Colony Theatre to host membership drive
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Colony Theatre will host a membership drive Saturday, Oct. 1, from 2-6 p.m., and will introduce the Highland County community to the new mission and direction the theatre will be taking in its coming seasons.
Board member Brent Huffman said that in addition to the drive Saturday, "We will be unveiling our new mission and our new mission statement. There are a lot of new changes that have been going on at the Colony."
Earlier this year changes were made to the theatre's board, and Huffman said that board members and board president Tina Bradshaw are trying to create diverse events that will appeal to people of all ages and interests.
"We have a classic movie series, a Christian series, a rock series, a children's series, jazz music, a Christian series, and play productions," Huffman said. "There will still be country music shows, we just won't be having them every Saturday night. We want the shows to be more diverse, and there has been a lot of interest. The activity on our facebook page is up 200 percent."
The membership drive will be for the remainder of the year and into the 2012 season. Membership costs range from $35 to more than $10,000, and there are corporate sponsorship options. For more information on becoming a member, visit www.thecolonytheatre.org.
"People have been really excited to hear about what's going on at the Colony," Huffman said.
According to the theatre's website, "The theater opened on September 15, 1938 at 7:15 p.m. with brief remarks Phil Chakeres, president of Chakeres Theatres, Inc. and humorist and newpaperman, 'Dusty' Miller, unlocked the doors to the public for the first time while Walt Shoop, 'King of the Accordion,' entertained the audience as they waited to see the movie, 'The Rage of Paris.' On June 10, 1993 The Colony Theatre showed its last movie as a Chakeres Theatre, and the theaters doors where shut. Shortly after the theater closed, a group called 'Friends of the Colony' was established to help save the old theater. Chakeres Theatres gave The Colony Theatre to the city of Hillsboro and in February of 1995 Carl and Jenny Hollingsworth began the Country Classic Opry at the theater. After the Hollingsworth’s announced they would be closing their weekly Saturday night show, a new non profit group was formed called the Colony Theatre Inc. to continue operating the theater. The city of Hillsboro sold the building to the Colony Theatre Inc. for $1 and the group continues to operate the theater."
The Colony Theatre will host a membership drive Saturday, Oct. 1, from 2-6 p.m., and will introduce the Highland County community to the new mission and direction the theatre will be taking in its coming seasons.
Board member Brent Huffman said that in addition to the drive Saturday, "We will be unveiling our new mission and our new mission statement. There are a lot of new changes that have been going on at the Colony."
Earlier this year changes were made to the theatre's board, and Huffman said that board members and board president Tina Bradshaw are trying to create diverse events that will appeal to people of all ages and interests.
"We have a classic movie series, a Christian series, a rock series, a children's series, jazz music, a Christian series, and play productions," Huffman said. "There will still be country music shows, we just won't be having them every Saturday night. We want the shows to be more diverse, and there has been a lot of interest. The activity on our facebook page is up 200 percent."
The membership drive will be for the remainder of the year and into the 2012 season. Membership costs range from $35 to more than $10,000, and there are corporate sponsorship options. For more information on becoming a member, visit www.thecolonytheatre.org.
"People have been really excited to hear about what's going on at the Colony," Huffman said.
According to the theatre's website, "The theater opened on September 15, 1938 at 7:15 p.m. with brief remarks Phil Chakeres, president of Chakeres Theatres, Inc. and humorist and newpaperman, 'Dusty' Miller, unlocked the doors to the public for the first time while Walt Shoop, 'King of the Accordion,' entertained the audience as they waited to see the movie, 'The Rage of Paris.' On June 10, 1993 The Colony Theatre showed its last movie as a Chakeres Theatre, and the theaters doors where shut. Shortly after the theater closed, a group called 'Friends of the Colony' was established to help save the old theater. Chakeres Theatres gave The Colony Theatre to the city of Hillsboro and in February of 1995 Carl and Jenny Hollingsworth began the Country Classic Opry at the theater. After the Hollingsworth’s announced they would be closing their weekly Saturday night show, a new non profit group was formed called the Colony Theatre Inc. to continue operating the theater. The city of Hillsboro sold the building to the Colony Theatre Inc. for $1 and the group continues to operate the theater."