The lights are ready for action again at Danville’s historic Fischer Theatre. Crews have been putting the finishing touches on a project this week to restore the building’s marquee.
Jim Wood, a member of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation Board, says a lot of work has also been completed inside the theatre.
‘’We’ve patched hundreds and hundreds of holes. We’ve smoothed it out, added dry-wall, we’ve painted,’’ says Wood. ‘’We’ve got a little bit more painting to do, and the electricians are here today. And hopefully by the end of this week we will be all done with all the construction work (on the ground floor) and we can start sweeping down and cleaning up. And then we’re going to add new carpet down the aisles, and there will be aisle lighting.’’
And Wood added the clean-up will be done in plenty of time for the first performance of the Rocky Horror Show by the DACC Players on Friday, October 13th. There will be seven performances of that show at the Fischer with the final show on October 31st – Halloween night.
Although work on the ground floor of the Fischer continues to progress, Wood admits it would take millions of dollars to finish the building’s overall restoration. ‘’Now there’s a lot of structural things that we need to make sure are right, and a lot of tearing out and rebuilding. And forming some of these unique pieces that are historical – they will have to be reformed and redone,’’ said Wood.
Wood adds Danville native Dick Van Dyke earlier sent out a letter trying to get help with large donations for the Fischer. And Wood says the board hopes to attract other donations from foundations. ‘’The big thing, I think, one of the foundations – the Gates Foundation – told me that one of the things you need to do if you’re going to invite in foundations to give large sums – they want to see evidence that you’ve made progress, number one, and then evidence of broad community support.’’
And Wood encourages all businesses and individuals to get behind the Fischer restoration efforts. Those donating a minimum of $250 will have their name placed on a plaque that will hang in the building. Of course they welcome smaller donations, too. In fact for $10, Wood says they will sell you one of the old light bulbs that were removed from the marquee so they could install the new LED lights.
Displays in the front of the Fischer honor some of Danville’s favorite sons — Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, Bobby Short, Gene Hackman and Donald O’Conner.
