Christine Gilmore, executive director at the Kenworthy, is excited to start breaking ground for the new renovations that are coming to the theater in November.
The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre originally began as the Crystal Theater when it opened its doors in 1908 and has seen many renovations throughout its time.
One of those renovations was in the late twenties to early thirties when the theater was expanded twenty feet to the south.
The one change that most visitors will notice is the blue chairs that have been a part of the Kenworthy since the eighties will be removed.
They will be replaced with seating that Gilmore said will be more historically and aesthetically accurate to the space.
Brianna Finnegan | Argonaut
The preservation of the style and history of the Kenworthy is one of their main goals.
“This space is old, and this space has seen a lot of things happen to it and we want to make sure it’s here for years to come,” Gilmore said.
Other changes that are planned for the theater is the replacement of its flooring, carpet and adding lights to the isles so guests have an easier time moving around while the lights are low.
As the Kenworthy is a non-profit group all of their money is gathered through donations from the community either through their website or in person when the theater is open.
The Kenworthy is known to have some other-worldly visitors with their spirits and poltergeists. And while they have not made any actions against these renovations, Gilmore is not sure if they will object to them once they break ground.
To give themselves adequate time for these renovations they will be shutting down for eight weeks starting Nov. 11. They plan on holding a grand reopening on Jan. 10 — if everything goes to according to plan — where they will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special showing.
Brianna Finnegan | Argonaut
Gilmore said, the renovations will not affect the price of attendance.
“We want to make sure that the Kenworthy is still family affordable,” Gilmore said.
The Kenworthy’s affordability keeps things in with the views of the founder of the building, Millburn Kenworthy and the Kenworthy family.
“Millburn Kenworthy was known for his generosity and for his commitment to the community,” Gilmore said.
Kenworthy’s generosity was well-known during World War II where he would have a student write him an IOU if they could not afford something..
But, he never collected those IOUs.
And to express that kind of loving gesture, the Kenworthy plans on having a special reduced or free cost for its special showing for their grand re-opening in January.
Grayson Houston can be reached at [email protected]