PRINCETON—The former Princeton Theatre on east Broadway is coming back to life with cold, hard cash and lot of work from Danco Construction.
The building, owned by Broadway Players community theater group, will become a theater/community event center with Stellar Communities grant funding.
“The interior is going to be just completely gutted,” said Robin Overby, marketing director for the theater group, which was organized 11 years ago.
Overby said new seating will be installed in the auditorium, which will seat about 300 people. The existing stage will be expanded and there will also be a large drop-down screen for movie viewing.
“When this is done we will have one of the nicest theaters in the Midwest, as far as community theater,” Overby said. “It’s going to be top of the line, state of the art, new facility.”
The front portion of the center will include three community rooms, which can be combined into one large area. Overby said the center will be able to host many events including class reunions, business meetings and wedding receptions.
“The community rooms will be hard-wired with media equipment,” Overby said.
Contracts were signed last week between Broadway Players and Danco Construction to begin the restoration. With $4 million allocated from the Stellar Communities grant, Overby said construction is set to conclude in May 2015.
Overby said construction costs are about $3 million and the remaining money will be used to pay for architecture fees and administrative costs.
In 2012, Princeton was awarded a $19.5 million grant from the State of Indiana. According to the state’s calculations, the city will contribute about $3.7 million for the projects authorized in the grant.
The renovation of the theater was one of the projects listed on city’s grant application. Other proposed projects include creating a more pedestrian-friendly downtown, developing senior housing and converting a parking lot into a downtown bicentennial park.
“It’s going to be completely re-done,” Overby said.
The theater marquee that was damaged by a truck will be sent to Ohio to be refurbished before it is re-attached to the building.
Broadway Players perform four shows a year, which include a holiday show. Overby said the group’s season begins in the spring, so next year’s first production will probably not be performed in the old theatre.
The youth drama camp will probably not be held in that space until 2016 because of logistics. Participating kids spend a week rehearsing and producing a play.
“They get a feel of everything it takes to put on a production,” he said.