Abilene ? For the first time in more than 10 years, Abilene residents will be able to watch a movie on a big screen.

The Great Plains Theatre will be showing movies beginning June 5. The first movie to be shown will be selected as the theatre nears its opening date. The Great Plains Theatre, best known for being a site for live regional theatre showcasing professional actors and actresses, will also incorporate movies into its operation.

Bruce Dale, an Abilene business executive and board member for the Great Plains Theatre, said the project should complement the live theatre. A nonprofit board oversees the day-to-day operations and owns and maintains the building. The schedules will be made in a manner that the live theatre productions will continue. The movie theatre part of the operation will look to offer matinee times. When there is not a live theatre production, then a regular movie schedule will be followed.

“Live theatre is No. 1, but this is another way we could get the building used,” Dale said. “I think it will make a difference with our kids. This is something they can do on a Saturday night.”

Target market

He visualizes a typical core customer as a 14-year-old who wants to see a movie and spend time with their friends. Another core customer is a retired person who does not want to hassle with the drive out of town. There should be economic spinoff to downtown businesses and restaurants, too, he said.

He expressed his support to the city and residents and businesses who have contributed to the project. The theatre received a one-time $60,000 grant from the city in January with the stipulation that GPT raised $14,800 first. About $30,000 has been raised, he said, which has been necessary, to provide a first-class theatre.

“I wanted this to be first rate,” he said, listing as an example the capability to have surround sound so that the theatre could be competitive with other movie venues. “I did not want to put in a projector that was antiquated. As a result some of the costs are more than we discussed in January. I’m not disappointed because I wanted to do it right and keep it on schedule and I knew that upgrades need to be paid for from the private side. This community, individuals and businesses contributed so much.”

“What will happen early is we will pack the house, but the budgets we have set are extremely conservative,” Dale said. “If we can show the right show for the right price and have refreshments for the right price than we should be all right.”

“The screen is up and ready to go,” said Marc Liby, artistic director of the Great Plains Theatre. “The screen is huge and it will be very impressive. The seating arrangement is nice and there will not be a bad seat in the house.”

The theatre has a seating capacity for 180 people. The screen has been installed in a way so that it will complement the live theatre stage.

Projection and sound equipment is in the process of being installed and staff will go through training. The project is going to be one that will keep the staff busy, he said.

‘A big week’

In fact the Great Plains Theatre is going to start its summer live theatre program with its “Man of La Mancha” on Friday. Plans call for movies to be shown at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. A private thank you is planned for donors and supporters Sunday evening.

“We’re looking to help make it a big week in Abilene,” Liby said. “We know that Flour Power is going on and will be opening our live theatre’ summer season. There will be a lot to do and see that weekend.”

Plans call for the movies to be shown nearly on a year-round basis, Liby said.

“I’d ask people to be patient as we have to feel things out,” he said. “The staff is going to run it first. We’re looking forward to it and I know if it helps out the live theatre that’s great. We want people to come in and see the theatre.”

The Great Plains Theatre staff and board of directors agreed to review operations in August, he said, which should help provide a good evaluation of how staff is doing.

Liby said the additional exposure helps the live theatre, which has been a part of Abilene’s cultural art scene since 1995. It increases the usage of the theatre building, he said.

“We want people to come in and see the theatre, whether its for live theatre or movies,” he said.

Liby is excited about the prospect of having a movie theatre reopen in Abilene. Abilene has been without a movie theatre since May 1999 when a spring storm destroyed the downtown Plaza Theatre.

“I remember the Strowig family, how they operated it and everything they did for the community and how a theatre was important to so many people,” Liby said. “It’s meeting a community need.”