Sandusky State Theatre's upgrades almost finished

SANDUSKY — Better shows in a nicer-looking, but still historically authentic, old theater.That's the result of the renovations and upgrades for the Sandusky State Theatre, said Andy Gundlach, chairman of the theater's Building Committee. State Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, and state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, helped obtain $750,000 in state capital improvements money to pay for the work.Much of the work was done to provide a better experience for patrons coming to see shows, Gundlach said.The theater upgraded its lighting system and its sound system. It installed more electrical capacity to aid the technology-rich shows that now tour the U.S. Structures were added to allow the theater to use more backdrops and more technical equipment.As a result, the sound is cleaner with no more dead spots, and the theater will no longer be limited to 1970s technology for its shows.Gundlach said visiting shows have had to reduce the number of backdrops and make production compromises.For example, the touring Broadway show of "Jeckyll and Hyde" had a big scene which featured a laboratory being lowered from the ceiling. It was a great visual effect, but the Sandusky State Theater couldn't do that, so it had to simply open a curtain and show the lab, Gundlach said.Gundlach said the theater's look was retained. Many of the theaters in Cleveland's Playhouse Square have big black speakers, but the new speakers here were painted to match the theater's interior.The obvious water spot damage that marred the theater's vintage interior is gone. Instead, the plaster and paint of the interior has been restored.Laura Oros, who trained in restoring old buildings in Tuscany, Italy, was painting stencils in the ceiling in the balcony Thursday.Oros, who has worked on many theaters and churches, said Sandusky has a beautiful theater."So much detail … you have some real gold leaf on the top," she said.The work is about 95 percent complete. It's all supposed to be done when the Lange Trust presents iLuminate, a music, art and technology show, on Sept. 28. The theater has had to go without shows for the last few months while the work was done.Chris Parthemore, the theater's executive director, said that because the theater had dated technology, it typically would have to rent extra equipment, an extra expense that hurt the budget made it harder to bring in shows.The theater opened in October 1928."Our famous guest was Leo the original MGM lion," Pathemore said. "Shortly after, we had Shirley Temple."Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.A new audio and light system allows the Sandusky State Theatre to bring in larger, more modern, shows. Artist Laura Oros restores decorative details on the ceiling of the Sandusky State Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. The paint was ruined by water damage throughout the theater. The Sandusky State Theatre installed a new rigging system, allowing more lines for curtains, lights and even a large movie screen. As Laura Oros works to restore the decorative details at the theater, many areas of the Sandusky State Theatre get facelifts on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.