Colonial Fox Theater Foundation officials have approved final artist’s renderings of what the exterior and interior of the downtown Pittsburg landmark will look like once it is restored, and on Monday the officials spoke about their plan to use the theater to turn downtown Pittsburg into a bustling business and arts district.
Foundation director Vonnie Corsini said the theater, when it is complete, will have expanded into the lot between it and MNI Bank and have nearly doubled in size. It could open as early as 2013, she said.
The theater would be professionally staffed, Corsini said, and would offer nearly 300 art house film screenings and about 215 classic film screening each year. On stage, the theater would offer local and regional acts at least 70 times each year, and would strive to bring in at least 24 national acts per year.
“We might bring in someone like Pink Floyd Australia,” Corsini said. “That would pack the house. We have a very intelligent audience in Pittsburg, and we want to show them what they won’t be able to get without traveling long distances.”
According to the Foundation’s business plan, the theater will be staffed by professionals who have experience in the theater business. Marketing Coordinator Sarah Jensen said positions will include an executive director, relations manager, front-of-house manager, marketing and design coordinator and office manager.
“It will be a first-rate, professionally-run theater,” Corsini said. “We’re going to find someone who has been doing this well for a long time and poach their assistant.”
Jensen agreed.
“The community has put way too much money into this for it not to work,” she said.
So far, repair work on the theater includes a new roof, mold and asbestos removal, tuck-pointing and, most recently, a major waterproofing project for the building’s east and west basements. That work, including the purchase price and back taxes, has cost about $580,000. The Foundation also received a matching grant last year for $500,000 from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures grant program. That money will be used to redo the building’s electrical and HVAC systems, as well as interior demolition and toilet renovations.
But the deadline for matching donations to draw down from the grant is Oct. 31 of 2012, so there’s a sense of urgency, Corsini said.
“If we don’t match it, it all goes back to the treasury and we don’t see it again,” Corsini said, adding that companies and individuals can make in-kind donations as well. So far the Foundation has raised $100,000. “I know we will make this work.”
