Ann Arbor, MI - Renovation of Ann Arbor’s historic State Theatre would double screens

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on June 29, 2016 at 12:57 pm

From Mlive: Plans for renovation of the historic State Theatre are in the hands of the city’s Historic Planning Commission.

Part of the renovation calls for creating four separate theaters to screen movies, doubling the two screens currently available.

The State Theatre is located at 225 S. State St.

The theaters would have seating capacity of approximately 180, 150, 80 and 50 people respectively and will comply with the American Disabilities Act, according to Russ Collins, CEO of the Michigan Theater Foundation, the group which owns the State Theatre.

“We need to make comfortable venues that are excellent in terms of a great place to go to the movies,” Collins said. “There’s going to be four theaters with very comfortable seats and it will be a great place to go to the movies.”

The new theaters will have plenty of leg room and newly installed seats that will provide more comfort for a better viewing experience, Collins said.

Previously, the ownership group announced plans to renovate the theater to restore the art deco theme to the building, including updating the marquee and the building’s exterior. In February, the Downtown Development Authority committed $200,000 toward the cost of renovating the marquee and the façade.

Other planned improvements to the facility include the installation of an elevator to get patrons to the second floor of the building where the theaters are located and updates to the lobby areas, along with updates to the bathrooms.

The Michigan Theater Foundation purchased the State Theater in October 2014 and announced plans to invest between $2 million to $3 million in the facility.

While work on the facility cannot begin until plans have been completely approved by the city, Collins is hopeful to begin work later this fall.

The goal is to unveil the renovations in 2017, which also is the 75th anniversary of the State Theatre.

Story link: http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/06/renovation_plans_for_ann_arbor.html

ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org