GROVE CITY — The Guthrie Theatre is hoping to ratchet up its fundraising to buy a digital projector.

Owners Eric and Paula Thomas said they have raised about half of what they need to make the purchase. So far, the theater has raised about $27,000, and the owners are anticipating the projector to cost $60,000.

“It's progressing,” Eric Thomas said.

About $17,000 of that came from the theater's Seat Backs for Green Backs campaign.

Participants pay $250 to buy one of the theater's seats. There are 360 seats in the theater's lower level that are being sold on a first come, first served basis.

People who participate will get a personalized vinyl decal placed on the back of one of the theater's seats. Three types of layouts for the decals are available.

The theater kicked off the campaign at the end of January. The theater has sold about 60 seat backs.

Additionally, several people have donated money but chose not to have a seat back personalized, including one person who donated $5,000.

“I think every week we get a couple of checks coming in,” Paula Thomas said.

The theater plans to buy the projector by the end of the year.

It has to buy the projector soon because major movie studios slowly are phasing traditional 35 millimeter film prints out in favor of digital prints.

Although there is no official cutoff date, Eric Thomas said the theater's film buyer and other sources have suggested buying the projector by the end of the year.

“We need to get the projector sooner rather than later,” he said.

His wife agreed.

“It's getting tough,” Paula Thomas said.

She said that, although some 35 millimeter prints still are made, the difficulty comes in getting them in a timely fashion.

“It's hit or miss,” she said.

The theater is eyeing a “4K” projector by Sony, which has a very high resolution and costs about $60,000.

Beth Black, executive director of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber hopes the theater is successful and continues to operate. Chamber members are proud that an original, one-screen theater operates in the borough, she said.

“It's a very cool thing,” Black said.

Eric Thomas bought the theater in 2001. His wife mainly runs it because Thomas has a full-time job. The couple's son and two daughters also work at the theater. The theater has eight employees and 420 seats.

The theater opened in 1927 and has continuously operated since then.

To help the campaign, visit www.the-guthrie.com and click on the Seat Backs Campaign tab.