FeedsTheater preservation plan picks up ‘friends’
The effort to preserve the Historic Wayne Theatre is picking up steam.
The less-than-ideal weather last Saturday didn’t deter a large crowd from enjoying the latest in the Beat the Bulldozer Concert series, according to Don Nicholson, capital fundraising chairman for the organization.
“It was raining but we still packed them in,” he said.
The concert series has been extended another month and Nicholson said he hopes to get an extension on the deadline for the theater, too. He and the group trying to save the old movie house have been operating under a Sept. 15 deadline to bring the theater up to code or turn it over to the City of Wayne.
This weekend, two events will help generate additional funds—and interest—in the effort. The first is the second installment of ‘Waynapalooza,’ an all-day concert that features 10 local and regional bands.
“We did one of these a year ago and it was very successful,” Nicholson said. “We thought we’d try it again.”
The all-day event starts at noon on Saturday with Sweet Crystal and concludes at 10 p.m. with Quixotic. Bands will play for 45 minutes with a brief break in between.
Nicholson is also bringing his charity car show to the Wayne Wheelfest. The car show will take place on Saturday as well, along Second Street.
Nicholson said other efforts are in the works to provide additional funding. He continues to work with Zachary & Associates, a consulting firm, on grants that would ensure enough funding to bring the building up to code. He said he’s hoping to form a Friends of the Theater group to pursue other funding ideas—if the city grants the group an extension.
“This group would create and implement ideas to help raise money for the restoration of the theater,” he said. “They would not be board members and, like everyone else connected to the theater, would not receive any money for their efforts, only our heartfelt appreciation.”
Brenda Ozog, a Wayne resident, has expressed an interest in heading up that organization.
“(Nicholson) knows I belong to some groups that promote historic preservation so he asked if I was interested,” she said. “I told him I’d be happy to.”
Ozog said she wants to put on other kinds of fundraisers—bingo games, a wine and cheese tasting with an auction or a bowl-a-thon to name a few—to attract a wider audience.
“I’ve been researching what other ‘friends’ groups have done,” she said.
She has also talked with others that have expressed a desire to help out with the preservation effort.
“There are people out there interested,” she said.
