Marion Palace Theatre

Counting Our Blessings – August 2016

Counting Our Blessings – August 2016

While I’m sitting in the May Pavilion waiting on Upsidedown Broadway rehearsal to begin, I’m reflecting on the past weekend and anticipating the weekend ahead. We’re in full show mode with the season out of the gate. We wrapped up an incredible round of auditions for Disney’s Tarzan. There were more than 70 students who came to take a run through the jungle with us. The cast is a strong one and the show is new and exciting. I can’t wait for you to see it. These two shows alone are evidence of just how deep the talent runs in Marion and just how blessed we are that they share themselves with all of us by performing here at the Palace.

And speaking of blessings, I still pinch myself when I drive down Center Street and see the restored building façade and new marquees. It’s been five months and I still get a grin on my face when the digital signs come into view. I’m not the only one who realizes the magnitude of the work that was accomplished. I received word in early August that Quality Masonry Company’s nomination of our project to the Ohio History Connection resulted in the Palace Theatre’s restoration project being awarded the OHC’s Preservation Award. What an honor. The project will be recognized at a ceremony on October 29. This is the perfect opportunity to once again thank each of you who gave to this transformational project. You are to be commended for this project’s success. Thank you.

Since completion of the front façade project, we also tackled the north parking lot area. As you know, it was a mud hole in the spring and treacherous treading in the winter. It is now a beautifully expanded black-topped parking lot with 71 perfectly spaced parking spots. Who knew asphalt could be so exciting? Thank you to the County Commissioners for a CDBG award that helped get this project off the ground and to Honda of America and Rotary for their assistance with this one, too.

We’re busy doing what we can to improve our facilities while providing plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy them.  I encourage you to check out all the details in this edition of the Applause and tune into our website (marionpalace.org), which, by the way, is also under construction. We are working to create a more user-friendly, mobile-ready site. I think you’ll like it once we get it complete. In the meantime, keep checking back and learning about all of our 2016-17 shows and movie weekends.

Lisa tells me I’m out of space so a quick thank you to wrap up my column this month….a BIG shout out to all of our new and renewed members and our matching fund grantor Ray and Charlotte Baldauf Charitable Trust, through Trustee Ron Cramer! You are the life blood to our operations. Because of you, we are able to do what we do. We appreciate your support!

 Hope to see you soon,

Bev