The Renovated Lamp Theater in Irwin, PA Reopens!

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on August 25, 2015 at 7:49 pm

The doors of the Lamp theatre reopened today! The renovated Lamp Theater in Irwin, PA reopens following months of renovations by local volunteers, as well as work by previous owners, including the Westmoreland Cultural Trust.

“The excitment is intense,’’ Irwin manager Mary Benko, who is also a Lamp Theatre volunteer, said of next week’s long-awaited opening.

The first performance follows years of efforts by three owners interested in renovating and reopening the theater. Since 2005, borough officials and community volunteers have said they see the restoration of the theater as a lynchpin in efforts to revitalize downtown Irwin and bring more shoppers and diners in.

In 2005, George Koury of Chapman and Koury Real Estate, Irwin, bought the building with partners Bill Chapman and David Sinclair from Mr. Koury’s cousins, George and Jean Rebich.

Mr. Koury said in early 2005 that the Rebiches had not shown movies there since about Jan. 31, 2005.

Later, the theater was acquired by Westmoreland Cultural Trust in Greensburg, then was purchased by Irwin Borough.

The group of volunteers, called Relight the Lamp, which includes a number of Irwin officials and local residents, managed to raise $150,000 in monetary and in-kind donations of work done by volunteers using backhoes, laying cement and doing other work in and for the theater.

The $150,000 served as matching funds and allowed the release of $500,000 for the renovation project.

To read more about the Lamp Theatre follow this link: http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2015/08/21/A-star-is-reborn-Renovated-Lamp-Theatre-in-Irwin-reopens-next-week/stories/201508210081

Highlight and right click links to open in a new tab.

ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres on our website at www.historictheatres.org