Twin Valley Players Community Theater | PO BOX 138 Halifax, PA 17032 Phone (717) 692-3453 Fax
(717) 692-3453 |
Press
Release
Contact: Todd Hoover | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9 A.M. EDT, November 20, 2008 |
Twin Valley PLayers Community
Theater Accepts Donation of Historic COlonnade Theater from Cinema Centers
MILLERSBURG, PA, November 20, 2008:
The Twin Valley Players currently celebrating its 38th year, and also the resident theater company of the Ned Smith
Center for Nature and Art, recently accepted a donation and assumed ownership of the Colonnade Theater, a historic Upper Dauphin
County theater built in 1918. The generous donation was made Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 by Marvin and Doris Troutman, owners
of Cinema Centers Movie Theaters across Pennsylvania. In related news, the Northern Dauphin Revitalization Project has
gotten official approval from Senator Gordner and Rep. Helm’s offices that they were able to secure the additional funding
necessary to begin a feasibility study on the TVP’s Renovation of the Colonnade Theater in Millersburg, PA. The
study began this week and is being completed by McKissick Associates, a Harrisburg area architectural firm. They will
begin their work initially by collecting historical data and then moving on to assess the structure and feasibility of incorporating
the needs of the TVP. The cost of the study is being funded entirely by money secured by NDRP through two grants from
the Lenker Foundations ($15,000) and the remaining from Sen. Gordner and Rep. Helm ($8,500)…$23,500 total. The
Twin Valley Players is tremendously grateful to each of these supporters as well as to Dr. Ben Scott, Northern Dauphin Revitalization,
for securing these funds to help our organization and community. The study is expected to take 16 weeks, with the report
presented to the TVP board during the last week of February.
While
the design of the facility will likely take many forms before the final nail is driven, the TVP has begun developing its wish
list of items they see as necessary for the facility to serve their needs. The group intends to save and preserve as
many notable items from the current theater as it can and showcase them in the lobby and other areas throughout the theater.
Future guests to the Colonnade can expect to see the carbon-arch projector that showed movies in the theater for many years.
Numerous historic movie posters will be on display. The glass ticket booth at the front of the building is a goal of
the preservation effort, as well as most of the beautiful hanging light fixtures. Other items from throughout the theater’s
history will also be on display after the renovation is complete.
For
those familiar with the interior of the Colonnade, they can expect to see something quite different and state-of-the-art when
they enter the doors of the theater. To make the space as usable and efficient as possible, TVP envisions adding stadium
seating, which will face a stage for live performances and presentations. Under the stage will be space for a pit orchestra
and trap doors and special effects. If possible, the TVP would like to see a fly-space area added to the building so
that during some productions, sets can be raised and lowered from the space above the stage. Also able to be lowered
from above the stage area will be a theater-sized retractable movie screen. This screen will be utilized in the off
seasons to show first run movies and occasional classics, on brand new digital projection technology. The digital projection
technology will also enable the theater to be used by organizations and companies to hold meetings and events, with large
screen access to the Internet, PowerPoint presentations, and more.
In
addition to the stage and screen, backstage space with dressing rooms will also be incorporated into physical layout of the
theater. The TVP sees about 1/4 - 1/3 of the building’s interior being completely restructured to include 2 or
3 separate floors for costume design and storage, technical and set construction, general storage, and office space.
In addition to current musical offerings, the TVP
hopes to expand its future offerings, both in connection with the Colonnade theater and in its partnership with the Ned Smith
Center for Nature and Art’s new outdoor multi-million dollar amphitheater. At the Colonnade, the TVP hopes to
offer more musicals, some plays, other live musical performances of its Roadshow as well as guest bands and performers.
TVP looks to expand our educational offerings as well with the new facility, We will add additional training and theater
camps for children, but are also discussing various types of training geared toward adults who want to learn more about theater,
from acting to hanging lights and implementing special effects. The theater will also be available for rental to those
who need this type of facility. As mentioned previously, TVP wants to continue the tradition of showing movies in this
building, with both first run and classic movies. There are hopes of incorporating other types of events, such as a
regional “academy awards” for high school musicals. If possible, TVP may host pay per view events, and live
celebration viewing of other events with ideas being considered such as New Years Eve, Presidential election reporting night,
and other noteworthy broadcasts. Of course, this is only the beginning, and we will continue to both expand and refine
our goals as the project continues.
A primary element to the success of these goals
is to secure funding that will enable us to move through the Renovation phase. In order to do this, we will need to
secure significant financial support. We continue to work with Dr. Ben Scott of NDRP in securing grant money. TVP is
also independently researching grant sources as well. In addition, both TVP and NDRP are in contact with legislators
that represent our region from the local to the national level. We encourage constituents of these legislators to express
your support of this project to them. TVP is also in the beginning stages of seeking private support and donations from
its supporters. Anyone wishing to make a contribution can contact the TVP at 717-692-3453 or at TVPTheater@epix.net. TVP asks everyone to log onto their website at www.twinvalleyplayers.org to get updated information about the Colonnade, as well as the TVP in general, and to be added
to the TVP email list, so you can be the first to know the newest details and progress.
This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for the Twin Valley Players. To have a place to
call home after serving the people of the Upper Dauphin County communities and surrounding counties, and the thousands of
members who have passed through the Twin Valley Players as performers and volunteers over the 39 years of our history, is
such a wonderful way to be an impetus for the revitalization of the area surrounding the theater!
Many local residents and visitors have seen activity at the Colonnade Theater in recent weeks as TVP
members have been busy doing some general clean-up and their own assessment of the facility. Several of them have stopped
to ask what was happening since they were seeing activity again at the theater. It is tough to describe in a press release
how excited each person was to learn that the TVP is in this project. So many smiles! What a nice start to a fantastic
opportunity.
TVP Board of Directors:
President: Dr. Todd Hoover
Vice President: Mrs. Brandi Geyer-Harris
Treasurer: Mrs. Jaime Lyter
Secretary: Mrs. Kathy Boyer
Board Members:
Mr. Joseph Bashore
Mrs. Linda Enders
Mr. Raymond Enders
Mr. Jack Geyer
Mr.
James Herb
Mr. Kenneth
Hoover
Mr. Richard Motter
Mr. Mark Rothermel
Mr. Daniel Sites
Mr. Richard Slade
Mr. Dennis Spicher
Mrs. Jennifer Straub
Mr. Van Troutman
Miss Kimberly Welker
-End-
