News

Historic World Theatre Reopens in Kearney

Posted: 2:32 PM Jun 29, 2012
Reporter: Morgan Demmel

Historic World Theatre Reopens in Kearney, Morgan Demmel Reports on NCN at 9

The doors have been shut and locked for four years, but now the World Theatre in downtown Kearney is back in business.

World Foundation members say the theatre has changed in more than just appearance, but in its entire business model.

The World Theatre Foundation, and Kearney community, have been anticipating the theatre's reopening since the doors closed in 2008.

"I think people are really excited to see what's been going on," Kearney Development Services Director Suzanne Brodine says.

The foundation raised nearly $1 million dollars in donations and grant funding to put toward new seats, flooring and a brand new marquis.

But beyond the renovations, they say they're bringing a brand new experience to the community.

"We really feel like we're creating and filling a niche. As far as what we're doing, it doesn't exist here," World Theatre Foundation President Jon Bokenkamp says.

The theatre will show classic, indie and revival films, plus host speakers, like Oscar award-winning director Alexander Payne.

"This place closed as a movie theatre before, it failed," Bokenkamp says. "So we have no interest in trying to compete with the multiplex, or the malls and showing sort of standard, Hollywood big budget fare."

That unique business model, plus its downtown location make it a spot organizers expect will draw big crowds.

"It brings a whole large group of people who want to come down and have dinner when they go to their movie or stop in and do some window shopping, things like that," Brodine says. "It really helps blend and complement the other businesses that we already have."

But Bokenkamp says he expects the historic building itself, and the old-theatre experience will be enough to pique the community's interest.

"There's a wonderful energy to it that you don't find anywhere else," Bokenkamp says, "as opposed to walking into a shoebox and clicking the lights off and here's the film."

The grand reopening weekend kicks off Friday with a sold-out showing of "Some Like It Hot" and a question and answer session with Oscar award-winning director Alexander Payne, but the events continue all weekend.