Sandusky State Theatre

Monday Construction Update:

The main floor seats are installed ✅

Monday Construction Update:

An often unseen part of the theater, the historic offices are complete and staff is ready to move into the space after four years of camping. While this part of the building isn’t seen by the public, it was still completed with historic accuracy including the wood paneling through the center wall. The window seen below looks out over Shade Mylander Plaza. The offices were completed with a generous grant and will be named the Randolph J. And Estelle M. Dorn Foundation Offices.

We are endlessly grateful for our community as we restore and expand our historic Theatre to better serve you for generations to come. We couldn't have made it this far without you, and we're counting on your continued support as we prepare to raise the curtain on a new era:

➡️Stay informed by subscribing to our email list: http://eepurl.com/itAAjE

➡️Donate to our ongoing restoration & expansion: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36775/store/donations/51278

➡️Spread the word about what’s happening at the Sandusky State Theatre by sharing our posts, talking with friends, or sharing your favorite SST memory and tagging us!

Thank you for continuing to stand with the State!

Monday Construction Update:

Last week we showed you the new/historic panels throughout the auditorium. Since then the original sconces has been reinstalled. They took some minor damage during the collapse but were able to be saved and put back just like they were prior to the storm.

We are thrilled to have been able to save many of the historic fixtures so that future generations can enjoy the theater the same way we have for the last 96 years.

The acoustic panels in the auditorium represent a piece of history in the Sandusky State Theatre. There have been a few variations in the patterned design that’s covered them over the years, but when the Theatre reopens you’ll notice a print that is closer than ever to the original stenciling painted onto the panels in 1928.

What an honor to restore them and so many other iconic elements throughout the Theatre to their original glory!

Introducing the new sky in our beloved auditorium! 🌥️

Designed to be reminiscent of the sky over Lake Erie after the 2020 storm, this beautiful mural was hand-painted by skilled artisans at EverGreene Architectural Arts. If you haven’t already, see an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the process of creating this work of art in Magnolia Network’s recent Restoration Road Episode on the Theatre, now streaming on MAX and discovery+.

Monday Construction Update:

The iconic chandelier that was left standing is getting its long awaited cleaning and tune up. It had a few bent twigs from the storm but those are easily fixed. Many of the 10,000 crystals were caked with dirt from going through the destruction and being open to the elements those first 8 months. Once clean up is complete we will follow up with an updated picture.

As we shared yesterday, the chairs for our restored auditorium have been delivered and are in the process of being installed! Here’s a sneak peek of what the auditorium will look like when it’s complete with these beautiful new ergonomic seats in place.

Tuesday Construction Update:

We apologize for being a day late but we had a little anniversary yesterday. 🌪️

There was a special delivery last week and we can officially report that the chairs are being installed. Below you can see the decorative end cap, featuring the “S” for Sandusky that everyone remembers seeing on the old seats.

Today marks 4 years since a storm with winds of over 55 miles per hour blew the roof off our building, collapsed the auditorium ceiling, and destroyed the stage and seating areas. Although the damage was devastating, the catastrophe brought us together to imagine a brighter future for our Theatre and the region.

We've come a long way since June 10, 2020, and we wouldn’t be where we are without such a strong community behind us.

The skilled artisans at EverGreene Architectural Arts have been committed to meticulously preserving our Theatre’s historic character. From reconstructing ornate plaster details to hand-painting each new mural in the auditorium, they’ve taken precise care to ensure our historic landmark is restored to all its 1928 glory and we’re grateful for their continued partnership throughout this restoration journey!

➡️Read more about their involvement in the project here: https://evergreene.com/projects/sandusky-state-theatre/

Another great overview of our restoration and expansion journey, especially as we approach the four-year anniversary of the 2020 storm. Thank you News 5 Cleveland for sharing our story!

Watch the segment at the link below ⬇️

Bright lights in Sandusky: Sandusky State Theater still on track to open this year The Sandusky State Theatre is still on track to open this year. The theatre has been closed for four years after a storm destroyed half of the building in 2020.

Monday Construction Update:

The tech booth is getting installed to ensure Tim’s crew can work their magic from here during shows. Tim is in his 21st year with the theater and he’s as excited as you are to be performing shows again!

