Port Theatre in final stretch towards reopening
A 14-year-long opening scene in the restoration of Port St. Joe’s historic downtown theatre is about to end, as the first act in the reopening of the Port Theatre is soon to become a captivating drama.
“The major renovation is close to completion, and the theatre is prepared for the final touches,” said Natalie Shoaf, a longtime director on the board that governs the non-profit Port Theatre Art and Culture, Inc.
Shoaf was on hand Friday morning along with a handful of volunteers, who included fellow director David Warriner, as well as theatre enthusiasts Lorinda Gingell and Gina Vicari, who helped in sweeping and dusting as the theater prepares for its last phase of installations.
These will include upwards of a half-million dollars worth of new items, such as audio/visual systems, a grand curtain, stage rigging and stage lighting, artwork and the installation of plush theater seating.
The theatre was fortunate to receive the donation of a full house of like-new theatre seats from the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California. In a press release, the Port Theatre’s directors thanked Judy Blanchard of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, and Tres Parker of Sanders Trucking who brought the chairs here.
The theatre has been the beneficiary of several million dollars in help, both from state grants and from local donations, both in cold cash as well as essential in-kind donations of labor and equipment.
Until Hurricane Michael demolished the roof in 2018, and FEMA monies went towards it, the theatre hosted 28 successful musical events, each with up to 300 attendees, in the pre-renovation building. When the Brothers Osborn stopped by, they were so impressed with the theatre and acoustics, they donated $15,000 to update the marquee and featured the 1938, Art Deco site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in a Dodge Ram commercial.
According to Florida’s Department of State, to qualify for listing in the National Register, a property must not only be shown to have a documented area of historic significance, it must also retain physical integrity.”
The Theatre went “dark” in the 1960s and was only utilized briefly as an auction house. In 2011, the non-profit status was acquired and the building was bought. Improvements have included replacing the roof and funding a major renovation to replace/upgrade all structural components, mechanical / plumbing / electrical, and ADA compliance, all while retaining its historic integrity. The work has reconfigured spaces to accommodate stage productions by adding a back-stage green room and restrooms.
“The historic significance to the community cannot be overstated, and the regional support and enthusiasm for this renovation is immeasurable,” said Shoaf. “This building is a bridge from the past to the present and will continue to honor its legacy well into the future while providing the myriad of benefits embraced by art and culture.“
The theatre’s mission is committed to fostering community engagement, honoring local culture and history, stimulating economic activity, and providing a range of opportunities for learning, entertainment, leisure, communication, and personal growth for individuals, families, tourists, and groups through a variety of programming, events, and productions.
A children’s summer camp program, made possible by a generous donation from Battelle, will give children the opportunity to be in a production and to learn technical aspects of using a sound board. “More opportunities for collaboration with local arts groups and local organizations will be integrated into our programming,” Shoaf said.
Numerous grants and donations from foundations, businesses, corporations, and private citizens have enabled the Port Theatre to purchase the building and fund the major renovation. Opportunities are available for naming rights and donations at all levels. Donations can be made easily through www.HistoricPortTheatre.com.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.