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In preparation for its upcoming 2026 season, Crighton Theatre has begun renovations to its seating area for the first time since 1979.
The renovation effort was largely supported by local community fundraising.
What we know
Crighton Theatre was originally built in 1934 as a showroom for vaudeville acts. However, as the vaudeville popularity faded away, the theater was turned into a movie theater in the early 1950s.
Due to its age, the theater lay dormant for years until 1979, when locals crowd-funded an effort to revitalize the building. Just over 20 years since then, the same community has helped renovate the theater for the modern era.
The seating area for the entire theater has been torn up and remodeled. Crighton Theatre Executive Director Melody Montez designed the new seats.
Montez said that despite the renovations, Crighton will still honor the theater's original aesthetic. Montez also said the theater plans on making a plaque containing all the original names of the donors who revitalized it back in 1979.
Quote of note
“Those are the seats that have been here,” Montez said. ”When they took them all out and I just stood in the middle of an empty room, I just got a little teary-eyed. It was kind of weird, but I know that the new seats that I designed are going to be absolutely gorgeous.”
Looking ahead
Currently, there are still multiple seats available for interested patrons to sponsor. Those who donate will get their name engraved on the back of the seat.
The renovated theater's first show, a production of "Of Mice and Men, will begin showing Feb. 6.
