Keith Albee gets movie close up in “We Are Marshall”

posted by TonyRutherford on April 21, 2006 at 1:23 pm

HUNTINGTON, WV — After having shown films and hosted stage shows from 1928 until January 2006, the Keith-Albee Theatre, an atmospheric Spanish moorish theatre designed by Thomas Lamb, got a chance for its own ‘close up.’

On Tuesday, April 18, director McG (“Charlie’s Angels) and other Warner Bros. filmmakers utilized the theatre for the filming of a scene in "We Are Marshall,” which is set for a December release.

Starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox, as Coach Jack Lengyel and Ast. Coach Red Dawson, the film traces the true story of a plane crash that killed 75 members of the 1970 MU team along with most coaches, atheltic department staff, supporters, media reps and crew.
Two of the injured team members did NOT make the trip. Instead, they were inside the Keith Albee watching “Student Nurses” (for which Warner Bros. substituted “Kelly’s Heroes”).

During the showing of the movie, the projector is shut off and the manager takes the stage to announce the tragedy.

Portions of the movie palace’s design should be seen in the film.

At this time Marshall University, the Marshall Foundation and the Governor’s office are organizing a fund drive to renovate the Keith as a performing arts center. Although the Marshall Artists Series which offers touring Broadway shows will use the theatre during the Fall of 2006, one of the fundraisers indicated that they may close the Keith in the Spring of 2007 to remove the two ‘mini’ auditoriums and do other structural work.

This link to the filming of WE ARE MARSHALL inside the theater is:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/060419-rutheford-wam.html

This link leads to State Sen. Plymalke and David Tyson say project coming together:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/060329-rutheford-ka.html

Theaters in this post

• Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center