Casino Star Theatre to Resume Its Historic Role as "Showhouse"

The Casino Star Theatre, cerca 1915. Courtesy of the Casino Star Theatre

Are you ready for popcorn?  It's official!  After nearly one full year of unprecedented closure, the historic Casino Star Theatre in Gunnison will open its doors again for an open house celebration from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14.  Later that evening,  High School Musical 3, the third of the popular series, will light up the long-dark screen at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Directors Lori Nay and Diana Spencer, along with board members and staff, will greet visitors in the afternoon with popcorn and pop, ready to show off the improvements they've been working on since Top Stop's underground gas leak forced them to close the theatre last year.   While providing safely breathable air has been top priority, other issues of safety and beauty were also addressed.

"You'll be amazed at how beautiful the auditorium looks," says Nay.  "We were required to put in the new ceiling and new drapes for safety reasons, but we made it a beautification opportunity."

"Then there are the improvements you can't see," Spencer added, "The most essential and expensive health and safety upgrades are behind the scenes— in the basement and attic."

"We'll also announce our upcoming holiday schedule during the open house," Nay reports.  "We're planning matinees and special showings—starting with next Thursday's special midnight opening of Twilight, on November 20th."

 "This is the first time we've had to pre-sell tickets for a movie," added Diana Spencer, "but Twilight at Midnight is generating so much excitement, we need to limit tickets to the number of seats in the theatre."

Advance tickets for "Twilight at Midnight" will go on sale Monday, November 10 at 3 p.m.