Wapa Theater closing; may become live performance venue

posted by CSWalczak on February 18, 2010 at 3:40 pm

WAPAKONETA, OH — For over a century, the Wapa Theatre has been providing entertainment to this northwest Ohio community, first as a vaudeville house and then as a cinema. Now a non-profit group wants to turn the Wapa, born as the Brown Theater, into a place for live and digital performances after its scheduled closing in March.

According to an agenda for the group’s first meeting, they want to
“introduce a plan that will enrich our whole community by revitalizing the Brown Theater to its original purpose — the performing arts.”

Frey, who serves as production manager, said it may take the support of the local community to accomplish this, but right now its the only option to keep the building open. There have been no other reported offers once the movie theater closes next month.

Initial plans for the non-profit include reopening the building as a live performance theater, which seats 620 people, by the end of March. The group would lease the space from theater owner and local attorney Robert Wiesenmayer.

The full story is in the Wapakoneta Daily News.

Theaters in this post

• Wapa Theatre