John Swedeen, president
State Theatre Company Board
Three questions arise with regularity as Board members and I publicly discuss plans to reopen the historic State Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls.
- Where are you with the renovation?
- How has money raised in the past been spent?
- When is the State Theatre going to reopen?
We answer questions to the best of our ability, and we’re happy to do so. There are no secrets in what we’re doing.
We’re a nonprofit, community-minded organization. Our goal is to restore the grandeur of the State Theatre and reopen it as a multi-faceted entertainment facility that can be used and enjoyed by everyone in the community. In addition to showing movies, the facility is expected to be available on a rental basis for events such as performances, receptions and meetings.
Here’s where we’re at with the project and where we’re headed:
- To date, roughly $3. 5 million been raised and spent to stabilize and upgrade the once-threatened building. The State Theatre, which opened in 1926 and closed in 1991, has been saved from the threat of demolition. In addition, areas of the building such as the lobby, bathrooms and Marquee have been substantially improved. Work remains in the auditorium, stage and balcony, however.
- In recent months, the State has hosted a few fundraising and informational events. But no reopening date has been scheduled yet. An official reopening will depend on how long it takes to raise the $4.5 million to $5 million needed to complete the project. After the money is raised, construction will take nearly a year to complete.
- Fundraising to complete the project is underway. It’s never really stopped since restoration began. However, we recently stepped up our behind-the-scenes efforts. Features such as naming rights are available.
We’ll keep you posted, as best we can, on our progress and try to answer other questions as they arise. In the meantime, thank you for supporting the State Theatre!
