AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Civic Theatre is showcasing its renovations this week and is inviting the public to celebrate during its “Civic Celebration Week.”
Before the start of the pandemic, the theatre started a campaign to raise $8.5 million to help paint murals outside, build the brand new Knight stage, basic upkeep and renovations of the grand lobby and arcade.
The community met their goal and then some, raising a total of $9 million from foundations, private donors and the public.
“Any of us that work here, we always say, ‘We’re the keepers of the memories,'” explained Associate Director Valerie Reener, “and we tried to bring everything back to the original look and feel of 1929 when it was built.”
Thanks to artists who spent three and a half months hand-painting the opulent designs, the Civic Theatre is back to its original state from almost a century ago.
“When you come through the doors, the mahogany doors, you can escape and it’s a little different reality when you walk in,” said Reener.
The whole design was meant to look like a Moorish castle. The old meets the new with their $4 million addition of the “Knight Stage.”
Lined with photos of Akron icons like Michael Stanley and the Black Keys, this space will be home to new performers like musicians and actors just coming onto the scene.
Their goal is to offer entertainment for everyone.
“If you want to see it, hopefully you can come down here,” explains Reener. “You don’t have to go to Cleveland. You can just come down to Akron and see what you like to see.”
To celebrate, free performances will be happening all week with a community open house on Sunday, Aug. 15.
