Under new management – Magic Lantern Theatres -- significant upgrades are currently taking place at the theatre on Second Ave. in the city which closed its doors earlier this year.
“We’re restoring the original building,” Katrina Chapman, operations supervisor on the project explained.
As for how the theatre will operate, Chapman said there “will be no major changes” at least for the initial opening.
The theatre will open with one screen, but Chapman said the new ownership has interest “in a bigger expansion in the next year, or two . . .There is an eye to expansion with additional screens.”
The theatre will be maintaining its familiar name.
“The name has such history, why would we change it,” said Chapman.
In the meantime, theatre goers will be able to enjoy some improved aesthetics including upgraded seats which will include slider seats.
Current work toward opening before December, also includes upgraded sound.
“We’ve upgraded the speakers,” said Chapman.
And, there will be an improved concession area, offered Chapman.
As for what they plan to screen, Chapman said they will be looking to new releases, but added “you’re not going to see every movie with one screen,” and movies might not open locally the day of the release.
“But we’ll try to mitigate that the best we can,” she said.
The company that is doing the work now owns 11 theatres, including the Rainbow in Regina, the Capital in North Battleford, the Aurora in Meadow Lake and the Roxy in Saskatoon.
“We’re really good at this. We serve a lot of rural communities,” said Chapman. “. . .We believe in community management. We want to have a theatre you can be proud of, both us and the community.
