The Jewel of Galesburg has been awarded a grant from the State of Illinois to support The Orpheum Theatre Lobby Doors & Roof Replacement Project. Funded through the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund, the $150,000.00 grant will fully support replacing the theatre’s three sets of lobby doors as well as the repair and replacement of the current auditorium roof.
“This project has been a long time coming, and we are absolutely thrilled that it is finally underway,” Orpheum Executive Director Erin Glasnovich says. “We are so grateful for this support from the State of Illinois and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Projects like these may not be glamourous, but they are vital for the preservation and longevity of this historic building, enabling The Orpheum to continue pursuing its mission for generations.”
The auditorium roof was installed when The Orpheum had its largest renovation back in 1988. Thus, due to the age of the roof and the increasingly severe weather the Midwest is facing, replacement of the current roof has become an overdue and necessary endeavor. The roof replacement is set to begin this summer.
Equal in age to the auditorium roof, the theatre’s lobby doors had received more than a million patrons since their installation. Their wear and tear had become apparent: any Orpheum patron could note that they were not the easiest doors to operate. Local business First Glass installed the fresh doors as of this week. “I received notice on a Monday evening they were ready, and work began the following morning,” the theatre’s Facility Manager Ross McIntire states. “The guys at First Glass are top-notch installers and do quick, quality work. The old doors served us well but we’re looking forward to utilizing the new sets for decades to come.”
The Orpheum will get a chance to welcome patrons through its improved entryway this Saturday, April 15 with Aerial Dance Chicago’s gravity-defying performance of Written on the Body. The Orpheum also offers a standing invitation of free historic theatre tours for anyone who is interested in visiting, learning about The Orpheum and its history, and experiencing the breathtaking architecture and inherent beauty of Galesburg’s Jewel.
A celebratory event marking the completion of the entire project will be held at The Orpheum later this year. More information can be found by visiting the theatre’s website: galesburgorpheum.org.
***Courtesy of The Orpheum Theatre***
