Theater's name in lights again
The Penn Theater’s name is lit up on a nightly basis from 7 to 11 p.m. now that the lights have been worked on.
The Butler Eagle is paying for the electrical cost of the lights on the theater on Main Street in Butler this summer.
Its lights have been off since the theater has been vacant for a number of years.
Mayor Tom Donaldson said an anonymous donor who provided the funds to get the neon lighting for the theater working wants to see the lights on at night.
The Butler Redevelopment Authority has submitted an application to the state to seek a $100,000 grant to help restore the building.
Additionally, Butler residents Dane Winkler, Dean Selfridge, Aaron Bonus and Ken Bonus are forming a nonprofit organization called the Penn Theater Performance Company. Winkler said he hopes to have the paperwork submitted by next week and to have the organization an official nonprofit by the end of June.
As a nonprofit, it would be able to receive donations and buy items tax free for the benefit of the Penn Theater.
Winkler said he sees the theater as a venue that could accommodate live musical performances, theater groups and comedic performers as well as host events like open mic nights and be available for public rentals.
“I love live music, and I just want to see this community better because I want to raise my family here,” he said. “Nobody else is doing anything with the theater. It’s just sitting there.”
Winkler said the group is working with board members of the Butler Redevelopment Authority, which owns the theater, who have been receptive to the proposals.
“They’re open to pretty much all of our ideas,” he said.
