Renovations at the Wilmette Theatre are completed just in time for the Theatre to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Doors opened to the public on January 31st, 2014, 19 days after the theatre announced it would be closing temporarily, beginning on January 14th.

The renovations were made possible by generous donations given by members of the theatre and by local businesses. Hester Painting and Decorating, The Jerome Mirza Foundation, Kashian Brothers Flooring, Benjamin Moore Paints, the Carl Rutstein Family, Scott Simpson Builders, and the Make It Better magazine were all contributors to the theatre’s much-needed makeover.

The theatre is very grateful for the donations. “We are thrilled beyond imagination that these businesses and individuals have stepped up in such a generous way,” said Wendy Sharon, the Wilmette Theatre’s co-president to Tribune Local.

The local communities have stepped up to the plate, coming together to ensure not only the survival of the Wilmette Theatre, but to provide it with the necessary means to thrive.

“It clearly speaks to what this treasured old theatre means to people and how important it is to the vibrancy of Wilmette’s downtown,” said Jeff Freedman, the theatre’s other co-president. “The timing, which comes at the start of our Centennial year, couldn’t be more perfect.”

As one enters the newly-renovated Wilmette Theatre, one cannot help but to feel the originality and character of the building. It is uncommon that a 100-year-old building is still functioning comfortably. The theatre, which was constructed in 1913 to the tune of $52,000, held seating for 600 and became a focal point of downtown Wilmette.

Since then the theatre has undergone many mini-renovations. Three months were spent in modernizing the aging Metropolitan Building. The exterior of the building was left intact, but the interior of the building was completely revamped and a magna screen projection system was added.

The last renovations to be made to the theatre took place in 1948, when $14,000 were spent installing a new marquee. That is until this year, when the entire theatre was closed in order to give the historical community building a slew of upgrades.

Restrooms have been upgraded, painted, and given an extensive cleaning. The lobby of the theatre has also seen upgrades to its concession stand. The interior of the building was given a new coat of paint, while the building’s original crown molding was restored to its former glory. New sound-fold curtains line the walls of the theatre itself. Even the marquee was updated and cleaned.

Members and customers have always stuck by the Wilmette Theatre, and this isn’t something that has gone unnoticed by the theatre’s management team.

Manager Linda MacLennan acknowledged the community’s loyalty to the theatre, “We’ve badly needed this. Our patrons have come here despite how ragged we’ve looked. The cosmetic work will make their experience seeing a movie or live event at The Wilmette even better.” The team at the Wilmette Theatre is excited to unveil its renovations to the community and is looking forward to better serving their patrons in the theatre’s modernized atmosphere.

An unveiling of the renovations took place at a Centennial Kick-Off celebration, which was an invite-only event, on Thursday, January 30th. Film screenings opened to the public the following day.

The Wilmette Theatre is a not-for-profit organization. A distinct fixture of downtown Wilmette, the theatre showcases a variety of artistic performances and talents. Enriching and providing education about theatre and the arts to the community through acting classes and multi-art premieres, the Wilmette Theatre is not solely for entertainment purposes. The theatre exposes people of all ages to the fantastical world of theatre.

The dramatic renovations assure that the Wilmette Theatre will remain a fixed feature of downtown Wilmette for years to come.