Historic theater to reopen in Plymouth
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A historic theater in downtown Plymouth that has sat vacant for more than 20 years will reopen this weekend. The REES Theatre, which originally opened in 1940, has undergone a variety of renovations over the last few years, including upgrades to the facade, HVAC units, and the installation of rooftop solar panels.
The nearly $3.5 million renovation project was completed over four phases and received financial support from both the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative and the Marshall County Crossroads’ Stellar Communities designation in 2019.
The theater’s interior was redesigned for multi-purpose use and can be configured for both traditional theater performances as well as events such as weddings, receptions and other community gatherings.
Crews also made improvements to the building’s roof, masonry, foundation, electrical, and water and fire protection service. The historic marquee was also repaired for “efficient operation.”
The rooftop solar energy system was completely underwritten by an anonymous donor family in Marshall County.
“The bottom line is: The REES will have an environmentally friendly solar energy system that will offset 60 – 70% of the multi-purpose venue’s annual electric usage and a system that will serve as both an example and an educational resource for area citizens and students,” said Bill Langdon, co-chair of the REES solar committee.
Theater officials say annual operating expenses are estimated to cost $329,000, and a business plan has been developed based on projected annual revenues to sustain operations.
The city is celebrating the theater’s reopening with a week of events, beginning Saturday with performances from the Denver Bierman & Mile High Orchestra, and a World Record Trumpet Challenge at River Park Square.
You can see the full list of events by clicking here.