and to want to come to our theatre.”}
Greer says May is a busy month at the Fischer Theatre…
{AUDIO: “I think we have 15 events on our calendar this month – so we are really, really busy. We have Deana Carter coming the very end of May – May 29th. She is very famous – very exciting. But we also just announced Bryan White is coming as well – who is also a mainstream artist and performer from country in the 90s and 2000s. …In the holidays we’re looking at the Lettermen as well as some grand old Christmas shows, and some big shows this winter, too.”}
You can learn more about Danville’s historic Fischer Theatre by visiting https:www.fischertheatre.com.