The consistent outpouring of support from this community never ceases to amaze us, and Monday evening was no exception! Our friends at CLAG Brewing Company generously hosted a watch party for our episode of Magnolia Network’s Restoration Road. The taps were officially opened on our special theatre beer collab, Applause, and over 300 people joined in the celebration.

If you haven’t seen the episode yet, check it out on MAX or discovery+ for a comprehensive peek behind the curtain on the restoration and expansion of our Theatre. ▶️

The Caryl Crane Youth Theatre continues to represent our community on the national stage! Congratulations to all of our CCYT actors who recently won a combined $220,000 in scholarships at the Musical Theatre Competitions of America (MTC) Triple Threat competition in San Diego. 🏆

We couldn’t be prouder of these young artists, and can’t wait to see the role they’ll play in sustaining arts in our region for generations to come. 🎭

Learn more in the article below from the Sandusky Register ⬇️

Local students splitting $220K They won scholarships, awards during recent competition in California

How about a round of Applause? 🍻👏

We hope to see you at CLAG Brewing Company this Monday at 6pm - come enjoy our new beer and the new episode of HBO/Magnolia Network's Restoration Road episode featuring the Theatre!

➡️Full event details: Watch Party! HBO's Restoration Road Featuring The Sandusky State Theatre

📣Bonus Construction Update: Here’s your first official sneak peek of the new sky mural in the main auditorium.

Catch the full unveiling at CLAG Brewing Company this Monday during the watch party for HBO’s newest Restoration Road episode with Clint Harp featuring the Theatre! Party begins at 6pm, episode airs at 8pm (streaming on MAX and Discovery+). We hope to see you there.

➡️Full event details: Watch Party! HBO's Restoration Road Featuring The Sandusky State Theatre

After the storm in 2020, the first order of business was a combination of demolition, stabilization, and mitigation. After about four days, we finally dug our way to the basement doors that lead to the orchestra pit, and we were astonished at what we found. The stage house had collapsed onto one side of the massive platform, flipping the orchestra pit completely upside down and ripping it from the steel coils that lift it up and down. It’s a sight we will never forget.

Fast forward to now, and the new pit is being installed. Watching it lift its new platform up was a huge milestone for construction and reminded us of all the people who have helped lift us up throughout this long journey.

We certainly couldn’t have gotten this far without a great many people who have contributed to making sure this phoenix rises from the ashes. Thank you for continuing to stand with the State!

Monday Construction Update:

The auditorium is being prepped for seating. The parts that remain unpainted are where carpet will be installed.

One other programming note - next Monday is Memorial Day and our construction update will be an hour long episode of Restoration Road. We will be watching at CLAG Brewing Company. The show starts at 8:00pm but the party starts at 6:00pm. We hope you’ll join us and try CLAG’s new theater inspired beer - Applause 👏🏼

Wow are we proud of our young performers. Bravo! More to come on their accomplishments later this week. 🎭

$220,000 in College Scholarships awarded to CCYT at MTC Triple Threat Competition !!Congratulations Annika, Claire, Reese and Tyler!

And that’s just the start (details at 11)!

This past Sunday we sent off the second group of talented seniors since Caryl Crane Youth Theatre became part of the State Theatre. Jordyn, Ryan, Mathias, Tyler, Liv, and Nolan - we’re proud of you and appreciate all the hard work you put in these past few years. Best of luck in your next chapter. 🎭

Monday Construction Update:

This is the first time we’ve been able to see the stage from the auditorium and vice versa. The auditorium felt small being cut off from the stage - now it feels like a theater. We can’t wait for seats to start arriving this month!

The Sandusky State Theatre holds special memories for generations of families. Here’s to many more being created in our restored, expanded spaces when it’s time to raise the curtain again this summer!

When we asked the community what they wanted to see at the expanded Sandusky State Theatre, they told us they wanted flexible spaces that could host a broad range of cultural experiences. Our new second venue is just the right size for jazz concerts, comedians, speakers, and more!

As you saw in yesterday’s construction update, this exciting new addition is currently being framed with steel beams. We’re thrilled to see it coming to life.

Monday Construction Update:

Steel and more steel. They’re framing the addition where you’ll get to see Comedy, Jazz@8, and more. You’ll be seeing big changes on a daily basis for the next few weeks. Once this is enclosed we’ll be in the home stretch.