COVID-19

Community Arts Center uses time off during pandemic for renovation projects

All renovations at the Community Arts Center are slated for completion by the end of June, said administrators.

Heavy rain storms a year ago caused the roof to leak above the stage and dressing rooms, warping the 27-year-old maple flooring.

With the First Community Foundation Partnership donating $250,000, the CAC used the vacancies created by the COVID-19 pandemic to finish the projects.

"We know how important it is to utilize the time we were given, and use this opportunity to improve the structure, and aesthetic of the theatre," said Courtney Fowler, marketing manager, in a press release.

"We are so grateful for the hard work that has gone into the repairs to bring the theatre back up to the standard this community and our performers expect," she added.

Chuck Still, executive director, said the roof work has concluded and the flooring was also nearing completion.

"The new flooring is in, and they are sanding it now," he said.

Several layers of plywood undergird the floor, luckily the water stopped before sinking through the final layer, said Still. The flooring will then be painted back.

"Waterfalls are beautiful, but not indoors and not onto a maple floor," said Still in a release. "We want to thank COVID-19 for giving us an empty theatre and the First Community Foundation Partnership for giving us the means to secure our house and move the waterfall outside."

In all, the renovation was originally projected to last until August.

"Both have gone quicker and better than we would have thought," said Still. "The sad thing is we don't have anything to put on stage."

Aside from the Pennsylvania College of Technology graduation ceremony in August, the next event is planned for September, although that is subject to change.

"So many theaters have given up on the whole year, it's going to be interesting to see how and when we open," he said.

Ensuring audience comfort and safety is important, and the theater is conducting audience surveys to determine the best policies, he said. It's also important to maintain the safety of the volunteer ushers, many of whom are older and thus at a higher risk of serious complications if they contract COVID-19

A lack of clear guidance from the state has also complicated matters, said Still.

"The weird part is we're not getting a lot of very specific directions, in the same way public health officials do for restaurants," he said.

"It's nobody's fault, we're all crawling forward in the dark," he added.