EVENT: Benefit Concert at Lewis Theatre
WHEN: Friday, November 1, 2013, 9pm. (Sliding Scale Donation $10-$30)
WHERE: The Lewis Theatre, Downtown Lewisburg, WV
It is a sad truth. “The Historic Lewis Theatre must go digital or go dark.” The theatre needs to invest a total of about $65,000 to stay open. These funds will pay for a new DCI-compliant projector and sound system, two necessary pieces of equipment to play digital film versus the tradition 35mm print. By the end of 2013, nearly all cinema will be exclusively digital.
Knowing these changes were coming, the Lewis Theatre has been stockpiling their resources the last few years and have raised about $30,000. Currently, they have a campaign on kickstarter.com called “Help Project the Lewis Theatre into the Future.” This campaign is seeking a total of $39,000. So far, it’s brought in $4,685 with about 56 backers. There is less than a month to go and the deadline for pledges is Sunday, November 3, 2013.
“Converting to digital is an expensive process and has already been the death knell for hundreds of small town theatres like ours. Please help keep this 75 year tradition alive!” – The Lewis Theatre, kickstarter.com
Your individual donation/pledge doesn’t need to be a lot to make a difference. On kickstarter.com, pledges can be as little as $1. All pledges starting at $25 come with gifts! There’s a pledge amount listed that will let you have a private party with 100 of your friends, and will include several presents.
If the theatre overcomes this finanical obstacle with your help, they will be looking into providing our community with non-mainstream films. They are adamant to provide us with the best of what’s available while continuing to charge very affordable ticket prices. Moreover, the theatre will spoil us with beer and wine, as those are scheduled to be be added to the concession stand, 21 and over.
“Being downtown, close to all of the amazing shops and restaurants that Lewisburg has to offer, is another bonus and makes dinner and a movie an attractive option. We’ll continue to show the movies our loyal patrons ask for at the lowest cost we can make available, that is a Lewis Theatre Guarantee.”
On Friday, November 1st, 9pm, there will be a Special Project Benefit Concert held for and at The Lewis Theatr. Bands will include: Possum Holler String Band and the Lawless Brown Band. Admission will be $15, Full time students and AmeriCorps $10. All proceeds from this concert will go to the “Help ‘Project’ the Lewis Theatre into the Future” fundraising campaign.
– Christina Entenmann, LBSPY 43 (Oct 7-21).
HASHTAGWV ART & ENTERTAINMENT Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Christina Entenmann-Edwards has been a WV resident since September 2008. She was born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and is no stranger to hard work and the entrepreneurial spirit. In 2006, she graduated from Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Connecticut), Cum Laude, with a B.A. in History. In 2010, she graduated with an M.B.A. from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia). In February 2012, Christina launched HashtagWV as the area’s first full-color, free arts and entertainment tabloid + online platform. Christina completed the Leadership West Virginia class of 2021, which is an innovative program that grows, engages, and mobilizes leaders to ignite a life passion to move West Virginia forward.