Things looking up for Sandusky State Theatre

SANDUSKY — When Sandusky State Theatre personnel crane their necks back and stare nearly straight up, they beam with pride looking at some notable progress. Anyone recently walking or driving by the iconic venue in downtown Sandusky should have noticed towering beams, standing just under 80 feet tall, on the structure's rear-facing west wall. They "will be the same height as it was prior to the storm," theater executive director Chris Parthemore said. Long metal pieces help to enclose the Sandusky State Theatre's stage house. "This is the part of the theater upstage of the proscenium (part of a theater stage behind the curtain) which contains the stage, wings, fly tower and grid," Parthemore said. "The additional space will allow for more diverse, large-scale performances we can have at the state theater compared to before." Regarding the stage's depth, it will increase from 25 feet to 43 feet. "The original auditorium was a 1928 Vaudeville house, and the typical feature of that was a very shallow stage," Parthemore said. "It made it tough to do shows like Broadway or large national concerts. So adding that additional 18 feet of depth to the stage will allow us to have a greater variety of shows, and we can better accommodate the needs of acts that come through Sandusky." Parthemore expects the outer beam work to wrap up in early April. Then construction crews intend on pivoting their attention to masonry along this stage house. All work, meanwhile, should end by late this year or early 2024. On June 10, 2020, a sudden devastating windstorm ransacked through the illustrious structure, causing a collapse of its roof and walls. Several quintessential theater amenities — including the signature wall, signed by many famous entertainers and musicians; the chandelier; and the marquee sign — somehow didn't sustain any damage. Following an April 2022 groundbreaking, Parthemore released specific details and artist renderings imagining this venue's new look, consisting of more modern amenities, a bigger stage, a better amphitheater and other upgrades all geared toward providing guests with a better experience. "It's been a long road to get to this point, and we are excited for these next steps in the process," Parthemore said. "Theaters are about coming together for a shared experience. We've been missing that these past few years, but seeing the community come together for the groundbreaking reminds us why we have to make sure the theater is set up to serve the community for decades to come." Making sense of the dollars and cents Theater representatives noted the rebuild's total cost should total about $30 million. Here's a quick breakdown of money secured so far to build up this historic brick building: • A little more than half, or roughly $16.8 million, should be covered through an insurance payment. • The theater locked down about $3.35 million in fundraising dollars. • The venue obtained about $3.3 million in federal tax credits, an account helping to preserve historic structures. • It also secured about $2 million in state tax credits • Sandusky's government also contributed $1 million from stimulus funds it previously acquired for similar means. State theater personnel intend on continuing fundraising efforts, through a capital campaign, while simultaneously searching for other dollars to offset this balance, ranging between $3 million and $4 million today. "The Sandusky State Theatre certainly has a treasured history, and we have been diligent in our care for the building's past throughout this process," Parthemore said. "We look forward to continuing to tell our theater's story for many years to come."